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.