There is nothing better than a little DIY when it comes to your vehicle. Not only does it help you familiarize yourself with your vehicle but it also is a good way to make sure your vehicle is keeping up with regular maintenance in between scheduled service visits. This week we are here to teach you how to change your battery all by yourself. Don’t panic – it is not as hard as you may think it is. Let’s get started!

• With the engine off and cool, pop open the hood and locate the battery. First, loosen the nut and detach the negative (black) cable from the terminal using a wrench or a pair of battery pliers. Then, detach the positive (red) cable from the terminal using the same method. NEVER use a screwdriver or pry bar to detach the cables.
• Remove the battery hold-down clamp using a ratchet or wrench.
• Remove the battery from the holder, batteries tend to be heavy, seek assistance if it is needed or grab from the bottom using both hands. Use the handle if the battery has one.
• Using a battery cleaning solution, clean the battery tray holder thoroughly to rid the tray of any built-up corrosion. Let the tray dry completely before inserting the new battery.
• With a wire brush, clean the battery cable connectors. If your cables have heavy corrosion, use the battery cleaning solution.
• Place the new battery into the holding tray and secure with the hold-down clamp.
• Spray both terminals with anti-corrosion solution and reattach the terminals starting with the positive cable and then the negative.
• Ensure all cables and clamp are fastened tightly. Wiggle the battery, if it has room to move continue to tighten the clamp until there is no movement. Do the same with the battery cables.

And there you have it, a fresh new battery in your ride! Have questions? Reach out to our service department and let them assist you with all of your battery needs.

Ahhh, summertime is here and that means so are the violent, sudden thunderstorms that sneak up out of nowhere. You’re on your way home and all of a sudden, buckets of water are being poured onto your windshield. These are the moments you need your windshield wipers the most, especially at night. And did you know that the UV rays from the sun can cause major damage to your wipers? I never did. Well, the sun can cause your wipers to deteriorate, crack or split – none of these options are acceptable. This week we take an in-depth look at what you should know when it comes to your wipers!

Keep an eye out for:

• Broken wipers/ frames, detachment from frame arms or connection points
• Cracks or tears in the rubber
• Rubber should be flexible and able to form to the windshield
• Corrosion, especially at joints

Most common problems:

• Rubber has started to split
• Streaking or skipping on the windshield
• Frames are bent or broken
• Any wear/ tear or corrosion on blades or frame

So, why should you check your wiper blades? Well, like we talked about before, you don’t want to be stuck in a rainstorm with crappy windshield wipers. Rain can decrease your visibility and if it happens to be nighttime, your visibility is even less when your windshield wipers are in poor condition. You’re probably wondering if you can avoid this breakdown or deterioration of your wipers. The answer is an absolute YES.

Avoiding wiper breakdown:

• Get regular car washes and clean your windshield each time you fill up your tank
• Gently clean off your wipers with a damp paper towel or microfiber towel
• Alternate between summer and winter windshield wipers to avoid damage to your wiper frames. Extreme temperatures can affect your wipers differently, use the appropriate wipers for the appropriate season.

Become a proactive vehicle owner this summer and some your windshield wipers a little TLC! Stop in to swap out your old wipers and get a fresh new set. Don’t forget to fill up on windshield washer fluid while you’re at it!

Summer is here and that means you probably have a lot of activities planned with your doggo! But, did you know there are a few things you need to know to ensure a seamless road trip with your pet? If not, no worries! We got you covered! This week’s blog is dedicated to some tips that you’ll want to know before packing up and heading out with your pooch. Check them out below and let us know of any tricks that are helpful to you!

Tip #1: Only travel with your dog if they are healthy and their vet clears them. If your dog is feeling sick, always take them to the vet. But, if you’re planning to travel then make sure you ask the vet if your doggo is cleared for travel in the car. If not, then plan for a dog sitter or find a good place to board your dog if you will be away for a long period of time.

Tip #2: When planning your travel, make sure that you have the proper tools to restrain properly. If you’re planning to travel with your dog in a crate, that crate needs to be big enough for your pup to stand up, sit down, turn around, and lie down inside of. Soft blankets or towels and a favorite toy or two in the crate for the journey is a good way to keep your pal comfortable. A harness tie-down is an alternative to traveling with a crate and can prevent your dog from wandering around the car or injure themselves. Never let your dog ride on your lap!

Tip #3: Always have plenty of water available for your pup. The best kind is either distilled/filtered water, or water from the tap at home if that’s what you normally give your dog. Since dogs have very sensitive GI tracts, it’s important that they have familiar water to drink while along for the journey. Food is a no-no since dogs can get carsick too!

Tip #4: Do not let your dog stick their head out the window. Although they might enjoy it, you won’t enjoy the dirt, debris, bugs, and other nasties that can fly directly into your dog’s eyes, ears, and mouth and cause damage or injury! Or the drool down the side of the car, yuck!

Tip #5: Stop often for exercise and potty breaks. Not only will your dog enjoy being able to stretch his/ her legs, but you will as well!

Ford lovers, near and far – I have come with some exciting news. JULY SPECIALS. They’re here and dang, we are pretty excited about them! We are gearing up to help you get behind the wheel of a new Ford and cool off in the summer heat! With a few choices to pick from, you’ll be happy to have a set of keys in your hand and a wallet stacked with cash!

Lease a 2018 Ford Escape SE FWD for ONLY $89/ month for 24 months!*

• If you plan to head around town and take the occasional road trip, the Escape is the perfect crossover to do them in. With features that will keep you comfortable, connected, and entertained, you will fall in love with this vehicle from the second you push start.

2018 Ford Fusion Energi SE can be leased for ONLY $99/ month for 24 months!*

• If you’re looking to save on gas this summer, the Fusion Energi SE is the right choice for you! The SmartGauge® with EcoGuide feature will provide real-time information to enhance your fuel efficiency and will even let you customize your screen to your exact liking.

Lease a 2018 Ford Explorer XLT 4WD for just $119/ month for 24 months!*

• If you have a family, the Explorer is the perfect vehicle to get you anywhere you need to be. With a generous amount of cabin space, advanced safety features, and technology to keep everyone entertained – the Explorer will never let you or the family down!

Lease a 2018 Ford F-150 XL Super Cab for ONLY $119/ month for 24 months!*

• If you have jobs to get done and need a workhorse to complete the job – the F-150 should be your ONLY choice. Haul whatever you need with ease and never worry about being outperformed in this pickup truck!

When you’re ready, swing by Romeo Ford of Kingston for a test drive in any of these amazing Ford models! Trust us, you won’t be disappointed!

*All offers expire 7/31/2018. See specials page for full details.

You might have heard, but we’ve got an AMAZING 4th Of July Flash Sales Event going on here at Romeo Ford this week, and you won’t want to miss these deals. The best part is that you can claim your voucher for savings at any time during the event and save big on so much with us! Check out what offers we have, and then claim your voucher on our website today!

We’ve got:

• New Truck Offer
• New SUV Offer
• New Car Offer
• Certified Pre-Owned Offer
• Brake Pad Special (that includes installation and a rotor inspection)
• 4-Wheel Alignment

These are not only great deals on a new or pre-owned vehicle of your choice, but amazing savings on essential services for your vehicle!

The prices and vouchers are only available for five days, but luckily you can save online and in-store. And thanks to the miracle of modern technology, you can claim your voucher on your cellphone! Seriously, this is a chance you won’t get again any time soon. Of course our prices are low every day, but these are REALLY low. In a good way! That means you can SAVE BIG (we put it in all caps for emphasis).

Stop in today and ask about the event – or present your voucher and get ready to be blown away by how much money stays in your pocket!!

Want to know how to claim your voucher? It’s easy! Just pick the offer you want, complete the steps to redeem your voucher, and bring that voucher in when you come to visit the store. Seriously. Three steps. Very easy. What’s your excuse for not saving money this holiday – and what’s more patriotic than a coupon?! (A bald eagle, we know, but this is a blog about coupons. What did you expect?)

*Must present 4th of July Flash Sales Event voucher upon arrival. Prior sales excluded. While supplies last. Cannot be combined with any other offer or vehicle special. These offers are only valid on specified vehicles and services limited.

Offers expire 7/03/2018

Summer is officially here and there’s no better time to take control of your life! Specifically the part of your life that is your garage. Sure, it’s the place to store all your junk, but imagine this: what if you could park your car in the garage and have it not be super hot from the summer sun? Also what if everything in the garage was neatly organized and you knew where everything was? It’s a great idea and you know it. Check out how to clean and organize your garage so well that you’ll surprise yourself every time you open the door!

The very first thing you want to do is to take EVERYTHING out of your garage. Literally everything. Car, junk, trash, stuff you need… get it all outside into the driveway or onto your lawn and leave your garage totally empty. Then you should start to sort everything you’ve just taken out into two piles, one for things that you want to keep and one for things that you’ve been meaning to throw away or just forgot about. Throw those things away right now. Dispose of chemicals like paint safely, but just get it out of there forever.

With your garage empty, you should sweep and vacuum the floor and dust the corners. If it’s a nice day, you could even hose down the floor! If you’re feeling super adventurous, consider applying an epoxy garage floor kit. It’s a lot of work and a lot of waiting, but it’s worth it if you’re looking for a really serious makeover.

With the space clean, it’s time to take a critical look at your current storage solutions. If you don’t have shelves or wall storage, consider getting some! It’s a great space-saving hack to store things vertically. You can even store bikes on wall racks, which saves a TON of space.

Finally, get everything back into your garage, organizing as you go. You’ll probably spot some things that you thought you wanted to keep but are really junk that you can just go ahead and throw away. You don’t need that in your life. When everything’s back in place (or has found a new home), park your car back inside!