Appointment Times Are Filling Up Fast For The Holidays

Just a quick reminder this time of year we get extremely busy and it can become difficult to get everyone serviced. If you need service or a trip inspection please call asap.

Don’t forget about our other shop for service. It is smaller however often it’s easier to get  an appointment. The shop is run by 20 year ToyoTechs employee Kenny Hancock who is the General Manager at that location. Kenny was formerly the lead Master Technician at the main shop for 15 years. So feel confident you will be treated well.

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

5630 Peachtree Blvd.

Chamblee Ga. 30341

770-492-7437

Located 1 mile inside I-285

across the street from the Kia dealer and Wendy’s

Practical Holiday Gifts: Vehicle Safety Items

Heading into the holidays we all have that person who is hard to buy gifts for so why not buy something practical. Safety items for you car can come in handy during an emergency or just a cold frosty morning.

The small and inexpensive items such as coffee cups, tire pressure gauges, ice scrapers or a emergency kit can play a big role in vehicle comfort and safety. If a breakdown occurs in cold conditions (remember snowmageddon) these items are a must have for all vehicle owners.

The emergency road kit should include jumper cables, flashlight, flares, blanket, bottled water and dry food snacks. These items can easily be found on the internet at Walmart, Target, Amazon or many other stores.

Call soon for your holiday appointment service needs. The holidays are always busy with so many customers needing safety inspections and their vehicle’s serviced.

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

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

Thanksgiving is for Family, Friends and Being Grateful

It seems like just a few weeks ago that we sent out a Thanksgiving message for all our friends and customers. However another year has already passed.

We are very grateful for your patronage and our company continues to thrive because of you the customer. Your loyalty is so meaningful to our employees and families.

This year as in all the other years has had it’s ups and downs. Thankfully as in most years we have had many more ups than downs.

With this in mind we have so many things to be grateful for in our life’s. (definition from dictionary,com -  grateful - warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received;thankful) That is in essence how we feel about all of you guys. We are so grateful for each and everyone of you.

We wish you a fantastic Thanksgiving Weekend, spending time with family, friends and some great food. The thought of all of you relaxing with family and friends warms our hearts.

Many Thanks and May This be the Best Thanksgiving EVER !!!

The ToyoTechs and Atlanta Hybrid Repair Teams

“Thank you' is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.”

Alice Walker

Rust Claims Settlement Force Toyota to Set Aside 3.4 Billion

Here is some information on a new issue with rusting/corroding on several Toyota models.

Toyota has set aside 3.4 billion to settle a federal class action lawsuit related to rusting frames. The lawsuits claim is that due to inadequate rust protection the vehicle's frames can corrode, ruining their structural integrity.

The affected models are:

2007-2008 Toyota Tundra

2005-2008 Toyota Sequoia

2005-2010 Toyota Tacoma

Toyota agreed to inspect vehicle frames for rust corrosion and replace the frame for free if necessary. The company also agreed to refund past maintenance and replacement costs.

The attorneys set the estimated value of frame replacement at $15,000 per vehicle. The actual cost to Toyota could be much lower depending on how many frames need to be replaced.

Toyota has admitted no liability or wrongdoing in the proposed settlement. Under settlement terms Toyota will inspect the vehicles for 12 years from the day they were first sold.

To contact Toyota with questions call 1-800-331-4331

I am still also looking for Toyota’s remedy for the Takata airbag problem and will alert you with that information as soon as it becomes available.

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.

What is Your Check Engine Light Telling You ?

One of the most vital components to a properly functioning vehicle is the ‘Check Engine’ light. It alerts the driver to a variety of potential problems based on the vehicle’s onboard diagnostic system. When the ‘Check Engine’ light comes on, it means that some system in your vehicle, including ignition, fuel injection or emission control, is not operating at peak performance, even if your vehicle appears to you to be running normally.

A glowing ‘Check Engine’ light doesn't mean you have to immediately pull the car over to the side of the road, but it does mean you should get the car checked out as soon as possible. Ignoring the warning light could severely damage engine components and incur additional repair expenses.

If your ‘Check Engine’ light comes on, first check the gas cap to make sure it wasn’t left loose after refueling. Sometimes this can trigger the ‘Check Engine’ light. If the cap was loose, the light should go out after a few short trips.

If the gas cap wasn’t the problem and the light remains on steady, have the system checked out as soon as possible. A light that flashes requires more prompt attention, indicating a more severe condition that must be checked out immediately to prevent damage to the catalytic converter. When you experience a flashing light, minimize driving at high speeds or under heavy loads.

Our Technician will connect your vehicle's computer to a diagnostic computer, which will provide a “trouble” code indicating why the ‘Check Engine’ light was activated.

While the diagnostic computer is connected to your car, our Technician can check the idle speed, throttle response, engine temperature, fuel system pressure, manifold vacuum, exhaust emission levels and many other key indicators. Once the problem is diagnosed and fixed, your car's computer makes sure everything is back to normal, and then turns off the ‘Check Engine’ light.

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.

Tips for Safe Halloween Driving

Halloween is coming up next Monday. This is the most anticipated night of the year for many young children and adults who love to put together great costumes for Halloween parties and go trick or treating. I know when my daughters were growing up this was absolutely their favorite night of the year. (and I have to say seeing the happiness, smiles and excitement on my children’s faces was also a great joy for me.)

This is also the one night of the year when you really need to be extra careful driving when entering or exiting driveways and streets. Driving slow on Halloween is a must. Children get so excited with the thought of more candy by getting to the next house faster. They will run out in front of your car. So on this one night drive like a snail and everyone will be safer.

• Windshield Wipers and Fluid - A dirty windshield cuts down on your visibility to see the children and other vehicles. If the weather turns rainy as it often does on Halloween cracked or torn wipers will also pose a problem to visibility.

• Vehicle Lights - Check that all your lights are working for maximum performance and visibility on Halloween. This year the end of Daylight Saving Time isn’t till Nov 6 th which means that children will be out at dusk trick or treating. Driving at dusk is difficult because although the sky is bright, objects on the road can blend in with the shadows and fade into darkness. When I am driving at dusk this time of year I have to drive slower because everything seems to blend together and the details of what I’m seeing are hard to distinguish .

• Street Safety - Parents and adults need to remind their little ghosts and goblins to stay out of the way of cars and walk up on the sidewalk or curb on the opposite side of the street facing traffic if possible. All children should wear bright, reflective clothing. Larger groups of kids are easier for drivers to see so encourage your children to stick together. Flashlights are a great idea for every child to carry.

We hope you all have a very fun and safe Halloween.