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.