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Have you ever dinged another car while parking? It’s funny how such a little mistake can be a stressful, costly headache. With Ford Active Park Assist, your chances of unwanted bumps and scrapes while parallel parking are dramatically reduced, and with Enhanced Active Park Assist, you’re also helped with perpendicular parking and getting out of tight spots. Active Park Assist Makes Parallel Parking Easy Let’s start with the base feature. When you’re looking for a parallel parking spot, slow your car to under 20 mph and press the Active Park Assist button. Your car will then use radar technology to scan for a perfect spot. You can turn on the indicator light before activating the feature to tell your car which side you’d like to park on. Your car will let you know when a good spot has been located. You then position your car properly, let go of the steering wheel, and follow the directions on your instrument panel to control the gas and brakes while your car neatly steers you into position. Enjoy  More Functionality With the Enhanced Feature With Enhanced Active Park Assist, your car can now steer you out of parallel parking spots as well as in, with equal precision, while also checking the road for oncoming vehicles. In addition, your car can now guide you in and out of perpendicular parking spots at 90-degree angles from the road, which are ordinarily tricky when visibility is limited to either side. With all your Ford’s external cameras and radars, visibility is never a problem. Fully Automate Your Parking With Active Park Assist 2.0 Some Ford models have Active Park Assist 2.0 available, which takes automation to the next level. Now, the vehicle does everything for you, including steering, braking, accelerating, and shifting gears. All you need to do is get the car into position and then press and hold the button. Who Can Benefit from Ford Active Park Assist Any driver who regularly commutes into congested urban areas with frequent hunts for hard-to-find parking spots can benefit hugely from these features. Even confident parkers gain additional peace of mind, knowing they won’t accidentally scrape their paintwork in a distracted moment. If you’ve never driven a car with Active Park Assist before, give it a try today. You can visit our dealership and test drive your ideal Ford. Like many of Ford’s stress-saving innovations, once you see how easy this feature makes things, you won’t want to look back. Visit TNT Ford Test Site, MD, today. With an extensive inventory of new and used Fords and comprehensive vehicle services, we have all you and your car need in one place.

Spark plugs may only be a small component, but they play a big role in the smooth running of your engine. Following the recommended Ford spark plug maintenance schedule for your model is the best way to identify any issues early and keep your car running at its best. Understand What Influences Spark Plug Lifespan Although spark plugs naturally get dirty and eventually need to be replaced, there are some factors which can speed up their degradation. These include: Aggressive driving with heavy acceleration Lots of stopping and starting within short periods Failing to replace engine oil promptly Not scheduling regular engine maintenance Exposure to extreme temperatures Follow the Recommended Service Intervals Your local dealership can advise you how often the spark plugs need to be changed on your Ford. As well as considering factors such as your typical driving conditions, they will also be guided by the type of spark plugs you have: Copper Spark Plugs A copper and nickel alloy is the most common type of spark plug and is an excellent conductor of electricity. However, as copper is a relatively soft metal, this type of spark plug tends to wear more quickly and needs to be replaced every 2–3 years, or 20,000–30,000 miles. Platinum Spark Plugs Platinum doesn’t conduct electricity quite as well as copper, but is still effective enough for spark plugs. What it lacks in sparking performance, it makes up for in lifespan because platinum plugs typically last 4–7 years, or 60,000–100,000 miles. Iridium Spark Plugs Iridium combines the best of copper alloy and platinum, delivering outstanding performance and impressive longevity. It also has the added benefit of having a lower melting point than both other metals. If you have iridium spark plugs, you can expect them to last around 5-9 years, or 75,000-125,000 miles, possibly longer. Be Alert for Warning Signs As well as understanding the recommended routine maintenance, it’s also important to look out for any warning signs that your spark plugs are struggling. This might include: Misfiring engine Rough idling Reduced fuel economy Backfiring or sputtering Difficulty starting Schedule Regular Maintenance Services By taking your car for regular maintenance services at your local dealership, any required repairs can be carried out promptly. This prevents other engine problems from causing your spark plugs to degrade. Regular services also provide the dealership with the opportunity to check your spark plugs routinely, before a fault develops. If you need your spark plugs checked or need to schedule a full service, we are happy to help. Get in touch with our friendly team today at TNT Ford Test Site, MD to find out more.