What is that?!

My "Check Engine" light is on. Why is it doing that? Should I ignore it?

It means your vehicle's onboard computer system has self-diagnosed some kind of problem. The "Check Engine" light, which is also called a "Malfunction Indicator Lamp" (MIL) or "Service Engine Soon" (SES) lamp, is there to signal you when a problem occurs that may require attention. This can include anything from a momentary hiccup that has has little or no noticeable affect on engine performance or driving safety to a failure of a major electronic component. There's no way to know what the light means without running a diagnostic scan on the system to determine the nature of the fault.

At Hillcrest Ford we seen people ignored their check engine light and a after weeks of ignorance the problem turned into a costly mistake. We recommend you visiting Hillcrest Ford and running a full diagnostic scan to see what the problem is. We want you to protect your investment and highly recommend you seeing what the problem is.

2012 Ford Focus ST

There has been a lot of buzz about the Paris Motor Show for many auto manufacturers, and Ford is no exception. The biggest announcement is the first official viewing of the new high-performance Ford Focus ST, and it will be the first time that production-ready Focus body styles will be featured together. This will be the first peek before models go on sale in Europe and North America in early 2011, and I pulled some more information for you from The Ford Story site:

The new range-topping Focus — which will feature a unique version of the 2.0-liter Ford EcoBoost engine — will be true to heritage of Ford ST models. It will offer driving enthusiasts a mix of exhilarating performance and handling, accompanied by an addictive sound.

The dramatic new ST will launch in early 2012 and will be revealed on September 30, 2010, at the Ford stand by Alan Mulally, Ford President and CEO, and Stephen Odell, Ford of Europe Chairman and CEO.

Visitors to the Paris Motor Show will immediately notice the car’s highly distinctive sports exterior, which is finished in Tangerine Scream, a dramatic new body color that reflects the exciting and energetic character of the Focus ST.

Ford is also moving forward with its electrification program and will be displaying for the first time the technology destined to drive its C-MAX plug-in hybrid vehicle, that will be produced at the Valencia plant in Spain.

The formal launch of the full production-ready Focus range in Paris signals the introduction of the first truly global product developed under the company’s ONE Ford strategy.


Developed at Ford’s Global Center of Excellence for Small Cars in Germany, for sale in over 120 markets worldwide, the next-generation model is the most important Focus yet. It is created from the new Ford global C segment platform with up to 80 percent parts-commonality globally. This platform will underpin at least ten vehicles around the world, and it will account for approximately two million units of annual production by 2012.

Can I recharge my A/C system myself?

A person came to the shop yesterday and ask a very important question to one of our mechanics. the question was how he can recharge his A/C system himself?

Well to summarize the answer here is pretty much what we told him.

You have all the right to recharge your A/C system however you must first get your hands on the correct type of refrigerant required for your vehicle.

The major problem with that is that federal law prohibits the sale of R12 and R134 automotive refrigerants to "non certified" individuals (to become certified, you must pass a written test approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) -- something which all professional A/C technicians must do before they can legally work on your vehicle).


Our Hillcrest Service advisor informed that to our customer and suggested that he let the certified professionals at Hillcrest recharge his A/C system. The customer walked out a happy camper and a more knowledgeable person.

How Do You Know When Your Car Needs a Brake Job?

You need a "brake job" when your brake linings are worn down to the minimum acceptable thickness specified by the vehicle manufacturer or the applicable state agency in areas that set their own requirements. The only way to determine if new linings are required, therefore, is to inspect the brakes.

You may also need a brake job if you're having brake problems such as grabbing, pulling, low or soft pedal, pedal vibration, noise, etc., or if some component in your brake system has failed. But if the problem is isolated to only one component, there's no need to replace other parts that are still in perfectly good working order.

There is no specific mileage interval at which the brakes need to be relined because brake wear varies depending on how the vehicle is driven, the braking habits of the driver, the weight of the vehicle, the design of the brake system and a dozen other variables. A set of brake linings that last 70,000 miles or more on a car driven mostly on the highway may last only 30,000 or 40,000 miles on the same vehicle that is driven mostly in stop-and-go city traffic.

As a rule, the front brakes wear out before the ones on the rear because the front brakes handle a higher percentage of the braking load -- especially in front-wheel drive cars and minivans.

So stop by Hillcrest Ford today and see how you can improve your braking system on your investment.

Original Article

Customer Questions. Battery

Q: How can I tell if my battery is low and needs to be recharged?

The first and most likely indication of a low battery would be a hard starting problem caused by slow cranking. If the battery seems weak or fails to crank your engine normally, it may be low. To find out, you need to check the battery's "state of charge."

A battery is nothing more than a chemical storage device for holding electrons until they're needed to crank the engine or run the lights or other electrical accessories on your vehicle. Checking the battery's state of charge will tell you how much juice the battery has available for such purposes.

If your battery is low, it needs to be recharged, not only to restore full power, but also to prevent possible damage to the battery. Ordinary automotive lead-acid storage batteries must be kept at or near full charge to keep the cell plates from becoming "sulfated" (a condition that occurs if the battery is run down and left in a discharged condition for more than a few days). As sulfate builds up, it reduces the battery's ability to hold a charge and supply voltage. Eventually the battery becomes useless and must be replaced.

Recharging The Battery

CAUTION: Do not attempt to recharge a battery with low (or frozen) electrolyte! Doing so risks blowing up the battery if the hydrogen gas inside is ignited by a spark.

Your charging system should be capable of recharging the battery if it is not fully discharged. Thirty minutes or so of normal driving should be enough.

If your battery is completely dead or extremely low, it should be recharged with a fast or slow charger. This will reduce the risk of overtaxing and damaging your vehicle's charging system. One or both battery cables should be disconnected from the battery prior to charging it with a charger. This will eliminate any risk of damage to your vehicle's electrical system or its onboard electronics.

If you have any question feel free to contact or visit Hillcrest Ford's service department and ask for further assistance.

Remember be safe when working on electrical components.

Original Article Here

Ford Explorer History

The Ford Explorer can trace its roots back to the original Bronco that first put rubber to road during the 1966 model year. The initial Bronco was decidedly compressed and it proved popular for both off-roading as well as business purposes. Eventually, the Bronco transitioned into a full-size vehicle based upon the F-Series pickup; then in 1984, it resurfaced as the Bronco II, one of the first compact sport-utility vehicles as we know them today. In 1990, the Bronco II became the Ford Explorer, literally sparking the modern SUV market.

If you’re looking to buy a Ford Explorer Huntsville residents will send you to Hillcrest Ford. They have a vast inventory of new Ford Explorer and used Ford Explorer Huntsville drivers have depended on for years.

One of the first advantages of the Explorer is the heavy-duty frame design which is most useful in towing and off-road applications. It has a body designed for a truck but it also has the spacious, sound ride of a car.

The next trim package is the Eddie Bauer which includes 17” alloy wheels, heated front seats, leather upholstery, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, Ford’s sync package and satellite radio. To go all out you will want to buy the Explorer Limited which includes rear parking sensors, dual-zone automatic climate control, perforated leather upholstery, eighteen-inch alloy wheels, power-folding third row seat, driver memory functions, and an upgraded audio system with in-dash CD changer and steering wheel mounted controls.

The Ford Explorer has a very easy ride thanks to the independent rear suspension. The wheels stay stable when traveling on rough terrain. This is the supreme family SUV, you can haul your cargo around town with plenty of room for all the kids softball equipment.

In normal, day-to-day use, the Explorer still shines brilliantly for the very same reasons it has since its debut: The view from the driver’s seat is regal, steering and braking are effortless. Same goes for the upgraded options, but the adaptability, both on- and off-road are unmistakably elevated compared to the rest of its class.

What do you recommend for protecting aluminum wheels?

We at Hillcrest Ford always get asked what is the best way to protecting aluminum wheels. So we put our heads together and and did some research and this is what we found out.

According to Yahoo! Autos the most original equipment aluminum wheels are clear coated for corrosion resistance. You can generally use any type of wax or sealer specially formulated for alloy wheels, or any product that is designed for a base coat, clear coat finish.

CAUTION: Do not use any wax or polish that contains abrasives on a clear coated wheel (chrome polish, rubbing compound, ordinary wax designed for ordinary painted finishes or that "restores faded paint." The abrasives in such products will scratch and dull the clear coat on the wheels.If your wheels are not clear coated, or the original coating is worn away or damaged, you can clean the wheels with "mag wheel polish" or fine steel wool to remove surface oxide and dirt (and what's left of the old finish) -- then repaint the wheels with a durable clear coat epoxy or paint designed for this purpose.

Unprotected aluminum wheels quickly corrode and pit when exposed to road salt and excessive moisture. If the corrosion continues unchecked for too long, the cosmetic damage may be too great to reverse. So if you don't want to drive around with ugly, pitted alloy wheels, use some type of coating (wax, sealer and/or paint) to protect them from the elements.

You can also stop by Hillcrest Ford and get your car fully wash by one of our service representatives that specialize in car looks and maintance.

Original Article

Best Labor Day Road Trips

Its almost Labor Day and summer is one step closer to ending. That's why Yahoo! Travel came up with a list of America' best road trips for those people who have yet taken one this year.

So make the most of Labor Day this year by packing up the car and escaping for the weekend.

Highway 1: All-American Road
There's a reason Highway 1 is iconic, and if you haven't seen the breathtaking views from the California coastline, it's the only way to do it. Navigating the celebrated 123-mile stretch between Big Sur Coast Highway and San Luis Obispo North Coast Byway is no laughing matter--factor in switchbacks and narrow single-span bridge crossings--but the scenery more than compensates: The aquarium and canneries of Monterey, the greens of Pebble Beach, the soaring redwoods of Big Sur, sea otters loafing on the Pacific bluffs and the mysterious Hearst Castle perched on a cliffside.



Michigan's West Coast /Photo: NewscomMichigan's West Coast
Explore the bucolic beach towns along the western coast of Michigan, driving along U.S. 31 from Saugatuck to Mackinac Island. Lake Michigan's calm shorelines, great boating and pristine boardwalks boasting homemade corndogs are perfect for kids, as are the sloping sandy peaks for climbing at Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. You'll have to ditch the car for the ferry trip to Mackinac--no cars are allowed on the island--so plan to grab a bike and explore the eight-mile loop of Lakeshore Boulevard on two wheels rather than four.



Big Bend National Park /Photo: LeafletBig Bend National Park
Everything is bigger in Texas, and in Big Bend National Park, it's larger than life. The 30-mile Maxwell Scenic Drive cuts through some of the park's most spectacular vistas: dusty ranches of long-ago rangers, terra-cotta cliffsides and a jaw-dropping expanse of sky that opens up each evening to exhibit a sea of stars that puts any planetarium to shame. Get out of the car for a two-day rafting trip along the Rio Grande.



Blue Ridge Parkway /Photo: Ken ThomasBlue Ridge Parkway
2010 marks the 75th anniversary of the country's most widely visited National Parkway, which connects Shenandoah and Great Smokey Mountain National Parks. The celebrations stretch from West Virginia to Tennessee. Walk in the Civil War footsteps of Stonewall Jackson and Robert E. Lee in Lexington, Va., or see the small town charms of Mount Airy, N.C., which was the basis for Andy Griffith's Mayberry. Stay at the Mountain Lake Resort in West Virginia; its idyllic cabins stood in for the Catskills in the classic summer rom-com Dirty Dancing.


Florida's Gulf Coast /Photo: NewscomFlorida's Gulf Coast

Do your part to help Gulf Coast tourism by skipping Orlando and heading further west instead. Driving the coastline along Highway 98 from Tallahassee to Silver Springs, you'll pass through wildlife refuges and citrus fields, kitschy mermaid shows and the remnants of early Spanish settlements. Want wildlife? Watch out for gators and turtles at Wakulla State Park, or snorkel with manatees at Crystal River Archaeological State Park.

Visit us at Hillcrest Ford and see how you can enjoy this road trip with a brand new car.

Original Article