Upgrading Your Car Sound System

Cruising around town with the windows down and your favorite tunes blasting is a guaranteed way to take things to an epic level. If you're looking to take your noise to a higher level, you need to make sure you have the car sound system in your car that's ready for the job. While many modern N Charlotte Toyota models come equipped with great sound and infotainment systems (some even with JBL enhanced speakers), there's always room for improvement if you look hard enough. If you're looking to take your jam sessions to the next level, check out this guide from Toyota of N Charlotte on how to upgrade your car sound system.

Turn Up the Volume with a New Sound System

Upgrading the sound system in your N Charlotte Toyota car is definitely an involved process and should be done carefully to avoid causing a wiring issue. Consulting professional help with this project is highly recommended, but you can begin the process on your own. Here are a few tips to help you get started with upgrading your car sound system:

1) Be Patient and Take the Process Slowly

Upgrading the sound system in your car is a full-time project that demands a considerable amount of patience to prevent a wiring issue from arising. Before you get started, realize that you can truly start anywhere when it comes to a project like this. But you should make sure to outline everything you'd like to accomplish with the project and choose a reasonable place to get started. Are you looking for better sound quality? Maybe a different head unit or infotainment system? Whatever the end goal is, make sure to keep it in mind and take your project one step at a time to ensure an easy process. 

2) Get a New Head-Unit/Receiver

If you're planning on replacing the speakers in your N Charlotte Toyota vehicle as part of your sound system upgrade plan, you may need to invest in a new head-unit. Not only will this likely give you better compatibility with your new car sound system, but, depending on what you buy, you could also benefit from having Bluetooth connectivity, integrated navigation, and satellite radio. 

3) Get New Speakers

If you're looking for a little more power behind the sound in your car, you're going to want to look into getting new speakers. Before puling the trigger on a new set, make sure to check the number of speakers in your N Charlotte Toyota car and how many of them you'd like to replace. To get the best experience over time, start by replacing the front speakers and gradually working your way back. 

4) Boost the Power

Adding new and more powerful speakers to your N Charlotte Toyota car sound system demands extra power from your battery and you need to make sure you have the resources necessary to prevent a battery drainage. Make sure to get an amplifier. These will help distribute power more efficiently and evenly to your speakers. Minimally, you should use a 4-channel amp to cover your front and back speakers. If you plan on adding new speakers over time, you may want to invest a 5 or more channel amp. 

5) Add a Subwoofer and Dedicated Amp

Adding a little bass to your N Charlotte Toyota car sound system never hurt anybody. A subwoofer is the perfect speaker to get your car shaking, but you need to make sure you're ready for it. Not only will it bring the shakes to your car, but subwoofers take up a lot of space so be prepared to give up a bit of trunk or back seat space. You'll also need to use a dedicated amp to enhance the power generated for it. 

Ready to kick up your jams with a little car sound system upgrade? Make sure to pay a visit to Toyota of N Charlotte's auto parts store for help and the right equipment. Reach out to us at (704) 875 9199 seven days a week!

A Brief Guide on DIY Auto Body Repair

The roads are an unforgiving place when it comes to your N Charlotte Toyota car. There's always the threat of an accident, road debris is always flying up to hit your car, and there's always a pothole around somewhere looking to damage your suspension system. Not only are there hazards on the road, but something could fall from a tree onto your vehicle and damage the body, a rogue shopping cart might ding your door, or someone else's car door might leave your car with a scratch or a dent. While it won't cause your vehicle to stop running, body damage to your car turns it into a real eye-sore. Many drivers put off auto body repair work because of how expensive it can be. That's why Toyota of N Charlotte is here with some essential tips to help you take care of auto body repairs right from your home so you can skip the body shop. Fans of DIY projects, get your tools ready and check out this guide now!

Auto Body Repairs Right From Your Driveway or Garage

Looking at your N Charlotte Toyota car in an admiring way is difficult to do when you start to spot every ding and scratch on the body. While thoughts of repairing those damages dance through your head, you'll likely be discouraged by the price tag on your invoice. If you've run into this problem, there are some auto body repair jobs you can take care of at home. Here are the projects and how to get started:

1) Scratch Repair

Scratches are one of the worst types of damage because of how annoying they can be when it comes to your auto body repair job. The more you look, the more scratches you're likely to find. But, scratches are a pretty easy auto body repair job that you can do at home. Before you get started, inspect the scratches on your car to determine the depth of each one. A white scratch could indicate a deep scratch that's gone through your clear coat and paint and will need to be filled and sanded. Use matching touch-up paint to ensure a seamless repair. 

2) Dents

While scratches can be difficult to find, dents are a little easier to spot. To get started on this auto body repair job, make sure to also inspect dents like you would scratches. Depending on how large or deep the dent is will determine how much work you need to put into the repair. Smaller or shallow dents will likely only require a suction cup tool and a bit of touch-up paint to repair the damage. Larger dents on your N Charlotte Toyota car can still be repaired at home, but repairing these will require more patience and delicacy. 

3) Broken Lights (Assemblies and Bulbs)

Wiring work can be pretty intimidating when it comes to your N Charlotte Toyota car, but this auto body repair work is very easy to take care of. Before getting started, make sure to cover the area around the light assembly with painter's tape to prevent scratching. Turn off your vehicle and locate the screws and remove them in order to remove the light assembly. Make sure to remove the bulb before the assembly and take this time to replace the bulb if its burnt out or broken. Replace the broken assembly and the bulb and remove the painter's tape after you've finished. If you need a new light assembly or bulb, our auto parts store here at Toyota of N Charlotte can help!

Ready for some DIY work? We're here to help! Give Toyota of N Charlotte a call at (704) 875 - 9199 with any questions on auto body repair work seven days a week!

The Pros and Cons of Owning a Toyota Pickup Truck

When it comes to getting a new vehicle that’s the ultimate in utility, power, and fun, it’s hard to argue with a Toyota pickup truck. These vehicles have been specifically designed to handle a lot more than just driving and truly provide drivers with the most when it comes to engineering, customization, and convenience. But, there’s a reason why drivers have so many options when it comes to their ideal new vehicle, there’s not one vehicle that’s right for everyone. While trucks sport excellent features and capabilities, they don’t come without their drawbacks. If you’re on the fence about whether or not you should make your next ride a Toyota pickup truck, check out this helpful guide from us at Toyota of N Charlotte!

Pros of Driving a Toyota Pickup Truck

Like we said, there are plenty of benefits to owning and driving a N Charlotte Toyota truck. Here’s what our loyal truck driving customers have to say about this class of vehicle:

• More Power: Extra power under the hood doesn’t hurt and only enhances the capabilities of these incredible vehicles. Pickup trucks are renowned for their ability to carry heavy loads in their beds and tow large trailers. In fact, the N Charlotte Toyota Tundra can tow up to 10,000 pounds.
• Space, space, space: With all that space for the bed, it’s easy to figure that N Charlotte Toyota pickup trucks lack interior space. Wrong! Trucks are actually very customizable and can sport as little or as much cabin space as you’d like. A double-cab truck can comfortably fit five people and any amount of groceries or large cargo pieces you may be carrying.
• Off-Roading Capabilities: If you’re someone who’s longing to get off the pavement and to greener (and perhaps muddier) pastures? N Charlotte Toyota pickup trucks are the way to go. Features like CRAWL Control, Multi-terrain Select, skid plates, and improved suspension go a long way and can help you get to destinations you never knew existed.

Cons of Driving a Toyota Pickup Truck

• Not so Great Fuel Efficiency: Naturally, with more power comes less MPGs. Toyota pickup trucks are engineered to have more power and they’re bigger, those stats don’t come cheap and you’ll wind up paying for it at the pump. Not only that, but trucks have very large fuel tanks that are more expensive to fill.
• Trucks are Not Like to Sedans When it Comes to Model Choices: When you think of typical sedans and SUVs, you have several options and different models to choose from depending on the designs and different features you want. With N Charlotte Toyota pickup trucks, a vehicle make will only have one or two different models in their lineup. However, trucks are highly customizable, so you won’t be hard-pressed to find what you want.
• Trucks are Big: For some, driving a larger vehicle can be pretty intimidating, especially when navigating through tight spots or city streets. Trucks sport a lot of exterior space and are a bit more difficult to pilot than a typical passenger car. If you’re intimidated by this prospect, it might be best to stick with a sedan or a compact car.

Owning a truck comes with several benefits and drawbacks, but don’t take out word for it! Come check out your next Toyota pickup truck right here at Toyota of N Charlotte! We’re located just off I-77 at exit 23 in Huntersville. 

Hydrogen Fuel Cells: Fuel of the Future

As climate change continues to tighten its grip on the atmosphere and global environment, humanity has been looking for multi-faceted solutions. From cleaning up ecosystems to conserving essential resources, there’s nothing we won’t try to increase the longevity of our home. The automotive industry is no exception. Greener technology and better fuel sources are currently being researched by auto manufacturers around the world and Toyota has been taking an unconventional approach, hydrogen fuel cell technology. While not widely available as of yet, this Toyota technology is paving the way for a renewable future using a resource and engineering that produces no emissions and provides ample power to maintain the capability of your favorite Toyota vehicle. If you’re interested in helping mother nature, check out the details on this technology from Toyota of N Charlotte.

What is Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology?

When it comes to a green driving experience drivers have a number of choices that all provide great benefits and help the environment. While Toyota offers several N Charlotte hybrid options, hydrogen fuel cell technology is all-new and, while it’s not quite available at our dealership, it’s making waves in the automotive industry. Currently, this technology is offered in the Toyota Mirai and hydrogen fueling stations are limited to the west coast, but Toyota is hoping to bring this technology to more areas, like N Charlotte, in the coming years. Here are a few of the key benefits to driving with hydrogen fuel cell technology vehicles:

• Hydrogen fuel cell technology is similar to using an electric powered engine or motor. However, you don’t have to plug in a hydrogen powered vehicle, you refuel it at a hydrogen station, much like a vehicle with an internal combustion engine. At most fuel pumps, it only takes about five minutes to completely refuel your vehicle, much shorter than an electric engine, and a vehicle like the N Charlotte Toyota Mirai gets an EPA estimated 312-mile driving range on a complete fuel.
• Hydrogen is one of the most abundant elements on Earth and can be harnessed using a variety of methods. Depending on the way it was cultivated, hydrogen can be produced, harnessed in a fuel cell, and used with almost if not any pollution byproduct. In fact, the N Charlotte Toyota Mirai only expels water as a byproduct.
• Hydrogen fuel cell car engines are surprisingly simple and use a fuel cells and stacks rather than a huge amount of moving parts like an internal combustion engine does. That means no oil changes and fluid checks!
• Hydrogen based engines can travel farther than a N Charlotte Toyota internal combustion engine vehicles on a full fuel tank while only using half the amount of hydrogen when compared to the amount of gasoline a typical vehicles uses.

While it will be some time before you see a vehicle like the Toyota Mirai makes its way to Toyota of N Charlotte, we’re sure that hydrogen fuel cell technology will make its way to the east coast, given time. Toyota plans on mass producing vehicles using this technology and making them more accessible to people by the 2020s.

If you want to know more about hydrogen fuel cell technology and how it works, give Toyota of N Charlotte a call at (704) 875 – 9199.

6 Common Car Maintenance Misdiagnoses

Being a car driver certainly doesn’t make you an expert on all things auto. For most people, it’s key to ignition and foot to pedal and that’s where it ends. And when it comes to getting car maintenance, it can be a bit nerve-wracking not knowing exactly what’s being done to your Charlotte Toyota car. At our auto service drive, we take pride in working with our customers to ensure they have a comprehensive knowledge of what’s being done to their vehicle. But it doesn’t hurt to have some personal knowledge to keep yourself better informed about how your vehicle works. To help you get started, Toyota of N Charlotte is here with a guide on common car maintenance misdiagnoses and what they actually mean so you can be in the know during your next auto service.

Toyota of N Charlotte’s Guide to the Correct Car Maintenance Diagnoses

1) Bad Water Pump

If you’re having issues with your Charlotte Toyota car’s heating and A/C system, a common car maintenance diagnoses would be a defective water pump. An auto service expert will typically check for things like the air temperature coming from your system and the coolant level and quality in the vehicle. This problem could also be a result of a clogged heater core so be sure to have an auto service tech check both.

2) Low Freon

When it comes to your A/C not blowing cold, it could be one of two things, a low freon level or a damaged air conditioning system. Most often times, our Charlotte auto service techs will inspect the freon levels in your vehicle along with the entire A/C system. This car maintenance issue could be an expensive or cheap fix, make sure to have both possibilities checked out.

3) Bad Suspension

Your suspension is one of the most crucial parts of your vehicle and can make or break it. If you’re experiencing symptoms like clunking or squeaking while you drive, it could just be a bad sway bar end link. This part is much easier to replace, and repair so have it checked first.

4) Electrical Issues

With all the modern features on new N Charlotte Toyota vehicles, electrical car maintenance issues can certainly occur. Try not to panic just yet! Have your auto service tech take their time sorting through the various electrical systems in your vehicle to determine where the problem is.

5) Fuel Problems

Car maintenance issues with your fuel or fuel efficiency could be caused by a variety of things. Before your auto service tech checks the big things like the fuel pump or filter, make sure they check simpler things like the injector, O-ring, or solenoid.

6) Bad O₂ Sensor

Spotting a failing O₂ sensor is fairly straightforward, but it may be the actual problem your vehicle is experiencing. Have your Charlotte auto service tech check for other triggered sensors or for a vacuum leak before ruling this car maintenance issue as a failing O₂ sensor.

Still have questions about your vehicle? Don’t worry, we’re here to help at Toyota of N Charlotte! Visit our dealership at 13429 Statesville Road seven days a week.

Toyota of N Charlotte’s Tips for a Perfect Car Wash

Living in Charlotte, you’re probably getting tired of all the pollen. You’ve probably been having a difficult time finding your car because it looks like it’s a totally different color than it was yesterday. With the pollen count being as high as it is right now, your car is struggling to stay clean and getting a car wash can get pretty expensive. Have you ever thought to clean your vehicle yourself? While it may seem intimidating at first, it’s actually very easy to give your car a thorough wash without making breaking the bank on an expensive wash. Toyota of N Charlotte is here with an easy guide on the art of the car wash and how you can get the best clean possible.

1) See if you really need a car wash

Before you unravel the hose, bust out the bucket, and start soaping the sponges, you should probably check to make sure you actually need to all the way with your car washing. Depending on how much dirt and grime is on your vehicle, you may not have to scrub and soap your car for hours and may just need a simple waxing. Make sure to evaluate your N Charlotte Toyota vehicle before starting your car wash.

2) Read the labels

Even if you’re well versed in the washing of cars, sometimes you can forget about where and how to use certain washing products. Properly applying products is essential to a perfect wash so make sure you always read the labels.

3) The two/three bucket system

Washing dishes and even washing yourself in a bath tub reminds us why we should always use a two or three bucket system during a car wash. Soaking and soaping sponges into the same bucket after they’ve been wiping away grime and dirt on your N Charlotte Toyota car can lead to a collection of dirt on your cleaning supplies that gets reapplied to the vehicle throughout the wash. Having two rinsing buckets and a soap bucket will ensure a thorough clean without simply exchanging dirt.

4) Rinse and then wash

Before you take a sponge to the paint, make sure to give your N Charlotte vehicle a good rinsing first. This will loosen up the dirt and grime on the paint and make washing much easier.

5) Check for scratches and tough blemishes

Some scratches and blemishes can be tough to remove. If your car wash revealed a few in your car’s paint, our N Charlotte Toyota auto service techs recommend using a claybar for buffing.

6) Wash your windows and tires

Having a clear view is absolutely important when driving to stay safe and observe your surroundings effectively. Use a glass specific cleaner to wipe away dirt from your windshield and windows. For your vehicle’s tires, make sure to use a cloth or flexible sponge to really get between the spokes of the wheels and use a tire shine to complete the look.

Still have questions about how to get the perfect car wash? Feel free to ask our auto service techs at Toyota of N Charlotte. We’re open seven days a week and located at 13429 Statesville Road in Huntersville.

Toyota Safety Technology Explained

When you start shopping for a new car, it’s likely that you’ll wind up looking for eye-catching features like leather interior seat trim, a cool front grille, and maybe a sunroof. But some features you probably don’t actively look for, but definitely care about, are safety features. Think about it, while you may want your vehicle to catch eyes and look good while on the road, you definitely want a N Charlotte Toyota vehicle that’s well equipped to keep you safe. As a driver, its your responsibility to keep yourself, your passengers, and other drivers on the road safe. Luckily, when you’re shopping Toyota you know you’re shopping for something that’s not only engineered with practical safety features but also contains the most advanced in Toyota safety technology. At Toyota of N Charlotte, we have all the details on the best of the best safety features in Toyota vehicles.

Keeping You Safe on the Road

Technology moves the automotive industry forward every day and new Toyota safety technology is arguably one of the most important pieces of tech to be produced. Keeping drivers, passengers, and pedestrians safe is what new safety technology does best. Here are a few of the advanced technology systems being used to protect you while behind the wheel:

Toyota Safety Sense

This suite of advanced Toyota safety technology uses tools like integrated cameras, radars, and sensors to create an adaptive and safe experience.

• Lane Departure Alert: If a driver begins to drift from their lane while driving without indicating the intent to do so, a sensor on the windshield will alert the driver.
• Automatic High Beams: When in low visibility driving conditions, your high beam headlights will be automatically toggled on and off when another vehicle is detected.
• Pre-Collision System with Pedestrian Detection: Using a variety of cameras on the front bumper of the N Charlotte Toyota vehicle, this Toyota safety technology system actively detects pedestrians and assists the driver in stopping to avoid an accident with a vehicle or pedestrian.
• Dynamic Radar Cruise Control: When activated, this cruise control system maintains a preset distance and speed behind vehicles in front.
• Lane Tracing Assist: With Dynamic Radar Cruise Control active, Lane Tracing Assist maps the sides of the current lane your N Charlotte Toyota is in to stay centered.

The Star Safety System

Standard on all N Charlotte Toyota vehicles, the Star Safety System is a Toyota safety technology program that helps the driver maintain control of the vehicle in different traffic scenarios.

• Vehicle Stability Control (VSC): This system helps maintain control of the vehicle in the event of understeering while cornering.
• Traction Control (TRAC): In the event that a driver should heavily accelerate on a slippery surface, this N Charlotte Toyota safety system reduces and restrains the slippage of the vehicle drive wheels.
• Brake Assist: Emergency braking often requires the driver to heavily apply the brakes to avoid a collision. This system helps to provide additional force if the driver is unable to react quickly or apply the right force.
• Anti-Lock Brakes (ABS): Braking on slippery surfaces can often cause your N Charlotte Toyota car’s wheels to lock. This Toyota safety technology system prevents them from locking.
• Electronic Brake Distribution: Piggybacking off the ABS, this system ensures that your brakes receive the same amount of force to prevent skidding and sliding.

Ready to shop for your next ride? Come shop with us at Toyota of N Charlotte for new vehicles equipped with Toyota safety technology you need. Check out our inventory online or give us a call at (704) 875 – 9199 seven days a week!