Ford Bronco vs. Bronco Sport: Which Ford SUV Is Right for You?

September might still feel warm in Franklin, Kentucky, but colder temperatures, icy conditions, and occasional snow are right around the corner. Getting ahead of the season with a Ford winter maintenance checklist helps you avoid breakdowns, costly repairs, and unsafe driving conditions. If you own a workhorse Ford F-150, adventure-ready Bronco, a family-friendly Expedition, or any other Ford vehicle, a little preparation now goes a long way once frost starts showing up on your windshield. Check Your Battery and Electrical System Hot weather is tough on batteries, and with summer stop-and-go traffic, road trips, and towing, your battery may have taken a beating. And now, cold weather is on the forefront to compound that. It’s hard on batteries, and a battery that works fine in summer can fail quickly when temperatures drop. As part of your Ford winter maintenance checklist, have your battery tested for charge and voltage. Look for corrosion around the terminals and make sure all connections are secure. Most batteries last 3 to 5 years, so if yours is getting up there, it is worth replacing before winter arrives rather than dealing with a dead battery on a cold morning. Inspect Your Tires for Cold-Weather Readiness Tire pressure drops as temperatures fall, which can affect handling and fuel economy. Check your tire pressure regularly throughout September and October, and refer to your owner's manual for the recommended pounds per square inch for your specific Ford model. While you’re at it, inspect the tread depth and look for any uneven wear or visible damage. Tires in good condition give you better traction on wet or icy roads, which is especially important for drivers navigating rural Kentucky roads. Test Your Brakes and Fluids Your Ford winter maintenance checklist should always include a thorough brake inspection. Cold weather can make existing brake issues worse, so if you notice any squealing, grinding, or soft pedal feel, get it checked right away. You will also want to verify your coolant, brake fluid, and windshield washer fluid levels. Make sure your coolant mixture is appropriate for freezing temperatures—a proper antifreeze-to-water ratio protects your engine when temperatures dip below freezing. Check Your Lights and Wiper Blades Shorter days in fall and winter mean you rely on your headlights more often, and with the wet conditions approaching, you don’t want to be caught off-guard. Walk around your Ford and confirm that all exterior lights are working properly, including brake lights and turn signals. Replace any burnt-out bulbs before they become a safety issue. Wiper blades should also be inspected and replaced if they are streaking or skipping across the glass. Consider switching to winter wiper blades, which are designed to handle sleet and light ice more effectively. Schedule Ford Service in Franklin, KY Before the Cold Sets In The best way to make sure your Ford is truly ready for winter is to have a qualified technician look it over. Ford service right here in Franklin, KY is available to help you work through every item on your winter maintenance checklist, from oil changes and filter replacements to battery tests and tire rotations. Ford Mobile Service also allows technicians to handle many routine services at your home or workplace, making it easy to stay on schedule even with a busy fall calendar. Bringing your vehicle in for Ford service—or arranging for it to be done while you’re on the couch at home—before the cold hits gives you peace of mind and helps you catch small issues before they turn into major repairs. Get Your Ford Winter-Ready Today Working through a Ford winter maintenance checklist in September is one of the smartest things you can do as a Ford owner in Franklin, KY. From your battery and tires to your lights and fluids, each item you check off helps ensure a safer, more reliable winter driving experience. Visit Hunt Ford at huntfordky.com to schedule your service appointment and get your Ford ready before the temperatures start to fall.

For the past 10 years, our community has come together for a simple idea with a meaningful purpose: Donate Your Lunch Money. Each year, Hunt Ford invites friends, families, customers, employees, and members of the Simpson County community to give what they can to support the Backpack Program of Simpson County Schools. The program helps provide food to local students who may not always know where their next meal is coming from. The community has the opportunity to stop by two of Franklin’s favorite lunch spots: 31W Bar & Grill or Wildfire BBQ & Grill. Supporting a student through the Backpack Program costs roughly $140 per student. That investment helps provide students with food to take home each week, giving families a little extra support when they need it most. And at Hunt Ford, we believe your generosity should go even further. We match every donation made to Donate Your Lunch Money, up to $10,000. This partnership between Hunt Ford, Simpson County Schools and our community has helped make a real difference. In fact, thanks to the generosity of our community and Hunt Ford's contributions, there is currently no waitlist for students who need to participate in the Backpack Program in Simpson County. That is something worth celebrating. In some surrounding counties, students in need can face a waitlist before receiving support through similar programs. Here in Simpson County, the continued generosity of our community has helped ensure that students who need the Backpack Program can receive that support without having to wait. But we can't take that for granted. Every year brings new students and new families who may need a little extra help. That's why we continue our partnership year after year. Whether you donate the amount you might spend on lunch, a few dollars from your pocket, or whatever you are able to give, your contribution can make an even greater impact with Hunt Ford's matching donation. Simpson County has shown what happens when a community takes care of its own. We are proud to be part of that effort, and we're grateful to everyone who continues to make Donate Your Lunch Money possible.

Most drivers worry about their car batteries in winter, but the truth is that hot weather affects car batteries just as much - if not more. Heat speeds up the chemical reactions inside a battery, which can cause fluid to evaporate and internal components to break down faster. If you are driving in hot weather in Franklin, KY, where summer temperatures regularly climb into the upper 80s and 90s, your battery could already be under more stress than you realize. What Happens Inside the Battery During Extreme Heat A car battery works by converting chemical energy into electrical power. When temperatures rise, those chemical reactions become less stable. The electrolyte fluid inside the battery can evaporate, leaving the internal plates exposed and vulnerable to damage. Over time, this process leads to what is called sulfation - a buildup of lead sulfate crystals that reduces the battery's ability to hold a charge. The heat does not always kill a battery immediately, but it quietly shortens its lifespan with every hot day that passes. Warning Signs Your Battery May Be Struggling How hot weather affects car batteries often shows up as slow engine cranking when you start your vehicle. You might also notice dimming headlights, a dashboard warning light, or electrical accessories behaving inconsistently. If your battery is three years or older and you are experiencing any of these symptoms during the summer months, that is a sign it may be time for an inspection. Do not wait until the battery fails completely, because a dead battery rarely gives you much advance warning. How to Protect Your Battery in the Heat Parking in a garage or shaded area whenever possible can help reduce the temperature your battery is exposed to throughout the day. Minimizing short trips is also helpful, since your vehicle's alternator needs time to recharge the battery fully after each start. Keeping your battery terminals clean and free of corrosion helps maintain a strong electrical connection. If you are due for a checkup, Ford battery service in Franklin, KY is a reliable way to get a professional assessment of your battery's current condition before a small problem becomes a bigger one. When to Replace Your Battery Most batteries last between three and five years under normal conditions, but consistent exposure to high heat can push that timeline shorter. A load test performed by a trained technician can measure how much charge your battery holds and whether it is likely to fail soon. If the test shows your battery is operating below its rated capacity, replacement is the most practical option. Visit Hunt Ford for a Battery Check Understanding how hot weather affects car batteries is the first step toward avoiding an unexpected breakdown. No matter if you drive a Ford F-150, Explorer, or Bronco, keeping your battery in good shape through the summer heat is essential for reliable performance. Stop by and see the service experts at Hunt Ford or visit us online at huntfordky.com to schedule a battery inspection and make sure your vehicle is ready for the heat.