Fall is in fall swing and before we know it the temperatures outside will be dropping low, and your Toyota is going to need some maintenance before that happens! As always, if you need help or don’t have time to complete your fall maintenance, our certified service professionals can help get your Toyota in tip-top shape in time for the fall season. All you have to do is schedule your service appointment and leave the rest to us! However, if you love getting your hands dirty with some DIY work, then this week’s blog is for you! Below you will find helpful tips and step-by-step instructions for cleaning your Toyota for the fall/winter season! The weather is so unpredictable so we suggest getting started on your maintenance sooner than later! So don’t wait any longer, kickstart your maintenance today!
Car Battery:
- Pop open your hood and brush away the dust. Fall is a great time to inspect your car battery to ensure there are no issues down the road when the colder weather creeps in!
- Make sure your engine cables and terminals are in good shape and retighten if necessary for good contact.
- Make sure there’s no corrosion or dirt build-up. If this is the case, this would be a good time to disconnect and clean them up.
- If your vehicle is newer and you have a maintenance-free battery with no removable caps, there’s not much for you to do besides peeking around the remainder of your hood to ensure there are no leaks, breaks, or issues.
Headlights:
- Many new vehicles have LED headlights that you can’t just pop out and clean, so you might need scheduled maintenance with our team if this is your situation.
- If you still have non-LED lighting, it’s important to clean/replace your headlights to avoid haziness.
- Clouded headlights can be a safety hazard, compromising night vision, and reducing the effectiveness of your headlights. This is especially dangerous in winter, where conditions are less than favorable and the darkness is more consistent.
- You can purchase a headlight cleaning kit, or use household items such as a toothbrush, baking soda, and the owner’s manual approved products.
Tires:
- Tire maintenance is always a must, not just during the winter months. However, your tires play a crucial role in your vehicle’s winter performance.
- The first thing you should do is to check your tire tread. When your tread is 2/32" your tires are considered bald and you will need to replace your tires immediately. If your tire tread is above this you’re okay, but should consider replacing soon if it’s closer to balding.
- Most vehicles are purchased with all-season tires, which provide good performance all year round. However, if you live in a very snowy area, we highly suggest purchasing snow tires.
- Once your tires are on and in good condition, we suggest scrubbing away any dirt, grime, or buildup.
Wash & Wax:
- Chances are your vehicle needs good washing after all your summer travel. Between dirt, dead bugs, and even beach sand, your exterior probably isn’t shining like it used to.
- Give your vehicle a good cleaning, this means the top, sides, underneath, and even the tires.
- Once you’ve washed your car, it’s a good idea to wax your vehicle’s exterior. Getting a car wax is a great way to keep your car’s finish looking new.
- Waxing can be tricky, so be sure to check your owner’s manual for safe products from your vehicle or leave it to the pros in our service department!
Wipers:
- Windshield wipers maintenance is regularly overlooked. However, your wipers are extremely important for your vision behind the wheel...especially in the fall and winter months.
- Leaves will be falling very soon, and rain is no stranger to the fall months. This means you’ll need strong wipers to clear the leaves and rain off your windshield.
- Right after the leaves comes the snow, and anyone who has driven in a snowstorm knows how important your winters are.
- If your wipers are leaving streaks of water on your windshield, it’s time to replace or clean them.
- Although drivers rarely change them, wipers break down pretty quickly. In fact, they should be changed every 6-12 months.
Interior:
- It’s time to say goodbye to the trash that’s taken up a vacancy in your car! After traveling all summer long, it’s only normal your interior needs a little pick me up.
- We suggest grabbing a garbage bag, your vacuum cleaner, and some multi-surface cleaner.
- First started by taking everything out, and we mean everything!
- Then, vacuum away crumbs, dust, and whatever else is in there. Don’t forget to clean off whatever item you’ll be putting back in your vehicle.
- Then it’s time to dust, spray down your dash, console, gear shift, radio system, and of course windows!
- Finally, put whatever you’re keeping back inside your cabin in a neat and orderly way, and toss whatever is remaining!
