Car Care Tips From the Pros at ToyoTechs

ToyoTechs offers these car care tips to remind you to stick to a service schedule and gain a little more peace of mind driving especially during the winter months.

1. Replace dirty filters, such as air, fuel and cabin. Clean filters help keep your  engine running better and burns less gasoline. The cabin filter removes the road dirt and grime from entering into your breathing area.
2. Change your oil and oil filter as specified in your manual — more often if your driving is mostly stop-and-go or consists of frequent short trips.
3. The cooling system should be flushed and refilled as recommended. The level, condition, and concentration of the coolant should be checked periodically.
4. The heater and defroster must be in good working condition for passenger comfort and driver visibility.
5. Replace old wiper blades regularly. This is a must for seeing the road in rainy weather.
6. Have your battery checked. The only accurate way to detect a weak battery is with professional equipment. The summer heat wears down your battery so it is more likely to fail in cold weather.
7. Inspect all lights and bulbs. Replace burned out bulbs; periodically clean road grime from all lenses.
8. Worn tires are dangerous in winter weather. Examine tires for remaining tread life, uneven wearing, and cupping; check the sidewalls for cuts and nicks. Check tire pressure once a month, letting the tires “cool down” before checking the pressure. Rotate as recommended. Don’t forget to check your spare, and be sure the jack is in good working condition. Under-inflated tires or poorly aligned wheels makes your engine work harder and thus use excess gasoline.
9. Have your brakes checked periodically for safety and to prevent costly repairs that can be caused by neglect.
10. Get transmission, brake and power steering flushes. These are part of a scheduled maintenance plan that are often neglected until a major failure. Routine checks and fluid flushes can prevent very costly repairs down the line.
11. Always carry an emergency kit with you: extra gloves, blankets, flares, a flashlight and extra batteries, a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit, jumper cables, a emergency poncho,a cell phone and car charger. Also keep water and a few “high-energy” snacks in your car.
12. Emergency phone numbers should always be kept close by.

Regular, routine maintenance can help improve your gasoline mileage, reduce pollution, and catch minor problems before they become big headaches.

Make Your Holiday Travel Safer

Get an Oil Change and a Vehicle Safety Inspection

With a busy holiday season going on don't forget that we do get extremely busy and it can be difficult to get an appointment.

During your Oil Change we will perform a Safety Inspection Check of the following items:

Tires  
Tire Pressure
Batteries
Brakes
Hoses
Belts
Air Filters
Wipers

Lights
Fluid Levels including Engine Oil, Brake Fluid, Transmission Fluid, Power Steering Fluid, Windshield Wiper Solvent and Antifreeze/Coolant.

A reminder that our other shop Atlanta Hybrid Repair / ToyoTechs 2 is now servicing Gas Powered and Hybrid, Honda, Acura, Toyota, Lexus, Mazda, Hyundai, Infiniti, Nissan and other brands.

For Appointments

AHR / ToyoTechs 2 - 770-492-7437

Always be Prepared, Get Regular Safety Inspections

Whether you're just driving around town, heading to the mountains or to visit home this fall. Atlanta Hybrid Repair reminds you to make sure your vehicle is ready for the road. Having a thorough vehicle  inspection is a must to avoid the inconvenience and safety hazards of breaking down.

ToyoTechs recommends a check of the following, tires and tire pressure, batteries, brakes, hoses, belts, air filters, wipers, fluid levels including engine oil, windshield wiper solvent and antifreeze/coolant.

We also recommend that you keep a emergency travel kit in your car. The emergency kit should include a first aid kit, jumper cables, flashlight, water, blanket and a snack. You may think you might not need an emergency kit however even driving around town you may get stuck for a few hours or more. (remember Atlanta’s Snowmageddon 2014)

The smart thing is to always get a safety check before traveling. Even if driving locally, have your vehicle inspected at least twice a year.

Regular preventive maintenance is probably the single thing you can do as a car owner to keep your car running and save money on repairs in the future.

Thanksgiving is Coming Up, Make your Plans Now

With the Thanksgiving Holiday coming up in the next few weeks this is a reminder that if you need service, repairs or a trip inspection please don’t wait till the last minute to make an appointment.

We will be closed on Thursday November 24th and Friday November 25th for the Thanksgiving Holiday. (Family and friends time)

If you are traveling we highly suggest having an oil change and a safety inspection. (better safe than sorry) During a safety inspection our Technician will give your whole vehicle a look over that includes:

1 - tire check

2 - hoses and belts

3 - air filters

4 - brakes (pads, rotors and calipers)

5 - engine cooling system (water pump, radiator, hoses)

6 - wipers

7 - all fluids (transmission, brakes, power steering and oil)

8 - check for coolant and oil leaks

9 - suspension or steering (shocks, tie rods, ball joints, bushing and control arms)

With a busy holiday season coming up, our appointments will fill up.

Question: Is Having Your Brakes Flushed Really Necessary ?

If you're like most drivers having your brakes flushed is one of the more frequently forgotten car maintenance services. Many of us don’t think about our vehicle’s brakes maintenance until they start squeaking or stop working. We usually think of a brake repair as replacing pads and rotors when in reality your brake system needs to be flushed periodically as part of your regular brake system maintenance.

Your vehicle’s brake system absorbs and retains moisture which turns the metal to rust and corrosion causing failure of internal brake system components. This leads to a compromised effectiveness and decreased stopping power.

If you look at the brake fluid in your car’s reservoir it should be clear with a yellowish hue. Brake fluid as it gets older will change to a deeper amber in color or perhaps brown and possibly blackish. This is absolutely when you need to have a brake fluid flush, before it leads to rust and corrosion problems within the braking system.

A good rule of thumb is to have your brakes flushed every 30,000 miles or every 2 years if you don’t drive a lot. Think of it this way, you wouldn’t skip changing your car’s engine oil, right ? Oil is the lifeblood of your engine as brake fluid is the lifeblood of your braking system.

With the potential of vehicle safety and brake system repairs that could cost many hundreds of dollars, the money spent on a brake flush is well worth the peace of mind.

10 Signs That Your Brakes Need to be Inspected

Your car's brakes system is the most vital component that keeps you safe while driving. Paying attention to the different signs of brake wear will save you money and keep your vehicle from bouncing off the car in front of you.

ToyoTechs recommends routine brake inspections as they are essential to safe driving and maintaining your vehicle. As responsible car owners we need to stay on top of brake maintenance. Your brakes are at the top of the list for vehicle safety. We all need to have our brakes checked at least once a year or more often if you drive a lot. Neglecting your braking system will lead to increased cost of repairs and leave you on the side of the road or worse.

Here’s what to look for to indicate your brakes need to be inspected and possibly replaced.

• Noise: screeching, grinding or clicking noises when applying the brakes
• Pulling: your car pulls to one side while braking
• Low Pedal: brake pedal nearly touches the floor before engaging
• Hard Pedal: must apply extreme pressure to the pedal before it engages
• Grabbing: brakes grab at the slightest touch to the pedal
• Vibration: brake pedal vibrates or pulses, even under normal braking conditions
• Light: brake light is illuminated on your vehicle’s dashboard
• Emergency Brake: weakness felt when applying, or you notice the brake not holding
• Smell: a bad odor after coming to a hard stop
• Stopping: the feeling that the vehicle should of stopped sooner or not stopping
• Doubt: if you have any doubt about your vehicle's braking ability, stop your car and call for tow, or slowly bring your car in NOW

Brakes are a normal wear item on all vehicles and will eventually need to be replaced. There are many factors that affect brake wear such as driving habits, operating conditions, vehicle type and the quality of the braking materials used. (cheap brake pads and shoes are cheap for a reason)

If you have not had your brakes inspected in a while please make an appointment for a safety check.