Spring has sprung, and April showers bring May flowers, and all that - basically, rain is coming to our state. Spring brings the potential of plenty of wet weather, and you need to ensure that your car is ready to drive in the rain before you try to tackle your daily commute! Luckily, Toyota of N Charlotte is here to help (as always). Our service techs have made a quick list of car care appointments you should set now to ensure your ride is ready to drive in the rain all season long.
Is your car ready to drive in the rain?
Appointment #1: Tires
Your tires are what comes between your car and the road; caring for them on a routine basis is essential. This especially rings true when you're getting ready to drive in the rain! Your tires need to have the proper amount of traction to be able to grip the road, especially when conditions are slippery. Our Charlotte auto service techs can inspect your tread and let you know if you're in need of new tires. You should also stay on top of car maintenance like tire rotations, wheel balancing, and alignments to ensure top performance when driving in wet weather. And on top of all that, make sure your tires are inflated to the proper PSI! Tires that are over- or under-inflated can't do their job.
Appointment #2: Brakes
When the roads are wet, it cuts down on the amount of time and distance you have to brake as you may find yourself sliding a little if you hit the brakes too hard. You'll need to brake sooner when you drive in the rain to come to a safe stop. That's why it's so essential to ensure that your brakes are in excellent working order every time you hit the road. Charlotte brake service is a great way to have your braking system inspected and maintained so you're ready for anything, even unexpected stops to avoid collisions.
Appointment #3: Wipers
Your windshield wipers are crucial to a clear field of vision when you drive in the rain. They should clear your windshield of water in one swipe - if they're smearing water around or leaving large streaks, the rubber is likely damaged and you need a new set. Additionally, they shouldn't make squealing or thudding noises when going across the glass; that's another sign that they're worn out and you should visit our Charlotte Toyota parts department to have them replaced.
Appointment #4: Headlights
When you drive in the rain, you should turn your headlights on. It's less about you seeing better and more about other drivers being able to see you. That's why it's important to ensure that your headlights, taillights, turn signals, and hazard lights are all shining bright when you're heading into wet weather - you want other drivers to be able to see your movements so you can avoid an accident. Our Charlotte car care techs can inspect all of them, replace burnt out bulbs, and even perform headlight restoration if you need it. Also, just an FYI - you should never drive with your hazard lights on. They're only for use if you're pulled over to the side of the road.
Schedule Charlotte auto service today
Need to schedule car care to get ready to drive in the rain? Toyota of N Charlotte is at your service. Call us - we're open as an essential business at (704) 659-2025 seven days a week. You can also stop by to chat with our techs or get those new wiper blades at 13429 Statesville Road, just off I-77 at exit 23 in Huntersville.
Are you struggling to decide whether a new Toyota car suits your drive time needs or if you should put a Toyota truck in the driveway? Both are great investments and excellent drive time solutions, but you need to decide which one is BEST suited to your individual situation. Toyota of North Charlotte is here to help! We've got tips to help you choose between a new Toyota truck and car - check out the pros and cons below.
Is a N Charlotte Toyota truck right for you?
Size: Do you like driving large vehicles? If so, then a new Toyota truck might be a great fit for you. They're substantially larger than a lot of cars. However, if it's challenging or annoying for you to maneuver and park a large vehicle, than a truck might not be the best fit for your drive time needs - we recommend you shop our N Charlotte Toyota cars instead.
Towing: Is towing ability one of your must-have qualities? If you find this near the top of your list, then you need to shop our N Charlotte Toyota trucks. They have larger engines that produce more horsepower and torque, and this makes them much more capable of pulling something behind them. The 2020 Toyota Tundra, for example, can tow up to 10,100 lbs. The 2020 Toyota Camry, conversely, can only pull 1,000 lbs.
Fuel efficiency: However, having a bigger engine means you're going to sacrifice some fuel efficiency. Trucks have come a long way in terms of fuel economy over the past few decades, but they still can't match up with cars... especially cars like our N Charlotte Toyota hybrids. If you need a fuel-efficient vehicle to stay within budget, then skip our Toyota trucks and head over to the car inventory instead.
Off-roading: Do you like to explore things off the pavement? A car definitely is not the best bet when it comes to trying out new terrain. Our N Charlotte Toyota trucks (like the Toyota Tundra and Toyota Tacoma) are much better suited to off-road exploration. They boast features like off-road tires, special suspension systems, four-wheel-drive, CRAWL control, and much more to make tackling tricky terrain a breeze. Taking a car off-road can do a lot of damage to it, so shop our Toyota trucks instead.
Interior space: Did you know that cars and trucks pretty much offer the same amount of interior space at this point? It's true - thanks to the advent of spacious double cab truck options, you can easily seat 5 people with room to spare. It really just depends on the specific model that you choose.
Cargo space: Cargo space has a clear winner - Toyota trucks. Our cars have a fair amount of cargo space in their trunks or hatchbacks, but they can't compete with the large bed found in our trucks. The trucks also offer an enclosed cab for more storage, so they win the cargo space category by a pretty big margin.
Shop today - test drive all of our Toyota cars and trucks
Have more questions? Not sure which to buy still? Do yourself a favor and test drive both to get a better idea! You can see all of our Toyota trucks and cars in person at Toyota of N Charlotte seven days a week. Call us at (704) 875-9199 to set an appointment and visit us at 13429 Statesville Road, just off I-77 at exit 23 in Huntersville.
Are you finding yourself sticking closer to home as we deal with COVID-19? You're not the only one - since the stay-at-home order has been issued for Mecklenburg County, plenty of drivers have been hanging up their car keys except for essential business. However, just because you're not out driving your vehicle every day doesn't mean you can skimp out on essential car maintenance. You'll actually need to alter your car care schedule a bit and Toyota of N Charlotte is here with tips to help you do it!
Don't leave your car unattended - use these car maintenance tips to keep it running like-new
#1: Be mindful of your car tires.
You want your car tires to be in the best possible condition when you can hit the road again, so you need to do a bit of car maintenance while your car is staying put. Basically, when a car is parked for long periods of time, it can develop soft flat spots where the tires touch the pavement. These spots leave you prone to flats and blowouts, and you'll more than likely have to replace your car tires. Our Charlotte auto service techs recommend going out every few days to move your car in the driveway, if only a few feet, to prevent these spots from forming.
#2: Choose where you park carefully.
If your car is going to be staying put in one spot, choose that spot carefully. Your best bet is a garage where your car is locked up and protected from the elements, but if you can't swing that, try to at least find covered parking (like a carport) or even a parking spot under some shady trees. Remember - sunlight, rain, and dust can all damage your car's paint and subsequently, your car's metalwork. Our Charlotte Toyota service techs recommend finding an affordable car cover if your ride is going to be out in the elements for long.
#3: Fill your gas tank up before you park.
This car maintenance is easy - simply fill your gas tank before you park! When your gas tank has room to spare, condensation can form inside of it. This can spell real trouble for your engine (and in turn, expensive auto repairs). By filling up your gas tank, you leave no room for condensation AND you're ready to hit the road at any time. If your car is going to sit for more than a few weeks, you might also want to look into a fuel additive to preserve it. Our Charlotte Toyota parts store can help you choose one.
#4: Don't let the battery go flat.
It's always a risk that the car battery will go flat when you leave your car sitting in one spot and don't go anywhere for a while - and that means you'll likely need a new battery before you can get back out on the road. We recommend that you go out and start your car every week, and let it run for a few minutes (maybe turn on some tunes and enjoy the privacy). It also doesn't hurt to take it for a ride to give the battery some extra juice, so if you have essential errands, take your car to complete them.
Toyota of N Charlotte is open and here to help!
Want more tips or need to schedule any other car maintenance before you park your ride? Toyota of N Charlotte is here to help AND we're open normal business hours for all of your automotive needs. Call us at (704) 659-2025, or swing by and see us at 13429 Statesville Road, just off I-77 at exit 23.
