Headlights growing dim? Perhaps with no explanation whatsoever? Well, there is probably a reason and we are here to help. Although the days are getting longer, you need to be paying attention to your headlights so they are in tip-top shape. Below, we have the top reasons why your headlights are going dim, and how to fix them!

1. If only one of your headlights it out, you probably have a burned out bulb. Or another headlight-related component has burned out. Our service department can help diagnose the problem.
2. If neither headlight works, then both bulbs have burned out or your relay/ control switch is malfunctioning.
3. If your headlights work but are dim, a cleaning solution and a clean microfiber cloth could help solve this problem. Once your lights are clean, look over your front end. If the plastic headlight casing is yellow, scratched, or chipped (perhaps all three), ask us about getting your headlights reconditioned.
4. If your headlights dim from time to time or in certain situations, it is likely that your charging system could be causing problems.

So, of course, we know that one of the best parts of spring is the warm air, the rising temperatures, the trees and flowers blooming and the weather just getting much nicer. Of course, there’s another great part of spring – it’s the perfect time to wash your car at home! Take a look at our tips for how to do a professional job of it and make your Toyota look better than ever!

For a proper car wash, you’ll need supplies like automotive soap or shampoo, a few microfiber cloths or a microfiber wash mitt, a wheel brush, and a couple of buckets for water, both to soap and rinse. The first thing you should do before you start washing is to make sure your vehicle is in the shade, and then give it a good rinse with the hose before you begin. Get the body of the vehicle AND the undercarriage! There’s a lot of dirt and salt that you might miss by not rinsing properly, so make sure you’re thorough.

Next, fill one bucket with soapy water and the other with clean water for rinsing your washing cloths or mitt. Soap up the car, using long straight strokes and going panel by panel. When you’ve washed the whole thing, let the suds hang out for a few minutes while you tackle the wheels, making sure to get between the spokes.

The final rinse is next, and you should be equally as thorough with this one as you were with the first so that you are sure to get all the soap off. You should NOT let your car air-dry! Instead, dry the vehicle panel by panel with a dry microfiber cloth. When you let the car air dry, the evaporating water leaves rings and deposits and those are difficult to get off.

After this, a nice coat of protectant spray or wax is a good idea if you want to go the extra mile. This preserves the hard work you’ve just done and protects your vehicle against any future damage between now and your next wash. That’s the last of it – step back and take a look. Great job!

The month of March has everyone thinking green, so save some green with these new Toyota Specials at Fiore Toyota!

First, we have the 2018 Toyota Corolla LE*. This is a fuel efficient sedan that has everything you want and need from advanced safety and technology to sporty style. Wherever you’re headed, you know you’ll enjoy getting there behind the wheel of the Corolla LE. You can lease the new 2018 Toyota Corolla LE for only $129/Mo for 36 months*.

Next up is the 2018 Toyota RAV4 LE AWD*, a small SUV designed to take you places! Whether you’re cruising through the city or heading out on a family road trip, this Toyota will turn heads no matter where you’re going. It’s never been easier to plan that family vacation with lease options for your new 2018 RAV4 as low as $179/mo for 36 months*.

If you need something with performance and towing capabilities check out the new 2018 Toyota Tacoma SR Access Cab 4X4*. Made for the endless weekend, the new 2018 Tacoma will keep up with any activity you take it to. You can lease the 2018 Tacoma SR Access Cab for as low as $150/mo for 36 months*.

Visit Fiore Toyota today and check out these new specials!

*All specials expire on 4/02/2018. See specials page for details.

When it comes to tires, we always need to be prepared for the worst. Not because we’ll experience the worst, but because tires are so important to the proper operation of your vehicle. Without proper tires or tire care, you can suffer reduced gas mileage, less traction on slick surfaces, and the danger of losing control. Here’s our advice on tires when you do have an emergency.

The first tip is to always have a spare tire in your vehicle. All vehicles come with a space for a spare, so make sure that space is filled properly! You should be checking your spare about once a month to make sure that it is properly inflated and that the rubber is not disintegrating or damaged anywhere. You should also have the tools necessary to change your tire, such as a jack and tire iron, and a vehicle emergency kit with flares and reflective items would certainly not go amiss.

Changing your tire is much easier than it might seem. First of all, you should take a few deep breaths. Don’t be nervous or anxious! It’s fine, and you’ll be back on the road soon. Your owner’s manual has all of the instructions, step by step, for changing your tire. Follow them closely and you’ll be good as gold.

When the spare tire is on, put everything away where you found it, and put the flat tire where the spare was. When you get back on the road, head straight to Fiore Toyota so that we can replace your tire! Spares, unless they are full-sized tires that are the same as what you normally drive on, are not meant to be used for long periods of time or at highway speeds. They’re intended to be a stopgap to keep you on the road long enough to get somewhere to have the tire replaced.

With that being said, make sure you check your tire pressure often, that you have your vehicle aligned and tires rotated at every oil change, and that you make sure to check the tread of your tires often – it’s always better to be safe than sorry!

The weather is warming up and that means you’ve got more time (and probably motivation) to clean out your vehicle. A great place to start, if we may say, is your air vents. There’s nothing to make your vehicle feel a little cleaner than a sweet smell blowing through the air vents! And especially if you have allergies or overheat easily or just prefer the air conditioning, you’re going to be using those vents all through the spring and summer. So, without further ado, here is our easy guide to getting your air vents clean and your entire air system smelling fresh as a daisy!

The first thing is to clean the vents themselves. All you need for this is some cleaning solution, white vinegar, a vacuum, and Q-tips. Vacuum out all the vents (including the one right up against your windshield) and then get into the cracks and crevices with a Q-tip soaked in the cleaning solution. Do a second pass with a vinegar-soaked Q-tip, and then wipe the whole thing down with a clean rag or microfiber cloth. The vinegar might smell strong to begin with, but it neutralizes odors and after the vinegar smell fades, there’s no smell left except freshness!

Your next step is checking on your cabin air filter. There should be directions on how to access it in your vehicle owner’s manual. This air filter traps all kinds of things and filters the air coming into the cabin of the vehicle (self-explanatory, I know). This means that the filter traps pollen, dust, and smells. You can find what type of air filter your vehicle needs in your owner’s manual, or you can schedule an appointment with us to have the filter changed!

The last thing is that you might have mildew in your air conditioner evaporator. This is a slim chance coming into spring, but if when you run the air you smell something similar to musty, dirty socks… well, then you might have mildew in your AC evaporator. Anyway, this is handy to know so we’ll tell you how to get rid of that. All you need to do is warm up your vehicle’s engine by driving… about a mile from home will do the trick. Then, find a place to stop safely and roll down all of your windows and run the air on full blast for a few minutes. NOT the air conditioning, just the regular old air. This should circulate air through the system at a good pace to get rid of any standing water and dry up any mildew that’s sitting in there.

With these tips, you can start on your car cleaning project by making sure your vehicle smells fresh and clean. It’s easy and very gratifying!

First off, always plan for delays on your commute when you leave your house in the morning, or when leaving work if you have plans after hours. No matter what, there’s always the chance of traffic, and being late makes everyone a little edgier. Eliminate that stress and plan for a longer trip – and surprise yourself when you’re early to wherever you’re headed!

If someone is tailgating you on the road, then don’t let them get to you. Let them get past you! As soon as it’s safe to do so, let whoever’s been riding your rear bumper like there’s no tomorrow pass your vehicle. Wave them on if they need encouragement, but don’t play games.

When it comes to manners, lay off the horn. Not only does honking at other people a lot make them upset, but it subconsciously makes you upset as well! And when you’re upset, you drive like a maniac. That’s just a fact.

If you do get worked up a little and start feeling agitated, take deep breaths and listen to soothing music or talk radio quietly to calm you down. It really works!

Always focus on being safe while you’re on the road. When you are thinking about driving safely and not paying all of your attention to your music, your passengers, or anything else that is not actively related to your operation of the vehicle, you drive more safely.

The last thing is that if you do come across someone who is road raging hard, then let them get past you as soon as you can do so safely. They are dangerous when they are angry in this manner, so just let them go be dangerous somewhere else. Don’t make eye contact, don’t gesture, just let them pass you.

Planning on taking a trip some time soon? Well, good! Whether it’s to another state or just to the grocery store, we’ve got you covered in the tunes department. Check out our favorite songs this new year (so far… there’ll be many more to come) to jam to in the car. Ask us about setting up your new Toyota to play your music and connect your smartphone safely, and then take this playlist for a drive!

Road Trip Playlist

Shut Up And Dance – Walk The Moon

All Right Now – Free

Sharp Dressed Man – ZZ Top

Slow Ride – Foghat

Roadhouse Blues – The Doors

China Grove – The Doobie Brothers

Runnin’ Down A Dream – Tom Petty

I’ve Been Everywhere – Johnny Cash

All Day And All Of The Night – The Kinks

Ramblin’ Man – The Allman Brothers Band

Born To Run – Bruce Springsteen

Fortunate Son – Creedence Clearwater Revival

Wouldn’t It Be Nice – The Beach Boys

Send Me On My Way – Rusted Root

Summer Of ‘69 – Bryan Adams

Take Me Home, Country Roads – John Denver

Africa – Toto

Take On Me – a-ha

Beer For My Horses – Toby Keith and Willie Nelson

My Sharona – The Knack

Bennie And The Jets – Elton John

You Make My Dreams – Daryl Hall & John Oates

Please Mr. Postman – The Marvelettes

Down Under – Men At Work

Are You Gonna Be My Girl – Jet

When it comes to headlights, well, there’s no room for compromise. Those things have to work perfectly all the time – and when they don’t, you’ve got a problem. Here are some common reasons your headlights might not be working the way they should, and how you can talk to the shop tech about getting them fixed.

If only one of your headlights is out, then you do need to get it fixed. This could be due to a burnt out bulb or a broken component in your headlight assembly.

If both of your headlights are out, then you’ve got a serious problem! There’s a slim possibility that it could just be that both of your headlights are burnt out, but it’s far more likely that it’s due to a broken relay or control switch – either of which need to get repaired ASAP.

If your headlights both work but just aren’t shining as brightly as you think they should be, then give them a good cleaning with some solution and a clean microfiber cloth. If they’re still dim, look closely at the surface of your headlights. If it’s yellow and scratched and chipped, then come ask us about headlight reconditioning. You might also consider asking about upgrading your headlights to HID bulbs or even LEDs.

If your headlights work fine but dim a little bit in certain situations, such as when you are accelerating, then you might have a problem with your charging system. Ask us about it – or at least let us know at your next oil change.