Newsletter

July 2011

Read on for tech tips on air conditioning and automobile safety for pets!

Retirement

In June we said good-bye to two long time employees; Vickie Grant and Al Bouchie.  Although we were sad to see them leave, we know that they will be busier than ever having a great time. After all retiring is not an end to life, it's a chance to let loose and totally unwind.

Vickie started her career here in 1982 processing warranty claims, among other duties.  At that time we did not have a separate Finance & Insurance Department, but that was soon to change.  When Dick and Jerry decided to create the F&I Dept., they both thought that Vickie would be the best person to get it off the ground.  She went to Ford Motor Company for training and when she came back, she got right to work on building the F&I Dept.  For close to thirty years she has been the driving force behind the success of that department.  For many years she handled all the F&I duties herself, often working 6 days a week.  It is not an exaggeration to say that her vast knowledge of Finance and Insurance, her strong loyalty to the company and its customers as well as her indominitable spirit, will be very much missed.

Al Bouchie came to York's of Houlton in 1998 with many years of automotive experience under his belt.  Al worked in the Parts Department for the last 11 years and was a fountain of knowledge.  There aren't too many apsects of the auto business that Al doesn't know, and it would take a truly off the wall problem to stump him.  Al always had a smile on his face and was ready with a quick joke.  His light-hearted personality made working with him a  joy and his leaving left a big void.

We  held a luncheon that all employees attended, as well as business associates of Vickie and Al.  Dick and Jerry each gave a speech about Vickie and Al's careers and they were presented with gifts from the company with our heartfelt thanks.

Everyone here at York's of  Houlton wishes Vickie and Al the best and hope they stop in to visit us often.  We will miss working with them.


Pictured: Al Bouchie and Vickie Grant



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In-House News: Customer Comments

We recently received the following letter from a customer and wanted to share it with you:

"On July 15 I brought my car to your company after hitting a deer with it earlier in the day.  There were no openings for an appointment but after we explained the situation Angie and Hal went above and beyond to take care of my car and the passengers.  The compassion Angie and Hal showed us was very much appreciated.  They helped make what was an unfortunate incident into an opportunity to meet a very wonderful and caring team at your company.  My family will always be grateful for the warm and friendly service you provided on that stressful day."

All businesses claim to make customer service a top priority, but not all live up to their promises.  Our business philosophy, on the other hand, follows through on our commitment of delivering great service by going above and beyond the norm.  We put the highest value on friendship and respect and treat all our customers like family.

We set out to make our dealership a place where friends meet friends and send their friends.  We try to create a warm and pleasant atmosphere during your sales and service visits exceeding any you've experienced elsewhere.  We want you to feel so happy with us that you can't wait to tell your friends and neighbors.

We thank all our customers for choosing York's of Houlton for your automotive needs.  We truly appreciate your business and hearing from you, your comments are important to us.  And although it's great to receive a letter like the one mentioned above, we want to hear from you no matter what your experience here was like.  We are always looking for ways to improve and welcome the feedback of all our customers.



Pictured: Angie McGary


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Employee of the Month

Every month at York's of Houlton, the Management Team selects an individual for Employee of the Month. The employee is typically selected because they consistently turn in a stellar performance every month and deserve to be recognized for their hard work. Our employees are an important part of our business, for without our people nothing gets done! It is their dedication and diligence to quality and the day-to-day effort to keep everything moving that allows us to enjoy our reputation as a great place to do business.

Congratulations to Brenda Taylor, Employee of the Month for June. Brenda's dedication to her job shines through every day.  She is a tireless worker with an extremely strong work ethic.  She can be counted on to help out wherever she is needed in the Fresh Start Department and always with a smile.  Brenda is great with customers and coworkers alike.  Brenda has high performance standards, follows policy and procedure when performing her daily tasks, has an excellent attendance record and does an exceptional job every day.  Brenda was highly deserving of the Employee of the Month award and we all congratulate her on a job well done.



Pictured: Brenda Taylor


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Product Information: 2012 Ford Focus

Driving the all-new 2012 Focus goes beyond fun and enjoyable.  In it, you'll discover something more visceral.  A dynamic design.  An addictive driving experience.  And technology and interior ergonomics that wrap around and plug you into something that is definitely more than just a car.

It's more than good-looking for the sake of being good-looking.  This kinetic design actually serves a purpose.  An aerodynamic one.  By crafting the Focus sedan to have a body surface eight percent more aerodynamic than the previous model, Ford improved its wind resistance and therefore made it more efficient.  Irresistible to your eyes.  Less resistant to the wind.

Focus, with its Torque Vectoring Control and available sport suspension, will give you great handling on all roads, especially in the corners.  Throw in electric power-assisted steering (EPAS) and get precise response at high speeds and optimal maneuverability at slower speeds when needed.  Start all that up and you're starting more than a car.

The up-to-40 hwy mpg Focus SE has an all-new chassis plus AdvanceTrac electronic stability control (ESC) with anti-lock brakes.  Handling, performance and fuel economy. You get it all.

It's that first impression you never forget.  In Focus, it happens when you climb inside, close the door and realize you're surrounded by a cockpit ergonomically designed to heighten the thrill of driving while connecting you to a vast array of groundbreaking technology.  First impression?  More like a lasting impression.
Multitasking has an entirely new meaning in Focus,  In here, when you're talking multitasking, you're not just talking ab out all the things you can do with this many cubic feet of space – you're talking about how available SYNC with MyFord Touch accesses gigs of your music, photos, favorite destinations, climate settings and more.

Technology without a purpose serves no one.  But technology like that found in Focus serves everyone – including people who may never set foot inside one.  Available features such as active park assist help you parallel park, rain-sensing wipers help keep your vision clear, and forward and reverse sensors help alert you to potential hazards.

All the thrills, exhilaration, technology and handling mean nothing without safety.  A quality-built car like Focus is engineered so that every element plays a part in helping keep you and yours safe – seats, airbags, steel and body.  That's something you can depend on.

You have your own sense of style.  As much as your personality, it's what makes you uniquely you.  And to make sure that individuality is shown in everything you do, there are a number of accessories you can use to customize your Focus inside and out.  Visit the showroom at York's of Houlton and let one of our knowledgeable salespeople show you all the available options on the all new 2012  Ford Focus.




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Safe Side: Automobile Safety for Pets

Check out some common-sense cautions to help keep your pets safe in and around vehicles.

Don't Leave Me This Way!

Number-one rule of automobile safety for pets: NEVER LEAVE YOUR PET ALONE IN A PARKED CAR! Overheating can kill an animal.

It only takes ten minutes on an 85-degree day for the inside of your car to reach 102 degrees Fahrenheit, even if the windows have been left open an inch or two. Within 30 minutes, the interior can reach 120 degrees – and even when the temperature is a pleasant 70 degrees, the inside of your car may be as much as 20 degrees hotter than the air outside. Parking in the shade offers little protection, as the sun is constantly shifting throughout the day. Pets who are young, elderly, or obese are particularly at risk of overheating (hyperthermia), as are those with thick or dark-colored coats, and breeds with short muzzles.

This same precaution carries over to the winter months, too. In cold weather, a car can act as a refrigerator, holding in the cold and causing an animal to freeze to death.

Whether you're going around the block or across the country, the ASPCA recommends that you keep your pets safe and secure in a well-ventilated crate or carrier. Make sure it's large enough for your pet to stand, sit, lie down and turn around in. You'll also want to keep in mind:

Don't allow your pet to ride with his head outside the window. This can subject him to inner ear damage and lung infections, and he could be injured by flying objects.

Don't feed your furry friend in a moving vehicle – even if it's a long drive.

Carry a gallon thermos of cold water, or bring along a two-liter plastic bottle of water that you've frozen the night before.





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Tech Tips by Beecher Cullins: Air Conditioning

If you think your A/C isn't as frosty as it used to be, but it's still blowing cold, the system just may need to be recharged. While manufacturers used to use a type of refrigerant known as R-12, or Freon, researchers have found it is a leading cause of ozone depletion. As such, it's illegal to use Freon in your car today. Since as late as 1994, manufacturers have used R-134a to keep things cold in the cabin.
 
While you can technically recharge your vehicle's refrigerant yourself, its best left to a qualified professional if you're not confident in vehicle maintenance. All refrigerants have a tendency to displace oxygen, which means if you accidentally evacuate the system, the stuff could literally push the air out of your lungs. Not fun.

At York's of Houlton, our certified technicians will measure the amount of pressure in your system, and if it's low, they'll add enough to get the reading within your manufacturer's specifications. They will then run your car for a few minutes with the A/C on high and use a special thermometer to measure the system's output. If it's not within the necessary parameters, you may have a leak somewhere in your system.
 
If you do have a leak, your technician will hook your vehicle up to a special refrigerant recovery system and drain any of the harmful gas from your car. At this point, the technician will inspect all of your air conditioning hard lines to make sure there are no obvious cracks. They may add a tracer dye to the system to help out. The good news is, your expensive hard lines are usually made of aluminum and rarely fail. Instead, it's likely one of your system's components is the culprit.

If you are experiencing any problems with your air conditioning, bring your vehicle to the Service Department at York's of Houlton and we will be happy to help get your air conditioning system back in shape.



Pictured: Beecher Cullins