Ford Ranks Highest in J.D. Power Truck Service Satisfaction

There’s plenty to enjoy about living and driving in Southern California, from sunny commutes and coastal roads to weekend trips that are possible almost year-round. But winter can still bring stretches of heavier rain, and a little preparation can make driving easier and safer. Weather experts are predicting a strong El Niño this winter, which could bring wetter conditions to Southern California. While no forecast can predict exactly what the season will bring, now is a good time to make sure your Ford is ready for rainy-day driving. You do not need to be a vehicle expert to know when something may need attention. A few simple checks can help you spot signs that it is time to bring your Ford to South Bay Ford before the wetter weather arrives. Here are five things to look for as you prepare for an El Niño winter in Southern California. 1. Take a Look at Your Tires You do not need to measure tread depth or decide whether your tires are safe on wet roads. Just take a look. Do you see obvious wear, damage, or an uneven tread pattern? Is your Ford showing a tire-pressure warning? Does one tire seem to lose air more often than the others? These are all good reasons to have your tires checked. South Bay Ford can inspect tread condition and inflation and help determine whether your tires need service or replacement. If it's time for new tires, South Bay Ford offers a Low Price Tire Guarantee on 13 different tire brands. Tire condition matters even more on wet pavement because adequate tread helps move water away from the tire and maintain contact with the road. 2. Test Your Wipers Before the Rain Arrives Southern California sunshine can be surprisingly hard on windshield wiper blades. Heat and UV exposure can dry out and deteriorate the rubber, even when the wipers have not seen much use. Turn them on and see what happens. If the blades streak, skip, chatter, or leave sections of the windshield uncleared, they may be ready to be replaced. While you are thinking about visibility, make sure your windshield washer fluid is topped off and check that your exterior lights are working. California law requires drivers to turn on their low-beam headlights when weather conditions make windshield wipers necessary. 3. Pay Attention to Your Brakes You know how your Ford normally feels when you brake, so notice if anything feels different. Squealing or grinding, vibration, a different pedal feel, or a change in braking performance can all be signs that your brakes should be inspected. South Bay Ford offers a complimentary brake inspection, with no purchase necessary. It's an easy way to have your brakes checked before the rainy season arrives. Wet roads already require more room for stopping, so heading into the rainy season with brakes you feel confident about is a smart move. The California DMV recommends driving more slowly on wet pavement and leaving extra space between your vehicle and the one ahead. 4. Notice How Your Ford Starts A weakening battery does not always give much warning before it becomes a dead one. If your Ford is taking longer to start, the engine seems to turn over more slowly, or the battery is several years old, consider having it tested before winter. South Bay Ford offers complimentary battery testing, with no purchase necessary, so you can check your battery's condition before an unexpected problem leaves you stranded. Ford Mobile Service can also handle battery service, brake inspections, wiper blade replacement, and multipoint inspections at your home or workplace for many vehicles. 5. Change How You Drive When the Roads Get Wet Some of the most important preparation happens after the rain begins. Slow down when roads are wet and leave extra space between vehicles. Roads can be especially slippery when rain first starts after a long dry stretch because oil and dust have accumulated on the pavement. Avoid sudden braking or sharp steering inputs and steer around standing water when possible. If a roadway is flooded, do not assume you can tell how deep the water is just by looking. Floodwater can hide debris, road damage, and other hazards, so choosing another route is safer. Keep a Few Useful Items in Your Ford A little preparation inside the vehicle can help too. Consider keeping a phone charging cable or portable power bank, a flashlight, bottled water, a light jacket or blanket, basic first-aid supplies, and a small towel or cleaning cloth in your Ford. When significant rain is in the forecast, it is also smart to avoid letting your fuel tank get too low. Traffic, detours, and road closures can turn an ordinary trip into a longer one. Get Your Ford Ready Before the Rain You do not have to wait for a warning light, a worn wiper blade, or an unusual noise to have your Ford checked. Whether you notice one of these signs or simply want the reassurance of a seasonal inspection, South Bay Ford can help you prepare for winter driving. Quick Lane at South Bay Ford offers tire, brake, battery, wiper, and vehicle checkup services, along with routine maintenance. Ford Mobile Service can also bring many common services directly to your home or workplace. If your vehicle needs repairs at the dealership, South Bay Ford makes the visit a little easier. Enjoy a complimentary breakfast or lunch from our café while you wait or take advantage of free shuttle service within an eight-mile radius. A little preparation now can help you enjoy the best of driving in Southern California, rain or shine.

Whether you are looking for a workhorse, an upscale everyday family vehicle or an off-road adventure, the Ford F-150 Lightning has you covered! This award-winning Ford EV is also eligible for a $7,500 tax credit and applicable state plug-in rebates. The F-150 Lightning is available in four trim choices: Pro, XLT, Lariat, and Platinum. All Trims are available with two major packages: 1. Max Trailer Tow Package has extra cooling hardware for maximum towing capacity, requiring the 9.6 kW Pro Power Onboard system. 2. Tow Technology Package includes a surround-view camera, heated exterior mirrors, forward parking sensors, Pro Trailer Backup Assist, Pro Trailer Hitch Assist, a trailer brake controller, onboard scales with smart hitch removal, and trailer reverse guidance. 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro The Pro is a work-oriented model better equipped than other entry-level pickup trucks. The trim has 18-inch wheels, LED headlights, keyless entry, a Class IV trailer hitch, and a power front trunk lid (frunk). The Lightning Pro also has an electronic-locking rear axle, providing additional traction when you want to go off-road and drive on rugged terrain, such as dirt, gravel, mud or snow. The interior features dual-zone automatic climate control, vinyl floors, upholstery, manually adjustable front seats, and heated front seats. 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning XLT On top of the Pro’s features, the XLT trim has cloth upholstery, carpet flooring, a leather-wrapped steering wheel, power-adjustable pedals, a power-adjustable driver’s seat, under-seat rear storage, an LED light bar, running boards, and a center console with a fold-flat work surface. The optional XLT Equipment Group has 20-inch wheels, the Ford Co-Pilot360 Assist 2.0 system, the 9.6 kW Pro Power Onboard system, a heated steering wheel, intelligent access, a 10-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, LED box lighting, a power tailgate, a tailgate work surface, and a tailgate step. 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Lariat Lariat trim has leather upholstery, ventilated front seats, LED cargo bed lighting, power-folding exterior mirrors, ambient lighting, rain-sensing windshield wipers, 20-inch wheels, and a power-sliding rear window. Lariat Equipment Group includes Ford Co-Pilot360 Active 2.0 with BlueCruise and Phone As A Key, a twin-panel moonroof, the 80-amp Ford Charge Station Pro, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering column, heated rear seats, rear storage, and all of the features from the Tow Technology Package. 2023 Ford F-150 Lightning Platinum As the name implies, the Platinum includes high-end features like premium leather upholstery, massaging front seats, heated rear seats, a twin-panel moonroof, aluminum and wood trim, and 22-inch wheels; the Platinum doubles as a luxury truck. It also comes with the Tow Technology Package and Max Trailer Tow Package as standard equipment. Visit South Bay Ford for a Test Drive We are located in Hawthorne right off the 405 and proudly serve all Southern California, including Redondo Beach, El Segundo, Hermosa Beach, Inglewood, Long Beach, Manhattan Beach, and Santa Monica. We carry a comprehensive line of Ford vehicles, making us a good choice as your Hawthorne truck dealer. We also offer auto financing to help our customers purchase the car of their dreams. Call our sales team or come visit us in person.

While heavy-duty pickup trucks are still standard tools of the trade for contractors and people who move around equipment, the F-150 Lightning can also become your new family car. Given this electric heavy-duty pickup truck’s fantastic design, convenience and safety features, you, your family and your friends can travel in style and comfort. Practically Designed for Users The interior design is so practical and user-friendly. The doors have spaces for keys and phones. There are plenty of drink holders, two glove compartments, a big center console, tons of legroom and headroom. All Lightnings come with a crew cab. An adult can easily sit in the middle back passenger seat with child car seats on either side. Storage & Workspace More people means more stuff. You don’t have to worry because you can bring a lot of stuff on the road in an F-150 Lightning. In addition to the truck bed, the F-150 has added storage areas. Flip up the rear seats for functional storage spaces. You’ll also find a fabulous optional hidden lockable storage box that folds out from beneath the floor to stow your valuables. You also have ample center console space. Ford designers went all out to enable you to even work from your truck. Get this, the gear selector can motor down into a completely flat position, and the top of the console folds out to reveal a big, flat work surface to use, like a desk for working on your laptop and laying out papers. Mega Space Frunk This is the actual name of the F-150 Lightning front trunk. If you haven’t seen a frunk yet, it’s a blend of front and truck and refers to storage space in the front of the vehicle. Electric vehicles don’t have combustible engines, so there is open space in the front under the hood. The F-150 Lightning has 14.1 cubic feet of space in the frunk. To help you envision the roominess, did you know that a 14 cubic foot freezer can hold more than 250 pounds of food? It even has a drainable underfloor, which can double as a food or beverage container. The frunk is large enough to fit two carry-on bags, two golf club sets, and more. If you carry something heavy in the frunk, you can secure it with the four heavy tie-downs in each corner. There are so many ways to use the frunk – you can even use it as a sitting area at your kid’s soccer matches. Plenty of Power This is the Ford F-150 Lightning, so the frunk delivers on its Mega-ness with four 120V electrical outlets, USB-a and USB-c ports. You can plug in toaster ovens, air pumps, charge scooters, and electric bikes – the possibilities are endless. But wait, there is more. The F-150 Lightning Pro turns into a mobile generator with Pro Power Onboard. Pro Power delivers 9.6kW in the bed with four 120V outlets plus one 240V outlet. You also have the ability to customize your range reserve, giving you the control to make sure you have plenty of charge to get back home. Ford Family Fun & Safety Since the Lightning is an EV, it provides a smoother, quieter ride. Ford switched out the rear axle with an independent rear suspension to accommodate the electric battery, and you have a nice, quiet ride without the mechanical valves, fans and gears of traditional combustion engines. Of course, the F-150 Lightning comes with Ford’s impressive safety features like lane keeping assist, automatic emergency braking, pedestrian detection, blind spot warning and more. Best Deals at South Bay Ford The 2023 Ford F-150 has widespread appeal, whether you're looking for a workhorse, an upscale everyday family vehicle or an off-road adventurer. This truck can do it all. Come see us at South Bay Ford just off the 405 in Hawthorne for a test drive you’ll never forget! Contact our team for questions.