If your family is scattered in many different parts of the state or even the country, you may be planning a road trip this year to spend the holiday together. If so, you want to make sure your Toyota is in tip-top shape for the trip. Here are some tips to help you prepare your Toyota vehicles for this year’s Thanksgiving road trip.

Check the Belts and Hoses
You usually do not think about the belts and hoses on your car until one of them goes bad. But if a belt or a hose break on your Thanksgiving road trip, it could ruin the entire holiday. Look for cracks or weak spots in the belts and hoses and also feel them to see if they seem durable. If not, get to a mechanic before your trip begins just to be sure.

Check Your Tires
This may seem elementary, but you would be surprised how many people are driving around on bald tires without even realizing it. Make sure all your tires have enough tread to give your car traction during the trip. Depending on the area of the nation you are driving in, you could encounter snow, ice and rain during your trip. Also, make sure the spare is full of air and you have a good jack in the trunk just in case a tire goes flat.

Use these tips and some common auto sense and your Thanksgiving road trip will be a good memory for many years to come.

One of the most important parts of your Toyota is its transmission. Without it, you cannot shift gears or even move down the road. That is why it is so important to take care of this major component of your vehicle. Here are some tips to remember to keep your transmission in tip-top shape for many years.

Watch the Fluid Level
If your Toyota runs low on transmission fluid, it could be bad news for your transmission. The sad thing is that this is such a minor thing and it is so easy to check, but many people just neglect it until it is too late. Check the transmission fluid every few weeks just to ensure that it is at the proper level and so you can catch any leaks before they become a major problem.

Do Not Shift When Moving
We are all probably guilty of this at some time or another – shifting the vehicle when it is still moving. Many people do this when backing out of a parking spot and then shifting into “Drive” before the car has finished backing up. This is horrible for the transmission and it can reduce its life greatly.

These are just a few of the things you can do to keep your transmission healthy. For a complete checkup and more tips, visit the service garage of your Conshohocken area Toyota dealer. An inexpensive checkup could save you thousands in the long run.

With winter fast approaching, it’s important that you get your Toyota cars ready for the frigid temperatures. Preparing your car for winter means more than just checking the antifreeze. Here are some other things you can do to make sure your car will make it through until the spring.

• Test the condition of the battery. If you have a weak battery, the cold weather will only make it weaker. After awhile, it may be too weak to even start your vehicle. Get your battery checked before the cold snap hits so you can get a new one if needed.

• Check the alternator belt. This is a vital part to keeping your car running because it provides electrical power from the alternator. See if the belt is fitting properly. If it is cracked or stretched, change it because it may not otherwise make it through the winter.

• Washer fluid is more than just water. Washer fluids contain some chemicals that prevent them from freezing in the cold weather. Make sure your reservoir is filled with this type of fluid instead of just water.

• Check the tires. Make sure your tires have good traction before winter hits. Otherwise, you may find yourself sliding all over the road after the first snowfall.

These are just a few things to keep in mind when getting your Toyota cars ready for the colder months ahead. Drive safe!

Taking precautionary steps to reduce wear and tear on your automobile is ALWAYS a good idea. With that said, it’s sometimes easier said then done. With this second article in the Peruzzi Toyota Service & Parts Series, we are going to point you to some very helpful articles, which contain clear cut instructions on how to reduce wear and tear on your Toyota.

The articles focus on maintaining your brakes, tires, fluids, oil, and your windshield. Even if servicing your car seems foreign to you, these articles should help you feel much more comfortable. We focus on small things that you can do to help you reduce the chances of those unforeseen issues popping up, which ultimately saves you money.

Here are two articles that you should consider reading. They will help reduce the wear and tear on your Toyota:

• Emergency brake helps the transmission in your Toyota
• 5 step formula on maintaining your Toyota

Once you’re done reading about how you can keep your Toyota out of the shop with just a little routine maintenance, stop by the Peruzzi Toyota Facebook page to talk Toyota with other fans. You may just learn some other great tips for reducing wear and tear on your Toyota.

If you do need to take your Toyota in for maintenance work, don’t do it without first having a service-related coupon. Peruzzi Toyota offers service-related coupons to those who sign up for our PeruzziToyota.com Insider List.

The emergency brake on your Toyota cars is one of the things that most drivers forget. However, that emergency brake can save a great deal of wear and tear on your vehicle.

In case you didn’t know, the emergency brake is also known as the parking brake. This is because you are supposed to use it whenever parking on an incline. Without it, your transmission is doing the job of keeping the car in place without any help. The parking brake at least engages the brakes through a cable that is tightened when you pull the brake’s lever. The cable does not disengage until the button is pushed or the lever is pulled, depending on how your particular parking brake is set up.

Parking brakes are designed to prevent runaway vehicles when parked on an incline. Even the slightest incline can cause a vehicle to begin moving when if the parking brake is not engaged. As a result, it could run into several other vehicles or cause serious injury to someone who unknowingly gets in the way of the runaway car. It is always wise to engage your parking brake when you park your Toyota cars. A couple seconds of prevention is better than thousands of dollars of regret.

Some car owners tend to be overwhelmed when it comes to maintaining their vehicle. With so many parts and systems, they simply do not know where to start. Luckily, if you take care of some basic maintenance tasks, the others will fall into place. Here is a simple five-step system to help you keep your Toyota maintained and running smoothly.

1. Oil – The oil is the lifeblood of any vehicle. It keeps the parts inside your vehicle lubricated so they can run smoothly. Change the oil according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule to keep everything running efficiently.

2. Brakes – Everybody knows what the brakes do on a car. Some people suggest that you change your brakes every 25,000 to 35,000 miles for optimum performance. Or you can simply get them checked every few months if you know a repair shop that will honestly tell you if they should be replaced or not.

3. Tires – Most drivers only think about tires when they go flat. To keep your tires wearing evenly and in good shape, you should keep an eye on the tire pressure and have them rotated about every 5,000 miles.

4. Fluids – In addition to the oil, there are a few different fluids you should be aware of. These include the brake fluid, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, engine coolant and windshield wiper fluid. Check these every few weeks just to be sure there are no leaks or other problems that could cause serious damage to your engine.

5. Visibility – Your windshield, mirrors, wipers and back window should always be clean for the utmost in visibility. If you can’t see where you are going, you present a huge danger to you and other drivers on the road.

If you think your Toyota has any of these problems or if you just want a service technician to give your car a checkup, schedule a service appointment at your Glenside area Toyota dealer today. The longer you wait for a checkup, the more you could pay in repair bills!

In an economy like the one we’re facing, the last thing you want to worry about is having to fix your car. That ‘check engine’ light seems to come on right at the worst time. It’s happened to all of us a time or two, I’m sure. Here at Peruzzi Toyota, we want to keep you educated on how you can maintain your car so that you won’t fall victim to these untimely events AND if you do need to get your car serviced, we will be providing service & parts specials for you to take advantage of. Each month on this blog we will be posting 3-4 articles focusing on service & parts. Check out the August articles to get a better sense on the content within each of these posts:

• Simple Toyota Maintenance Checks
• The Suspension on Your Toyota

As you can see, the blog focuses on educating you on how to maintain your Toyota to help prevent those untimely breakdowns. We will also post specials on the blog, but in order to find out about all of our service and parts specials, you should consider signing up for our Peruzzi Toyota Insider List.

Currently we are focusing on car detailing packages. If your car needs a good cleaning and you simply do not have the time for it, we are offering a full interior detail for $89.95. The service includes the following: shampoo carpets & floor mats, clean seats, dashboards & vents, door jams and interior trim.

If you would like to have more intimate access to us and other Toyota fans, please consider joining the Peruzzi Toyota Facebook page where you can come talk Toyota with us.

Maintaining your vehicle is not just a matter of making it last longer. It is also a matter of staying safe on the roads and helping to keep others out of danger as well. A poorly maintained vehicle can be a hazard in so many ways. Here are some tips to consider to help extend the life of your Toyota vehicle while keeping it safe for driving on the roads.

• Don’t shift while the car is moving. Many people tend to throw their car in “Drive” while it is still moving in reverse. This places extra stress on the transmission and it can also damage it. Make sure your Toyota comes to a complete stop before shifting gears.

• Keep gas in your tank. Driving your car with just a little bit of gas in the tank causes the gunk and other particles at the bottom of the tank to clog the fuel system. After awhile, your fuel system can get damaged from this. Keep your fuel tank at least one-quarter of the way full if not more.

• Get the scheduled maintenance procedures done. This is one of the most important things you can do to keep your Toyota running smoothly and safely for many years. By getting the scheduled maintenance done regularly, the mechanic may identify something that could be a future problem. By catching it early, you could save yourself some frustration, money and time1

Is your Toyota vehicle due for a scheduled maintenance procedure? Are you in need of other repairs on your Toyota? Schedule a service appointment today with your Doylestown area Toyota dealer to get your car checked out and for your peace of mind.

When it comes to your vehicle, taking just a few extra minutes here and there to do some maintenance can mean the difference between continuing on down the road smoothly and having hundreds or thousands of dollars in repair bills. Here are some of the most basic maintenance checks you can do in order to keep your car humming:

Check your oil. This one is easy. Don’t wait for your oil indicator light to come on and tell you that you’re low or that it’s time for an oil change. Check your oil once a month to make sure it’s full and that it’s relatively clear.

Check your coolant level. Most cars have a plastic overflow tank for your coolant. make sure to check your coolant level once a month, as well.

Check your belts. Take a few minutes to look at the belts under your car’s hood. The belts, (or perhaps just one belt) will be stretched around pulleys. The belts will drive a number of different pumps in your car, as well as your alternator. If your belts are cracked or frayed, it’s time to be replaced.

Check your hoses. The same holds true for hoses. If you see any cracking or any wear in your hoses, it’s time for replacement.

Get to your Toyota dealer near Conshohocken if you have maintenance needs today.

Your Toyota vehicle is made up of many different systems, each of which is important in its own way. In many respects, the suspension is one of the most important parts of your Toyota vehicle. If your suspension doesn’t function the way it is designed to function, then you will have a rather rough ride and may even have problems with controlling your Toyota vehicle.

Shocks and struts are the key parts of your Toyota vehicle’s suspension. Eventually, shocks or struts can become worn out. This process is accelerated if you tend to drive over a lot of bumpy roads, or if you corner hard. Ball joints can also wear out over time, and they can affect your steering.

You should have your suspension inspected regularly. You need to make sure that there isn’t any leaking. If your car isn’t handling the way it ought to, it can indicate a problem with the suspension.

If you think you might have suspension problems on your Toyota, call your Toyota dealer today and get your car in for service. Your Glenside area Toyota dealer can take care of all your Toyota hybrid service needs.