Tread depth is typically measured in 1/32″ increments. Using a recent Canadian penny (the Queen is not wearing a crown) you can quickly and easily check the tread depth yourself.

With the Queen facing you, insert the penny into the tread hair first. Repeat this by placing the coin into several treads across the tire from each side and the middle. Take the lowest reading as the overall tread depth.

The top of her head is approximately 4/32″ of tread depth. If you can see her entire head it is time to find some new Tires!

Quick and Easy!!

Ready to start shopping for tires? Good timing, cause our parts department is selling tires at 99¢ over cost!

For those of us with Quarters jangling in our pockets, the same measurement can be taken using the the moose head (does he have a name?) put him in the tread nose first and if you can see his muzzle it’s time to start looking for new tires!!

Seriously, we needed a test! We thought Tom’s “Will it Blend” failure agains the Fiesta’s Boron steel proved that it was strong!! ;)

Curve Control senses when a driver is taking a curve too quickly and rapidly reduces engine torque and can apply four-wheel braking, slowing the vehicle by up to 10 mph in about one second!

From Ford:

The British Columbia Vehicles Sales Authority estimates that in ‘just’ the Lower Mainland “curbers” represent as much as half the vehicles currently being advertised privately in the newspapers, in trade magazines and through various used classifieds website.

In March of 2010 multiple agencies concerned with illegalities surrounding misrepresented “private” sales of motor vehicles by those called “curbers.” Among the participants in the conference were the RCMP, ICBC, Canada Revenue Agency, Crown Counsel (Commercial Crime), Canada Border Services Agency, municipal bylaw enforcement officers, the B.C. Transportation Ministry’s Commercial Vehicle Safety and Enforcement and the Vehicle Sales Authority(VSA).

How do curbers victimize so many people? There is high degree of odometer tampering, imported salvage vehicles banned in other jurisdictions, wrecked vehicle rebuilds (often fronts, rears or chassis from different wrecks welded together) and other safety and misrepresentation issues.

This series of 4 videos has been put together by the Vehicle Sales Authority to alert consumers to the exact dangers you should watch for when purchasing privately.

Part #1 – Buying a Vehicle Privately – Be Very Careful!
Part #2 – How to Spot a Curber or Fake Private Seller
Part #3 – 6 Steps You Should Take Before Buying a Vehicle From a Private Seller
Part #4 – Why You Should Get a Vehicle History Report that Includes a Lien Check

Steve Marshall Ford Lincoln is pleased to provide the following tips on how to be ready for winter conditions to avoid getting stuck out in the cold.

Winter Vehicle Safety

Six tips from Ford of Canada for staying safe this winter

1. Vehicle maintenance: Vehicles that have been regularly maintained according to their manufacturers required maintenance schedule should be ready for winter weather. If not, a visit to the local dealership to “catch up” on your required maintenance will ensure the vehicle is ready for the season.
2. Read your owner’s manual: All vehicles have different characteristics that will react to winter weather differently. This is a good time to check the manual for your particular vehicle’s winter driving tips.
3. Monitor tire wear: There are three important aspects when it comes to tires: pressure, tread wear and age.
4. Tire pressure: Cold weather causes tires to lose pressure and become underinflated; meaning your safety on the road is compromised. Check your tire pressure regularly, especially when the temperature changes.
   • Tire tread depth: Proper tread depth can be key to slipping less and gripping the road better.
   • Tire age: Old tires can be unsafe tires, especially in the winter. It is recommended that tires over six years old be replaced.
   • All season and summer tires begin to lose their grip around 7 degrees Celsius. Consider switching to winter tires for better handling and braking performance.
5. Drive safely and be alert: Safe driving is always important. Remember to slow down and leave extra space between you and the vehicle in front of you. Also, avoid abrupt moves – don’t stop, start, or change direction suddenly and you’ll maintain better control of your vehicle in inclement conditions.
6. Goodbye cruise control: Never use the speed control in slippery conditions. If the weather suddenly becomes hazardous while cruise control is engaged, simply disengage it manually or lightly tap the brakes.
7. Get to know the safety feature alphabet: Become more familiar with vehicle safety features such as ABS, TC, ESC and RSC, to understand how they can help.
   • Anti-lock Braking System (ABS): Vehicles equipped with an anti-lock braking system do not require the driver to pump the brakes in slippery conditions when hard braking is required. Apply firm, continuous pressure on the brake pedal and ABS may activate to help you maintain control of the vehicle.
   • Traction Control (TC): This feature most often engages at low speeds. In the majority of winter driving conditions, it is best to keep the traction control feature ON. However, in extreme conditions – for instance, deep snow or sheer ice – it may be better to turn OFF your traction control to get moving.
   • Electronic Stability Control (ESC): ESC helps prevent your vehicle from skidding out or sliding laterally in slippery conditions.
   • Roll Stability Control™ (RSC®): AdvanceTrac® with Roll Stability Control™ helps to avoid a rollover in a collision situation.

2009 and 2010 Ford and Lincoln Vehicles equipped with Electronic Stability Control (ESC) include the Focus, Fusion, Taurus, Mustang, F150, Super Duty, Explorer Sport Trac, E-Series, Escape, Edge, Taurus X, Explorer, Expedition, Flex, MKZ, MKS, MKX and Navigator.

Press Release:

Press Release:

The first award, the CAA Pyramid for Safety, went to Ford of Canada for its newly developed Blind Spot Mirror. The Blind Spot Mirror improves driver visibility on both sides of the vehicle when making a lane change or when parallel parking. It’s an affordable mirror technology that will find its way onto many future Ford and Lincoln vehicles as standard equipment.

The second award, the CAA Pyramid for Environmental Initiative, was awarded to the automaker for a new vehicle seat with a fabric made with 100 percent recycled materials.

Press Release

OTTAWA, ONTARIO–(Marketwire – Jan. 13, 2009) – Ford’s newly developed blind spot mirror and its 100 per cent recycled seats have garnered two prestigious CAA Pyramid Awards^TM, a historic first as no previous automaker has ever won both awards.

The new blind spot mirror, which won the CAA Pyramid Award for safety innovation of the year, uses a secondary convex spotter mirror that provides an optimized view of the driver’s blind spot. When traffic enters the vehicle’s blind spot, the driver will be able to clearly see the traffic in the convex mirror.

In focus group testing by Ford, some 76 per cent of respondents said the mirror improved their confidence while driving. In addition, respondents said the learning curve to adjusting to the blind spot mirror was minimal.

“Given CAA’s strong commitment to road safety, we are pleased to see automobile manufacturers like Ford, creating safety innovations that help keep Canadian motorists safe,” says Tim Shearman, president of CAA. “Improving blind spot visibility will help to reduce collisions on our roads.”

Ford also received a CAA Pyramid Award for environmental initiative of the year for its 100 per cent recycled seats.

The seats are made of a new fabric that uses 100 per cent post-industrial recycled materials. By incorporating these seats into manufacturing, it is estimated that 600,000 gallons of water, 1.8 million pounds of carbon dioxide, and more than 7 million kilowatts of electricity will be conserved.

“We know that the environment is top-of-mind for Canadians, so we are pleased to see automobile manufacturers taking proactive steps to improve the environment,” says Shearman. “We are excited to give Ford this award as it demonstrates how small changes at the production level can have big positive impacts on the environment.”

For more information about the Pyramid Awards or CAA, please go to: http://www.caa.ca.

About the Pyramid Awards:

Introduced by CAA in 1983, the Pyramid Awards are designed to showcase automotive excellence in the areas of safety innovation and environmental achievement. Any company that sells or manufactures vehicles in Canada is eligible for the CAA Pyramid Awards for either a single initiative or a collection of initiatives.

Harris Interactive Survey shows that many parents would allow teens to drive more often if their vehicle was equipped with MyKey – helping young drivers build road safety experience.

MyKey will debut as a standard feature next year on the 2010 Focus coupe and will quickly be offered on many other Ford and Lincoln models.

The MyKey system allows the parent to program any key through the vehicle message center, which updates the SecuriLock™ passive anti-theft system. When the MyKey is inserted into the ignition, the system reads the transponder chip in the key and immediately identifies the MyKey code, which enables certain default driving modes, including:

• Persistent Ford Beltminder™ with audio mute. Ford’s Beltminder system typically provides a six-second reminder chime every minute for five minutes. With MyKey, the Beltminder chime continues at the regular interval and the audio system is muted until the safety belt is buckled.
• A message center display “Buckle Up to Unmute Radio” also appears on the instrument cluster.
  Earlier low-fuel warning. Rather than a warning at 50 miles to empty, MyKey provides a warning at 75 miles to empty.
• If MyKey is in the ignition, features such as Park Aid and BLISTM (Blind Spot Information System) with Cross Traffic Alert cannot be deactivated.

Additional MyKey features that can be programmed through the vehicle’s message center setup menu:

• Limited top speed of 80 mph
• Traction control system, that limits tire spin, cannot be deactivated
• Limited audio volume to 44 percent of total volume
• A speed alert chime at 45, 55 or 65 mph

Using MyKey to teach teens to avoid speeding can provide an added benefit – improved fuel economy. Ford research shows that driving 55 mph instead of 65 mph consumes 15 percent less fuel, and mastering other eco-driving habits such as avoiding jackrabbit starts and excessive idling can help improve fuel economy by more than 50 percent.

In addition to electronic stability control and anti-lock brakes, standard safety features on Flex, MKS, Fusion and Milan include:

• Six Standard Air Bags and Ford’s Personal Safety System®: Safety features include six air bags (dual-stage driver and front-passenger air bags, thorax side air bags for front-seat occupants and side-impact air curtains), safety belt pretensioners, seat weight-sensing system for the front passenger seat and crash-severity sensing.
• Ford’s BeltMinder®, a safety belt reminder technology for the driver and front passenger that takes over after the initial safety belt reminder stops chiming.
• LATCH: The Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren system provides convenient mounting points for compatible child seats.
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System: This system warns a driver if one or more tires are underinflated. An active pressure sensor with a radio transmitter is mounted inside each tire. A receiver in the vehicle monitors each transmitter, and if tire pressure is not within specific limits, it will activate a visual warning light.

Safety is a top purchase consideration, second only to fuel efficiency, so the top safety ratings and competitive fuel economy of Flex, MKS, and Fusion are a winning combination for consumers.

The Edge

Seating for up to 5 adults or almost 70 cu. ft. of available cargo space mean the Edge is not only a great weekend-getaway CUV but also a great all round family vehicle. An optional rear seat DVD entertainment system features an 8-in. color LCD screen, remote control, and 2 wireless headsets. The standard center console offers versatility with movable dividers giving you loads of storage possibilities and also includes an audio input jack for personal MP3 players.

The driver-centric interior styling puts the wheel mounted cruise control and secondary audio controls within easy reach. Standard on every Edge is Sirius satellite radio with 100% commercial free sports, news, music and entertainment programming. As well to ensure driver and front passenger are warm and comfortable on those chilly morning commutes the Edge comes with standard heated front bucket seats.

One of the many luxury options available in the Edge is the Vista Roof offering the only 2 panel panoramic view available in the class. It provides a daylight opening over 3 times larger than the traditional moonroof and includes convenient dual power sunshades.

Safety enhanced structural design includes A- pillars and bumper to bumper flow through rails which help to manage energy in the event of a collision. The Edge has a front underride protection system called a BlockerBeam® which is a steel crossmember suspended below and behind the front bumper that helps to prevent other vehicles from sliding under the Edge in a frontal collision while side intrusion door beams and energy-absorbing door panels protect in the event of a side-impact collision. Included standard with every Edge are 6 airbags.

Active AWD models are equipped with an on-demand system that constantly monitors both driver and vehicle predicting traction conditions and reacting before any wheel slippage can even occur. This translates into foul weather driving being… not quite so foul.

An industry first innovation beginning this fall is the Blind Spot Mirror, a standard feature on the 2009 Edge, it answers customer demands for better visibility and will eventually be offered on several future ford models.

So – what can one say about this crossover vehicle? Share in the comments below:

“Ford is a leader in safety and fuel economy – not even Toyota or Honda can match the new Escape’s safety and fuel efficiency ratings.”

The 2009 Ford Escape and Escape Hybrid are now ranking above the small SUVs offered by Toyota and Honda in Safety and Fuel Efficiency ratings respectively.

“We’ve devoted many hours to analyzing and developing the body structure, safety belts and air bags of Escape for better performance in front and side impact crashes,” said Steve Kozak, chief engineer for safety systems, Ford Motor Company. “We’ve taken our compact SUVs to the next level of safety and have achieved better ratings than fierce competitors such as Toyota.”

Key Ford safety technologies include:

• The Safety Canopy® side-curtain air bag rollover protection system is a Ford exclusive feature that helps protect front and rear outboard passengers in both rollovers and side-impact crashes. It is designed to stay inflated for several seconds, as rollover crashes often last much longer than side-impact crashes.
• AdvanceTrac with Roll Stability Control is the industry’s only electronic stability control system that uses a unique gyroscopic sensor to monitor and help the driver prevent both side-to-side “yaw” and roll motions that may lead to rollovers.
• Personal Safety System®, a suite of seven safety technologies, including dual-stage front air bags for the driver and front-seat passenger, and a front-passenger sensing system. Together, the system helps customize front air-bag deployment levels based on driver seating location, passenger weight and safety belt usage.
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System alerts drivers when tire pressure is low. Properly inflated tires are not only important for safety — they can also help save gas.
• LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system for installation of child safety seats in vehicles consists of built-in straps and hooks on the safety seat and mating anchor hardware in rear seating positions.

“Safety is a top purchase consideration, second only to fuel efficiency, so Escape’s five-star crash safety ratings and best-in-class highway fuel economy (I-4 manual) are a winning combination,” said Tedros Mengiste, Escape marketing manager, Ford Motor Company.

The 2008 Mustang is the first ever convertible to receive top National Highway Traffic Safety Administration ratings.

The GT convertible has earned the 5 Star ratings from the NHTSA for Frontal Crash, Roll Over and Side Impact tests.  Ford’s Chief Engineer for Safety Systems daughter graduated this year, the only grad gift safe enough for his daughter: The Ford Mustang GT Convertible!

While you will be cool and safe in the Mustang, doctors remind us to lather up the suncreen while driving!

“Having a Mustang convertible as her first car is something my daughter will remember for the rest of her life,” said Kozak. “And my wife and I are happy knowing that, while she’s having the time of her life, she’ll be driving the top safety-rated convertible on the market.”

The Mustang – be it a coupe or convertible – is a popular graduation present, confirmed Steve Watts, president of Town & Country Ford in Bessemer, Ala, one of the top Mustang dealerships in the country. “Mustangs are a popular gift for many occasions, because they’re such desirable cars,” said Watts, whose first car was a 1966 Mustang. “Everyone loves them – young and old. The fact that they’re sporty and safe only adds to their appeal.”

The Mustang’s considerable body stiffness contributes to the convertible’s driving performance and has a parallel benefit in accident protection. While the coupe’s body structure is 31 percent stiffer in torsional rigidity than its predecessor, the convertible’s is more than twice as stiff – creating a “safety cage” that helps protect the cabin from deformation and intrusion during an impact.

The front structure is designed to absorb energy in a controlled manner and help dissipate it before it can reach the passenger compartment. The Mustang’s front rails have an octagonal shape designed to spread forces evenly at the firewall and progressively deform for increased protection in demanding, offset frontal crashes.
“The Mustang convertible is another example of working at all levels to offer a vehicle that is both sporty and safe,” said Jim Vondale, director, Ford’s Automotive Safety Office. “It was developed with a dedicated focus on safety, making it the highest-rated Mustang ever built.”

Ford added standard seat-mounted head and chest side air bags to the 2008 Mustang GT’s already comprehensive safety package that includes all-speed traction control, anti-lock brakes (ABS) and the Personal Safety System – a suite of restraint technologies designed to tailor their response to the severity of the crash and other factors. The system includes dual-stage driver and front passenger air bags and safety belt pretensioners.

In addition, Ford’s industry-leading technology, Beltminder, reminds the driver and front-seat passenger to buckle up. The technology has been installed in more than 20 million vehicles. Both NHTSA and IIHS have noted the effectiveness of Beltminder as a significant life-saving technology.

Sun Safety

While safety is important, sun-soaked cruising is the Mustang convertible’s top appeal factor. Scientific studies show that increased exposure to sunshine or bright light is therapeutic because it regulates the body’s synthesis of melatonin, a mood-regulating hormone that modulates the circadian cycle of sleep and wakefulness. Sunshine also triggers the body’s conversion to active vitamin D, which is considered to be an effective natural remedy for “the blues.”

“I recommend light therapy – be it natural or artificial – to all of my patients, because it helps elevate mood and energy,” said Dr. Douglas J. Arends, a psychiatrist practicing in Royal Oak, Mich. “Driving or riding in a convertible certainly is one way to enjoy the health benefits of sunshine.”

Health experts caution that cool breezes in convertibles can misleadingly mask the sun’s harmful rays as occupants may not feel as hot as when they’re stationary under the sun. Therefore, dermatologists recommend the use of sun-block lotion or moisturizer with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher prior for top-down drives.

“If you’re going to spend time in a convertible, keep the sun-block on and keep some in the glove compartment,” said Dr. David V. Spurlin, of Pinnacle Dermatology & Aesthetics in Birmingham, Mich. “I recommend putting it on a half hour before going outdoors, putting enough of it on and repeating every two hours.”

Now, let’s get SIRIUS! Ford SIRIUS Travel Link navigation system will be introduced this summer in the 2009 Lincoln MKS. This SIRIUS Travel system offers uninterupted coast-to-coast coverage using the existing SIRUS infrastructure.

From the Press Release:

Specifically, the Ford SIRIUS Travel Link system provides information on:

• Traffic Data: SIRIUS Travel Link combines real-time traffic speed and flow data with accident and incident information to allow the user to navigate around congested areas.
• Weather: SIRIUS Travel Link shows coast-to-coast weather data, current conditions and five-day forecasts, detailed storm cell information, hurricane and tropical storm tracking, local wind speeds, and even ski resort conditions.
• Fuel Prices: Drawing on information from more than 120,000 gas stations, SIRIUS Travel Link sorts fuel options by price, distance or alphabetically. If requested, the navigation system can route users to the gasoline station with the lowest fuel price.
• Sports: No matter your passion – NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR, NCAAF, NCAAB, and golf – SIRIUS Travel Link provides scores and schedules and can be personalized for the user’s selected teams.
• Movies: With listings from more than 4,500 movie theaters, SIRIUS Travel Link helps consumers plan ahead by providing movie times, theater addresses, ratings and run lengths. Using the Ford navigation system, the data can be sorted by distance. If requested, the navigation system can route users to the selected movie theater.

Video from Autoblog.com: