Pete Kelley’s Auto Service has been working on Fords in North Phoenix since 1972 long enough to have seen the 300 straight-six, the 5.4 Triton, the EcoBoost turbo era and everything in between. Our ASE-certified technicians service the full lineup: F-150, F-250, F-350, Explorer, Escape, Edge, Ranger, Bronco, Expedition, Mustang, Fusion and Transit, from daily commuters to work trucks that never get a day off.
Ford builds a tough truck, but toughness and heat tolerance are not the same thing. Phoenix asks more of a Ford than Dearborn’s test schedule assumes, and the failures we see here cluster in predictable places: turbochargers and intercoolers working harder in thin, hot air, cooling systems running near their limit on every grade, and timing components suffering when oil changes slip in 110-degree heat.
Models we service: F-150, F-250, F-350, Explorer, Escape, Edge, Ranger, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Expedition, Mustang, Fusion, Transit and Maverick.
If you tow with an EcoBoost F-150 or Expedition in an Arizona summer, the single most valuable thing you can do is shorten your oil interval and keep the cooling system honest. Turbocharged Fords run hotter oil temperatures than the naturally aspirated engines they replaced, and heat is what turns ordinary timing chain wear into a cam phaser rattle you can hear from the driveway.
Interval | What we perform |
30,000 miles | Full synthetic oil and filter, tire rotation, brake inspection, cabin and engine air filters, cooling system pressure test, battery load test |
60,000 miles | Transmission fluid service (10R80 and 6R80 included), spark plugs on EcoBoost engines, coolant condition check, brake fluid flush, front end and alignment inspection |
90,000 miles | Full coolant flush, rear differential and transfer case fluid on 4WD, water pump inspection on 3.5L Cyclone engines, serpentine belt and tensioner, fuel system service |
A metallic rattle for two to five seconds on a cold start, sometimes with a check engine light for camshaft timing. Ford’s variable cam timing phasers rely on clean oil at the right pressure, and extended intervals in Phoenix heat let oil thin and varnish. Caught early it is a phaser and solenoid job. Ignored, it becomes timing chain and guide replacement at several times the cost.
Coolant loss with no visible external leak, sometimes accompanied by oil contamination, on Explorer, Edge, Taurus and Flex models. Ford mounted the water pump inside the timing cover, driven by the timing chain when the seal fails, coolant goes straight into the crankcase. This is the failure that ends engines. Any unexplained coolant loss on a Cyclone V6 should be diagnosed immediately, not topped off.
A misfire or rough idle on an older F-150, Expedition or E-Series. The two-piece plug design in these engines seizes in the head, and carbon welds the lower electrode shell in place. Removing them without snapping the plug takes patience, penetrating oil, correct engine temperature and the right extraction tooling. This is a job where experience is worth more than horsepower.
Juddering from a stop, hesitation between first and second, or a transmission warning light on 2011–2016 models. Ford’s dry dual-clutch design is heat-sensitive by nature, and Phoenix stop-and-go traffic is close to the worst-case scenario for it. Clutch and TCM condition needs to be measured before anyone quotes a repair, because the right answer varies considerably between vehicles.
Ford trucks and SUVs are hard on tires and harder on alignment. A loaded F-150 or a Bronco running larger-than-stock tires pulls camber and toe out of specification faster than a sedan will, and the first evidence is usually feathering on the inside shoulder. We align on our own rack, so when you buy tires here the alignment is checked in the same visit rather than booked somewhere else for next week.
Schedule your Ford service today. Written estimates, correct specifications, no pressure – and an honest answer if the work belongs somewhere else.
Beat the Phoenix heat with a fast, reliable AC checkup from Pete Kelley’s.
Quick, affordable oil changes to keep your engine running smooth.
Expert engine diagnostics and repair from Phoenix’s local experts.
Restore performance and quiet the ride with expert exhaust repairs.
Stay safe on the road with thorough brake inspections and repairs.
Expert transmission care to keep your ride shifting smoothly.
Battery testing and electrical repairs, done right the first time.
Prevent overheating with cooling system repairs from Pete Kelley’s
All of them. F-150, F-250 and F-350, Explorer, Escape, Edge, Ranger, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Expedition, Mustang, Fusion, Maverick and Transit. We handle gasoline, EcoBoost turbo and Power Stroke diesel Fords.
Yes. We service Power Stroke diesel Fords including routine maintenance, diagnostics, cooling system work and emissions-related repairs. Call with your engine and year so we can confirm scope before you drive over.
Almost always cam phaser wear. Variable cam timing depends on oil pressure and oil condition, and Arizona heat accelerates oil breakdown. Shortening your oil interval to 5,000 miles on a turbocharged Ford is cheap insurance against a repair that runs into the thousands.
Generally yes, and the work carries a NAPA AutoCare 24-month / 24,000-mile warranty honored at NAPA shops nationwide. We are a dealer alternative, not a discount shop — you get the same quality parts and a written estimate before anything starts.
Free written estimate. No pressure. Honest advice from a shop that has been on North Central since 1972.