With the holidays coming up we always get slammed and it becomes hard to try and get everybody in in a timely manner. We suggest you come in early and avoid the rush.

Thanksgiving is Coming Up, Make your Plans Now.

We will be closed on Thursday November 22nd and Friday November 23rd 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.

Vehicles today have more computers and technology then ever before. Car recalls happen all the time that we never hear about. We suggest that at least once a year that you get your vin number and input it into the link below. Your vin number can usually be found in 3 places. On your tittle, the front drivers side of the vehicle right under the windshield or when the driver’s door is opened stamped on the inside of the door.

There is no shortage of recall notices on most every vehicle, we just have to decide whether it is a serious problem or not. Often times recalls are more of a frivolous nature and you don’t need to be in a hurry to have them fixed. Then there are possibly dangerous and life threatening recalls such as the Takata Airbag Recall that do need to be addressed as soon as possible.

I know a lot of you also own other vehicles so I am providing links to many vehicle brands. These are useful links to find out about all your vehicle’s recall notices. Please check your vin in the below provided links:

https://www.toyota.com/recall - Toyota, Lexus and Scion

http://recalls.owners.honda.com/service-maintenance/recalls    - Honda

http://owners.acura.com/service-maintenance/recalls     - Acura

http://www.infinitiusa.com/recalls-vin#/     - Infiniti

http://www.nissanusa.com/recalls-vin#/     - Nissan

https://www.mazdausa.com/owners/recalls    - Mazda

https://autoservice.hyundaiusa.com/campaignhome     - Hyundai

http://www.kia.com/us/en/content/owners/safety-recall - Kia

https://my.gm.com/recalls   - GM

https://owner.ford.com/tools/account/maintenance/recalls.html   - Ford

http://recalls.mopar.com/    - Chrysler

http://www.safercar.gov/checkforrecalls    - US government page for all recalls

http://www.safercar.gov/rs/takata/index.html    - US Government recall page for Takata air bags

Thanks and be safe !!!

Crit

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