What should be in your car emergency kit?

 When it comes to roadside emergencies, you want to be prepared for anything. This is especially true if your travels are taking you out on the highway, onto rural roads, or into a nighttime driving situation. Having the tools you need to deal with a roadside emergency on hand will be invaluable (and save you a ton of stress and money, too). Toyota of Orlando is here to talk about your car emergency kit; specifically, we're giving you tips on how to build and maintain one so you're truly ready for anything. 

How to build your own custom car emergency kit 

When you build a car emergency kit, you want to ensure it encompasses things you'll need not only for your vehicle but also for yourself when there's an emergency situation. Here's what we recommend keeping in your kit for you and your passengers: 

• A well-stocked first aid kit
• A few emergency (or even normal) blankets 
• Dried snacks, like granola bars or trail mix 
• Bottled water
• A pen and paper (in case you need to write down accident details, etc.) 
• A spare phone charger 
• A paper map in case you're not able to utilize your map apps 
• Work gloves to protect your hands
• Hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes 
• A flashlight (and carrying extra batteries is never a bad idea) 

And it doesn't hurt to have a poncho or umbrella and an extra pair of shoes on hand, just in case you find yourself in a situation where the weather is bad. 

As for your car, you'll definitely want to have certain supplies stocked in your car emergency kit. Here's what our Orlando auto service experts advise that you both have in your kit AND know how to properly use: 

• A set of jumper cables 
• A spare tire, a lug wrench, and a jack 
• Emergency tire inflator and sealant, like Fix-A-Flat 
• A tire pressure gauge 
• Rope or a tow strap 
• Extra coolant and an extra quart of oil 
• A small tool kit for repairs or at least a multipurpose tool 
• A few old rags 
• A spare fuse or two 
• A small empty - we repeat, EMPTY - gas can 
• Roadside flares, glowsticks, or reflective triangles to alert other drivers to your presence on the road
• A roll of duct tape 
• A small foldable shovel (and if you're driving in winter weather or going off-road, a bag of kitty litter to go along with the shovel) 
• A car fire extinguisher 

We also advise that you keep a car escape tool (one that can cut seatbelts and break windows) in your Orlando Toyota, too. However, don't store this in the trunk with your supplies; instead, leave it in an easily accessible place inside the cabin. 

You should store your car emergency kit in a sturdy canvas bag OR a strong box or basket in the trunk of your car and make sure you go through it regularly to check supply levels and if needed, swap things out. 

Shop for car emergency kit supplies at Toyota of Orlando 

Have questions or want to put together your car emergency kit? Toyota of Orlando's parts department can help! We've got everything you need. Call us at (407) 298-0001 or stop by 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 across from the Millenia Mall. 

What Makes a Car a Daily Driver?

 When you sit down and think about it, we're all collectors of something. Some of us collect toys, trophies, and some of us collect cars. While the latter out of that list is arguably one of the most expensive types of collecting, we can't deny that we love to see it. Collecting cars is an amazing passtime and ongoing project that we at Toyota of Orlando fully endorse. But, you might be wondering how you should treat the items in your collection now that you have them. Do you drive them? Preserve them? Modify them? And which one becomes your daily driver? How do you decide? 

If you're racking your brain wondering how to decide on your daily driver car, Toyota of Orlando is here to help! Check out our commentary on what makes a daily driver right here. 

Deciding on the Car You'll Drive Every Day

Deciding on the vehicle you want to use as your Orlando daily driver can be difficult. This is going to be the vehicle you count on each day to take you to and from work, to the grocery store, and wherever else you need to go throughout your day. It's going to be the vehicle that you'll likely spend the most time with and that will accumulate the most mileage. When deciding on your day car, there are a few things you should keep in mind: 

Fuel Efficiency

A good Orlando Toyota daily driver car should have moderate to excellent fuel efficiency. Because you'll likely be putting a high amount of miles and driving this vehicle for many miles at a time you'll want to make sure you can get the most mileage for your fuel cost. A vehicle like the Corolla, Camry, and Prius are excellent options for maximizing fuel efficiency. 

Comfort

Your daily driver should also be comfortable to drive in for miles and miles. This means cushy seats, newer technology you can take advantage, available convenience features, and a healthy suspension system that can cushion the blow from the road. You'll likely not find these various comforts in a classic car or a rally-grade vehicle like the Orlando Yaris Hot Hatch. 

Resilience

When it comes to your daily driver car, it has to be one that you don't necessarily care about when it comes to small damages. The road is full of hazards like debris, other drivers, and more and the last thing you want is to scratch the custom paint job you sprang for on your highly coveted classic Orlando Toyota car. While the goal isn't to litter your daily driver with scratches and dents, you should drive a vehicle every day that you don't mind if it gets slightly damaged. 

Consider Your Personal Needs

Like with any vehicle (unless you're collecting, in which case it doesn't really matter) you should always consider your personal needs from your vehicle. Do you need an Orlando daily driver that just needs to get you from one point to another? Do you need it to tow large loads? Do you need to transport more people than just yourself? Whatever the case may be, you should always take your vehicular needs into consideration when deciding on which vehicle you're going to be driving every day. 

Find Your Daily Driver Here at Toyota of Orlando

If you're looking for a fuel efficient, technologically advanced, and comfortable daily driver, Toyota of Orlando is the best place! Shop with us at 3575 Vineland Road today or view our full inventory online. 

What's the Lifespan of a New Toyota and How to Make Your Ride Last Longer

The car is a machine much like a computer, cell phone, or watch. But, even though they're not organic (unless it's a cyborg of some kind), they too have their prime and then decline. Machines, including new Toyota cars, are prone to decay and eventually fail us when they've been worn down enough. Unless you're a Volvo P1800S and your owner happens to be Irv Gordon. 

The thing about machines is, though, if you take the best care of them they often won't let you down. The P1800S is a prime example, but look at Toyotas from the 90s and the FJ Cruiser. Those unique cars can travel 300,000+ miles without ever having to replace major engine parts. How do they do it? How does one keep their car alive after so many years and miles? Toyota of Orlando is here with some answers that might help you keep your new Toyota driving longer. 

It's Alive! It's Alive!

Machines aren't constrained to the degradation process we mere mortals have to endure, but they are prone to decline if they're not taken care of properly. Some vehicles could be engineered poorly and just fail even with responsible owners. Other times it's the fault of the owner for not staying consistent with auto service and repairs. Whatever the case, there are ways that we as drivers can keep our Orlando new Toyota cars lasting for years and years. 

Buy Something New and Something Quality

There's no fixing bad engineering and quality. The best way to keep your car lasting a long a time is to purchase a vehicle that's more likely to do that on its own. Modern new Toyota vehicles are well engineered to last. But, nothing's more resilient than a 90s Toyota (and add FJ Cruiser to that list). There are still many Tercels, 90s Camrys, Corollas, and more on the road and many stories about Toyotas defying the odds and clocking 300,000+ miles on their odometers. FJ Cruisers are another prime example of this Orlando Toyota phenomenon. They still carry a high price tag to this day because of their insane longevity. 

Less is More When it Comes to Cars

As new Toyota models have advanced and become more sophisticated less parts are used to accomplish the same processes. This is an excellent practice. With less parts your vehicle is less likely to run into issues over time. A poster-child for this tip is the electric vehicle (EV). EVs are engineered with an insanely low amount of engineering parts compared to their ICE cousins and they hardly have issues apart from batteries and tires. 

Advanced Safety Tech Protects More than Drivers and Passengers

New Toyota models in particular come equipped with some of the most advanced forms of safety features in the automotive industry. Toyota Safety Sense and it's various packages is hailed as a model safety system that keeps drivers and passengers safe from accidents. But, safety systems do more than just keep you safe. By protecting you from road hazards your vehicle is also protecting itself from hazards that could lead to its demise or cause it severe damage. 

Always Listen to What Your New Toyota is Telling You

One of the best ways to keep your vehicle in peak condition for years and years is to maintain it regularly. This means not putting off oil changes, brake work, belt replacements, and more. A machine can only work as well as its parts can and your car needs a steady hand to make sure it continues to work for years on. This also involves being a great listener for your ride. If you start to notice odd noises and behaviors from your car, investigate it immediately and bring it to Toyota of Orlando to get it checked out asap. 

Quality Auto Service from Toyota of Orlando

Ready to get your new Toyota on the fast track to proper vehicle health? Visit Toyota of Orlando today at 3575 Vineland Road!

Wheels, tires, rims, and hubcaps: Everything you need to know

When you think of your car's wheels, you probably think of the round, black things that rotate to get you where you need to go. Some drivers use the terms wheels to refer to the entire system - tires and all - and while most people will understand that reference, it's not entirely correct. Toyota of Orlando is here to explain the differences between the car tires, wheels, rims, and hubcaps so you can better understand how they all work together to get you where you need to go.

How are car tires different than wheels, and what are rims and hubcaps? 

Wheels: As noted, some drivers think that they can just call the tires "wheels" and the two terms are synonymous. But wheels and tires are actually not the same things at all. Wheels are not the circular black rubber element of the setup; that's the tire. Instead,  wheels are the round metal part in the middle of the tire. Wheels are composed of the rim, the disc, and the hub. We'll get more into what rims are in a bit. 

Tires: Your car tires are the black rubber part of the setup. This part grips the road and provides traction for your vehicle, while the wheel is the part of your car responsible for turning the tires. They work together, but when it comes down to it, they are two different parts entirely. 

Rims: Rims are sometimes confused with wheels; they SEEM to be the same thing at first glance, but they're actually not. As discussed, a rim is a part of the wheel. Wheels are composed of hubs, discs, and rims; rims are the metal piece on the outside of the wheel that helps hold the tire in place and seal it to the wheel. Rims are also the part of the wheel that you can get fancy with - you can change the size, material,  and appearance of them to customize your car to your preferences. They're typically made of steel, aluminum alloy, or carbon fiber. 

Hubcaps: Rims and hubcaps are another set of items that often get confused. As we mentioned, rims are the outside of the wheel. Hubcaps are actually inside of the rim; they cover the hub of the wheel. While the rims are there to seal the tires to the wheels, the hubcaps protect the lugnuts from moisture, dirt, dust, and rust. They can also be there for decorative purposes. You'll often find hubcaps on heavy-duty trucks to keep dirt out and protect the wheel bearings. 

That's the basic breakdown. As you can see, while all of these car parts are separate entities, they're part of a complex system that works to get you to your final destination. That's why it's important to maintain and if necessary, repair or replace all of them. When one part stops working, the others undoubtedly will, too. 

Schedule car tire care today at Toyota of Orlando

Have questions about car tires, wheels, rims, hubcaps, or any other component of your Orlando Toyota? Call us! Toyota of Orlando's car service center is open seven days a week at (407) 298-0001. You can also stop by at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 across from the Millenia Mall. 

Everything you need to know about sports car maintenance

 Are you the proud owner of a Toyota sports car? Maybe you have the Toyota Supra sitting in your garage, or maybe you own a sports car of another make or model. Regardless, you probably know that maintaining a sports car is different than maintaining a typical gasoline-powered sedan, truck, or SUV. Toyota of Orlando is here to explain! 

As much as we hate to say it, sports cars typically cost more to own than sedans, trucks, etc. There are multiple reasons for this; right off the bat, we'll mention that the price tag is usually higher on these types of cars. That means higher monthly payments (unless you pay cash, of course). Additionally, fuel for sports cars typically costs more. These vehicles aren't mean to conserve fuel or offer great fuel efficiency - conversely, they're meant to give you a fast and exciting performance, which means they burn more fuel. They may also take premium fuel, which costs more per gallon. And finally, insuring these types of cars costs more - these cars go fast and are more expensive. Enough said. 

Why are sports cars more expensive to maintain?

What about car maintenance, though? Does it really cost more to maintain an Orlando Toyota Supra than it does an Orlando Toyota Camry? Here's the breakdown. 

1) Sports cars are meant for performance. They're supposed to travel at high speeds, execute intense maneuvers, and operate at a high level of performance. This means that the car - and subsequently, its parts - are constantly pushed to the max. This puts more wear and tear on them more quickly and also puts more stress on them. This means they wear out a lot faster than normal parts and need to be maintained more often. This means more repairs and also more car maintenance appointments at Toyota of Orlando than if you were on a typical car care schedule. This is especially true if you take your car to the track on a routine basis. 

2) Another reason that sports cars are more expensive to maintain is that their parts are typically unique - they're not everyday parts you'd find in say, a Toyota Corolla. These parts are usually designed for that car only and aren't shared in other vehicles. Because of that, they're more expensive to design and produce, which means they're also more expensive to replace. 

3) Finally, you pay a pretty penny for a sports car - let's be real. You want to keep it in the best shape possible, which means you're probably going to detail your car or have it detailed more often to keep it looking like-new at all times. This means more money spent on detailing supplies, detail maintenance, and car washes. 

See the Orlando Toyota Supra in person today

Have questions about owning this type of Orlando Toyota or want to put the Toyota Supra in your driveway? Call us! Toyota of Orlando is open seven days a week at (407) 298-4500. You can also stop by and see it in person - we're conveniently located at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 across from the Millenia Mall. 

Here's What You Should Know About the Catalytic Converter

 We've said it time and time again, cars are complicated. They're made up of massive systems that all have to work perfectly to achieve the simple task of motion. While we know explaining the inner workings of a car is like diving down an ever complicated rabbit hole, understanding how the machine you depend on works can only amount to good. 

One auto part you may have heard of before (likely in a news headline relating a Prius and theft), the catalytic converter, is one that's seemingly complicated, but knowledge of can help you better understand the science behind emission reduction. Follow along with us at Toyota of Orlando to learn more about this essential auto part!

What Exactly is a Cat Converter?

The catalytic converter, or cat for short, is an integral auto part that helps your ride reduce its natural creation of emissions. Emissions, like carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other greenhouse gasses are released by vehicles that use internal combustion engines (ICEs). Before 1975, vehicles didn't use this part as it did not exist and emitted an uncontrollable amount of smog and harmful gasses. To conform to more necessary and strict emission restrictions at the time. The catalytic converter was then created. 

Essentially, a catalytic converter acts as a mitigator of Orlando Toyota vehicle emissions by oxidizing and removing certain pollutants from exhaust smog. In most cases, cats oxygenate smog (which is made up mainly of oxygen, carbon monoxide, and various hydrocarbons). The runoff substances creating are carbon dioxide and water. 

Why Use This Auto Part?

Cats are essential when it comes to reducing harmful emissions from your Orlando Toyota car's tailpipe. Granted, carbon dioxide is still a greenhouse gas in excess, it's less harmful than its less oxygen rich gaseous counterpart. The catalytic converter renders carbon monoxide (lethal if inhaled in large amounts) far less harmful and emits water as the other substrate. How is this accomplished, you may wonder? Find out here. 

Cats come in various types, mainly 2 and 3-way connections to keep things simple. 2-way Orlando Toyota cats perform the standard operation of oxidizing carbon monoxide into carbon dioxide. This type of auto part oxidized several hydrocarbons as well, though not as effectively as some of its counterpart models. You can most often find this type of diesel fueled vehicles. 

The alternative cat design is the 3-way. This type of connection more effectively controls the emission of nitric oxide . You can often find this type of cat model on Orlando Toyota cars that use ICEs. 

There Are Always Drawbacks

Like anything, cats don't come without their fair share of drawbacks and criticisms. It's true that a vehicle performs best when there's a free flow of exhaust out the tailpipe and the cat converter acts as a form of middleman to remove harmful substances from the smog. This is essential for environmental betterment, but it does put a damper on overall horsepower and performance. 

Cat converters, being a filter for your exhaust, can get clogged if you use fuel that's not specific for your engine. They're also prone to theft because they often contain precious metals. If you're an Orlando Toyota Prius driver, you've been warned. 

Still have questions about cat converters and other auto parts? Visit Toyota of Orlando today at 3575 Vineland Road. 

Toyota Car Platforms and Structure Explained

 The inner workings of a car are quite an enigma, especially if you get granular and delve into the finer points. What makes a car tick can get involved and tricky, but focusing on one part or section at a time can help clear through all the engine noise. Today, at Toyota of Orlando, we're walking you through the finer details of what car platforms are. You may have heard this term before but might not know much about it. Don't worry, we're here to break it down for you!

What is a Car Platform? 

When referring to Orlando Toyota cars, the platform or structure is a set of underpinnings on which a vehicle is built. This term can refer to chassis design, aesthetic features, engineering points, or how production is conducted. For the most part, automotive brands use Orlando car platform as a practice for minimizing expenses when producing models that are similar. In fact, a a lot of automotive brands (even competitors) will share platform specs. This is the reason why you'll often seen "clones" or other re-badged models out there. Take the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ, Mazda 2 and Toyota Yaris Hatchback, and more for example. 

While car platform design can encompass a variety of features on an Orlando Toyota car, it often deals with the technical aspects of a car's design. This can include items like: 

• The front and rear axles and the wheelbase (distance between axles). 
• Types of suspension used in the front and rear of the vehicle. 
• Where the engine is placed, what type is to be used, and parts of the powertrain. 
• Steering mechanisms and parts of the power steering. 
• And the floor pans along with chassis and other integral foundation parts. 

Pros/Cons of Car Platform Use

Creating new vehicles is quite an undertaking for automotive brands. Designs must be drawn up, assembled, thoroughly tested, and then certified for production with numerous steps in between each process. Car platform sharing for building Orlando Toyota cars is one of the auto industry's most convenient tools. A group of automotive brands alliance for certain vehicles in their lineup, share ideas, and collaborate on construction. Obviously, the models that are produced are unique to their brand, but the bones remain largely the same. 

One of the first automotive brands to use this practice was General Motors (GM) back in 1908. This practice brings many benefits like: 

• Vehicles produced using car platform sharing are tested by a wide variety of engineers from different companies before they're produced under various monikers. 
• Production is made much cheaper and therefore vehicles will have lower price tags for consumers. 
• Platforms can become reliable for drivers even if they don't know it. Orlando Toyota cars that share architecture often feel familiar when they're driven. 

But, like anything, car platform sharing isn't without it's issues. Many critics of the practice claim a lack of variety in the automotive market with many vehicles bearing too much resemblance. Issues do happen and an issue with a platform shared model could mean widespread recalls. 

Toyota's New Global Architecture (TNGA)

Toyota is an automotive brand that makes car platform sharing efficient and effective by offering models that share components but differentiate enough that the copycating goes largely unnoticed. Since 2015 Toyota has been using their widely acclaimed platform, TNGA, to construct over 50% of its vehicles. For Toyota, this Orlando car architecture encompasses things like seat frames, airbags, pedals, shifters, and steering system. This platform use gives the appeal of variety while still standardizing some aspects and allowing for unique options for consumers. 

The Dynamic Force Engine was developed alongside this car platform and has been used commonly in a variety of Orlando Toyota cars. 

Still have questions about car platforms or interested in driving a new Toyota? Visit Toyota of Orlando today at 3575 Vineland Road today! 

Toyota of Orlando shares more tips for driving at night

Here at Toyota of Orlando, your drive time safety is our top priority. We want to ensure that you not only drive a safe vehicle but also that every time you get behind the wheel, you employ your best safe driving habits. We've given you some basic tips on driving at night and how you should adjust yourself to handle this unique drive time situation, but today we're back with a few more. See how driving at night is different than driving during the day and how you should change your driving habits accordingly! 

Five tips for driving at night safely 

Tip #1: Make sure you have the right eyeglasses. Are you wearing the right eyeglasses for driving at night? It's critical that your pair - whether you wear them for prescription or for fashion - have an anti-reflective coating on them. This will prevent light from reflecting off the glass and distorting your view of the road. If you don't have this special coating, ask your eye doctor about adding it or look into clip-on lenses that prevent issues when driving at night. 

Tip #2: Look for green orbs in the road. OK, this bit of advice sounds weird, we know... but trust us. When animals are in the road, their retinas actually reflect light from headlights and make it look greenish in hue. If you see small green orbs on the road, you're actually looking at animal eyes and you should adjust your driving habits so you don't find yourself in a collision. 

Tip #3: Dim your interior light level. When we say dim your interior lights, we don't just mean the lights in your car (which you should keep off when you're driving to help avoid distraction). We also mean the lights in your instrument panel and your dashboard. These lights can be overly bright to the point of distraction, especially if they're LEDs, so dim them before you take on driving at night. 

Tip #4: Clean your windshield and mirrors. You should make sure you clean your windshield and your mirrors with a microfiber cloth or a piece of newspaper before you hit the road. This will help get rid of smears and streaks, both of which can reflect light and distort your field of vision. 

Tip #5: Make sure your headlights are in good shape and are aimed correctly. When's the last time you had car headlight maintenance or checked to see if your headlights were aligned properly? If it's been a while, consider bringing your car to Toyota of Orlando before driving at night. We can check and maintain your car headlights and also ensure that they're aimed properly. You can also check their alignment yourself - simply pull your car up to a wall and turn your headlights on so they're shining at the wall. If they're uneven, adjust the bulbs until they're lined up! 

Let Toyota of Orlando help get your car prepared for driving at night

Have questions? Call us - Toyota of Orlando is open seven days a week at (407) 298-4500. You can also stop by and see us at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 across from the Millenia Mall. 

High mileage car care: What you should know

 We've all heard that Toyotas last forever (and FYI they pretty much do). But no matter which make of vehicle you have sitting in the garage at home, it won't last long if you don't keep up with routine car care, you're going nowhere fast. This is especially true when your vehicle joins the high mileage club. 

What is a high mileage car?

High mileage basically means that your vehicle has more than 100,000 miles on the odometer. While some people blanch at that number, going over 100k doesn't mean your car is going to take a nosedive anytime soon; many vehicles, especially Toyotas, last well over 200-250k miles without any major issues. (Have you heard of the million-mile Tundra?) However, high mileage cars do need a little bit of TLC when it comes to car care. Check out our tips for maintaining your high mileage vehicle below! 

Tip #1: Follow the tune-up schedule. After 100,000 miles, you may need a tune-up here and there to keep things running smoothly under the hood. Your Orlando Toyota's owner's manual can tell you when you're due for this important car care appointment; make sure you put it on your calendar to ensure longevity. 

Tip #2: Get routine oil changes (and stick to them). It's always important to get routine oil changes, but even more so when your car passes the 100k mile marker. As your vehicle ages, it's more prone to oil leaks and other issues. It's critical to get routine oil changes (we can get you on a schedule at Toyota of Orlando) and you may want to ask our car care techs about a high mileage oil. This oil is designed to prevent leaks and also keep the interior of your engine clean and running smoothly. 

Tip #3: Never ignore a warning light. Never ignore a warning light in your dash, but especially on a high mileage vehicle. Ignoring an issue can lead to it developing into a much larger, more serious, and more expensive problem that could go so far as to put your car out of commission. Visit Toyota of Orlando when you see any light illuminate in the dash. 

Tip #4: Detail regularly. It's tedious, we know, but you should detail your car regularly as it gets higher in miles. This will help preserve both the interior and the paint on the exterior and keep it looking good despite the years. It'll also help you make more money if you decide to sell or trade in. Commit to a routine schedule of cleaning, wiping, and vacuuming the interior, as well as washing and waxing the exterior. 

Tip #5: Replace belts and hoses are needed. Your belts and hoses are made of rubber and as you edge past 100k miles on your car, the rubber starts to wear out. We're not saying all the belts and hoses are going to give out at the same time, but it's a good idea to keep a close eye on them and replace them as needed. This is especially true for your timing belt, which is critical to performance (like, literally - you're not going anywhere if it breaks) and usually needs to be replaced somewhere between 60k-100k miles. 

Schedule high mileage car care at Toyota of Orlando

Have questions or want to schedule high mileage car care? Call Toyota of Orlando. We're open seven days a week at (407) 298-4500, and we're conveniently located just off I-4 across from the Millenia Mall at 3575 Vineland Road. 

Car Care Resolutions to Make Your Top Priority in 2021

  Now that 2020 has come to a close it's time to get to work on those new year's resolutions (and continue wearing your mask)! Most will take up a new exercise regimen, some will get their homes organized, and some will take care of their ride. If you're looking to take on some resolutions that are a little outside the norm then car care is definitely up your alley. These can help save you time, money, and stress this year (something we think you'll appreciate). Check them all out right here from Toyota of Orlando!

Car Care Resolutions to Ring in the New Year

1) Learn how to Jump-Start Your Ride

An unfortunate truth about your ride is that your car's battery will most likely fail at some point. This can be quite a difficult situation to navigate through, but knowing how to get a charge back can make all the difference. If you're not sure how to conduct this car care routine on your Orlando Toyota car we have a great set of instructions on our website. Read them over and always keep them on hand in case you need them. 

2) Check the Condition of ALL Your Tires

Your tires are the equivalent to shoes for your ride and it wouldn't make much sense to walk around town in bare feet. So why would you drive around town with balding tires? For this car care new year's resolution you should check the condition of your tires (including your spare) once every two weeks. Pay attention to the tread depth, tire pressure, and look for any signs of damage. You should also give your spare tire a once over. Granted, this tire often stays safe and tucked away until you need it, but it can still lose pressure over time like any normal tire. To make sure it's ready to use when you need it, check it! 

3) Start a Detailing Schedule

No one likes driving around in a dirty Orlando Toyota car so get on a schedule to clean it regularly. Cleaning your vehicle once a month is ideal car care you should start now to ensure that every commute is comfortable and you can find your things easily. Vacuum, wash the outside, wipe down interior surfaces, clean the auto glass, and freshen things up periodically this new year. 

4) Learn How to Change a Flat

There are a few specific Orlando car care things every driver should know how to do other than driving and swapping out a flat tire is one of them. You never know when your commute will be interrupted by a flat tire and you need to make sure you're ready to able to get back on the road to safety and somewhere you can have you tire repaired or replaced. You can find more instructions on our website on how to do this! In the meantime, you should make sure you have the essential tools on hand like your spare tire, a lug wrench, small car jack, and a tire pressure gauge. 

5) Don't Delay Oil Changes

Motor oil is one of the most essential fluids your ride needs to function properly and without you wouldn't be able to start your car. Staying on a consistent car care schedule is easy and we at Toyota of Orlando can help you out!

Get Started on Your Car Care Resolutions Now with Toyota of Orlando

If you need help getting started on your car care resolutions for 2021, we're here! Visit Toyota of Orlando at 3575 Vineland Road today.