7 Car Prep Tips For Fall Road Trips in West Michigan

It's that time of year again: as West Michigan goes through cycles of warm days and frigid nights, fluctuating temperatures can cause small issues to arise in your vehicle. A lot of the time, a check engine light will come on for something insignificant, including faults in the sensors monitoring for issues. more Read More If your vehicle started showing a check engine light recently, it's not always bad news. Oftentimes, a quick check from our highly-skilled technicians is all that's needed. If you do need a repair, our team will ensure it's completed correctly and promptly. Read on for five common causes of a check engine light, then visit the Borgman Service Center for a pre-winter checkup! Your Gas Cap Is Loose When customers come in reporting a check engine light in an otherwise healthy vehicle, a loose fuel cap is often the cause. The cap prevents gasoline fumes from escaping the tank and helps the entire fuel system stay at the correct pressure. If you've discovered your check engine light is on after filling up at the gas station, pull over and check if your gas cap is properly tightened. The light may not go away after fixing the issue, but our technicians will be able to shut it off for you. Dirty Oxygen Sensors Most vehicles are equipped with a series of oxygen sensors. These measure the amount of unburnt oxygen in your vehicle's exhaust, and then tell the computer to adjust the fuel/air mixture accordingly. A failed sensor will throw a check engine light, but sometimes all that's needed is a quick cleaning. An exhaust gas recirculation or EGR valve failure can also produce a check engine light. This valve lowers the amount of nitrogen oxide in your exhaust and can become partially or completely clogged. Small Vacuum Leak Every vehicle relies on a series of rubber vacuum tubes to regulate certain functions of the engine. As they age, the rubber hoses begin to crack and let air in or out, but may only do this under certain conditions. Most of the time this produces a rough idle, but strange symptoms that are tricky to diagnose cal also arise. Our technicians have experience finding and replacing damaged vacuum lines quickly. Failing Spark Plugs & Wires If your spark plugs are malfunctioning, either from failing wires or the plugs themselves, gasoline vapor is pushed through the exhaust system without being ignited. This is detected by sensors, and can potentially cause dangerous issues like backfiring, or gasoline exploding from the heat inside the exhaust system. It can also cause expensive damage to the oxygen sensors, catalytic converter, and more. Fortunately, a misfiring engine usually isn't subtle. However, sensors could detect an issue before it becomes major, so bring your vehicle in as soon as possible. Engine Airflow Issues Your engine relies on sensors to measure the air and fuel coming into the cylinders are mixed together at the right ratio. This ensures your engine runs cleanly and efficiently. If one of these ingredients is disrupted, the sensors catch it and alert you via the check engine light. There are two common culprits for airflow issues: your engine air filter being clogged, and a failing mass airflow sensor. Of course, there could be other factors in play. Our technicians will be able to find the cause and resolve it promptly. Seeing a Check Engine Light? The Borgman Service Center in Grand Rapids Can Help! While your vehicle's onboard diagnostics produce codes that correspond to predefined issues, it's a technician's job to interpret these codes and think holistically about the source of the issue. That's the difference between using a trusted repair facility like the Borgman Service Center and an auto parts store. If you're seeing a check engine light, Schedule An Appointment with us and Contact Us if you have any questions. Our team will make sure we identify and resolve the issue properly. Be sure to check out our latest Service Coupons and come see why we're the Best in the West!

We've already endured one snowstorm this season in West Michigan and more are surely on the way. Luckily, the Borgman Service Center is here to help keep you on the road all winter long. This month, the Borgman Service Center is showcasing some options available for the upcoming winter weather: genuine Ford accessories, professionally-installed rust protection, and smartphone-enabled remote start. These can make driving in our Michigan winter wonderland much easier, and are great gift ideas too! Read more about each below. more Read More Shop Genuine Ford Accessories at Borgman Ford Whether you're looking for something specific, such as all-weather floor mats or something for the warmer months like a roof-top tent system, Borgman Ford is your one-stop shop for genuine Ford parts and accessories! Our staff would be delighted to help you find the perfect gift for the Ford fan on your list, or make recommendations for upgrades that are tailored to their vehicle. Shop electronics like dashcams, lighting kits, or backseat screens for the kids, toolboxes and bedliners for trucks, or even tube step bars, Molle gear systems, and roof racks for outdoorsy types! We can also handle any required installation - so you know it's been performed safely and correctly. Rust & Corrosion Protection Borgman Ford maintains a relationship with Great Lakes Chemical in Grand Rapids, MI. They are our trusted partner for professionally-applied treatments and coatings such as Diamon-Crystal for windshields, paint protectors, rust proofing, and more. Many of our customers choose one or more of their services when they buy a vehicle from us, but it's not unheard of to have our service department handle it for you too. During the winter your vehicle's body panels, subframe, suspension components and more are exposed to rock salt and other ice-melting solutions. Road commissions use these to chemically melt ice on roadways, and completely necessary for ensuring they're as safe as possible. Salt mixes with the water in the ice to lower the freezing point, but it also makes the water more conductive. This faster transfer ions is what accelerates rusting, and it's even more pronounced in salt substitutes. The underside of your vehicle gets the worst of it, and runaway rust can cause problems in your suspension, exhaust, and even brake lines! Frequently visiting the car wash can help, but adding an extra layer of protection to your vehicle will lock out salt water, stave off costly repairs, and dramatically extend the life of your vehicle. The Borgman Service Center will be happy to handle the application of the latest in rust protection technology. We've teamed up with Great Lakes Chemical for this and other services. With their advanced process, there's no need to drill holes into parts of your vehicle to apply the treatment, and it will not interfere with your manufacturer's warranty. Using a specialized applicator, the technician will coat structural parts on the underside of your vehicle, as well as other areas that are prone to rust such as door sills. They will also "fog" the inside of your doors, quarter panels, trunk lid and seam, hood, and more. For more information and a quote, visit the Borgman Service Center. Ford Remote Start Systems The Borgman Service Center offers Ford's Remote Access kit and will be happy to install it on a compatible vehicle. This kit allows you to start your vehicle via your smartphone and includes other convenience features too, such as mobile alerts from the anti-theft system. To learn more and to see what solutions are available for your vehicle, visit the Borgman Service Center. Quality Service & Upgrades For Your Vehicle in West Michigan Whether you're thinking of adding upgrades to someone's vehicle as a holiday gift, or need a vehicle health checkup before winter hits, visit the Borgman Service Center in Grand Rapids, MI for affordable offers and unparalleled customer service. We’ll review which solutions are compatible with the intended vehicle and lay your options out for you but will never pressure you to buy. If you need a pre-winter check-up, our trained technicians will carefully inspect your vehicle's systems for cracked hoses, leaks, and other worn components - replacing them with the highest quality parts available at an affordable price. Visit our Service Center page and make your appointment online today. Come see why we're the Best in the West!

As the seasons change, Michigan's sprawling forests erupt in brilliant displays of red and gold. If you're taking to the highways this fall to enjoy the changing leaves with your family, we've pulled together some of the best places in Michigan to take in the views. Of course, ensuring your vehicle is ready is key to a successful trip. Whether you need an oil change, tire rotation, or just a general checkup, the pros at the Borgman Service Center are here to help you travel safely. Use our easy Online Scheduler then take a look at our latest Service Offers to get ready to explore. more Read More The Leelanau Peninsula & State Park M-22 along the Lake Michigan lakeshore is absolutely breathtaking in autumn. At places, you can see Lake Michigan from the road, but most of the way is canopied by forest-capped rolling hills. The route starts near Manistee among the fruit trees and roadside produce stands before approaching the dramatic hills and blazing colors of the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. Keep following until you reach Leland, a small coastal town between the Big Lake and Lake Leelanau. If cycling is your thing, you'll find plenty of opportunities near Northport, MI. M-22 provides the twists and turns you'll be sure to enjoy before veering southward along the Leelanau Peninsula’s eastern shore on the way toward Traverse City. 8 miles off of M-22, a wooded M-201 brings you to Leelanau State Park near Northport. The park is surrounded on three sides by Lake Michigan, granting colorful hiking trails, surf-washed beaches, and the brilliant white 1858 Grand Traverse Lighthouse. If you're looking for a destination to travel to up north, this is one of the best. The Blue Star Highway Michigan’s favorite warm-weather retreat, the Lake Michigan Lakeshore, transforms into a riot of color in the fall. If you follow Lakeshore Avenue south from Grand Haven, you'll be traveling through a tunnel of colorful maples and poplars. In Holland, the Blue Star Highway features sweeping curves that appeal to Sunday drivers, motorcyclists, and anyone in love with sweeping rural landscapes. The journey concludes with the cool sands and Lake Michigan vistas of St. Joseph's Lookout Park. Alpena & Tawas City It’s easy to overlook Michigan’s “Sunrise Coast,” but along the Lake Huron shore, the brilliant autumn foliage gives reason to slow down. Lakeside towns brighten with color and bright hardwoods offer a lovely backdrop to rocky beaches and romantic lighthouses. In Tawas City, take a quick detour out to sandy Tawas Point State Park to see Lake Huron’s powerful whitecaps and visit the elegant white Tawas Point Lighthouse. Then follow US-23 along the Lake Huron shore, through coastal villages that slow down with the cool of autumn. In Au Sable, lace up your boots and hit the Shore to Shore Hiking Trail to enjoy the vivid colors of maple and poplar trees and the pleasure of crunching leaves underfoot. In Harrisville, feast on a beachside picnic or detour to the towering white-and-red lighthouse at Sturgeon Point. Finally, in Alpena, catch one last look at powerful Lake Huron from Thunder Bay. Old Mission Peninsula Old Center Road, or M-37, winds up the center of Old Mission Peninsula, a thin strip of land that leads into Grand Traverse Bay. This route twists and turns over rolling hills of tidy, golden-hued vineyards and hardwood stands, all backed with views of sparkling Lake Michigan. Look for opportunities to buy locally-grown apples and pears or stop at one of a dozen wineries occupying Old Mission, including award-winners Brys Estate, 2 Lads Winery, and Chateau Grand Traverse. For even more destinations, visit Michigan.org. Ready to set out on your next adventure? Let the pros at the Borgman Service Center ensure your oil changes are up to date, your engine, tires, brakes, and other components are all in good condition, and that your vehicle is ready for a successful trip! Schedule Your Appointment Online here and take a look at our latest Specials to save on the services you need. Come see why we're the Best in the West!