Essential Hurricane Preparedness Tips from Toyota of Orlando

It's been a fairly quiet hurricane season so far, but mother nature is prepared to bring the noise. Hurricane Dorian is currently swirling around the Atlantic and its predicted to hit the east coast and central Florida as a category three hurricane. While most will often shrug off major storms, they're no joke. Flooding, strong winds, lightning, power outages, and more can happen throughout a storm and there's always the aftermath to deal with.

If you're still waiting to head out and buy water and other essential supplies, this guide is definitely for you. Follow along with Toyota of Orlando for all the essential hurricane preparedness tips you should know and remember before the storm arrives.

Hurricane Preparedness Tips You Should Know

1) Start with a Plan (or two): Having a plan is one of the most important points in your hurricane preparedness plan. If you plan on evacuating or if you plan on staying in town, make sure you plan for both. Fill up your Orlando Toyota car with enough gas to drive you to an evacuation site and have a destination in mind. Also, make sure your destination will allow your pets to come along. If you plan on staying in town, have enough emergency supplies to last you a few days in the event that the power goes out, fill up your vehicle's gas tank, and buy plenty of water. 

2) Map Out Your Evacuation Route

Evacuations can definitely be hectic. You've likely seen footage or pictures on the news of traffic pile ups on major highways caused by evacuation traffic. To save you time and get you to your destination more quickly, map out your ideal route beforehand. It might be wise to use back-roads or less traveled roadways for part of the trip to avoid traffic jams. Double and triple check your supplies and make sure to have your furry friends along for the ride (you may need to stop for bathroom breaks along your route). Bring your emergency supplies and be sure to fill up your Orlando Toyota vehicle's tank prior to leaving. This is essential to ensure you have a safe route to travel as part of your hurricane preparedness plan. 

3) Gather Necessary Supplies

Whether you're staying home during the storm or planning on evacuating, you need to make sure you have the right supplies. Water is one of the most important items you should have as part of your hurricane preparedness plan. Make sure to have enough for yourself and whoever will be staying with you. Nonperishable foods are also essential to have on hand in the event that power is lost and you can preserve your perishable foods. Buy extra pet food in the event that stores are closed during and after the storm. You should also have a good supply of batteries and flashlights on hand. 

4) Locate Important Documents

If you plan to stay in town during the storm, make sure your important items and sensitive documents are kept track of. If you plan to evacuate, bring these documents and items with you. Unfortunately, things can get lost in the midst of a storm and you may come home to find things missing. It's best to play it safe and save some trunk space for these items. 

5) Make Sure Your Orlando Toyota Vehicle is Serviced Before You Leave

With everything that you need to keep track of for hurricane preparedness in the time leading up to a storm, you likely didn't think about whether or not your vehicle has been recently serviced. To avoid a tire blowout or an overheating engine while on your evacuation route, make sure to have your vehicle serviced by one of our Toyota of Orlando auto service techs. With a clean bill of health for your vehicle, you can be rest assured that your evacuation will go more smoothly. 

Make sure to read up on these hurricane preparedness tips from us at Toyota of Orlando before the storm arrives. Be safe out there! 

What is a 30,000-mile Auto Service and Do You Need One?

Just like you need to go to the doctor occasionally for a check up to make sure you're in good health, the same applies for your vehicle. Throughout the life of your vehicle you'll need to have parts inspected periodically to ensure that they're working properly and that they're not close to failing. It's true, your car is prone to experiencing issues as it ages and the parts deteriorate. For drivers of new cars, our auto service experts at Toyota of Orlando recommend getting a 15,000-mile service and inspection completed to check and top off fluids. Further down the line is the 30,000-mile auto service. Toyota of Orlando is here to tell you that this service is absolutely essential and what it includes.

Why Do You Need a 30,000-Mile Auto Service Done?

In truth, your Orlando Toyota car isn't invincible and will need to be inspected periodically and have parts repaired and replaced throughout its life. Apart from the usual oil change and tire rotation, a big milestone in your car's life is the 30,000-mile auto service. This is about the time when your vehicle is getting older (about 3 - 5 years) and integral parts will likely need to be replaced. 

Luckily, if you're able to, you can possibly use your manufacturer's or dealership's warranty on your vehicle and your service could be covered. But, if you have passed either the mileage or time for your warranty, the expense of this auto service job could be an issue for many drivers. If you're worried about the expenses associated with this Orlando Toyota auto service, we recommend checking your vehicle owner's manual. Your owner's manual contains a great deal of information regarding what you should have repaired when you make it to the 30,000-mile mark. Several auto service locations may try to convince you that your vehicle needs other services for an additional cost. We advise that you only accept the offer if you've done your homework.

Before visiting an auto service store, get 30,000-mile auto service quotes from other service locations to compare prices and services. If you have any doubts about the services you need, refer to your handy owner's manual. 

What's Included in a 30,000-Mile Auto Service?

Typically, an Orlando auto service job such as this includes a multi-point inspection that pays attention to specific parts and areas like: 

• Fuel line
• Timing belt
• Transmission fluid
• Coolant
• The suspension system
• The A/C system
• Your brakes
• And different belts and hoses. 

Along with these inspections, you can expect these parts to be replaced or cleaned: 

• The air filter
• Spark plugs
• Engine oil

All in all, the 30,000-mile auto service is a bit involved but definitely necessary to keep your vehicle running properly. If you have any questions about this essential auto service or you need to schedule an appointment, visit Toyota of Orlando online today!

5 ways to fight vehicle depreciation

5 ways to fight vehicle depreciation 

Is vehicle depreciation something that you REALLY need to be worried about? As a car owner, yes. This aspect of vehicle ownership can impact just how much bang you get for your buck in the future when you decide to sell or trade in, so it's important to consider from the moment you sign the dotted line.

What is vehicle depreciation? 

Before you can learn how to fight vehicle depreciation, however, you need to know what it is. Basically, every car depreciates over time (and there's no getting around it). Most cars lose between 15-35% of their value in their first year of ownership and up to 50% of their value by year 3. However, there are certain steps you can take to slow vehicle depreciation and keep your car's value high. Check out our Orlando Toyota tips.

How can you combat vehicle depreciation?

Tip #1: Before you shop, do research. 
Did you know that some makes and models - like Toyotas in general - hold value much better than their counterparts of other makes? It's true, and you should do research before you buy to see which makes will automatically hold value better than others so you have a running start from the moment you sign the dotted line.

Tip #2: Think about what future buyers will value. 
Additionally, while in your shopping process, think about what features future buyers will value. Fuel efficiency is always a big one, and neutral paint colors seem to be more desirable to buyers than bright colors or crazy paint schemes. Additionally, smaller and more affordable vehicles are more coveted than larger, more expensive cars, so they face less vehicle depreciation.

Tip #3: Buy for the area of the country in which you live. 
If you live in a part of the country that's mountainous or find yourself facing snow and ice on the regular, all-wheel drive is a pretty desirable feature, even if it costs a little bit more. Conversely, all-wheel drive isn't a must-have in flat Florida where we rarely see harsh winter weather. Buy a vehicle suited for your environment!

Tip #4: Keep an eye on your car's mileage. 
You bought the car to drive it, but you also need to keep an eye on the mileage. You don't want it to get TOO high, as this accelerates vehicle depreciation. Our Orlando Toyota specialists recommend avoiding unnecessary trips when you can help it and even considering the carpool lane when you can to keep mileage at a reasonable number. 

Tip #5: Stick to a strict auto service schedule. 
A vehicle that is well-maintained depreciates a lot more slowly than a car that has an unreliable service record. Stick to a schedule (our Orlando Toyota service techs can get you on one) for things like tire rotations, brake service, oil changes, fluids, and batteries, and take care of repairs right away.

Want more tips or feel like you need to get on an auto service schedule? Call Toyota of Orlando today at (407) 298-0001!

Toyota of Orlando's List of the Most Expensive Auto Repair Jobs

Owning a vehicle spells independence and freedom. There's nothing to stop you from getting behind the wheel and driving wherever your heart desires (except maybe gas prices). While it's easy to get caught up in all the great things about having your own set of wheels to drive around with, you can't forget that being a vehicle means you're responsible for auto repairs. While these costs can be minimal if you regularly service your vehicle, there comes the occasional major repair that can really put a dent in your wallet and make you question whether having a car is worth it or not. Our auto service experts here at Toyota of Orlando have seen a thing or two when it comes to repairing vehicles and we've cataloged some of the more expensive repairs they've worked on (plus how to avoid them).

When Auto Repairs Bite Big

Let's face it, no one likes paying for auto repair services. Whether it be an oil change or an engine swap, it means more money you have to spend on your Orlando Toyota vehicle. While auto service is inevitable, these bank breaking auto service jobs don't have to be. 

1) Blown Head Gasket

For vehicles that aren't kept up to date on auto service, a blown head gasket is fairly common. While that may be true, it's also true that this auto repair job will land you in a fair bit of financial hot water. A blown head gasket means spraying coolant, bellows of white smoke, and oil spray coming from your engine. Oh, did we mention that this auto repair job costs close to $2,000. To prevent this from happening, make sure to stay up to date on your auto service and have your coolant checked and replaced periodically. 

2) Broken A/C Compressor

Driving around Orlando without working A/C is one of the most horrible things imaginable. One cause for A/C failure is a damaged A/C compressor. This Orlando Toyota auto repair can cost you upwards of $500. Adding freon to your A/C system may help for a short time, but only a compressor replacement will truly solve the issue. 

3) Mass Airflow Sensor Replacement

Without a steady circulation of air, your engine's temperature would become unbearably hot. Your air filter and mass airflow sensor are both responsible for regulating this important function. If your filter isn't replaced or cleaned frequently enough you could wind up with a damaged sensor and be out $400. To keep this from happening, make sure you check your air filter periodically and have it cleaned. 

4) Brake Line Replacement

A big part of driving is being to stop when you need to and your brake line is responsible for making sure that happens. Replacing a brake line isn't ultimately too common, but when it needs to be done your wallet will definitely feel it. If a $1,000 price tag scares you then you'll want to make sure one of our Toyota of Orlando auto service techs regularly checks your brakes regularly. This can save you from having to shell out money for a brake line replacement in the future. 

Auto repairs are always a pain to pay for, but you can avoid the hugely expensive repair jobs by following these easy steps. If you need help taking care of your ride or with auto repairs, visit Toyota of Orlando seven days a week at 3575 Vineland Road.