Some of the steps you can take towards prepping your car for spring are designed to repair your vehicle from months of harsh winter driving. Others are car care steps that should be taken every few months anyway. The coming of spring, though, is the motivation to get them all out of the way at once.
Undercarriage Road Salt
Road salt can damage your vehicle’s undercarriage by eating away or corroding the metal. A thorough cleaning at a car wash should do the trick.
Check the Tires
It’s crucial to check your tires after weather changes because tire pressure changes about 1 pound per square inch for every 6-7 degrees Celsius change in temperature.
Wiper Blades
Windshield wipers take a beating during the winter weather - wiping away dirt, debris and salt and gravel spray. Make sure the blades are making full contact with the windshield and have not dried out.
Rotate Tires
This should be done roughly every 8,000-10,000 kilometers and it can extend the life of your tires significantly by reducing wear.
Change Oil and Filter
Some car makers suggest changing to a heavier oil to help your vehicle’s engine perform more efficiently during warmer weather.
Check/Change Air Filter
Your car’s air filter prevents dust and other debris from getting into the engine’s running parts, meaning less efficient use of gas and weaker engine performance.
Flush and Fill Cooling System
This is cheap insurance against engine failure. Experts recommend flushing every 2 years for most vehicles.
Check Radiator and Gas Caps
Tight fitting caps on the radiator and gas tank are important. Radiator caps can corrode and deteriorate, so it’s a good idea to replace yours as often as you flush the cooling system.
Check Battery and Plugs
Make sure battery posts and connections are clean. Spark plugs fire as many as 3 million times every 1000-1500 kilometers.
Clean the Interior
It’s easy to use your car or truck as a storage area for all kinds of things (including useless junk and garbage), especially in the cold months when you don’t feel like cleaning your car in the freezing cold. Take the time to de-clutter your car and have it professionally detailed. It’s worth it!
Enjoy the warm weather (let’s hope we haven’t jinxed ourselves into another massive snowstorm!) and make sure your vehicle is ready with these easy, simple, spring car care preparation tips.
If you have plans to sell your used car, getting a free car appraisal from Koch Ford Lincoln is a great first step.
Proud to be a part of the Koch Auto Group
Koch Ford Lincoln at Ronald McDonald House with Local4Local4Local
Koch Ford Lincoln gets involved in the community! Enjoy these two accounts and some photos of the Local4Local4Local event that we took part in last night at the Ronald McDonald House Northern Alberta.
"It was so fun to pop into Ronald McDonald House Northern Alberta tonight while founding Local4Local4Local businesses Gryphon Publishing Inc., Koch Ford Lincoln, and Ignite Strategic Solutions prepared a "Pyjama Party Breakfast for Dinner" for the families and community of the house! When I arrived, the kitchen smelled divine, the kids were colouring and crafting, and there was a feeling of contentment that was palpable. It was great to watch all of the team members together in the kitchen ~ some who began the evening as strangers ~ laughing together as they created a locally sourced dinner of french toast casserole, bacon, sausages, scrambled eggs, home potato fries, and fruit. Wendy Mueller and Kerri Leland were sporting some super cute jammies, and Ignite Strategic Solutions' Zita Dube-Lockhart not only sported some cute fuzzy pj's, but she was also wearing her little guy, Samuel, on her back as she cooked! He was in 7th heaven, sitting comfortably in the hub of the activity on his Mama's back! Our thoughts are with some of the families of the house tonight: 3 month old baby A's family who is hoping to hear good news on April 25th, and the grandparents of a little 7 year old girl who came through brain surgery this afternoon and has a long road of recovery ahead. THIS is why Local4Local4Local exists; these are the lives and loads that we make just a touch lighter, one dinner at a time."
Kristi Hammond
Founder - Local4Local4Local
"It was heart warming to see all the kids and how “at home” they look at the Ronald McDonald House Northern Alberta. The house is amazing! The efforts of the staff and helpers is endless and there is so much thought and love put into the place its amazing. We were shown the Magic Room, the Quilt Room and a suite as well. These were all incredible! The stories we were told were of course heart wrenching, but to hear of the ways that the house assisted the patients and their families was tremendous! I was excited to hear about some of the ‘not so public’ donation ideas around the house. Like for instance the Magic room where all the brand new toys by just dropping the toys off at the house. Also, there is a “help yourself room” that holds canned and dry goods donated and is kept stocked to assist the families that don’t have a lot of time and/or money to go out and purchase their own items. This room is stocked by donations. Cobb's bread is a donater of bread and buns and baked goods for the house too! It’s a beautiful thing to see the warmth and compassion these people have towards all of these families and their needs. It was truly an amazing experience."
Beth Rasmussen
Internet Administrator - Koch Ford Lincoln
Koch Ford Lincoln wins President's Award - Diamond Club
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Koch Ford Lincoln is one of only two Lincoln dealerships in Alberta (and the only one in Northern Alberta) to be recognized with the 2011 President's Award Diamond. The President's Award Diamond Club is Ford of Canada's highest dealership honour presented annually to those dealerships who demonstrate outstanding achievement in sales and customer satisfaction.
"Earning The President's Award signifies our entire staff's dedication to delivering superior customer satisfaction day in and day out," says President Dave Koch. "I couldn't be more proud to receive this recognition, especially since it comes from the people we value most - our customers and employees. They're the reason we are able to accept this award."
Our heartfelt congratulations go out to our sister dealership, DK Ford, as they have won the President’s Award for the 12th straight year.
All About Tires!
Checking tire pressure and tire wear is vital to achieving maximum tire life and fuel economy. The small amount of the tire that makes contact with the road is the only contact between your car that weighs thousands of pounds and the ground. Ensuring your tires are well maintained will ensure your the safest, most reliable driving experience.
Please enjoy the below informative videos describing how to check and adjust tire pressure, and how your tire indicates alignment issues. Thanks to our Service Manager Tim Szabo for providing this useful information!
How To Apply Rust Protection
One thing about coated metal is that it’s a bit vulnerable to stone chipping. Most people, especially in Canadian winters, are driving in situations with stones and sand. This can damage the paint and metallic coating, and leave the ferrous materials exposed to corrosion. Rust can occur year round, though it is the most prominent in the winter months. Adding salt to the mixture of water, iron and oxygen causes the rust to grown more rapidly. It collects in the seams and crevices of the doors and body panels, resulting in serious rust problems.
Enjoy this informative "How To" photo blog put together by Neil Sarmiento, our Detail Manager, which describes how to apply Rust Protection to your vehicle.
Visit http://www.kochfordlincoln.com/detail.htm for more information and our Detail Department's price list.
Enjoy this informative "How To" photo blog put together by Neil Sarmiento, our Detail Manager, which describes how to apply Rust Protection to your vehicle.
Detail Department FAQ's
Why is it a good idea to polish your vehicle?
Power polishing your vehicle helps remove common paint defects, including oxidation, water spots, insect damage, swirl marks and scratches. When your vehicle has scratches from everyday wear and tear or snow brush scratches as a result of our lovely Edmonoton weather, on a sunny day, the uv rays get into the valleys of the scratches which dulls your showroom shine look. By power polishing, you will bring back the shine and protect it from the harsh sunlight.
Why get your vehicle detailed?
A vehicle that is professionally detailed on a regular basis will maintain higher value, resale price and trade-in value. A clean interior will reduce allergens and air-borne toxins that may cause adverse health conditions.
Dirty air vents can spread dust and other allergens about the cabin. Filmy windows and mirrors can obscure the driver’s view of the road. Grit and grime can work their way inside buttons and switches and cause them to fail. What does 3M™ protection do for your vehicle?
Every vehicle can benefit from extra protection from rock chips, road salt, bug acids and general weathering. 3M™ Paint Protection Film is specifically designed to help preserve the beauty and integrity of automotive finishes. It is ideal for protecting surfaces in high wear areas from chipping, scratching, weathering and many other types of environmental damage.
We are RENOVATING!
We are renovating to serve you better!
Our main building on the south side of the lot will be completely rebuilt to serve our customers better. The entire dealership and all of our departments WILL remain open.You can access the site from the 2nd, 3rd and 4th entrances on the east side of Gateway Boulevard. Parking is located behind the Body Shop and Detail Centre.
The New Vehicle Centre will be housed in a construction trailer behind the Fleet and Lease building.
The Pre-Owned Centre on the north side of the site will remain open and operating with the Internet Department housed upstairs.
The Service Department is staying open and will continue to serve customers throughout the renovations. Our service advisers and appointment coordinators will be housed in the trailers just off of Gateway Boulevard. We will have porters and guides readily available to help customers navigate their way around the site easily and safely.
Reception will be located in the Fleet and Lease building and our Fleet and Lease department will remain where it is currently located.
The Cafeteria will be open for lounging only until March 23, and then will reopen with full food service throughout the renovations. Access to the cafeteria will be through the back of the building and up a set of stairs.
When navigating through our site, please feel free to ask anyone for help if you have trouble finding anything you need.
The projected date for completion is November 2012.
Koch Ford and Edmonton Community to Raise as much as $6,000 for Crestwood Curling Club
Innovative test-drive event will yield much-needed money for a new refrigeration plant
Koch Ford is bringing Edmonton’s first Ford Motor Company of Canada, Limited’s innovative Drive One 4 UR Community event to Edmonton in an effort to raise up to $6,000 for the Crestwood Curling Club. For every person who test-drives a Ford vehicle at the club on Sunday, February 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Koch Ford and Ford of Canada will donate $20 to the curling club. The funds will go towards the purchase of a much-needed refrigeration plant for the club’s rink.
“This is program is about creating a partnership with our community and with our friends,” said Brad Burgeson, new car sales manager at Koch Ford. “We are grateful to have the opportunity to make a difference to the Crestwood Curling Club and to get involved with the community in a different part of the city.”
“The Crestwood Curling Club is fortunate to have a company like Koch Ford to help us raise funds to replace our aging refrigeration plant,” said Darcy Hyde, general manager at Crestwood Curling Club. “Our facility is 58 years old and is in need of several repairs. I know the 1000-plus members who use it every week will appreciate the support.”
On Sunday, a hotshots event will be held at the curling club, with approximately 30 curlers battling it out making different shots for prizes and bragging rights. The club’s lounge will also be open to the public.
Since the start of Ford’s Drive One 4 UR School and Community programs in 2010, more than 25,000 test-drives at more than 160 events have generated over $460,000 in donations for high schools and organizations in Canada.
To participate, please visit the Crestwood Curling Club at 14317-96 Ave NW, between 11:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. on February 12.
Participants must be 18 or older and have a valid driver’s license. There is a limit of one test-drive per household.
The Koch Story
In 1965, Les Koch had the idea to open a new Ford dealership in Edmonton. Les, along with his brothers Murray and Loris and their uncle Frank Paege opened up Les Koch Mercury. The original dealership was located on 104 Street in what is now the Greyhound South depot. By 1968, business warranted a move to our present location on Gateway Blvd and 51 Ave.
Unfortunately, less than a year after the move, Les Koch passed away. In 1969, with the help of Ford and IAC, Les’s brothers Murray and Loris Koch were able to acquire the store. At the time, Les’s sons Duane, Dave, Dwight and Rick were aged 17, 16, 12 and 6 respectively.
All of Les’s boys started in the automotive industry at Les Koch Mercury. They began pumping gas, washing vehicles and working as lot attendants. In 1975, Dave and Duane entered new vehicle sales, and by 1979 they had become managers.
In 1992, a new Ford franchise in Leduc became available, and Dave suggested that he and his brothers pursue the opportunity. Dave, Duane, Dwight and Rick mortgaged their homes along with their mother’s home, and with the help of their uncle Murray, convinced Ford that they had the necessary skills and potential to make this dealership great. On January 1, 1993, DK Ford opened its doors and thus started the “Koch Automotive Group”. Interestingly, of the 12 employees who started in Leduc, 5 were from the Koch family, and many of the founding employees still work there today! The primary focus of the “Koch Automotive Group” was and continues to be Customer and Employee Satisfaction.
In 2001, Murray and his business partner Wayne Chesney wanted to divest themselves of Koch Ford Lincoln. When the “boys” learned of Murray’s desire to retire, they went to work and put together a deal to purchase the dealership at current market value. In order to facilitate the sale, they mortgaged their homes once again (this time without their mother’s help!). Ford agreed to the ownership change, but only if several conditions were met including one that specified that DK Ford had to be the winner of the prestigious President’s Award from Ford of Canada for two out of three years. DK Ford won the President’s Award for two years in a row, enabling the brothers to buy Koch Ford Lincoln in 2003.
In 2006, Landing Ford in Athabasca was acquired by the “Koch Automotive Group” and was renamed Koch Ford Sales (Athabasca) Ltd. In 2008, Dwight Koch retired from the group, and Greg Kociuba (one of the initial 12 DK Ford employees) was made the managing partner at Koch Athabasca.
Today, Dave, Duane and Rick are fully involved in the dealerships, and Murray still comes to his office several times a week. As well, there is now a third generation of Koch’s working at the dealerships! Dave’s son Jeremy is a new vehicle sales manager in Edmonton and Duane’s son Les is a sales manager in Leduc. Rick’s son Jordan is a finance specialist and his other son Jason is an apprentice mechanic, both at DK Ford in Leduc.
The Koch brothers are truly dedicated to Customer and Employee Satisfaction. They appreciate all that their employees have contributed to this vision, and appreciate the pride, dedication and effort within the “Koch Automotive Group”.
Employee of the Month - December 2011
Lori is a very dedicated part of our admin team. Lori believes in doing the right thing, even when no one is looking. She really enjoys working with the great people here at Koch. Your dedication and commitment is appreciated by all of us.
Thank you, Lori!
Ford Focus named Free Press Car of the Year!
What was your first car? Mine was a 2003 Ford Focus ZX3! It was bright yellow with tonnes of personality. I loved it and was a sad day when I had to let it go to another excited owner.
That's why I was delighted to find out that the Ford Focus was named the Free Press Car of the Year!
Check out these articles for more details, photos and reviews:
Ford Focus and BMW X3 are Free Press Car and Truck of the Year
2012 Ford Focus is Loaded with Sophistication
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| My First Car! |
What was your first car? Mine was a 2003 Ford Focus ZX3! It was bright yellow with tonnes of personality. I loved it and was a sad day when I had to let it go to another excited owner.
That's why I was delighted to find out that the Ford Focus was named the Free Press Car of the Year!
Check out these articles for more details, photos and reviews:
Ford Focus and BMW X3 are Free Press Car and Truck of the Year
2012 Ford Focus is Loaded with Sophistication
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