Toyota of N Charlotte’s best holiday road trip maintenance tips

It’s the most wonderful time of the year...to prepare your care for a road trip for the fast-approaching holidays. If you’re planning a trip to visit with family and friends in the upcoming weeks, you’ll want to make sure your car is equipped to handle the journey. Your friends at Toyota of N Charlotte want to ensure you have safe travels, so we’re offering some of our favorite road trip maintenance tips for this holiday season.

Tip #1: Service your car’s brakes

Your vehicle’s braking system is possibly the most important safety mechanism built into it. Without brakes, you could go go go all you want, but what happens when you want to stop? Consider getting those rotors and brake pads checked before your big trip to make sure they’re in good working order.

Tip #2: Schedule your routine maintenance

There is no better time than now to think about getting your regular car maintenance all set. Especially if you’re planning on driving a far distance during the holiday season, it is wise to ensure your engine is running right, your oil is changed, and your filters are swapped out for new ones. Let our experienced N Charlotte Toyota vehicle experts take a look under the hood for you. Nobody has time to break down on the side of the road when there’s a yummy Thanksgiving meal waiting for you!

Tip #3: Clean your ride─inside and out

Before taking off, make sure to swing by your local car wash. Get a nice scrub for your car’s exterior and don’t forget the wax! In cold climates that see snow and ice, the road salt can be harmful to your car’s paint job, so consider taking preventative measures and applying a coat of wax for protection. While you’re at it, be sure to clean out the inside of your ride to ensure a comfortable drive!

Tip #4: Check on your tires’ health

Your tires get a lot of wear and tear from usage, so be sure to add tire servicing to your road trip maintenance list. It’s best practice to check out the air pressure and tread to ensure they’re both in safe condition before taking off. Our N Charlotte Toyota technicians would be happy to check those for you, as well as perform a tire rotation and wheel alignment, if necessary.

Tip #5: Replace your windshield wipers, if necessary

The unpredictability of the weather during this season can become somewhat of a hindrance for your holiday travels. Double check your windshield wipers are in good shape in order to prevent windshield obstruction from rain and snow on your trip. 

Taking the preventative measures for your car ahead of the holiday season will ensure a less stressful experience for everyone. Let us help you with your holiday road trip maintenance─call (704) 659-2025 for an appointment or stop by Toyota of N Charlotte at 13429 Statesville Rd just off I-77 at exit 23 in Huntersville today!

Should your next N Charlotte Toyota use alternative fuel sources?

Going green is becoming more and more important as we continue to see the effects that our methods of transportation have on mother nature. And luckily for you, it's easier than ever to make your drive time more eco-friendly when you shop our N Charlotte Toyota inventory. However, is one of these alternative fuel cars the right fit for your day-to-day drive time? And if so, which one best suits your needs? Our N Charlotte Toyota dealership is here to help you figure it out.

Should you invest in an alternative fuel car? 

First things first - should you really put an alternative fuel car in your driveway? While they definitely have their perks, they aren't for everyone and you should take time to think long and hard about whether this type of vehicle will suit your needs. Here are three main questions to ask yourself before you buy.

1) Will this type of car meet my needs?
Like we said, N Charlotte Toyotas that use alternative fuel sources aren't for everyone. These cars are designed to be as eco-friendly and fuel-efficient as possible and while they excel in those areas, they aren't suited for off-roading or towing and hauling heavy loads (at least, not yet). Make a list of your drive time needs and ensure this type of vehicle can support them.

2) Does my city infrastructure support owning this type of car?
While hybrids are easy to fuel and maintain (they use gasoline as a fuel source), electric cars and fuel cell vehicles use special fuel sources and require technicians who know how to work on them. Does your city have the right charging and fueling stations for your alternative fuel N Charlotte Toyota? What about mechanics - can you get your car maintenanced and repaired in your town? Look into these things before you buy.

3) Which one should I buy?
Which one is right for you? There are three main types of alternative fuel vehicle and our N Charlotte Toyota dealership is breaking them down below to help you decide which one is right for you. Make sure you carefully consider each option before signing the dotted line.

Which of these N Charlotte Toyotas is right for you? 

What are the main types of alternative fuel vehicles? Here are your three N Charlotte Toyota options.

Hybrids: These are by far the most popular and the easiest to own and fuel. Hybrid cars use both gasoline and electric power to get you where you need to go, so you can easily refuel at a standard gas station. By also relying on electric power, though, they cut down on fuel use (and up your bank account) and emissions, making them a greener drive time solution.

Electric cars: Electric cars don't rely on gasoline at all, instead operating off of a battery. This means they'll need to be charged up regularly and you'll have to find charging stations in your city to keep you running (although you can also charge at home in your garage). Automakers are working on improving the range of electric cars - some of them can go up to 400 miles on a single charge.

Fuel cell vehicles: FCVs are pretty amazing. These N Charlotte Toyotas run on hydrogen so they only emit water vapor, making them about as clean as it gets. Unfortunately, the only states that support fueling them at this point in time are California and Hawaii. We hope to see them arrive in North Carolina soon!

Want more info or feel like you're ready to start shopping? Call today - we're open and waiting at (704) 875-9199!

4 tips to protect your car from road salt this winter

Fall is in full swing and winter will be here before you know it. While it's exciting to think about the holidays, road trips with family and friends, and the possibility of snow, it's also important to think about the effects that the season can have on your car. Namely, we're talking about the effects that road salt can have on your vehicle. Our Charlotte auto service tips are here to lend a hand, though - check out these 4 tips to help protect your ride from the salt on the roads this season.

How can you protect your car from the effects of salt this winter? 

Tip #1: Get prepped NOW. We know it's only fall, but the best way to protect your car from the negative effects of salt is to get ready now. Wash and detail your ride and choose a quality wax to apply to the exterior. Wax will protect your car's paint from moisture and salt and help to prevent damage and rust. Our Charlotte auto service techs recommend that you keep the wax on hand - you may want to reapply during the winter season.

Tip #2: Wash your car frequently in the winter. No one wants to stand outside with the hose in the cold. We get it - it's not ideal. However, rinsing your ride will give the salt from the roads less of a chance to damage your car's paint. Our Charlotte auto service experts recommend washing your car and giving it a good scrub every two weeks, and rinsing it off as often as you can. (And if you really can't stand the cold, at least run your ride through an automatic car wash.)

Tip #3: Fix up any paint damage. If your car has paint damage like chips or scratches, consider fixing them up before winter hits. These damage spots will allow moisture and salt to permeate and can lead to faster rusting and worse damage that's more expensive and difficult to repair. Have our Charlotte auto body repair shop get your ride in top shape today.

Tip #4: Avoid the salt trucks. If you happen to see a salt truck out on the road, steer clear. They're usually out spreading salt to make the roads more drivable and if you drive behind them, you're likely to get a full dose.

Our Charlotte auto service center can get you prepped for winter 

Have questions, need paint repairs, or want more tips on getting your ride into top shape this winter? Call Toyota of N Charlotte's auto service center today at (704) 659-2025 to schedule your appointment.

Tips to help prevent auto repair issues

Car owners know the risk they take when purchasing a vehicle━upkeep can become a money pit, if you don’t maintain your car’s health. It’s exhausting running into auto repair concerns with your car and sometimes these are completely unnecessary and avoidable concerns. Your local Toyota of N Charlotte dealership is here to help take the stress out of car maintenance with our top tips on how to avoid auto repair issues.

Don’t get caught in a bind━practice preventative techniques with Toyota of N Charlotte

Tip #1: Stay up-to-date with a regular car maintenance schedule

We at Toyota of N Charlotte cannot stress enough how important it is to stick to a schedule for regular car care. We know we’re annoying about it, but we only do it because we care. Regular car maintenance isn’t something to joke about. It could mean the difference between having the shell out a bunch of money on some avoidable repair problems and saving a few bucks from being on the ball with the upkeep.

Tip #2: Address any concerns ASAP

As soon as you know of any potential problems with your vehicle, you should begin working towards a solution. The longer you wait, the higher the possibility of your car needing costly auto repairs. Set up an appointment with our service center to check out your concerns right away!

Tip #3: Don’t ignore the dash

Your ride’s dashboard is designed to tell you more about your car than you’d be able to see otherwise. If there is something wrong with your engine, the check engine light will tell you so. If you need an oil change, there’s a light for that too. Take those warning lights seriously and you may save yourself time major time and money in the long run.

Tip #4: React to unusual sounds

You know the basics of your car more than anyone else. Yes, that includes car maintenance techs too. You’re the one who drives your car day in and day out, so when you hear a sound that seems unfamiliar to you, that probably means something’s not quite right and you should get it looked at as soon as possible.

Tip #5: Consider switching to synthetic

Synthetic oil, although not always necessary, can be a good switch for your vehicle’s engine. It runs cleaner, promotes better fuel economy, and lasts longer than the standard conventional option. If you have more questions on whether you should switch to synthetic, check in with one of our knowledgeable N Charlotte service techs. They’d be happy to explain the best option for your car!

Tip #6: Practice proper tire care

The tires are (literally) the foundation of your car. Without them, how would you go anywhere? With that being said, it is so SO important to make sure they are kept in good condition. That means you must make sure the air pressure is at a safe level and that the treads have plenty of traction to them. Keeping your tires in good driving condition will ultimately help in avoiding unnecessary auto repairs.

Let our N Charlotte Toyota service center help keep your car safe from those pesky repairs. Stop by 7 days a week at 13429 Statesville Rd just off I-77 at exit 23 in Huntersville!