The Not’s and Don’ts of Car Ownership, Part 2

Here is part 2 of my newsletter “The not’s and don’ts of car ownership”. First things first. Was this the worst title to a newsletter you’ve ever seen or was that my way of getting your attention ? Probably both. If yall are anything like me, little reminders like this are a good thing to help me keep up with my car’s driveability and value.

1 - Not having your fluids checked regularly.  Failing to have your fluids checked on a regular basis can end up causing costly major mechanical breakdowns. Other fluids not being checked such as the windshield washer fluid are just an annoying inconvenience. We will check all your fluids when you come in for service.

2 - Not having your fluids changed or flushed as part of your regular maintenance schedule. Oil, transmission, power steering, and brake fluid all breakdown overtime and can leave your vehicle without the proper lubrication or protection the mechanical parts need. Fluid flushes and oil changes are a must.

3 - Not paying attention to noises. Turning up the radio is not the right way to make noises your car makes go away. Banging scraping or squealing sounds are a sure sign it's time for your car to go into the shop. Often times it is something simple other times having your car looked at sooner than later might save you from having a major engine repair.

4 - Ignoring recalls. Recalls can make your car run better. Often it can possibly save your life such as the Takata Airbag Recall. There are times some of the recalls can be more of a nuisance and possibly not worth taking the time such as a recall to lubricate the power window switch for your windows. The funniest recall was for the loose nut behind the steering wheel. As it turns out it was the operator of the vehicle. (haha)

5 - Not having your tires inspected. This is a safety issue.  Have your tires inspected for uneven wear and damage, which can be a sign of other issues with your car. Uneven wear can be an indication of wheels that aren’t in alignment or other suspension problems.

6 - Not Getting Your Wheels Aligned. Not having your wheels properly aligned can lead to uneven tire wear, handling issues, or cause your car to drift off the road or into oncoming traffic. Misalignment can be caused by worn suspension parts, hitting potholes, and bumping into curbs, among other causes.

7 - Don’t ride the brakes. Resting your left foot on the brake pedal or using both feet to drive can prematurely wear out your brakes, causing excessive heat buildup that can damage braking system components, and compromise the effectiveness of your automatic emergency braking system.

8 - Ignoring the Little Things. I’ve touched on it before, but it bears repeating. Little problems become big problems when it comes to your car. That small scratch becomes a pathway for rust, an that annoying noise becomes the need for new rotors or possibly a new engine if not repaired in time.

9 - Not having regular safety checks on your vehicle. Everytime you bring in your vehicle for service we put your car on a rack and check it from top to bottom. We will let you know what needs to be repaired now and what can wait.

10 - Not Having your vehicle serviced by qualified technicians. YEP we often get cars in for repair that were “repaired” elsewhere. We also get a number of vehicles from the dealer with check lists that have all sorts of things that don’t need to be serviced or repaired right now. YES we are not perfect and on occasion we make a mistake. (we hate to admit) However we always do our best to make it right.

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 Robbie for appointment at 770-492-7437

The Not’s and Don’ts of Car Ownership, Part 1

As car owners we often don’t drive or take care of our vehicle’s like we should. (including me and especially my daughters) I have put together a list of some things to think about and at some time hopefully act on. (Me included) I hope you’ll find these helpful.

1 - Ignoring warning lights. The warning lights on your dashboard should not be ignored. Each light means something and some could mean something critical. For safety sakes get these checked out ASAP.

2 - Not having your oil changed. Engines can go longer between oil changes than they used to, however that's no excuse for not regularly having your oil changed. When your car has reached the interval listed in your owner's manual or your car's maintenance reminder light comes on get it done soon.

3 - Don’t put off repairs. Repairs can be costly however often times putting them off can cost you even much more. For example, delaying purchasing new brake pads when needed can lead not only to safety problems but also lead to the need to replace additional expensive components.

4 - Not keeping to a maintenance schedule. The maintenance schedule published in the owner's manual is a guide for what’s best to keep your vehicle in the most desireable operating condition.

5 - Not paying attention to leaks.  If there’s leaked fluids on the floor of the garage, your car is trying to tell you something. (A pool of clear water coming off of the air conditioning compressor is OK) Often times leaks can be the beginning of some bad stuff happening. Nip it in the bud and possibly save hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

6 - Not washing your vehicle regularly.  Washing your car does more than just make it look good. It gets rid of dirt and chemicals from the road that can cause damage to the paint. During the spring and summer, tree sap and bird droppings left on vehicles can eat into the paint and need to be removed as soon as possible

7 - Not waxing your vehicle regularly. Waxing your car a few times a year provides a barrier that protects its clear coat and the paint below it. Waxing creates a layer that takes the abuse and sheds dirt and other chemicals.

8 - Not using your emergency brake. When you park and rely on your transmission to hold the car, you risk costly transmission damage and create a possible safety hazard when you don't use the parking brake. Leaving the car in park alone can put tremendous stress on the transmission especially on the hills in the Atlanta area.

9 - Not using the correct fuel.  Surprisingly a lot of folks use the wrong fuel in their vehicle. Simply using premium unleaded in a car that only requires regular unleaded won’t cause you any trouble but in your wallet. Doing the opposite might cost you some power, but it usually won’t damage anything. However, using ethanol (E85) or diesel in a car not designed for it is a route to costly repairs. See your owner's manual for the correct fuel for your car.

10 - Don’t overfill your gas tank. Topping off your gas tank can compromise your car’s performance, damage your paint, and increase air pollution. When you overfill the tank, excess fuel can flow into the car’s vapor collection system, allowing liquid into a charcoal canister that is intended to hold fuel vapor, not fuel itself.

11 - Don’t run out of gas. When you run the car out of gas, you risk damaging your fuel pump, which is cooled and lubricated by the flow of gas. This obviously also can cause an unsafe situation.

12 - Not slowing down enough for speed bumps. Speed bumps are designed to slow your pace through neighborhoods and other congested spaces. If you do them right, they increase safety and won’t affect your car. Do them wrong, and you risk damaging your suspension, bumper, and underbody.

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 Robbie for appointment at 770-492-7437

Gosh We Get Crazy Busy At Times

Just a reminder that when you need upcoming service make your appointment as early as possible. We are a very busy shop and at times it’s hard to get in for service.

Please don't forget about our other shop Atlanta Hybrid Repair. AHR is located just 5 minutes away and also services all Toyota's and Lexus models. All gas powered and hybrid Toyota’s and Lexus are welcome.

The shop is run by General Manager Kenny Hancock who has been a ToyoTechs employee for 20 years. Kenny was the lead Master Technician at the main shop before moving over to AHR 6 years ago. AHR has all the same equipment as the main shop

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 or http://www.atlantahybrids.com/appointment-request