The ideal car maintenance for your ride

We all want to keep our cars looking and driving as they did when we first drove them out of the dealership parking lot. We know the general car maintenance needs we need to keep up with, routine washings, occasional oil changes, and brake checks. But when it comes to keeping your set of wheels in tip-top shape, it all boils down to details. 

Each car make and model has a different way of being cared for properly. We all have the guide to car maintenance perfection sitting next to us every time we drive, our owner’s manual. All too often, the manual sits untouched in the glovebox collecting dust. Here at Toyota of Orlando one of the best tips our certified technicians can give you is to get familiar with your car’s owner’s manual. 

Areas to focus on

Depending on your vehicle, your owner’s manual can range from a small novel to what seems like Webster’s dictionary. To make things easier, we’ve picked the brains of our service staff to give you the five main areas you need to focus on:

• Warning Lights: These indicators are your best friends when it comes to tackling car maintenance problems quickly. Since not all warning lights are self-explanatory, it’s good to be familiar with what each one means. This way, you can address any problems you have right away and make an appointment at our Orlando service center immediately.

• Technical Data: At one point or another, you’ll need to access technical information about your car, such as engine type or body dimensions. Typically, these details will be under the technical data section of your manual. Already knowing this information and where to find it can help technicians or roadside assistance assess a problem more quickly when something goes wrong.

• Proper Surface Cleaning: Although there is a multitude of general cleaning methods and products for cars, your interior’s upholstery may have some special requirements. If this is the case, your owner’s manual will specify these needs.

• Tire Pressure: You may be a pro at working a tire gauge, but if you don’t know your car’s correct tire pressure your skills are going to waste. The ideal pressure is usually printed on the sides of your tires, but if it’s not, you can always find this information as well as instructions on how to properly inflate them in your owner’s manual.

• Proper Driving Style: The “break-in stage” of your vehicle, the first 1,000 miles, is vital in determining how it will run for the rest of its driving life. Your owner’s manual will provide you with an outline of how you should be driving during this time. This section will also give you a list of different steps to up your driving safety and improve your fuel economy.

 Treat your Orlando Toyota the right way
 

Just a little effort with your owner’s manual can make you a whole lot more car savvy. Focusing on these five areas will provide you with the knowledge to keep your car running better, longer and save you money on expensive car maintenance in the miles to come.

Whenever a car problem is thrown your way make sure to stop by Toyota of Orlando. We’re always running service specials to make sure you get the car maintenance you need at a price you deserve. We are open seven days a week and are located at 3575 Vineland Road just off of I-4 near the Millenia Mall. See you soon!