Headlight Bulb Basics

Cars have truly come a long way. Just think, it wasn't too long ago that drivers had to use a hand crank to turn their engines on, vehicles could only travel at an excess of around 45 mph, and air conditioning wasn't introduced to mass consumer cars until 1939 (by Packard and it was a luxury car feature). Today, Orlando Toyota vehicles can do more than we could have ever thought possible and pretty soon we'll see autonomous vehicles on the road and wonder how it's all possible. While we won't get into the history of vehicles today, we do have a quick guide on the ins and outs of a vehicle parts that's come a long, the headlight bulb. If you're curious about this bright little car part or you want to know how to replace it, check out this guide from Toyota of Orlando on car headlight bulbs.

Everything You Need to Know About Headlight Bulbs

Headlights are an absolutely essential safety feature of your Orlando Toyota car. Without them you wouldn't be able to see when driving at night or in the rain or be able to warn other drivers that you're there. Unfortunately, your vehicle's headlights can only shine so bright by using a headlight bulb and those, like regular lightbulbs, need to be replaced every so often. Not only that, but there are several different types of headlight bulbs to choose from when it comes to shopping for a replacement. It helps to know which type best fits your ride and how to install them and that's where Toyota of Orlando comes in. Our auto service experts have compiled some facts about headlights that will help keep your drive a little brighter. 

Types of Headlight Bulbs

1) Halogen

Common on many Orlando Toyota vehicles, halogen car headlight bulbs use iodine, bromine, and electricity to generate light. They're fairly inexpensive to manufacture which means low bulb prices for those looking for replacements. However, they do suffer from a fairly low level of brightness and the bulb can be compromised if it comes in contact with even the smallest amount of moisture comes in contact with it. 

2) Xenon, HID, Arc

Xenon bulbs create light by manipulating a high-voltage arc between two electrodes. The charge then ignites xenon gas and generates a white/bluish light. These headlight bulbs can give your ride a sleek look and plenty of brightness, but then can pose a hazard to other drivers due to their excessive intensity. They're also expensive to install in your vehicle. 

3) LED

LED lights are becoming more popular in vehicles because of their customizability and color options. These Orlando Toyota headlight bulbs work by converting electricity into light by passing it through a diode. Bulbs typically last longer because they generate little to no heat. They're a tad more on the expensive side, but they're tolerable for other drivers, last longer, and still give you an ideal amount of down road visibility. 

How to Replace a Headlight Bulb

With plenty of options, surely replacing a vehicle headlight bulb is difficult. Luckily, when it comes to replacing a bulb, it's almost as easy as replacing the one in your lamp. Just follow these simple steps: 

1. Pop open the hood of your Orlando Toyota car and find the back of the headlight assembly. 
2. Unscrew the bulb carriage and carefully remove it from the assembly. 
3. Avoid touching the bulb with your bare fingers and remove it from the carriage (either by sliding or screwing it out). 
4. Put the new bulb in, re-screw the carriage, and put it all back into the assembly. 
5. Test your newly installed headlight bulb to make sure your Orlando Toyota headlights are working properly. 

It's that easy! If you need any more tips on headlights and bulbs, feel free to give Toyota of Orlando a call seven days a week at (407) 298 - 4500!

Everything You Need to Know About the Chassis

Your vehicle's engine compartment is one of the most perplexing things and it's easy to lost in it all. Every moving part, hose, tube, and electrical component working together to keep your vehicle moving. What if we told you that your vehicle has another big part underneath your engine? If you're shopping for a car, a car enthusiast, or just want to know more about what you're driving, then you need to know about the chassis. This part acts as the frame upon which your Orlando Toyota vehicle is built and holds everything together. Want to know more? Check out this brief guide from us at Toyota of Orlando on the chassis.

The Ins and Outs of the Chassis

As we said before, the chassis is the frame on which your vehicle is built. This holds your vehicle together in one cohesive piece and allows for the engine, suspension, and other systems to be placed where they need to be. These parts also take on a lot of weight and stress from your vehicle's parts and while driving. There are several different types of vehicle frames and knowing which is used to assemble your chosen vehicles can make you a better informed driver and better contour your driving experience. 

Body-on-Frame

Typically, body-on-frame chassis vehicles are usually larger SUVs and trucks. This system consists of a ladder-like frame and then the body sitting on top of it. The frames are highly resistant to twisting and maintain a large degree of strength and they're great for towing and off-roading. Adding custom suspension parts or larger wheels is easy with body-on-frame Orlando Toyota vehicles because of the additional space drivers have to work with. 

Body-on-frame chassis can be distinguished by their ladder-like design. This frame type was, at one point, the most common type due to its ease of customization. Auto manufacturers were able to retain the frames of vehicles year after year while changing the designs of the body which sped up production. 

Vehicles with this type of frame include the Orlando Toyota 4Runner, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, Tundra, and Tacoma. 

Unibody

While body-on-frame Orlando Toyota vehicles use two separate pieces to make up the frame and vehicle, unibody combines the two parts to make up the overall frame. This single piece style frame is popular with smaller vehicles like compact SUVs, sedans, and other compact vehicles because of its light weight and safer qualities. Without having steel struts to support the weight of the vehicle body, unibody chassis vehicles enjoy much better fuel-efficiency. Plus, they're safer builds as Orlando Toyota vehicles with unibody frames are able to absorb crash impact energy better than vehicles that use body-on-frame construction. 

In fact, Toyota is responsible for the popularity boost of unibody SUVs because of the RAV4's introduction in 1994. This popularized the unibody frame on compact SUVs and eventually lead other manufacturers to follow suit. 

Vehicles with unibody framing from Toyota's lineup include the Toyota Camry, Corolla, RAV4, Avalon, Yaris, 86, Prius, Highlander, Sienna, C-HR, and Corolla Hatchback. 

Before purchasing your next ride, it always helps to know every detail you can to make sure you find the perfect vehicle for you. If you have questions about chassis or anything else Toyota, feel free to give Toyota of Orlando a call at (407) 307 - 3671 seven days a week!

Do you need a tire replacement?

Is it time for a tire replacement? We know, we know - those are the words every driver dreads hearing. Tires are an expensive but necessary investment for your ride and when one needs to be replaced, there's really no getting around it. If you don't replace it, you'll be going nowhere fast. Luckily, Toyota of Orlando's auto service department offers affordable tires for sale so you can get the work done without breaking the bank. On top of that, we've compiled a list of signs that you're due for a tire replacement so you know when it's time to make the investment.

4 signs you're due for a tire replacement 

Warning sign #1: Physical damage 
If you can actually see physical damage on your car tire, then it's probably time for a tire replacement. This includes damage like punctures or tears, as well as damage that accrues over time like bubbles and blisters that form in weak spots. Weak spots and damage leave you prone to blowouts and flats.

Warning sign #2: Loss of tire pressure 
Do you find yourself having to constantly refill your tire as it's losing air pressure on a regular basis? This isn't typical - it's normal for your tires to lose a little pressure over time, and for the pressure to fluctuate when the weather swings from hot to cold. However, if just one tire has to be consistently refilled due to low pressure, then you likely need a tire replacement at our Orlando auto service center.

Warning sign #3: Low tread levels 
Does your car feel like it has a little less traction? Or maybe your tires are wearing unevenly and it's affecting performance. Either way, the best method of determining whether or not you need a tire replacement is to do the penny test. Stick a penny into your tire's tread with Abe Lincoln's head down. If you can see the top of his head, then it's time to bring your ride to Toyota of Orlando for a new tire.

Warning sign #4: Vibrations while driving 
Your car will vibrate a little when you drive just because of road conditions. However, if you notice new vibrations that seem out of the ordinary, your tires should be the first thing you check. If there's an issue with the tire, it can throw things out of balance and cause your car to vibrate, especially as you increase your speed. Let our techs check the tire in question and see if it needs to be replaced.

Toyota of Orlando can help you determine if you need a new tire 

The good news? Our techs will take all the steps necessary to repair or rebalance your tire if possible, saving you a few bucks. But if you do need a tire replacement, Toyota of Orlando is the place to go. We offer a wide selection of affordable tires for sale AND do price-matching to get you the most competitive deals.

Call us today - let us get you back behind the wheel with four reliable tires. We're open seven days a week for your convenience at (407) 298-0001.