If you are a car aficionado, there is likely at least one Ford vehicle that makes your heart go pitter-patter. Even if you prefer Pontiac or Chevrolet vehicles, no car lover would pass up an opportunity to own a Shelby Mustang GT500 or other classics that Ford has produced. For those that are big fans of Ford Motor Company, there are plenty of cars, trucks and even tractors for you to select from when looking for a new automobile or piece of farm equipment. Still, what do you really know about Ford Motor Company? You may be surprised by what you have to learn about this American automobile manufacturer.

The Rise of the Ford Motor Company

The Ford Motor Company has a long and interesting history that dates back to 1903. Since a 40-year-old Henry Ford first launched the company with only $28,000 that he received from twelve different investors, the company has grown into a juggernaut within the automotive industry. In fact, with a net income of $2.723 billion in 2007 and reported total assets of $279.264 billion that same year, the company is ranked third among U.S. automakers. While General Motors and Toyota have taken the first and second place spots, Ford had five vehicles rank at the top of the list on J.D. Power and Associates’ quality survey listings. Another fourteen of Ford’s vehicles ranked in the top three of the listings, making it the automaker with the most awards on the coveted list.

What many people don’t realize, however, is that two of the twelve people that invested in Ford’s new company were John and Horace Dodge, who later went on to form what is now known as the Dodge motor company.

During is early years, the Ford Motor Company only produced a few cars each day. In a factory located in Detroit, Michigan, groups of two or three men put together the vehicles after receiving the necessary components from other companies. Ford later introduced assembly lines to his factories and utilized mass production strategies in order to speed up production of his automobiles. He also paid his workers high wages and was one of only a few companies that managed to survive through the Great Depression.

The Ford Motor Company Today

Although it has been over 100 years since Henry Ford first opened the doors to the Ford Motor Company, the company is still family owned and continues to produce vehicles under the Ford name. It does, however, manufacture vehicles under other names as well. In the United States, for example, Ford products are also manufactured under the Lincoln and Mercury names. The company does not operate in only the United States, however, as it has major manufacturing operations in a number of other countries. These include:

- Argentina
- Australia
- Brazil
- Canada
- Germany
- Mexico
- People’s Republic of China
- South Africa
- Turkey
- United Kingdom

Ford has also owned a number of other brands of vehicles in the past. For example, it purchased Aston Martin in 1989, but later sold it in 2007 while retaining a $77 million stake in the brand. The company also purchased Volvo Cars in 1989 as well as 33.4% controlling shares in Mazda. Ford also previously owned Land Rover and Jaguar, but sold both of them to Tata Motors in 2008.

In addition to manufacturing vehicles and tractors, the Ford Motor Company also sells aftermarket parts under the name of Motorcraft and has a parts division called Visteon. The company also provides automotive financing to car buyers through its Ford Motor Credit Company.

The Future of the Ford Motor Company

On January 23, 2006, the Ford Motor Company unveiled its The Way Forward plan. The plan provided details regarding precisely what the company planned to do in order to become profitable once more, which was a concern that had plagued the company for over a year as gas prices soared and consumers started losing interest in purchasing their large, gas guzzling vehicles. As part of the plan, fourteen factories were closed and 30,000 people lost their jobs.

The company now plans to invest in new products that will allow it to better compete in the marketplace, which includes developing more crossover SUVs, hybrid vehicles, and compact cars. Therefore, those that love Ford vehicles can expect to see a lot of new and exciting developments on the horizon.

 

 

 

The other day we had a Ford f-350 with a 6.0 diesel engine. Anyone who has owned or had to work on one of these know they are plagued with problems. This was a no start and it didn’t take long to find out that the fuel injection control module was the culprit (FICM). Easy fix right? It was in this shop, a simple matter of ordering the module from Ford, no problem here, they had plenty. (This is a common failure). It turns out that you have to” flash” this module after it is installed. According to my helpful Ford parts man only Ford can do this. NOT TRUE!! We are a well equipped shop with no less that 5 scan tools and one of them is also a pass through device. This was a simple matter of purchasing a short term subscription from motorcraft ($26.75) and down loading the software. Then hook it all up and flash the module, as an added benefit the program looks up all updated and lets you do the re flash for them also. What a deal!

The moral of this story? If you are an auto repair shop in this day and age and don’t keep up with the technology, get used to telling your customers” I’m sorry but you will have to take this to the dealer.” If you are a customer, look for a shop that can give you factory level repair and diagnostics. Many of the problems with today’s cars can be solved with a re flash. General Motors with it’s many problems with pass lock requiring a new bcm needs a tech II scan tool to program the module.

At least in our area, few independent repair shops are trained or equipped to diagnose and repair today’s modern cars, however as time goes on you will see more shops getting smart or going out of business. In the last 2 year we have only had to send out customers to the dealer if the car was under warranty or had a recall , since this would cost the customer nothing.

John Turnipseed , is an A.S.E. certified auto mechanic with 27 years in the field.
A member of NACAT (north american council of automotive teachers), IATN (international automotive technicians network). John currently manages a small 6 bay auto repair shop and has 12 year experience in management. John is a (working manager) and stays current with several classes per year. In his spare time John has a small consulting business.

 

 

 

As befits one of the most vital parts of your vehicle’s engine, your spark plugs require replacement every 24 months or 30,000 miles to maintain optimal fuel economy and engine performance. You can save some money by doing it yourself.

The interval varies depending on your vehicle’s make and model. A vehicle equipped with the newer platinum-tipped plugs can go as far as 100,000 miles before plugs require replacement. Replacing your own is relatively easy, as you’ll see from the instructions listed below.

The first thing you’ll want to do is gather all the tools you’ll need. Of course, you’ll start with a set of new one. Add a 3/8″ drive socket, extension and ratchet driver, a gap gauge, and a brush or rag and set aside some time.

Now we’re all ready to gap your plugs. Correct gaps can be found on the engine specifications decal underneath the hood. It’s a good practice to stick with the brand of plugs originally installed in your car at the factory. For Ford products they are Motorcraft, in General Motors products they are AC Delco; Chrysler products use Champion. Refer to a parts guide to find the correct type, or ask the salesperson in your local auto parts store.

Okay, let’s get to work.

Never change your plugs without the engine being cold. Wait two hours after driving to let it cool off. Grasp the wire by the boot, give the wire a twist and cautiously pull the spark plug wire out of the end. Don’t pull the wires themselves or you may damage them. TIP: changing the plugs one helps avoid mixing up the spark plug wires.

Use either a bicycle tire pump or an air compressor and pump a few bursts of air to rid the spark area of dirt, dust or gravel. Alternatively, clean off the old plug and the area around it with a rag or small brush. These steps help prevent any foreign material from falling down into the cylinder when the plug is removed.

Remove by turning it counterclockwise with a socket and ratchet. Spark sockets have rubber linings that prevent damaging the plug’s ceramic case. Crack it loose, spin it out until it’s off the threads, and take it out by hand.

OK, time to set the gap of the new plug with a gap gauge (Remember the proper gap is specified on the engine specs decal underside of the hood). You can buy a gap gauge at your auto parts store. Slide the correct thickness wire or feeler between the inner and outer electrodes at the tip of the plug. The feeler will slide between the electrodes with a slight drag when the plugs are properly gapped. If the gap isn’t right, slightly bend the outer electrode until you achieve the right gap. Ensure the outer electrode is inline over the inner electrode.

Next, have a look at the cylinder head threads. Are they in good condition, clean, and free of dirt? New ones should freely screw into the cylinder head by hand. Any binding of the plug is an indication of debris or damage in the thread. TIP: lube the plug threads with a little grease or spray lubricant before you install them, this will make for an easier removal at your next spark plug change.

Insert the new plug into the hole by hand and turn it clockwise until it’s snug. After finger tightening the plug, firmly torque it with your wrench/socket. Be careful not to over-tighten the plugs.

Reattach the correct plug wire to the new plug with a twist on the boot until it’s firmly seated on top of the plug. You should feel and hear a click as the wire positively clamps onto the spark plug.

Repeat all the steps for the other plugs. Even taking your time this job will probably take you less than an hour. And that’s it for another two years or 30,000 miles!

 

 

 

Growing up, if I wanted to spend time with my dad, my mother would often drop me off at the Ford dealership where he sold cars. Sometimes we would walk back to the service lane where he would buy me an orange soda. Other times he was busy “putting a deal together”, and during those times I would find myself wandering around meeting everyone from sales managers to technicians. One of the most exciting trips was when I just refused to believe that a 4 cylinder Mustang could be very fast compared to the 8 cylinder ones, so dad took me around the block in a new 1984 Mustang SVO, pretty much putting that myth to rest forever!

I guess that’s when my biggest misconception took root. It made perfect sense that if you wanted your car fixed right you HAD to take it to a dealership. First, they cost more money, and you get what you pay for, right? Second, these guys were trained professionals, understanding the specific systems to whatever brand you drove. Third, they only use parts made by the manufacturer, which HAS to be better for longevity. And finally, well, you just felt more loyal to the brand. I grew up in a Ford family, which meant people who drove Chevrolet’s were basically stupid (no offense to Chevy drivers – I am one myself, now!)

When I decided to get in the business, I took a 2 year course sponsored by Ford, which of course didn’t teach me any different. Then I joined ranks with my sponsoring dealer, which, of course, was Ford. I then spent the next 10 years of my life in a Ford dealer’s service department, and before it was over I was pretty much completely brainwashed. Then in 2002, I made a decision that defied all logic – I accepted a position running an aftermarket repair shop! Of course, that is a whole other story that we won’t get into right now.

Trying to “unlearn” something you pretty much believed for 30 plus years is not an easy task; but unlearn I did, so let me finish this post by debunking the top 4 myths about why you should use a dealer for repairs…

1. You get what you pay for – I do believe this on some things, but car repair is NOT one of them. The truth of the matter is, the reason they cost so much more is because of the ridiculous overhead, which includes some outrageous salaries. In a dealer of moderate size, you have a President, Vice President, General Manager, General Sales Manager, Fixed Ops Manager, Finance Manager, Service Manager and sometimes a Body Shop Manager, most of which have 6 figure incomes, and that doesn’t usually include the “C” level managers! What I discovered pretty quickly was less overhead equals savings to the customer, at least if you run a smart company. Of course, there are exceptions to both – there are some affordable dealers (somewhere… ) and there are quite a few outrageously expensive aftermarket shops. The key is finding someone you can trust. Most good business men I know are transparent about their profit margins.

2. Trained professionals – dealer techs do get a lot of specialized training, that’s no secret. But to find a true master technician means you found someone who understands the “how and why’s” of automotive systems, and that is NOT specific to brand. What you get at dealers normally is technicians with “brand knowledge” which means they know what part to swap for a particular problem for a particular car. To this day, I still remember that on a 1996 Ford Taurus with a grunting noise in far right hand turns, you replaced the power steering rack and pinion and pressure hose. Why? Because Ford said it would fix it. Anything outside of the norm drew blank stares from most techs. In a truly good shop, you have technicians, not part swappers. In actuality, all of the “problem specific” information that is available to the dealer technicians is also available to the aftermarket technicians in the form of Technical Service Bulletins, or TSB’s. The key here is once you find a shop you think you might like, take the time to find out what kind of training and experience the techs have. An ASE master tech has, in my professional opinion, surpassed the training of about 90% of the dealer techs. In my company, I like to take the time to give our customers a tour of the shop, and let them meet the guys that will be fixing their cars. Our technicians love this, because they know the quality of the work they put out, and now they know they will be given the proper credit because the customer knows them.

3. Manufacturer Made Parts – this is a huge myth. Almost every part used in a repair is made by someone OTHER than the manufacturer. All of your major brands do have Original Equipment Part manufacturers that do make the bulk of the repair parts for their specific brand, like Motorcraft for Ford and AC Delco for GM, but very few parts come directly from the manufacturer. The myth is that the dealers are the only ones that use these parts. The same, exact parts are available to every shop, not just dealerships. Even on the few parts that must be ordered from the manufacturer through the dealer, a good aftermarket shop can buy the part from the dealer and STILL sell it to you for less than what you would pay at the very dealer it was purchased from and the warranty is exactly the same!

4. Brand Loyalty – this was probably the hardest myth for me to “unlearn”. It just seemed so much like cheating to drive something other than what your dad drove. Think about that for just a minute. My dad drove Ford because his dad did. My first 10 vehicles were Ford because dad and granddad drove them. Talk about brainwashing! This is the ultimate marketing goal – to get your customers to “believe” that their product is a part of who they are as human beings! The truth is, even the dealers aren’t loyal anymore. More and more, I am seeing signs go up at dealers everywhere that say “All Brands Serviced Here”. Most dealers have a used car lot, and any salesman will tell you he gets the highest commission on used cars, so where is the loyalty there? Most aftermarket shops will work on either “domestic” or “foreign”, and some can do both successfully. The best thing to do here is find a shop who is both familiar with and comfortable working on your car.

There you have it, unquestionable evidence that sometimes the things we think we know may not be completely true. Remember, out of my 20+ years in this business, I have been on both sides, and there is no question what decision I would make should the occasion arise for someone else to take care of my car.