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

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

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.