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

The Check Engine Light and Your Car

I remember the first time my check engine light came on. It brought the fear of an eminent car failure with flames and smoke. My mind was telling me the end was near. Yes I was a little panicky and wondering if I should call a tow truck. I have since learned that is usually not the case.

The Check Engine Light

In most cases, when your check engine light comes on, there’s no reason for alarm. Be concerned, but don’t panic. It’s a common problem and often indicates something minor. It could be something as simple as a loose gas cap however more typically, there may be an issue with your emissions.

While your car won’t pass an emissions inspection if the check engine light is on, this won’t cause your car to stop running. In fact, it’s very rare that the check engine light signals an actual engine problem that will cause you to break down. So unless the light is flashing or you notice other signs of an engine problem, such as your car running sloppily or making unusual noises you do not need to stop your car. Just call us to make an appointment to come in soon. We will run a scan to determine what caused the light to come on.

Yellow vs. Red Indicator Lights

An easy way to remember which lights indicate the most severe problems is by color. Just remember that yellow means caution and red means stop. Since your check engine light illuminates in yellow, you should use caution, but don’t get alarmed unless you notice other problems with your car.

On the other hand, an indicator light that illuminates in red is a warning that there’s a problem that needs immediate attention. Some typical indicator lights that illuminate or flash red include brake, temperature and oil indicator lights. When these lights illuminate or flash red, you should pull the car off as soon as you can find a place out of harm’s way, and stop the car. Then immediately call us.

Here are some problems that the indicator lights could signal when they illuminate red:

• Temperature - Your car could be overheating and there’s the potential to fry your engine.
• Oil - Your car might have low oil pressure, which can cause your engine to throw a rod bearing or worse.
• Brakes - Your brakes may not be working properly.
• Battery – There could be an issue, such as an alternator malfunction, that could lead to a dead battery. The alternator is the component that keeps the battery charged and supplies voltage for other systems while the engine is running.

Don't forget about our other shop Atlanta Hybrid Repair. AHR is equipped to handle all your Toyota and Lexus service needs. AHR is smaller so often it's easier to get an appointment. Gas powered and hybrids are 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

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

Our Value Added Oil Change Basic’s

Getting your oil changed at ToyoTechs is not just an oil change. We complete a full safety inspection on your vehicle from top to bottom and give you the real heads up as to what your vehicle needs now and what can wait till later.

Below are the maintenance safety checks that are performed at every value added oil change. If you have any specific questions concerning your vehicle as always please ask your service advisor.

1. All fluids are checked, including engine oil, power steering, brake and transmission as well as windshield washer solvent and antifreeze/coolant.
2. All hoses and belts checked, to make sure they are not cracked, brittle, frayed, loose or showing signs of excessive wear.
3. Brake system inspected including the brake pads, rotors and drums. (Have your brakes checked twice a year if you're a high mileage driver).
4. Exhaust system inspected for leaks, damage and broken supports or hangers. (Exhaust leaks should be corrected within a reasonable amount of time)
5. The steering and suspension system inspected including shock absorbers, struts and chassis parts such as ball joints, tie rod ends and other related components.
6. Tires checked, including tire pressure and tread. Tires inspected for bulges and bald spots.
7. 7. Wipers and lighting inspected so that you can see and be seen. We check that all exterior lighting is working properly and visual inspection of worn wiper blades so you can see clearly when driving during precipitation

Don't forget about our other shop Atlanta Hybrid Repair. AHR is equipped to handle all your Toyota and Lexus service needs. AHR is smaller so often it's easier to get an appointment. Gas powered and hybrids are 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

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