My Car Made it to 300,000 Miles, Will Yours ?

Nowaday cars are built with better technology, parts and materials so if they are taken care of properly they will go many more miles than cars of the past. The key is “taken care of properly.”

My Scion XB (build by Toyota) just went over the 300,000 mile mark. How could this happen ? Regular preventive maintenance over the years has paid off for me and it can for you to. My cars still runs fantastic.

Here are tips for getting those extra years out of your car and saving money in the long run.

1 - Change oil regularly, every 3000 - 5000 miles (longer if using synthetic, 7500)

2 - Have all fluid levels checked every few months when serviced (Transmission, brake, coolant and power steering)

3 -  Fluid flushes (Transmission, brake and power steering flushes.) These fluids breakdown contaminated by impurities, dirt, moisture and corrosive properties that cause these systems to have expensive problems if not flushed.

4 - Change air filter (Usually every 6 months, your car will run better )

5 - Check tire pressure and wheels (Properly inflated tires give you better gas millage, uneven wear from being out of balance or alignment causes vibration that can cause stress on the car's suspension).

6 -  Schedule twice a year safety inspection, more often if you do a lot of driving. (We perform a safety inspection with every oil change)

7 - Protect your car's exterior and interior. (Have your car waxed twice a year and keep the dirt and grime from the inside. This will increase your car’s value when it’s time to sell and it just feels better)

8 - Fix the small issues now (Small issues with your car often turn into expensive repairs if they are not taken care of in a timely manner. (coolant leaks, oil leaks...)

9 - Know your car (be sure to glance through your owner's manual to get an idea about your scheduled maintenance, as always we will be glad to help you with your scheduled maintenance)

The freedom of not having a car payment is awesome. Yes, my vehicle has repairs from time to time however it is much cheaper than a new car payment for the next 4 - 6 years. It used to be if your car had over 100,000 miles it was time to get a new one. That's just a start on today's vehicles.  We service many cars with 200,000 - 400,000 miles. Regular service and maintenance is the key.

Do You Drive with Dirty Oil in Your Car?

Probably Not ! During the life of your car we all have our oil changed regularly because we know a vehicle running on dirty oil does not run as well, gets less gas mileage and will break down more often with costly repairs. The same thought process follows with power steering, transmission and brake flushes. You wouldn’t drive your car with dirty oil so why would you drive your car with dirty power steering, transmission and brake fluid ? Dirty fluid is dirty fluid. Below is some helpful information on the benefits having your fluids flushed.

Power Steering Flush

• Power steering fluid flush should be done every 30,000 miles.
• Insures proper lubrication of your power steering unit and its parts
• Over time the fluid becomes burnt, discolored, oxidized and tiny metal flakes from wear runs throughout the system causing damage
• Dirty fluid is thicker than clean fluid causing the components to work harder causing premature failure of the power steering system. (hoses, seals, pump, steering rack)
• Flushing will allow for a longer life for the power steering components helping save your car from an expensive repair

Transmission Flush

• Transmission fluid flush should be performed every 30,000 miles.
• Keeping your transmission lubricated will help it to operate with more efficiency.
• Over time as the fluid deteriorates it becomes darker in color and will acquire a burnt odor. Another indication the fluid needs to be flushed is when you see dirt and debris in the fluid.
• A transmission flush requires 8 quarts, however we use an additional 8 quarts to make sure the dirt and debris are flushed out as much as possible.
• A transmission flush will help your transmission run smoother and add life to your transmission.  

Brake Flush

• Brake fluid flush should be done every 30,000 miles or 24 months
• A brake fluid flush ensures proper brake system performance and increases the lifespan of your brake system components.
• Keeping clean fresh fluid in your system will keep your brakes working better and slow the corrosion caused by moisture
• Brake fluid starts to absorb moisture from the moment it is put in the system.
• Regularly flushes to your brake system will help keep you from costly brake repairs caused by corrosion.

Basicly all fluids break down over time and need to be replaced. Replacing these fluids need to be part of your scheduled maintenance over the lifespan of your vehicle. This can add years of life to your car as it ages.

Call 770-457-9991 for an appointment

Sienna Van Recall for Sliding Door, Takata Airbag Recall

Recently Toyota issued a recall on Toyota Sienna Vans for the model years 2011 - 2016. According to Toyota, when the sliding doors are “impeded” a circuit can become overloaded, opening a motor fuse.

This means “If this occurs when the door latch is in an unlatched position, the door could open while driving, increasing the risk of injury to a vehicle occupant”

I became aware of the Sienna Van issue a few months ago and have been holding off on writing about it hoping Toyota would come out with a remedy. With the current situation of not having a remedy please be careful especially if children are riding in the back seats.

Takata Airbag Update

The Takata Airbag recall that I and many others received on our vehicles last May still has no remedy available. The current solution from Toyota is to still not “operate the vehicle with an occupant in the passenger seat”.

Here is the current list for the Takata airbag recall of Toyota’s Lexus and Scion’s we found:

2011 - Sienna

2010 - 2011 -4Runner

2009 - 2011 Corolla

2009 - Matrix

2008 - 2011 Scion XB

2007 - 2011 Yaris Sedan

2006 - 2011 Yaris Hatchback

2005 -2007 Lexus SC Coupe

2002–2010 Lexus SC430

2006–2011 Lexus IS

2007–2011 Lexus ES

2010–2011 Lexus GX

There could be other models recalled, please check with the information below.

Here are some links and phone numbers:

Questions, call the Toyota Customer Experience at 1 800-331-4331 or Lexus Customer Satisfaction 1 800-255-3987.

Here is also a link where you can put in your vehicles VIN # to check for recall. You will need your full 17 digit VIN #.

http://www.toyota.com/recall

We will keep you up to date with current information on important Toyota Lexus and Scion recalls as they become available.