October is Fall Car Care Month: Let’s Keep Your Car on the Road

Since October is Fall Car Care Month I want to take a few minutes to help you become a little more car care aware. You can do this by taking a proactive approach to help you be aware about preventive maintenance that helps ensure safety, reliability and fewer unexpected repairs. 

Getting your vehicle ready for the colder months while the weather is still mild. Now is a good time to keep your car in good continuous running order. The following are the basics of keeping a good running vehicle. Here are the inspections we perform every time you come in for service.

• Check all fluids including oil. Transmission, power steering and brakes as well as antifreeze/coolant and windshield solvent
• Check all hoses and belts to make sure they are not brittle, cracked, frayed or showing signs of excessive wear
• Check the braking system, pads and rotors inspected at each oil change. 
• Check the battery and replace if necessary. 
• Inspection of the exhaust system for leaks, damage or if there is an unusual noise. Exhaust leaks can be dangerous and should be corrected immediately.
• Check the heating, air conditioning and ventilation system. Proper heating and cooling is critical for interior comfort and for safety reasons such as defrosting the windshield. 
• Inspection of the steering and suspension system including shock absorbers, struts, ball joints and tie rods.
• Check the tires, tire pressure and wear. Uneven wear is a sign that you need a wheel alignment. 
• Check the wipers and lighting so you can see and be seen. Especially important as the time changes in the fall and it’s dark by 6 pm.

This email as with most of the emails I send are to help you become aware that keeping up with the maintenance on your vehicle is important to keeping a better running car that in turn means keeping your car on the road longer. There is no reason with how well car’s have been made in the last 15 years that your car should be able to go 250,000 plus miles if taken care of properly. My 2011 Scion XB has 337,500 miles on it and runs 

great. 

We want your car to run smoothly for years

Get Your Car Ready for Summer Vacation

The summer vacation season is in full swing and everybody needs their vehicle serviced and repaired before they go. We tend to be very busy during the summer months so make your appointment 1-2 weeks before you need to head out. Needing brakes, A/C repair or just an oil change give us call 

When you bring your car in we always do an overall safety inspection. During this inspection we will perform the following:

1 - All fluids including engine oil, power steering, brakes, transmission, antifreeze/coolant as well as wiper fluid

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2 - All hoses and belts are checked to make sure they are not cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or showing signs of excessive wear.

3 - Battery checked making sure the connections are clean, tight and corrosion free.

4 - Brake system checked including pads and rotors. We will give you a recommendation of when you will need new brakes.

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5 - Exhaust system checked for leaks, damage or broken supports

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6 - Steering and suspension system checked including struts, ball joints tie rods and other related components. 

7 - Tires checked including tire pressure and tread wear. 

8 - Wipers and exterior lighting checked 

9 - Air and cabin filters inspected

Thanks and have an awesome Summer vacation !

Braking News and Brake Flushes

Well I thought it was a little funny to title this newsletter “Braking News” instead of “Breaking News”. (Ok so maybe it’s not that funny”)

Anyway most folks think that having the pads and rotors replaced on your vehicle is all you need to do to keep up with your brake’s maintenance. The reality is your brake system needs to be flushed periodically as part of your regular maintenance

In normal driving conditions brake fluid becomes contaminated over time. As brake fluid becomes overheated the moisture in the brake line vaporizes and braking efficiency is reduced. Over time this causes contamination that can lead to rust and corrosion that will lead to the breakdown of braking components.

If you ever looked at the brake fluid in your vehicle’s reservoir it should be clear with a yellowish hue. When brake fluid becomes older the color will change to a deeper amber color or perhaps a brownish almost black liquid. This is a red flag for your brake system and  a brake flush is needed soon otherwise you may severely damage your braking system.

Having a brake flush will help ensure proper brake system performance and increase the lifespan of your brake components. Flushing and replacing brake fluid is a small cost however replacing rusted brake lines and other components can run well into the hundreds of dollars. Clearly there is a value in having a brake flush when needed.

We recommend that your vehicle has a brake flush every 30,000 miles. Think of it being this simple, brake fluid is as vital to stopping a car as engine oil is to keeping it going. You wouldn't drive your car with dirty old oil would you ? So let's keep this in mind when having your car serviced

Springtime Appointments Available, New Technicians Added

Over the last few years it has been hard to get an appointment at times because we have so many customers that love us.  We’ve looked long and hard to find well qualified Technicians that fit our shop. This has taken quite a while as we are very picky about the people we hire.

We have hired several qualified Technicians to make getting your appointment easier to get.

YEA !!!

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

Give us a call at 770-457-9991

Here’s a Checklist of Brake Issues

Your vehicle’s brakes system are the most vital component that keeps you safe while driving. We all need to have our brakes checked at least once a year or more often if you drive a lot. We recommend 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 our vehicles maintenance.

Neglecting your braking system can lead to increased cost of repairs and leave you on the side of the road or worse. 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.

Here’s are some signs that indicate your brakes need to be inspected and possibly replaced or repaired.

• 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.

Happy Springtime !!!!

August is Brake Safety Awareness Month. 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 can 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 vehicle 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 at 770-457-9991

Traveling This Summer ? Time For a Pre-Trip Inspection ?

With the July 4th holiday weekend fast approaching there is no better time to make sure your vehicle is ready for the trip. Tow truck drivers along the highway and in resort areas see all too many travelers on the side of the road due car owners neglecting their vehicles. Half of all breakdowns happen due to preventive maintenance neglect. Having your vehicle inspected does not guarantee that you won’t have a breakdown however it really lessens your chance of a breakdown.

Often times this scenario can be avoided with a pre-trip inspection which is also a good time to get an oil change. Proper car care is important at all times but even more so during holiday travel season.

The bottom line is basic car care is good for everyone. Below are the items our Technicians look at during a vehicle safety inspection which should be part of your preventative maintenance plan. Your ToyoTechs Technician takes great care to perform all these tasks during a vehicle safety inspection.

1. Check all fluids including engine oil, power steering, brake, transmission and antifreeze/coolant fluids.
2. Check the brake system including pads, rotors and drums.
3. Check the hoses and belts for wear, cracking, frayed or loose.
4. Inspection of the exhaust system for leaks, damage or unusual noise.
5. Inspection of the steering and suspension system including shock absorbers, struts, ball joints tie rods and other related components.
6. Check the tires including tire pressure and tread. Tires are also checked for uneven wear, bald spots and bulges.
7. Inspection of wipers and lights so that you can see and be seen.
8. Battery check.  We make sure the connections are clean and battery is in good condition

Call for an appointment, 770-457-9991

Don't forget about our other shop Atlanta Hybrid Repair. They are equipped to handle all your Toyota and Lexus service needs. (Gas powered and hybrids welcome). Located at 5630 Peachtree Blvd. 1 mile away from the main shop across the street from Wendy’s and the Kia dealership. Call for appointment at 770-492-7437

Need Your Car Back Sooner

Often times here at ToyoTechs we are so busy the time to repair your vehicle without an appointment can take several days longer than you wish. We want you to know our sister shop Atlanta Hybrid Repair is just 1 mile away and being a smaller shop often times your vehicle can be repaired and returned to to sooner.

Oil changes, brakes, A/C and any service or repair you might need. AHR’s Master Technicians have all the same diagnostic equipment that your local dealer uses. We work on hybrids and gas powered vehicles. So feel good about bringing your Toyota and Lexus needs to AHR.

AHR also work on other models such as Honda, Acura, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru, Infiniti, Hyundai and Kia’s. We work on some American brands also. So let your friends know if they are looking for a good repair shop AHR can be the shop they’ve been looking to find.

Kenny Hancock is the General Manager at AHR and has been a ToyoTechs employee for 20 years. The first 15 years he was the lead Master Technician at ToyoTechs.

For appointments call 770-492-7437

Or click here

https://www.facebook.com/atlantahybrids/app/111689078859535/

Car Problems That Can Leave You Stranded If Not Caught in Time

Here are the 8 most common reasons for your vehicle to breakdown that you do have some power to keep from happening. By that I mean when you have regular service here we will catch a lot of these problems before they leave you on the side of the road. We thoroughly inspect your vehicle every time your car is in our shop.

• Engine - often times breakdown stems from lack of maintenance, oil changes and tune ups.
• Belts - old belts wear out and break, need to be checked for wear and replacement. Timing belt replaced.
• Transmission - lack of service, transmission flushes as needed
• Cooling system - cracked hoses, leaking water pumps or radiator
• Electrical systems - battery and alternator failure, bad switches, relays or starter. The summer heat is particularly hard on your car's battery
• Brakes - pads and shoes need to checked for wear. Brake flushes as needed.
• Tires - should be rotated and checked on a regular basis
• Suspension or steering - Shocks, tie rods, ball joints, bushing and control arms are subject to wear and breakdown.

Have your vehicle inspected on a regular basis !

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

Cold Weather, Spring Break and Warm Weather Coming

Time has changed and with Springtime arriving it’s time to get some basic maintenance done. With the warmer weather we all become more active so we need to make sure our vehicles are in the best running condition possible. How long has it been since you’ve had a safety inspection ? Did you know that during every oil change we do a safety inspection ? We suggest depending on the amount of miles you drive that you have a safety inspection at least twice a year minimum.

During a safety inspection we will perform a check of the following:

Tires and tire pressure

Battery

Brakes

Hoses

Belts

Air filter

Cabin filter

Wipers

Lights

Fluid levels including engine oil, transmission, brake, power steering, windshield wiper solvent and antifreeze/coolant.

During a safety check we will often catch the small problems before they become big costly issues.

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