How cold weather can affect your car

While it’s been cold recently in the Orlando area, it’s not likely that you’ll experience things like freezing fluids and car failure as a result of the cold. Bundling up is still essential, but your car will survive the night out in the cold and likely won’t need to be winterized to prevent winter auto service incidents. However, if you’re venturing into colder territory for a vacation, it pays to know just how much the cold weather can affect your ride. Before you go out in the cold, be sure to consult this guide from Toyota of Orlando to see which kind of winter auto service issues you could run into.

Thickening fluid

To keep your Orlando Toyota vehicle running efficiently, fluids are pumped throughout the engine compartment and to different components throughout your drive. But, the fluids in your vehicle can be susceptible to freezing if left unchecked. To avoid this winter auto service issue, make sure to have your fluids checked before venturing into an area of low temperatures. Having them replaced and/or filled to the appropriate levels and starting your vehicle ten to fifteen minutes prior to driving.

Tire pressure drops

Have you ever walked out, started your car, and your tire pressure warning light comes on? A common winter auto service issue that occurs when the temperature drops is a drop in your Orlando Toyota tire pressure. Be sure to inspect your tires for any punctures and reinflate them before driving on an extended commute.

Leaking

Because of the frequent temperature fluctuations in your Orlando Toyota engine compartment, a winter auto service issue that can arise is leaking. The majority of the undercarriage and other areas of your vehicle are made of metal and plastic and condensate easily because of the cold exterior temperatures combined with the hot temperatures of the engine. The changes in temperature can cause leaks to occur and ruin your ride before you dig your car out of the snow.

Drained battery

There’s nothing worse than trying to warm up your car during the winter and the engine can’t turn over. When the temperatures drop, this winter auto service issue can arise. This is caused by a reduced starting capacity in the Orlando Toyota car battery that makes it difficult for the engine to start. Our auto service experts highly recommend replacing your battery if it’s between four and five years old to avoid a failed start-up.

Corrosion

While this isn’t necessarily caused by the cold, road salt is often used to make roadways less slippery if it snows up north. For those Orlando residents that are unfamiliar with the affects of road salt, it can cause corrosion to the undercarriage and brakes. To avoid the severe winter auto service issues corrosion can cause, make sure to clean your vehicle after venturing into areas 

where salt is used on roadways.

Still have questions about how cold weather can affect your vehicle? Give Toyota of Orlando a call! Our winter auto service experts can help you prepare your ride for the cold at an affordable price. Give us a call at (407) 298 – 0001 today!

The ins and outs of Toyota hybrid systems

Ever since the introduction of the Orlando Toyota Prius back in 1997, hybrid vehicles have been taking to the streets in large numbers. Helping people save money at the pump and helping keep things green is what these cars are all about. But, how exactly do they work? What kinds of drivetrains do they use? And how many different types of hybrids are there? To help you become a more informed driver and buyer, Toyota of Orlando is here with an easy guide on hybrid vehicles!

The 411 on Orlando Toyota hybrid vehicles

Essentially, hybrid cars can be classified as “hybrid” if they have an electric motor and a gasoline engine. These two powertrains work together to deliver a driving experience that uses energy from a large battery pack that recharges the gasoline engine and recouped energy from the brakes. Electric powered motors in many Orlando Toyota hybrid vehicles are great at accelerating and they actually produce their maximum power from a dead stop. Hybrid systems typically use the majority of their electric power at lower speeds, usually resulting in better city gas mileage compared to highway mileage.

There are several different types of Orlando Toyota hybrid vehicles that all provide different capabilities and fuel efficiency grades:

Parallel Hybrid

Parallel hybrid cars use a design that allows both the gas and electric motors to drive the wheels independently of one another. Essentially, this allows for a fully electric or fully internal combustion powered driving experience.

Series Hybrid

Series hybrids are designed to use the electric motor to power the wheels and the gasoline engine acts as a generator for the car once the battery has run out of reserved power.

Full Hybrid

Full Orlando Toyota hybrid vehicles are fairly common on the road, in fact the Toyota Prius is one of them! These cars use electricity at low speeds with gentle throttles and for a limited time. They then transition to gasoline after electric power is exhausted.

Plug-in Hybrid

Plug-ins can be charged from being plugged into the wall at your home or from a hybrid specific charging station. They typically have a fully electric range of 10 – 35 miles and afterwards switch to a typical hybrid operation. This type of charging can be applied to both series and parallel hybrid models.

Orlando Toyota hybrid vehicles typically use a nickel-metal hydride battery as part of their hybrid system. Most auto manufacturers warranty their hybrid vehicle batteries up to 150,000 miles. If the battery becomes defective after the warranty period, a battery replacement could cost up to $3,000. But, don’t let that frighten you! Orlando Toyota hybrid cars are actually easy to maintain and could even cost less on your auto service bill than your typical gasoline powered car.

Shop hybrid vehicles at Toyota of Orlando

If you’re thinking of going green for your next ride, then come to Toyota of Orlando! We have a great selection of hybrid Toyota cars just begging to be test driven. We’re open seven days a week and located at 3575 Vineland Road.

Toyota of Orlando’s guide to car engine belts

The ever-complex engine compartment of your Orlando Toyota car is home to a number of different parts and mechanisms that all work perfectly together. Apart from the various fluids and gears at work in your car, engine belts are there to keep your moving parts moving. While it’s easy to forget these essential engine parts until you hear a squeal or experience your car overheating. Luckily, Toyota of Orlando is here with an easy guide on engine belts, so you can better understand these essential engine components.

Different types of Orlando Toyota engine belts

Serpentine belt

From 1990 and on serpentine belts have been the most commonly used belts in engines to keep essential functions like power steering, air conditioning, your Orlando Toyota water pump, and the alternator operating normally.

While serpentine belts typically last for a long time, typically around 50,000 to 100,000 miles, they’re no stranger to wear and tear over time. Your Orlando Toyota car’s serpentine engine belt can experience squealing or chirping noises which can indicate slipping or low belt tension. Cracks and wear can usually be spotted on the belt. Your vehicle’s air conditioning system and engine could fail as well.

Drive and V engine belts

Typically found on older Orlando Toyota vehicles, these engine belts run off of tension from a crank pulley and can only pass through two accessories. Unlike serpentine belts that run through multiple pulleys and accessories, V belts operate on individual engine components so there are individual engine belts for the power steering, air conditioning, alternator, water pump, and so on.

While it may seem inconvenient to have so many belts in your Orlando Toyota engine compartment, V belts can keep your car running, even in the event that you have a belt failure. In comparison, when a serpentine belt breaks, the entire engine fails.

Loose or over-worn V engine belts can cause squealing or individual component failure. To test for this belt’s tension, put your finger on the midway point of the longest stretch of belt and press down. You should be able press down no more than a half an inch.

Timing belts

Timing is always critical when it comes to your Orlando Toyota engine working properly and that’s where your timing belt comes into play. Essentially, this engine belt connects the crankshaft and camshaft to keep them synchronized. Because of the importance of this belt it’s typically covered and can’t be seen unless the cover’s removed.

The timing belt should be replaced or inspected every 60,000 to 90,000 miles and could be damaged if left unchecked. This part can be substituted with timing chains to increase the engine’s lifespan.

Like everything on your car, damage and wear and tear can happen at any time. To keep your engine running properly, make sure to stop by Toyota of Orlando’s auto service department. Give us a call at (407) 298 – 0001 for more details!