Towing equipment 101

October is coming to an end and that means Thanksgiving is just around the corner! Whether you’re visiting family outside of North Charlotte or just wanting to get away for the holiday, you may need to tow your luggage. Having towing equipment installed on your vehicle makes traveling by car convenient. But, if your vehicle didn’t come with a towing kit installed and you’re looking to have one installed, you need to know what you’re looking for. Toyota of N Charlotte is here with an easy guide on towing equipment, so you can haul and carry whatever you need for your trip.

Different types of towing equipment

Most often you’ll find towing equipment installed on larger N Charlotte Toyota SUVs and trucks, but they can be installed on sedans and smaller vehicles. While tow hitches may seem as simple as hooking up a trailer and driving, but there are a lot of specific types that are used for different purposes and vehicles. These are a few different types of hitches that can be installed on N Charlotte Toyota vehicles:

• Class 1: This type of tow hitch can be installed on smaller vehicles like sedans and can haul up to 2,000 pounds. Towing equipment like this can be best used for bike racks and small trailers.
• Class 2: Like class 1 towing equipment, this hitch is usually installed on N Charlotte Toyota vehicles like mid-size SUVs (think Toyota RAV4). They can haul up to 3,500 pounds.
• Class 3: Reserved for heavier vehicles like the N Charlotte Toyota Tundra, this towing equipment can haul up to 8,000 pounds.
• Class 4: Full size SUVs and trucks are usually outfitted with this type of tow hitch and can haul up to 10,000 pounds.
• Class 5: Many N Charlotte Toyota vehicles aren’t equipped with this type of towing equipment. They can handle between 16,000 and 20,000 pounds.

There are also different specialty tow hitches that can be placed in different spots on your N Charlotte Toyota vehicle and are used to haul specific equipment. Here are a few different types of equipment you may find:

• Weight Distribution Hitches: Hitches like these take weight from the tongue of the tow hitch to keep the front end of your vehicle grounded. These types of hitches can be used on class 3, 4, and 5 hitches.
• 5^th Wheel: This type of tow hitch is reserved for very large pickup trucks and can haul up to 25,000 pounds. They can haul travel trailers and typically keep their weight in the beds of trucks.
• Bumper hitch: This type of towing hitch attaches directly to the bumper of a N Charlotte Toyota vehicle rather than on the undercarriage.

Your towing equipment needs met at Toyota of N Charlotte

If you’re looking to get away this holiday season and need the equipment to get your belongings where they need to go, then come shop our auto parts at Toyota of N Charlotte! We’re located at 13429 Statesville Road and open seven days a week!

Car transmissions 101

Your car transmission can be easily summarized by the shifter that puts your N Charlotte Toyota into park, neutral, reverse, and drive. However, this large and important vehicle component helps to maintain acceleration and keep your vehicle idling when in park. It can also drastically affect your driving experience. While you can typically boil car transmissions down to manual or automatic, there are several different types that each come with different perks and functions. If you’re a bit confused on this, don’t worry! Toyota of N Charlotte is here with a guide to help better understand the wide world of transmissions.

Going beyond manual and automatic car transmissions

When it comes to your transmission options, manual and automatic are the common choices in your N Charlotte Toyota vehicle. Here are the essential differences between these two basic car transmission types:

Manual

Manual is the original car transmission and it operates using a clutch in which the driver manually changes the gear based on the current rpm reading. For this type of car transmission, drivers usually don’t have a free hand due to frequent shifting. This transmission does typically offer better fuel efficiency over other types.

Automatic

This type of transmission is also common in many N Charlotte Toyota vehicles and is hailed as being one of the more convenient types. Using an electronically controlled shifting system, automatic transmissions move from one gear to the next automatically as the vehicle increases and decreases in speed. Compared to manual transmissions, automatics are somewhat less fuel efficient due to a slip that occurs when shifting. Automatic car transmissions are also versatile with four different types including:

1. Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT): CVTs can be best described as a transmission system without any physical gears or actual shifting. Instead, they use a set of variable pulleys and a torque converter to keep “shifts” smooth. While smooth and shiftless, CVTs are often criticized for their noisiness and lack of power generation.
2. Conventional Automatic: Using a torque converter, this transmission type transfers power to itself and shifts using electronically controlled clutch packs.
3. Automated Manual: Believe it or not, an automated manual is actually a form of automatic car transmission. Typically, these types of N Charlotte automatics don’t require input from the driver to shift gears, but give the option with expanded column and paddle shifters.
4. Dual-Clutch Automated Manual: Dual-clutch transmissions in N Charlotte Toyota vehicles use two separated gear shafts and shift automatically. One column is designated by odd numbered gears (1, 3, 5, and 7) while the other contains the even numbered gears (2, 4, and 6). The system uses an internal computer to electronically select the gear to shift to and while it shifts to the selected gear it selects the one.

Learn more about transmissions at Toyota of N Charlotte

While most drivers really only care about picking between a manual or automatic transmission for their new N Charlotte Toyota vehicle, knowing which transmission would fit best in your vehicle helps you get the most out of your driving experience. If you’re still confused by this complex N Charlotte Toyota part, then you should chat with our expert auto service team at Toyota of N Charlotte. They can answer any questions you have and help you find the one that fits best in your next vehicle. Give us a call at (704) 659 – 2025 for more information.

Why should Charlotte oil changes be a priority?

Do you consider yourself to be a responsible car owner? It’s a lot of adulting to ensure that your car is operated safely, insured, and paid for every month. However, there’s a whole other element that you need to consider - keeping your car maintained! A routine car maintenance schedule is essential to keep your engine and all of the other working parts in good condition and also to keep your performance where it needs to be. One of the top items on that car maintenance list? Oil changes. 

Why should you make oil changes a priority?

Why are oil changes so important? To put it simply, oil is what keeps your engine running. When your oil gets too low or too dirty to perform, you can risk big problems and expensive repairs under the hood. Toyota of N Charlotte is here to assist you in being a responsible car owner by breaking down the ins and outs of routine oil changes.

First, let’s talk a little bit more about what oil does. It basically acts as a lubricant for the inner working of your engine - it keeps things cool and ensures that all parts move fluidly and without too much friction. Obviously it’s very important if you want your car to perform. When the oil levels get too low or the oil gets too dirty, it can’t do its job of lubricating and cooling the system. This means more friction and subsequently, more heat inside the engine. It can get so bad that parts can actually melt together and cause your engine to seize up - that’s a serious expense.

When is it time to schedule this Charlotte Toyota service?

So how do you know when it’s time to schedule a Charlotte oil change? Well, if you’re on a schedule, it’s pretty simple - Toyota of N Charlotte will send you a reminder! However, it’s important to check your car’s oil to see how it’s doing from time to time. You do this by locating the oil dipstick under the hood, pulling it out and wiping it with a clean cloth, and then reinserting it and pulling it out again to examine the oil. Here are a few telltale signs it’s time to visit the auto service center:

• When you pull the oil dispstick out, you see that the oil is dark brown or black in color. This indicates dirty oil - it should be a caramel hue.
• You see that the oil isn’t reaching a point in between the two tick marks on the dipstick. If the oil is below the bottom tick mark, it’s too low. If it’s above the top tick mark, then it’s too full and you need to see a mechanic to avoid damage. Either way, it’s time for Charlotte auto service!

Ready to schedule an affordable oil change or want to get on a car maintenance schedule to make life easy? Call Toyota of N Charlotte today! We’re open and waiting for you at (704) 659-2025. Don’t forget to ask about our auto service specials!

4 tips to care for your car battery

Have you ever gone to start your car, turned the key in the ignition, and heard nothing but silence? If your car battery is dead, you’re going nowhere fast. That’s why it’s important to care for and maintain this car part so it’s always ready to get things rolling. Toyota of N Charlotte is here with tips to help you do it - it sounds intimidating, but car battery car can be simple and affordable!

4 tips to keep your car battery running like-new

Tip #1: Inspect your car battery regularly. It’s pretty simple - just pop the hood and check the general condition of it! You’ll want to inspect the exterior for signs of a problem. These include the case cracking, swelling or bulging. You’ll also want to look for leaks or corrosion, which can also signal an issue.

Tip #2: Clean corrosion off of the cables and cable bolts. Cleaning the cables and bolts is easy and inexpensive, although our Charlotte auto service techs can certainly take care of it for you if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself. The easiest way to do it is to mix a tablespoon of baking soda and a cup of water and then use a metallic brush to scrub the posts and cables. Rinse everything with cool water and reconnect the cables carefully.

Tip #3: Check the voltage levels. You can buy a voltometer to check this yourself but if you don’t feel like making the investment, just schedule Charlotte auto service at our Toyota service center to have the battery checked. Checking the voltage will give you a good idea of whether or not you need to replace the battery soon.

Tip #4: Replace it regularly. Car batteries weren’t meant to last forever and they definitely don’t. When it’s time for you to replace yours, do it! We know it’s an expense, but it’s a necessary one that’s just part of car ownership. It’s better to replace it when you’re due than to risk getting stuck somewhere with a dead car and no way to get where you need to go.

Do you need Charlotte auto service for this important part?

And finally, here are some signs that you may need to replace your car battery soon:

• Your car won’t start or has a hard time getting started when you turn the key
• Your headlights look dim but get brighter when you rev the car’s engine
• Your battery light comes on in your dashboard
• You see leaking or major corrosion, or the case is swelling or cracked
• You’re at the expiration date - most cases will tell you how long the battery should last

If you notice any of these signs, bring your car into Toyota of N Charlotte so our techs can take a look under the hood and see what the best course of action is for your ride.

Want to schedule auto service or think you may need a replacement car battery? Call Toyota of N Charlotte’s service center today at (704) 659-2025!

Charlotte car tire care basics

Do you know how to properly care for your car tires? It’s simpler than it sounds, but it does require a bit of time, effort, and investment on your part. That’s part of being a responsible car owner! However, before you balk at spending money on routine tire care, take note - it’s a lot cheaper to care for your tires than it is to deal with the effects of NOT caring for them. Our auto service techs at Toyota of N Charlotte are here to guide you down the path of responsible car maintenance. 

Car tire care is easy and affordable with these tips

Taking care of your tires doesn’t have to be complicated. It just takes a little bit of work on your end and a few regularly scheduled car maintenance appointments at Toyota of N Charlotte. Here are some of the steps you can take to keep your car tires in top-notch shape:

• Conduct routine inspections of your tires yourself. You should check their general condition - look for things like bubbles, punctures, tears, nails and screws, and sidewall separation. If you spot any of these issues, visit our Charlotte auto service center for repairs or replacements, depending on the damage.
• Check tread depth. Proper tread depth ensures that you get the traction you need to grip the road. Use the simple penny test - put a penny in your car tire’s tread with Abraham Lincoln’s head down. If you can see the top of his head, your tread is too shallow and it’s time for new tires.
• Make sure you stay on top of PSI. Your car tires should always be inflated to the proper PSI. This lengthens the life of your tires because they create less friction and wear less quickly. It also improves handling and ensures you get the fuel efficiency you’re supposed to get! Underinflated tires even make your engine word harder than it normally would.  You can figure out the proper PSI by checking your owner’s manual.
• Get routine tire rotations. This is a BIG part of car tire maintenance! Rotations extend the life of your tires. Your tires wear as you drive on them and when you rotate them, they wear evenly on all sides. Our Charlotte auto service techs will rotate them from left to right and front to back to give you a longer lifespan. When you skip tire rotations, they’ll wear out a lot faster and you’ll spend more money than you should replacing them.
• Be careful with your driving habits. Avoid driving around construction sites; they’re littered with pieces of metal, nails, and screws that can all do damage to your car tires. You should also avoid driving on rough roads with lots of potholes, as these can damage your tires and more if you hit them hard enough.

Schedule your Charlotte auto service with us today!

Think you need new tires or just want to schedule routine maintenance like a rotation? Call us today at (704) 659-2025, or just swing by! We’re conveniently located at 13429 Statesville Road, just off I-77 at exit 23. Ask about our car maintenance specials to make things even more affordable!