Do your car headlights need to be replaced or repaired?

 Your car headlights are critical for your safety when you're out on the road. Whether you're driving at night or tackling treacherous weather, they both light your way AND make you more visible to other drivers on the road. That's why it's critical to keep them in the best condition possible and also ensure that you address any issues as soon as you notice them. Toyota of Orlando is here to help - check out these four signs from our expert auto service techs that you need car headlight repair or replacement stat. 

Four signs you need to schedule car headlight service 

Sign #1: Your car headlights are flickering. 

Does it seem like the lights coming from your headlights is flickering or uneven? This can indicate that the bulbs are going bad and need to be replaced soon. Just like the bulbs you use in lights inside your home, they do wear out over time. However, if the flickering doesn't stop after you replace the bulbs, you might have a bad harness or an issue with your battery connection, so it's worth having our Orlando Toyota service techs take a look. 

Sign #2: Your high beams don't work even though your low beams do. 

If you can get your low beams to turn on but your high beams won't activate, the bulbs may have an issue, so try replacing them. If that doesn't fix the problem, it's time to visit Toyota of Orlando. You could have a blown fuse or there could be a problem with your wiring. 

Sign #3: The light coming from them is dimmer than usual. 

Do your car headlights not seem as bright as usual? This can mean one of two things. One is that your car headlight bulbs are about to burn out and need to be replaced soon. Another is that you have a damaged or corroded ground wire. Either way, you need an expert to fix the problem so it's best to contact our Orlando auto service center. 

Sign #4: You keep blowing fuses under the hood. 

If fuses keep blowing under the hood of your car, you might have an issue with your electrical system as a whole. Our auto care techs will need to check your car headlights as well as the electrical system and wiring in your car, so visit us ASAP. 

Schedule repairs at Toyota of Orlando today

Don't forget that it's not only critical to have working headlights, but it's also illegal to drive without them! You could find yourself in serious hot water if you don't take the time to ensure they're working properly before you hit the road. And we're here for you! At Toyota of Orlando, we can help with everything from bad wiring to burnt out bulbs to smashed car headlights from an accident. Whatever headlight issues you're having, we're here to help! 

Call us today to schedule your appointment at (407) 298-4500 OR stop by our auto service center. We're conveniently located at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 across from the Millenia Mall. 

What You Should Do Should You Find Yourself Stuck in a Ditch

Unfortunately, car accidents are par for the course when it comes to driving. As careful as you might be, as defensively as you might drive, you can never totally account for everyone else on the road being safe or weather going easy on you. Your commute can turn unpredictable and dangerous at any given time and you could find yourself deep in the clutches of a ditch. If this has happened to your or you're afraid of it happening to you, check out Toyota of Orlando's safe driving tips!

 4 Safe Driving Steps You Should Take if You Get Stuck in a Ditch

Step 1) Check for Injuries

If you've found yourself in the wrong side of a ditch, make sure to check yourself and your passengers for injuries. It's essential for safe driving to check for injuries after an accident occurs. This way those injured can get medical attention quickly. 

Step 2) Turn on Your Hazard Lights

Your hazard lights should only be activated when signaling a breakdown or accident on the road (we're looking at your Orlando drivers who turn them on every time it rains). After crashing into a ditch, make sure to practice safe driving and turn on your hazards as soon as you can. This will alert other drivers that you've been in an accident and will warn emergency service vehicles that you're there. 

Step 3) Lighten the Load or Don't

Depending on the nature of the ditch you got stuck in, you might be able to make your way out of it. If the ditch is dry and shallow enough, try lightening your cargo load and accelerate to get out safely. Practice safe driving and check your surroundings before doing this. When accelerating you should make sure to press the pedal gradually instead of flooring it. This can cause you to dig a hole with your tires and get even more stuck. 

The opposite goes if you're stuck in a wet or muddy ditch. Keeping more weight on your Orlando Toyota car can actually help you get a better grip on the dirt and mud underneath you. But, you're likely going to need a little extra assistance to get out of your predicament if things are a little wet. Try putting a piece of wood, cat litter, or gravel underneath your driving wheels. This will help your ride get a grip on the ground and help pull or push you out of the ditch. 

Step 4) Call Someone

If you've exhausted your safe driving tips and means of getting your Orlando Toyota car out of a ditch, it's time to call the pros. Make sure to call a reliable towing service to come and assist you. After your vehicle has been pulled out of the ditch, we highly recommend taking your ride into a vehicle service center, like at Toyota of Orlando. Our expert auto service techs can inspect your vehicle to determine if it sustained any damage from the accident. 

Need More Safe Driving Tips? Reach Out to Toyota of Orlando

If you have questions on safe driving or need post accident assistance, we're here to help! Give Toyota of Orlando a call today at (407) 298 4500 or stop by the dealership at 3575 Vineland Road. 

Do you know how to react after a car accident?

 No matter how careful you are when you get behind the wheel, car accidents can happen. And whether it's your fault or the fault of another driver, it can be stressful to deal with the aftermath. Toyota of Orlando, as always, is here to help you pick up the pieces. We've got tips on what to do after a car accident straight from our auto body repair experts - let them walk you through it step by step so in the unfortunate instance that you DO find yourself dealing with a car accident, you can do it as efficiently and calmly as possible. 

7 steps to take immediately after a car accident 

Step #1: Assess injuries. Before you do anything, assess yourself and the passengers in your Orlando Toyota. Is anyone hurt? If so, it's best to call for an ambulance so paramedics can at least check anyone over before deciding if a trip to the hospital is necessary. 

Step #2: Pull your car off the road if you can. You should always try to pull OFF the road after a car accident if you can. This will get you out of the way so you don't risk another car hitting you. If you can't move your vehicle, you should turn the hazard lights on to make it more visible to other drivers and then get yourself and all of your passengers out. Move to the side of the road clear of traffic. 

Step #3: Call emergency personnel. If you haven't already called the police, do it now. It's best to document the accident with an official accident report - your insurance company will likely ask for it, especially if you're not at fault. Make sure to get a copy of the report or at least the report number so you can request a copy later. 

Step #4: Exchange information with the other driver. You should exchange information with the other driver before you leave the scene of the accident. Be sure to get details like: 

• Name
• Contact information 
• Insurance information 
• Car year, make, and model 

Step #5: Write EVERYTHING down. Now is the time to write down all the details while the car accident is still fresh in your mind. Be sure to record where and when the accident happened, how it happened, who was involved, and what the outcome was. You should also document the damage to both cars with photos so you have them for future reference. 

Step #6: Talk to witnesses. If there were witnesses to your car accident, ask them to give you their contact information so you can get a statement from them in the future if necessary.

Step #7: Call your insurance company. Finally, you should report the car accident as soon as you can. Start your claim and be sure to tell them that you want to bring your car to Toyota of Orlando's Toyota Collision Center for repairs - we'll use Genuine Toyota Parts to keep your Toyota a Toyota and get you back on the road as quickly as possible. 

Schedule your repairs at Toyota of Orlando 

Have questions or need auto repairs after a car accident? Call us! Our Orlando Toyota body shop is open seven days a week at (407) 298-6006. 

Ready to Dive into a Custom Toyota Car Project?

 The automotive world is quite a large one, but the world of custom cars is almost too large to quantify. There's an uncountable number of parts and accessories you could slap onto your vehicle at any time to change the look, performance, and more. The culture around custom Toyota car is huge too! Movies have made custom jobs iconic and have likely inspired you at one point or another to put new exhaust or custom paint on your ride. 

If you're ready to dive into the world of custom cars, Toyota of Orlando is here with a few things you should consider before getting started. 

Think About This Before You Make a Custom Toyota Car

Just like restoring a classic can be time consuming and expensive, so can creating a custom Toyota car. Before you start searching for aftermarket accessories for your Orlando Toyota ride, consider these points. 

The End Result of Your Custom Journey

Making a custom Toyota car is a journey between all the money and time you'll spend. Before you start buying parts or attaching accessories, you should strongly consider how you want your finished custom job to look and feel like. This will give you an overall sense of direction and help you better account for what you need to make it happen. 

The Vehicle You Want to Customize

Customizing an Orlando Toyota car is a difficult task regardless of what vehicle you choose to customize. But, there are some vehicles out there that are just constructed to be customized. The Toyota 86, older Toyota Supras, and the Scion tC are all great examples. That's why you'll often see them in gear-head movies and other custom Toyota car settings. If you're driving a Corolla and want to customize it, it's not impossible but could be more difficult. 

Budget and Parts Cost

Because of capitalism (among other things) things cost money and custom Toyota car parts are no exception to this truth. It's wise to start customizing your Orlando Toyota car with a financial barrier in mind. This will keep you grounded and from overspending. You should also consider what you intend to do with the car when the project is finished. If selling you should make sure to not over exert your budget to exceed the highest sale figure you could get. 

Custom Toyota Car Parts Available at Toyota of Orlando

Are you ready to start shopping for custom Toyota car parts for your next project? Visit Toyota of Orlando at 3575 Vineland Road and shop with us today!

How to care for your car after off-roading: Toyota of Orlando tips

 

Do you like to take things off the pavement to find new adventures? Off-roading is a great way to get out of town and get your dose of the great outdoors, but it does mean a little bit of extra car care for you when you get back to civilization. Toyota of Orlando is here with top car care tips for after your off-roading adventures, straight from our auto service techs. 

6 tips for after off-roading

Tip #1: Don't let it sit. 

Our top tip for car care after off-roading? Don't put it off. That mud isn't going to get any easier to wash off if you let it sit - on the contrary, actually. Try to clean your vehicle as soon as you get home to make the experience quicker and easier. 

Tip #2: Rinse your Orlando Toyota with a pressure washer before you wash. 

It's a good idea to rinse your off-roading vehicle with a pressure washer (or the hose on the high setting) before you actually wash it. Not only will this help get the mud off more quickly, but it'll also ensure that all sand particles are rinsed off as well. If you try to wash your car with sand still stuck to it, it can lead to swirls in the paint. And don't forget to wash hard-to-see places like the wheel wells and under your running boards. 

Tip #3: Wash with quality products. 

You should always use quality products when washing your car - never resort to dish soap, which can actually damage your paint over time. Visit our Toyota of Orlando parts store and let our specialists help you pick out the right cleaning products for your ride. 

Tip #4: Apply wax. 

It's always a good idea to add waxing to your car care routine for after off-roading. Not only will it help protect your car from moisture and surface scratches, but it'll also make it much easier for you to clean next time around. Shop our Toyota of Orlando parts store for a quality (but affordable) wax! 

Tip #5: Wash the undercarriage. 

Don't forget to wash the undercarriage of your car - it likely took the brunt of the mud, dirt, and sand. You'll need to get under there with the hose and spray everything clean but we'll give you a quick life hack - invest in a cheap rotating sprinkler head that you can attach to the hose. Turn the water on and stick it under your vehicle - it'll do a majority of the cleaning for you and save you a lot of time. 

Tip #6: Rinse out the suspension and brake components. 

Finally, rinse out the brakes and suspension components. This will ensure they stay sand-and-dirt-free and can continue to operate without excessive wear and tear. 

And don't forget to air up your tires if you already haven't - driving with underinflated tires can put them through excessive wear and tear and also drop your fuel efficiency. 

Shop for car care supplies at Toyota of Orlando 

Have questions, need car care supplies, or want the expert opinion of our Orlando auto service techs? We've got you covered on all fronts. Call Toyota of Orlando today at (407) 298-4500 or stop by our car care center at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 across from Millenia Mall.