Toyota is bringing a new Toyota Tacoma TRD lift kit to dealerships

 Toyota Tacoma drivers, get ready - Toyota is introducing an all-new Toyota Tacoma TRD lift kit to a dealership near you! This is a first for the company - up until now, if you wanted to put a lift on your truck then you had to resort to aftermarket kits and parts. That's all well and good, but we all know that using aftermarket parts can void warranties and even interfere with existing equipment on your Orlando Toyota at times. Plus, there's really no reliability like there is when you buy an original Toyota part. 

What will this new Toyota lift kit have to offer? 

That's why we're so excited that this new lift kit is coming for the Toyota Tacoma... and that it'll be available at dealerships as a dealer-installed option. Toyota of Orlando has the scoop on what this exciting new kit will have to offer below. 

• As noted, this is an OEM lift kit straight from Toyota. It was developed, tested, and implemented by TRD engineers to work perfectly in sync with the Tacoma. It also was designed to not interfere with existing technology on the truck, including the Toyota Safety Sense System. 
• Since this lift kit is a Toyota part, it won't void any warranties that you have on your vehicle. 
• The kit includes new Bilstein monotube shocks with digressive valving. These shocks are fitted with red TRD dust boots that also say "tuned by TRD" on them so there's doubt that you're off-road ready. 
• The front shocks give you a 2" boost and have an adjusted coil spring position on the shock tube. They also have an extending rebound stroke. 
• The rear shocks give you an extra inch of height and have a larger shock body than what you'd find on a normal Toyota Tacoma shock. This is good news for you - it means more oil volume, which keeps things cool and improves damping for a more comfortable ride on rough terrain. 
• The rear shocks also have enhanced strength due to larger pistons and piston rods, and they have cast-iron spacers. 
• All of this translates to enhanced ground clearance - you'll get an additional 1.7". On top of that, your angles are improved. Your approach angle is now +3.1 to 32 degrees, your departure angle is +0.5 to 24 degrees, and your breakover angle is now +1.6 to 23 degrees. This means better handling and improved ability to travel over uneven terrain. 
• The kit comes with a new Toyota Safety Sense System millimeter-wave sensor to ensure that the lift kit works perfectly with the TSS system. 
• It also boasts a new grille with "TOYOTA" badging on the front, inspired by the company's heritage. 

The kit is dealer-installed and comes with all of the necessary hardware. Pricing for this new Toyota lift kit is $1,350 (not including labor) and you can either have it installed at time of purchase or after. If you choose to do installation at time of purchase, you'll get a 3-year/36,000 mile warranty. If you install it after the fact, you'll get a 1-year/12,000 mile warranty. 

Toyota of Orlando can get your truck lifted and back on (or off) the road today

What are you waiting for? Get the boost you've been wanting with the reliability you need - shop our Toyota parts and accessories today. Call Toyota of Orlando at (407) 298-6006 or stop by 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 across from the Millenia Mall. 

Easy Ways to Making Driving Your Toyota Car More Comfortable

If you've ever sat down and quantified your time spent doing things, you've probably been shocked to realize just how much time you actually spend in the driver's seat of your Toyota car. Your commute to work, that mini road trip you took last weekend, or that trip you took down the street to the grocery store. For all the time you spend behind the wheel, how much of that time is actually spent comfortably? Do you often find yourself complaining of back, neck, and leg pain? Do you sit uncomfortably? 

Whatever the case may be, there are actually many ways you can help make driving more comfortable. Toyota of Orlando is here with an easy guide to get you started on the road to making driving your Toyota car more comfortable. Check it all out here!

Driving Doesn't Have to Be So Uncomfortable

Purify the Air

When driving your Orlando Toyota car, more than likely you're going to have the windows up. This means that the air you're breathing is coming through filters and into the cabin. If you've been smelling mustiness in the air or maybe don't feel comfortable breathing the air in your cabin, it might be your cabin and A/C filters. These auto parts can become dirty and clogged over time which leads to foul smells and less than ideal breathing conditions. To remedy this issue you should inspect all filters that deal with your air circulation in the cabin and replace ones that are dirty. 

Adjust Your Seat Comfortably

One of the biggest perpetrators of discomfort during your driving experience is the seat itself. You spend the most time there and if it's not adjusted right it can lead to pain in your neck, legs, and back amongst other places. Take some time to reconfigure your seating in your Toyota car to feel more comfortable while still being functional. Some tips, your legs shouldn't feel cramped up, your feet should comfortably reach the pedals without having to stretch your feet, your thighs should be evenly supported without the backs of your knees rubbing the seat, your chin should be level with the steering wheel, and your hips sitting as high as your knees. 

Install Comfy Accessories

Depending on the model of Toyota car you drive you may or may not have built-in features like lumbar support in your car seats. If you don't we at Toyota of Orlando highly recommend installing an aftermarket backpad and seat cushion to help make your seats more comfortable and supportive. A cushy steering wheel cover can also go a long way by giving your hands a break. 

Stop for Regular Breaks on Long Trips

While you might be tempted to keep trucking until you make it to your destination, it's actually better to stop every so often (once every 2 hours) to give your body a break. This will help you stretch and keep you comfortable next time you get behind the wheel of your Orlando Toyota car. 

Need more tips on keeping your Toyota car comfortable? Toyota of Orlando is here to help! Visit the dealership at 3575 Vineland Road today.

The Specifics on Car Titles

 The car buying process is one that seems intimidating but we're sure we've explained well into death. So, hopefully you've learned a thing or two to make the process a little less intimidating. But, something we probably haven't touched on is the car title. Buying a car means plenty of paperwork and paper trails, and one of the most important documents (other than the bill of sale, registration info, and so on), the title contains pertinent information regarding your vehicle that you can't drive without. 

If you have no idea what this document is or you still have questions, Toyota of Orlando is here with a little explainer. 

What Exactly is a Car Title?

An Orlando car title is a document/set of information that's specific to the state in which the vehicle was purchased. On this document you can find things like:

• Identifying characteristics of your Orlando Toyota car like the make, model, model year, VIN number, and more. 
• The current license plate number on your vehicle. 
• Your vehicle's technical specifications like curb weight, engine type, body type, and so on. 
• And the owner's (your) information where the vehicle is registered. 

If you didn't pay for your vehicle using straight cash, aka you financed it, the car title will also carry the lienholder's name and information. Typically this is a bank or other financial entity from where you borrowed the money. This information is on there to make sure that the debt owed on the vehicle will be paid to the lienholder before it's sold to someone else. 

What are the Different Types of Car Titles?

Orlando car titles often carry various designations to tell would-be purchasers a general summary of the car's journey. For factory issued new vehicles you won't need to mind the designation so much. But, for pre-owned purchases it's essential you check these titles. 

1) Clean

A clean title is what you always want to shoot for when shopping for a vehicle. It means that the vehicle you're interested in is certified to be structurally sound and without major issues. New cars will have this title and well-kept pre-owned rides as well. 

2) Clear

Clear car titles refer to the amount of money owed on the particular vehicle. This Orlando title means that the owner of the vehicle doesn't owe anything on the vehicle and owns it outright. 

3) Salvage

Salvage titles should be avoided at all costs. They mean that the car they're attached to was damaged in an accident badly and was deemed totaled and/or unsafe to drive. Car insurance companies likely won't insure a salvage vehicle and therefor making it illegal to drive. In summation, stay away from these. 

4) Rebuilt/Reconstructed

Typically cars with this title start out as salvage but can change to rebuilt if the owner repairs the vehicle and makes it driveable again. While these Orlando cars might be safe to drive, insurance companies might be hesitant to insure due to their history. If they do insure they might charge exorbitant fees. 

Some titles can have a different designation as "Lemon." This is in accordance to "Lemon Laws" which allow the purchaser to return the vehicle to wherever they purchased it from because the vehicle doesn't meet quality and safety standards. Since this is no fault to the driver/purchaser, the vehicle is able to be returned and the Orlando car title will read Lemon. 

Your physical car title is actually not given to you until the vehicle actually belongs to you. Financing a vehicle means that the lienholder (bank/other entity) technically owns the vehicle while you're paying it off. Once the vehicle is paid off in full you can then be given a title. If you lose your current title, don't panic! You can actually request a new one from the state your vehicle is registered or was purchased from. 

Still have questions? Give Toyota of Orlando a call at (407) 391 - 6217 or visit the dealership at 3575 Vineland Road today! 

Stop hating your morning commute with these 6 Orlando Toyota tips

 If you absolutely dread your morning commute, you're not the only one - plenty of people hate climbing into the driver's seat to get where they need to go in the AM. However, believe it or not, there are ways to make your daily drive time a whole lot more enjoyable. Start your day off on the right foot! Check out these Orlando Toyota tips for improving your commute without spending more time, money, or energy on it (because sleep). 

Six tips to make your morning commute better than ever 

Tip #1: Switch your route. When's the last time you changed things up in terms of your commute? Altering your route can bring a fresh change of scenery, making things seem a lot less tedious. It also exposes you to new parts of your city and neighboring cities that you may not have otherwise discovered, like restaurants and shops. 

Tip #2: Find an interesting new podcast. Engage yourself during your drive time to make the most of it! To improve your boring morning commute, find an interesting new podcast or audiobook to listen to. You can also learn a new language or check out recommended new music via your favorite streaming app. 

Tip #3: Spring for the good stuff. If you hate your morning commute, it's definitely not the time to be breaking out the cheap coffee and stale snacks. Make things ten times better by springing for the GOOD coffee and getting your favorite snacks on board for your drive. Just don't go wild - eating a whole meal or something complicated behind the wheel can be considered distracted driving. 

Tip #4: Don't be a hoarder. Keep your car clean, people, so you don't hate being in it as much. This means keeping the clutter out and not using it as a portable storage unit and also keeping it detailed so it's free of grime and dust. You can either clean it DIY style with supplies from our Orlando Toyota parts store OR call us to schedule car detailing at our auto service center. 

Tip #5: Stop speeding and stressing. Don't make your morning commute exponentially worse by rushing through it - it's already stressful enough. Give yourself extra time - say, an extra 10-15 minutes - as cushion. Worst case, you have extra time to read, scroll, or finish your podcast episode before you head into work. 

Tip #6: Call your mom (yes, you). Use this time behind the wheel to call other early birds who are up but who you normally don't have a ton of time to talk to. Do it safely, though - use the Bluetooth hands-free tech to make your calls so you can keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road at all times. 

Let Toyota of Orlando make you into an early bird

Have questions or need car detailing supplies? Call Toyota of Orlando today at (407) 298-4500 or stop by and see us at 3575 Vineland Road, just off I-4 across from the Millenia Mall. 

Questions to Ask Your Car Mechanic

21st century resources have made it possible for us to find the best restaurants in a new city to the most affordable salons. You only have yourself to thank for that. If it isn’t for consumers everywhere, you wouldn’t know whether to rust a shop or not. It saves a lot of trouble from going through a bad experience someone before you had. Nevertheless, experiences are still objective, which is why it’s important for you to still do direct research when looking for a service like someone to work on your vehicle. A car mechanic is pretty much a car doctor, so you definitely want to make sure that your vehicle is well taken care of. With this in mind, here at Toyota of Orlando, we’ve compiled a list of questions you should ask when choosing a potential car mechanic.

#1) Have you worked on my vehicle’s make and model before?

Think of any job interview when the interviewer asks “What relevant experience do you have for this position?”, question one is the car mechanic equivalent. You want to make sure the person working on your car knows every part of your car from bumper to bumper so that they handle your car with a lot of TLC.

#2) What associations do you belong to?

Besides taking care of your Orlando Toyota, a car mechanic is supposed to be up to date with particular codes, standards, regulations, etc. across the automotive repair landscape. The largest organization in the U.S. is the Automotive Service Association. It’s a non for profit org that’s been running for 64 years and focuses on the advancement of “professionalism and excellence int he automotive repair industry”.

#3) Are your employees ASE certified?

ASE stands for the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence, and they’ve worked to improve the quality of vehicle repair by testing and certifying car mechanics since 1972. It doesn’t hurt to check and see if your Orlando Toyota’s mechanic is ASE-certified. Think of it this way, you wouldn’t let an uncertified person in a white coat perform surgery on you, right? At least we hope you won’t. You should take care of your Orlando Toyota the same way you take care of yourself. 

#4) Do you provide free estimates? Can I get a written estimate? 

There are repair shops that offer free diagnostic exams to determine the issues with your Orlando Toyota. There are shops that charge for this service. Before anything is done, ask your car mechanic if the service is free, and if it’s not ask if there’s a flat rate, hourly, are there additional costs etc? Also make sure that the repair shop provides a signed, detailed, and written copies of the estimate before they beginning to work of your Orlando Toyota.

#5) Do you offer warranties for your parts and services?

Be sure to check that the repair shop you’re seeking service from offers written guarantees on parts and labor. Depending on your needs and vehicle’s needs, this is a great convenience to have. Some auto body shops will have discounted repair costs for parts even after the warranty has expired—point is, ask what they have to offer.

If you need to get your car repaired, we highly recommend going to Toyota of Orlando (not being completely biased here!). We have highly trained professionals that know the ins and outs of your Toyota. And not to mention we only use state of the art equipment and genuine Toyota parts! Stop by and get your car checked at 3575 Vineland Rd just off I-4 near the Millenia Mall.

Automotive Life-Hacks to Get You Through Anything

 Life hacks are truly amazing. Think about it, they only require a minimal change to your habits, they typically repurpose things you might already have on hand, and they dramatically improve your life. Win, win, win. Perhaps you've decided to employ a few of these hacks yourself in your home, but it's time to take it a step further. Why not use this ingeniousness to improve your experience when you're behind the wheel? If you're looking for some quick inspo, Toyota of Orlando is here with a few ideas to get you started!

A Life Hack for This and for That

If you thought that using bread tags to organize your cables or turning coat hangers upside down to hang unique items in your closet was the pinnacle of life hackery, you've barely scratched the surface. Your Orlando Toyota car is the perfect place to employ these practices and improve your life in the driver's seat. Check them out right here!

1) Use that Shoe Organizer for More than Just Shoes

There are so many things you'll likely have a need for when you're driving. To save yourself plenty of time and headaches, install an inexpensive plastic shoe organizer to your headrests on your front seats and get to organizing. Store everything from essential emergency tools, snacks, your phone, and more. Life = hacked. 

2) Dryer Sheets Make for Great Bug Remover

To the Orlando car wash enthusiasts out there, this one's for you! Did you know that dryer sheets and a little water can actually do wonders for getting lovebug and other insect remains off your front bumper? Seriously. Just take a dryer sheet, apply water to it and your front bumper, scrub away, and watch the magic happen. Nothing to it!

3) Can Your Trash with Tupperware

Do you have a cabinet full of miscellaneous plastic containers in your home? Who doesn't? If you've elected to finally just use the storage container your cereal already comes included with, repurpose that containers as a car trash can. This simple life hack will have your car interior cleaned up in no time. Just line a tall plastic container, like one for cereal or long pasta, with a plastic bag and pick up your trash. Boom. Done. 

4) Why Hold Gum When You Can Hold Spare Change?

No one can argue against the gum car cup. Those things are so d&*n convenient! But, what do you do with it once you run out of gum? Easy, repurpose it! A car cup for gum can easily become an on-the-go change jar. Deposit your money into it, demand patronage from your passengers, and never let another penny fall between the seats again. 

5) Whoever Said Carabiners were a Climbing Tool Lied to You

If you're not an avid mountain climber, don't be (that ish is dangerous)! Instead, take those carabiners you have lying around and turn them into the perfect hanging hooks. Simply take up to 4, attach them to the bars on your Orlando Toyota car's headrests, and start hanging stuff. Your handbag, grocery bags, christmas lights, whatever you want! Never again will your things go in the same place as your passengers' butts and shoes. 

Ready to try out these life hacks or want to know about a few more? Check in with us at Toyota of Orlando! We're here for you at 3575 Vineland Road and online tood!

Your Toyota Smart Key stopped working: What now?

 

If you drive a relatively new Toyota, then you're probably familiar with the Smart Key System. You may even have a car that has a convenient push button start feature, which makes getting things up and running easier than ever before. However, if you do have a vehicle with either one of these features, then you may have wondered at one point or another what happens if the key fob were to stop working. Toyota of Orlando is here with answers! 

What is the Smart Key System?

The Smart Key System allows you to unlock your car and start it without ever removing your car keys from your pocket or purse. As long as they're on your person, you can touch the sensors on the door handle to lock and unlock the car and then hit the push button start to get things up and running. 

Smart Keys run off of a battery, so it's always possible that the battery dies (or the key stops working for some other reason).  If this happens to you, you can still unlock your car; every Toyota Smart Key has a mechanical key inside of it that you can pull out and use in your physical door lock. But if you have a push button start car, how can you get it started when there's no ignition for you to insert the mechanical key in? Luckily, as long as you hold the key fob near the push button start, your car should still be able to fire up (even if the fob is dead). If it doesn't, then you may have an issue with the actual car battery, not the battery in your key. 

What happens if you lose your Toyota Smart Key, though? In this case, it's not quite as simple. (So don't lose that spare key!) If you lose your Toyota Smart Key and need a replacement, you'll need to visit our Orlando Toyota auto service center. Our techs can get you a new key, but you'll need a couple of things with you when you arrive, including: 

• Proof of ownership of the vehicle 
• Your driver's license or ID 
• Your car's VIN number 
• Your Smart Key code number - we can access this for you at Toyota of Orlando as long as you have the above-listed elements 

We can then reissue you a Smart Key and configure it to your car - that way the new key works, and the old key doesn't (just in case it was stolen or someone stumbles upon it). 

Toyota of Orlando can help you get your car up and running again 

Have questions about your Toyota Smart Key or need a bit of help with it? Call Toyota of Orlando's auto service center today. We're open seven days a week at (407) 298-0001.