August is National Brake Safety Awareness Month

PEKIN, Ill., – August is National Brake Safety Awareness Month! At Velde Ford, your safety is our top priority! We’ve created this list of signs your brakes are in need of service so that you can always be safe on the road! It’s recommended that you have your brakes inspected at least once a year, so be sure to schedule your service appointment at Velde Ford Pekin Service Center! Here are some signs to look out for:

1. Brake Pedal Vibration
If your brake pedal vibrates under your foot when you press on the brakes, this could be a sign of warped rotors. You’ll want to schedule an appointment to have your brakes checked at Velde Ford Service Center.

2. Pulling
You may notice your steering wheel wants to pull to the left or the right when you step on the brakes. This is a sign of multiple brake system issues, so you’ll want to have your brakes checked as soon as possible.

3. Your Dashboard Brake Light Illuminates
Your brake light is the most obvious sign of a brake system issue. It could just mean your emergency brake is engaged, so be sure to check if that’s the case. If not, you’ll want to schedule a service appointment at Velde Ford Service Center.

4. Grinding Noise

If you hear a grinding noise when you engage your brakes, this is probably the sound of the metal disc rubbing against a caliper. This noise probably indicates that you’ve damaged your rotors and could potentially be a costly repair. Be sure to schedule a service appointment right away.

5. High Pitched Screeching Noise
A high pitched screeching noise that occurs when you press on the brakes is a tell tale sign that your brake pads need to be replaced. This noise is from the wear indicator on the brake pad warning you that it’s time to have your brakes checked.

Since August is National Brake Safety Awareness Month, it’s a perfect time to have your brakes checked at the Velde Ford Service Center! If you notice any of the signs mentioned above, be sure to have your vehicle inspected right away. We want to make sure you’re staying safe on the road, so be sure to stay up to date on all of your vehicle’s routine maintenance!

At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Stop by the dealership located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com for more information.

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How to Play Pokémon Go Safely

PEKIN, Ill., – You’ve probably noticed an increased number of people wandering the streets of Pekin in the last few weeks. Pokémon Go has taken the world by storm and even begun to spark controversies. We’re here to provide you with some tips for how to play Pokémon Go safely! If you play, you’ve surely seen the warning at the beginning of the game to remain aware of your surroundings, but we’ve got some even better ideas.

Tips for playing Pokémon Go Safely…

On Foot
The idea of the game is to get players active in the real world. By walking to Pokés tops and gyms, you have the chance to hatch your eggs and catch some Pokémon on the way to your destinations. Poké stops and gyms are usually located in highly populated areas, so it’s important that you be aware of your surroundings. 

• Watch for traffic when crossing streets. 
• Don’t walk along busy roads where there are no sidewalks, especially at night. (You’re unlikely to find good stuff here anyway) 
• Don’t play alone, especially in areas you are unfamiliar with or at night. It’s more fun to play with a friend. 
• Be aware of the general public and those not on their phones. Look up to avoid bumping into to people or being rude. 

On Bike
While biking is a great way to get exercise, it’s not the safest way to catch ‘em all. You can download maps of your area to find out where poke stops are located near you. This will allow you to plan your Poké-venture accordingly.

• Don’t look at your phone while riding! You can leave the app open in your pocket so GPS can locate you for egg hatching purposes, but please don’t try to catch that weedle while you’re also trying to steer your bike. It’s not worth it. 
• Be aware of traffic! This is always important when you’re riding your bike. Again, don’t try to play between destinations. 
• Be aware of your surroundings and your belongings once you’ve reached your location. Don’t leave your bike or personal items unattended. 

DON’T POKEMON GO AND DRIVE
Don’t text and drive, don’t change the music and drive, don’t Pokémon Go and drive! Distracted driving puts you and everyone around you at risk! It can wait until you get there. If you absolutely feel the need to travel for your Pokémon Go adventures, plan your stops according to the map in your area and don’t play in between! Store your phone where you won’t be tempted to use it!

We hope our tips inspire you to be the safest, smartest trainer of them all. If you have any tips for how to play Pokémon Go safely, be sure to share them with us in the comments. If you are in need of a new ride to get you to those trainer meet-ups around town, head over to Velde Ford and one of our trained sales professionals will help you find the right new or used vehicle to match your specific needs. Don’t forget you can schedule your routine maintenance with our Velde Ford Service Center as well!

Located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554, Velde Ford of Pekin is committed to providing Pokémon trainers outstanding service. We want you to enjoy your car buying experience. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to stop by the dealership or visit our website at www.VeldeFordPekin.com. You can also reach us at (888) 221-2804. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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What’s That Smell in My Car?

PEKIN, Ill. – Is something not right with you car? Sometimes, a good way to detect a problem with your vehicle is by using your senses. If nothing looks wrong, do you smell anything? There are six very distinct smells you should look for if your car is not running like it should. Here are the six smells to know, and where they're possibly coming from.

What’s That Smell in My Car?

1. Hot Oil: Two signs to look for if you smell hot oil – smoke spewing from your engine and oil underneath your vehicle. Make sure you TURN YOUR ENGINE OFF before checking. If you see either of these two things, then you most likely have oil leaking onto your exhaust system.
2. Rotten Eggs: If you smell rotten eggs the problem is probably your catalytic converter. Your catalytic converter basically creates a chemical reaction to turn bad gases that come from your vehicle into less bad gasses that will go out your muffler. When you smell the rotten eggs, it means that your catalytic converter isn’t altering the gasses correctly.
3. Gasoline: If you’re smelling gasoline in your vehicle, it’s a possible leak from your fuel injector line or fuel tank. BE CAUTIOUS about this. If gas is leaking, a fire could start. Turn off your vehicle immediately and have it towed to our Velde Ford service center in Pekin.
4. Burnt Rubber: The good new is this could be an easy fix. Make sure your engine is off and isn’t hot before checking under the hood. Look for any belts that have come off their tracks, look loose, or are visibly cracked. If it’s cracked, you’re encouraged to get the belt replaced as soon as you can.
5. Syrup: If your coolant is leaking, it will give off a sweet smell like syrup. Engine coolant is a very important component to your vehicle running smoothly. It keeps your engine from overheating when it’s working and keeps it from freezing when you’re not running your vehicle in the winter. So, if you smell something sweet you should bring your vehicle to our service center right away.
6. Burning Carpet: If you smell burning carpet the first thing you should check is your hand brake, if you left it on while driving that could be where the smell is coming from. If that’s off, your brake pads are overheating, which is normal after slamming on your brakes. If you consistently smell it while you’re driving normally, then you have a dragging brake.

Now you know what that smell is in your car, you should make sure that your get it to our Service Center at Velde Ford so we can help you solve the issue and extend the life of your vehicle. We have certified service technicians that can take care of any repair or routine maintenance. Stop by our showroom if you’re looking for a new Ford to drive away in. The 2016 Ford Escape is a perfect small SUV that you need!

Come to Velde Ford to take a test drive in one today. We’re excited to find the perfect vehicle for you to take home today! At Velde Ford, we're committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our website: VeldeFordPekin.com

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Velde Ford Car Wash is NOW OPEN!

PEKIN, Illi. - Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, we are absolutely thrilled to announce that the Velde Ford Car Wash is NOW OPEN! This top-of-the-line car wash is the cherry on top of all of the awesome services that we offer our customers and will completely round out your entire experience with us here at Velde Ford.

After many months of planning and hard work, the Velde Ford Car Wash is NOW OPEN and is sure to be the perfect "finishing touch" to your experience with us. At Velde Ford, we strive to provide our customers and employees with an enjoyable and comfortable atmosphere. As a family owned and operated business, we treat our customers like members of the family and our employees will always give you their undivided attention because they genuinely care for you and your vehicle. As our customer, you can also always count on our factory-trained and certified technicians to give you the best possible price for their service. 

Go ahead and schedule your next service appointment with us online, then keep your vehicle so fresh 'n so clean with Velde Ford's BRAND NEW car wash! At Velde Automotive Group, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford  at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

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Is Your Vehicle Winter Ready?

PEKIN, Illi. - Alright, so we technically haven't had our "first day of winter" just yet. However, that doesn't mean we shouldn't prepare ourselves AND our vehicles, right? We have had a taste of the snow and the cold already, but before we completely dive into the brutal months that lie ahead, we have to ensure that our vehicles are primped, packed, and ready to go!

Now we have to ask, is your vehicle winter ready? If not, don't stress! We have a great checklist for you to use to prepare for anything that Old Man Winter may have in store ––

• Purchase new windshield wiper blades and refill your washer fluid. Your windshield is prone to ice, snow, and slush during this time of the year. Keep your vehicle at its best and you'll have a crystal clear view!

• Line the floor of your vehicle with rubber mats. Not only will they keep moisture out of your carpet, but they help to prevent those terrible white salt stains. 

• Check those lights. Alright, so this may seem like common sense, but many times this tends to slip people's minds. Since our days are getting shorter (and darker), ensure that all of your lights are in prime condition and working properly.

• Really, we are not trying to be pessimistic, but this time of the year we all need to look at the tank as half empty. Below zero temperatures and a low fuel tank are not a good mix and can cause your gas tank to freeze up! No one wants to run out of fuel in the dead of winter, do they?

• So if you do happen to forget our previous tip and you end up stranded out in the cold, we suggest that you keep a Winter Safety Kit in your vehicle at all times. This should include things like a first-aid kit, a blanket, flashlight with extra batteries, non-perishable snacks like granola bars, booster cables, and a windshield scraper.

• You can also keep your vehicle winter ready by taking it in for regular routine maintenance at the Velde Ford or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC Service Center. With the help of our technicians, your vehicle will continue to run at its best all winter long! 

At Velde Autos, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

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Black Friday Deals at Velde Ford!

PEKIN, Illi. - Picture this: after spending the entire day talking to all of your relatives, you wake up from a turkey and stuffing induced coma to a buzzing alarm clock at 6am. Your body is saying "let me sleep in" while your head is saying "I want a Black Friday deal". What to do, what to do? Well, we are telling you to go ahead and plan on hitting the snooze button because you can get amazing Black Friday Deals at Velde Ford ALL MONTH LONG!

With the Black Friday Deals at Velde Ford, not only can you drive off of our lot in a brand-new Ford at an incredible price, but you can also take advantage of our Black Friday Service Specials! That's right, we will get you into a new vehicle AND we will help you take care of it without breaking the bank! From a $69.95 Winter Alignment to a new set of brakes for $169.95, you won't find Black Friday deals like this any where else! 

At Velde Autos, we are committed to providing our customers with an unbeatable level of service and a great car buying experience. Feel free to visit either of our dealerships, Velde Ford located at 2200 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or Velde Cadillac Buick GMC is located at 2220 North 8th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

Visit our websites: VeldeGM.com and VeldeFordPekin.com

Follow us on: Velde GM Facebook, Velde Ford Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Pinterest, Instagram