Borgman Holiday Gift Ideas For West Michigan Ford Fans

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!

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!

At the Borgman Service Center, we sometimes hear our Grand Rapids customers ask us about car myths out of concern for their vehicle. A common one is that you're not supposed to buy fuel while the delivery truck is refilling the gas station's supply tank. To put the matter to rest for our West Michigan readers, people think this is because it "stirs up sediment" that will end up in your engine. It simply isn't true. more Read More Your vehicle comes equipped with fuel filters to prevent dust, dirt, rust, sediments, and other impurities before they reach the engine. Today, there are also filters at the refinery, in the delivery truck, and in the gas pump itself, so the chances of this being an issue are near zero. However, like most other filters in your vehicle, fuel filters can compromise your engine when they fail. We'll explain how fuel filters work, where they're usually located, and when it's time to replace them. How Do Fuel Filters Work? What Are They Made Of? Like most filters, fuel filters consist of two parts: a cartridge, and media. In the case of fuel filters, the outside is usually a metal tube that's filled with special paper media or another synthetic, permeable membrane. When under pressure, the fuel is squeezed through these membranes (think high-tech coffee filter) which traps dust, dirt, sand, rust, pollen, or any other contaminants from the fuel before they enter the engine. It's also important to note that modern fuel contains detergents to dislodge anything too small to be caught by the fuel filters. Where Can I Find My Vehicle's Fuel Filters? Vehicles typically have two fuel filters. The first is more of a mesh screen and is attached directly to the fuel pump. While this makes it inaccessible, it does not typically need servicing for the life of the fuel pump. The second fuel filter is located on the main fuel line itself, and if you look beneath your vehicle you should be able to see it. We don't recommend attempting to replace it yourself* but if you suspect you have a fuel leak, this is a good place to check. Simply follow the lines from the gas tank along the bottom toward the engine. *Replacing fuel filters involves the risk of fire from spilled gasoline coming into contact with hot vehicle parts, fuel leaks while driving, and other potentially dangerous scenarios. Let the pros at the Borgman Service Center perform this task and save yourself the risks and frustrations. How Do You Know When Your Fuel Filter Needs To Be Replaced? Even without overt symptoms, we recommend replacing your fuel filter every two years or 30,000 miles, whichever comes first. However, many people only turn their attention to their fuel filters when there's an issue. This often results in costlier repairs. When your fuel filter needs replacing, there are usually some tell-tale signs. Here are some of them, but if you notice your vehicle acting strange and don't see the last time your fuel filter was replaced, schedule an appointment with the Borgman Service Center right away. Engine Feels Sluggish: This is the most tell-tale sign that your fuel filter needs replacing. It might be subtle at first, but you'll notice this when climbing hills, and then when starting from a complete stop. This is because your engine is running lean - without enough gasoline. Trouble Starting Your Vehicle: If you're having trouble starting your engine in the morning, but you hear the starter motor running at normal speed, you might not be getting enough fuel, like what we described above. Rough Idle or Stalling: This is a more progressed symptom of the first problem we've listed. Here, the problem is so severe that your engine behaves like you're pressing the throttle and releasing it, but at idle. If the engine gets too little fuel, it stalls out altogether - a dangerous (and embarrassing) situation on the road! Other Parts Failing: If your fuel filter is saturated with junk, your fuel pump has to work harder to deliver fuel to your engine. This causes the issues described above, but also will prematurely wear out your fuel pump - a costly repair. If enough pressure builds up in the fuel filter, it can allow contaminants through and clog fuel injectors too, which can present as a misfire. Vehicle Feeling Sluggish? Visit the Borgman Service Center! If you've been noticing that your vehicle doesn't quite have the pep that it used to, or if you're not sure when your fuel filter was last replaced, schedule an appointment with the Borgman Service Center! Our experts will check your vehicle for issues, and make recommendations based on our findings. However, if a repair is not critical, we will make this clear to you during your appointment so you can make informed, yet pragmatic decisions about your vehicle.?To get started, use our easy Online Scheduler to make your appointment, and then check out our latest Service Coupons for savings on the services you need. If you have any questions, feel free to Contact Us. Come see why we're the Best in the West!