Tips on Extending the Life of Your Vehicle

We have compiled a few tips for keeping your car running better and extending the life of your vehicle. Keeping up with your car’s maintenance and getting any problems fixed before they become bigger problems are the keys to getting those extra years of life out of your car.

Here are some simple tips for getting extra years out of your car and saving money in the long run.

1 - Change oil regularly, every 3000 - 5000 miles (longer if using synthetic, 7500)

2 - Check all fluid levels every few months (Transmission, brake, coolant and power steering)

3 - Change air filter (Usually every 6 months, car will get higher gas mileage and run better )

4 - Check tire pressure and wheels (Properly inflated tires give you better gas millage, uneven wear from being out of balance or alignment causes vibration that can cause stress on the car's suspension).

5 - Fluid flushes (Transmission, brake and power steering flushes. These fluids breakdown contaminated by impurities, dirt, moisture and corrosive properties that cause these systems to have expensive problems.

6 -   Schedule at least twice a year safety inspection, more often if you do a lot of driving. (We perform a safety inspection with every oil change)

7 - Protect your car's exterior and interior. (Have your car waxed twice a year and keep the dirt and grime from the inside. This will increase your car’s value when it’s time to sell and it just feels better)

8 - Fix the small issues now (Small issues with your car often turn into big issues if they are not repaired in a timely manner, coolant leaks, oil leaks)

9 - Know your car (be sure to glance through your owner's manual to get an idea about your scheduled maintenance, as always we will be glad to help you with your scheduled maintenance)

10 - SERVICE, SERVICE, SERVICE - KEEP UP WITH YOUR SCHEDULED SERVICES

All of these tips are inexpensive and have a huge long term affect on how well your vehicle runs. These simple tips will absolutely help lengthen the life of your car.

Keeping the Cost of a New Car From Getting into Your Wallet

The thought of getting a new car so often sounds like a great idea until the reality of that new car payment comes home to roost. It's ok at first then after that new car feel is gone it can feel burdensome. Almost like having a big payment for a used car for the next however many more months or years. According to edmunds.com the average new car payment is $483.00 per month. That's almost $6,000 a year out of your pocket.

There is a lot of thought nowadays that if your car is paid for why would you pay for a $1,000 - $3,500 repair on an “older car” instead of just buying a new car. Well the new way of thinking is that cars made in the last 20 years are far superior than their predecessors. (my car is 6 years old and has 293,000 miles on it.) My 2011 Scion XB runs good and I plan to keep it at least another 3 - 5 years.

So let's get back to the idea of fixing your older car or going with another option.

Do you want 48 - 72 months of car payments ? Buying a new car is nice however is it the best option ? Do you want car payments ?

Do you want to buy a used car ? Always a certain amount of risk

Fix up the car you have ? Costs money

The thought on fixing up the car you have can be a very positive thing because you know the history of your vehicle and most importantly the repair history. Let's say you spend $2500 on a 15 year old car that you own with a good running history. If you think of it this way what kind of car can you buy for $2500 or more that you know nothing about ? That can be a scary proposition and now days it is hard to find a decent used vehicle for under $10,000.

We think if the vehicle is in good shape other than the needed repair your best option most of the time is to get your car repaired. If the vehicle has had a lot of problems though it might be time to get rid of it. If the car has been a good vehicle there should not be any fears on keeping it for another 2 - 4 years.

Yes we want to repair your vehicle however the reality is it makes good financial sense in the long run for most people when you figure how much money you will save that can go to house payments, vacations, medical bills, retirement or your children's education.

It’s can be a very appealing thought to have that extra money coming in and not going out in car payments. Yes there are repair bills however the repair bills are almost always much less than new car payments. It is fun and it feels good to have a new car. The question is it practical ?

As a point of note we sometimes will buy our customers old cars when they don’t want to repair the vehicle. So always keep that in min

Hopefully this article will help give you a little thought on repairing your old vehicle or not

Toyota Wanted to Charge Me $12,000 for a New Engine

A big thanks for the great review by Mark U. on Yelp.com

Below is the direct quote from Mark U’s Yelp review.

"Toyota wanted to charge me $12,000 for a new engine - I took it to ToyoTechs and they were able to diagnose the issue as a spring in a cylinder saving me $11,000!!! The folks I have met so far have been customer service focused and fair on pricing. Thanks!! "

For more great reviews go to: https://www.yelp.com/…/toyotechs-toyota-and-lexus-service-a

Great diagnosis and repair by Master Technician Bobby Hodges saving this customer $11,000

Pictured below is the broken spring and the replacement spring from the 2008 Sequoia. That spring is responsible for pulling the valve closed creating a sealed combustion chamber.

“Work done right, on time and at a fair price”

Manager Joe Pottle says the key to keeping vehicles running well today and down the road is routine maintenance. However many drivers tend to put off when it comes to keeping up with some everyday auto-basics.

A regular service schedule can help keep your car running it’s best. For your convenience, here are some guidelines to help you keep track of regular maintenance. Most of the checks and services described here can be done at

little or no cost. Best of all, they are quick and easy to do.

Every time you bring your vehicle in for a oil change our Technicians do a complete safety inspection.

Check Frequently

Lights

Tire Inflation and Condition

Windshield Washer Fluid

Engine Oil Level

Check Every 3 Months/ 3,000 Miles

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Battery and Cables

Brake Fluid

Belts

Engine Air Filter

Engine Oil

Hoses

Lights

Power Steering Fluid

Tire Inflation and Condition

Windshield Washer Fluid

Check Every 6 Months/6,000 Miles

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Battery and Cables

Brake Fluid

Belts

Engine Air Filter

Engine Oil

Hoses

Lights

Power Steering Fluid

Tire Inflation and Condition

Windshield Washer Fluid

Wiper Blades

Check Every 9 Months/ 9,000 Miles

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Battery and Cables

Brake Fluid

Belts

Engine Air Filter

Engine Oil

Hoses

Lights

Power Steering Fluid

Tire Inflation and Condition

Windshield Washer Fluid

Check every 12 Months/ 12,000 miles

Automatic Transmission Fluid

Battery and Cables

Belts

Brakes

Brake Fluid

Cabin Air Filter

Coolant (Antifreeze)

Engine Air Filter

Engine Oil

Hoses

Lights

Power Steering Fluid

Tire Inflation and Condition

Windshield Washer Fluid

Wiper Blades

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

Thoughts: What to do in Case You Have a Car Accident

Having an accident is stressful and always unexpected so when it happens it's easy to have jumbled thoughts and to not take the actions needed. We have put together some thoughts to help you maneuver through this difficult event. This is something you may want to go over with the young drivers in your home so they are better prepared in case of an accident. (hopefully they and you won’t ever need this)

Right after the accident:

1 - Take a few deep breaths and gather your presence of mind.

2 - Turn off your engine and turn on your hazard lights.

3 - Check yourself for injuries, then check the others in your car (when injury is in doubt call 911 for an ambulance, then ask for assistance from bystanders. (Better to err on the side of caution.)

4 - Be watchful if you get out of you vehicle and get to the side of the road asap. Often times the most serious injuries happen when a person stands by the accident in the middle of the road. (Get out of the road as soon as possible)

5 - When involved in a minor accident move your car to the side of the road.

6 - Call the police even if the accident is minor. (Police officers in some locations may not be able to respond to the accident unless there are injuries). So be able to recreate what happened for your insurance company

7 - Take pictures of the accident scene if you can. (unfortunately there are lots of dishonest people who will lie about how the accident occurred. This happened not long ago to our business office manager).

8 - Exchange information with the other party or parties. Insurance company, policy number, driver's license number, including name, phone number, and the license plate number. Often the driver of the other car is not the owner so get as much information as possible.

9 - Write down the make, model and VIN number of the other car.

10 - If there are any witnesses get their information if possible. (A lot of people are not willing to give out their information however it doesn't hurt to ask)

11 - All of information that is exchanged or needs to be exchanged can be photographed.

12 - Call your insurance company when you get home.

Pre Trip Vehicle Inspection Can Save You From a Nightmare Road Trip

Don’t let your vacation turn into the nightmare trip from you know where. Schedule a pre trip safety inspection that might just save you from some quality time sitting on the side of the highway. Breakdowns do happen however your chances are less when you have your vehicle checked out before hitting the road.

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)

Whether you're going on a dream vacation or just putting around town we strongly encourage all customers to have your car inspected several times a year.

Every time your vehicle comes in for an oil change we automatically perform a safety check.

We Work on Honda, Acura, Nissan, Infiniti, Mazda and more at Our 2nd Location

Just a reminder to all our customers. ToyoTechs has a second location, Atlanta Hybrid Repair / ToyoTechs 2 that does all the same service and repairs that are done in the main shop. Atlanta Hybrid Repair / ToyoTechs 2 has all the latest up to date diagnosing equipment for any service or repair needed.

Atlanta Hybrid Repair / ToyoTechs 2 services all Gas Powered Vehicles of the following makes, Honda, Acura, Mazda, Nissan, Infiniti, Subaru, Hyundai, Kia and more.

Our General Manager at this location is long time ToyoTechs employee Master Technician Kenny Hancock who has been with the company for the last 19 years. The first 15 years Kenny was the lead Master Technician at ToyoTechs and promoted in May 2011 to be the General Manager at Atlanta Hybrid Repair / ToyoTechs 2.

To entice you to give Atlanta Hybrid Repair / Toyotechs 2 a try here’s a 10% off labor coupon good up to $100 off.

COUPON GOOD ONLY FOR

Atlanta Hybrid Repair / ToyoTechs 2 Location

5630 Peachtree Blvd.

Chamblee Ga. 30341

770-492-7437

located 1 mile inside I-285 directly across the street from the Kia dealership

Your Engine's Cooling System and the Summer Heat

I just looked at the 10 day forecast and it's going to be in the low to mid 90’s for the next 10 days. During the heat wave it is a good time to keep a watchful eye on how your vehicle is running and especially looking out to make sure the engine does not run hot.

If you notice your engine running hot, stop your car. Trying to get that extra mile when your vehicle is overheating is not worth blowing up your engine which is an extremely costly repair. If your engine does overheat do not try and open the radiator cap. It is important to let your engine cool first.

If your engine is overheating and you need to go a very short distance you can try turning on the heat full blast and that will pull some of the heat off the engine. (I have done this before and it does work however when it's the middle of summer even driving a short distance is very uncomfortable) Overall though it is just best to stop and call for help.

Your car's cooling system consists of:

1 - Heater core
2 - Water pump
3 - Cooling fan
4 - Radiator
5 - Hoses
6 - Coolant reservoir
7 - Thermostat

As your vehicle ages many of these items will need work over the years. The point of this blog is just to refresh the idea of keeping an eye on your vehicle’s performance and being mindful how important it is to keep up with your car’s regular maintenance.

Every time you bring your car in for regular maintenance we perform a safety check and often catches that “engine problem” before you end up broken down on the side of the road with an expensive repair bill

Toyota Issues Recall for Vehicles with Defective Takata Airbag

Toyota has sent out notices required by The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act notifying vehicle owners that there could be problems with the passenger side airbag. We suggest that if you have not received a notice you may want to do a quick check on your vehicle just to be sure.

My recall notice that I just received in the mail states:

“These vehicles are equipped with front passenger airbag inflators produced by Takata. The propellant in these inflators may degrade after prolonged exposure to high absolute humidity and fluctuating high temperatures. Degraded propellant can cause inflator rupture during airbag deployment. In the event of an inflator rupture, metal fragments could pass through the airbag cushion material, striking the vehicle occupants, and result in serious injury or death”.

All recall work must be done by your Toyota or Lexus dealer.

The current list of Toyota’s and Lexus we found:

2011 - Sienna

2010 - 2011 -4Runner

2009 - 2011 Corolla

2009 - Matrix

2008 - 2011 Scion XB

2007 - 2011 Yaris Sedan

2006 - 2011 Yaris Hatchbatch

2005 -2007 Lexus SC Coupe

2002–2010 Lexus SC430

2006–2011 Lexus IS

2007–2011 Lexus ES

2010–2011 Lexus GX

There could be other models recalled, please check using the information below.

Questions, call the Toyota Customer Experience at 1 800-331-4331 or Lexus Customer Satisfaction 1 800-255-3987.

Here is also a link where you can put in your vehicles VIN # to check for recall. You will need your full 17 digit VIN #.

http://www.toyota.com/recall

On my particular vehicle a 2011 Scion XB the letter states: "Toyota is currently preparing a remedy for this problem and will send further notification when the remedy becomes available". In my letter Toyota has advised me that:

 “Until the remedy becomes available, we recommend that you do not operate the vehicle with an occupant in the front passenger seat”.

The regular maintenance of changing your oil, brake, transmission and power steering flushes at regular intervals are the most important things you can do for your car to keep it running longer.

12 Steps to Having a Greener Car

Whether you’re driving around in a vehicle that’s old or new, large or small everyone can do a better job at “greening” up your car. We can all make our cars a bit more environmentally friendly by following some simple preventive maintenance steps that in turn will save you money in the long run.

1 - Keep your car tuned up: Changing the spark plugs in your car will help improve its gas mileage and reduce emissions. Can improve your gas mileage by up to 4% with a proper tune up

2 - Check and replace dirty air filters: A clogged air filter chokes off the air and can affect the overall performance of your car.

3 - Maintain the cooling system: Having your coolant, radiator, water pump and fan checked on a regular basis (at every oil change)

4 - Air Conditioning maintenance: Your vehicle’s air conditioning system should be inspected on a yearly basis

5 - Vehicle fuel system: your car’s fuel filter should be changed every 2 years or 24,000 miles. (varies with manufacturer and make)

6 - Emission systems: Exhaust and pollutants emissions are cut down by an array of sensors, computerized engine controls and exhaust components. Your technician has diagnostic computers to help determine if there are issues with your emissions

7 - Gas cap: A cracked or loose gas cap allows gas fumes to escape wasting fuel and polluting the air

8 - Tire checks: Maintaining proper tire pressure can improve gas mileage by over 3%

9 - Lighten the load: Carrying around a car full of junk causes an increase in gas usage.

10 - Drive smart: Avoid sudden stops and starts and stay close to the speed limit. Aggressive driving, rapid acceleration, speeding and braking can cause a loss of over 30% in gas mileage

11 - Oil changes: Regular oil changes help keep your car's engine running smoother and will increase the life of your car

12 - Brake, power steering and transmission flushes: Dirt, moisture, rust and corrosion can be kept at bay with regular flushes helping keep your vehicle on the road longer and with fewer repairs.

Maintain and repair your vehicle as needed. Regular service and maintenance is the most important thing you can do for your car to keep it running better and longer.

Pictured below is the sludge build up from not having regular oil changes costing the customer a very expensive valve job.

Information provided by The Car Care Council