When you buy a new car, it always comes with a manual that sits in the glove compartment. If you are like most car owners, the only time that you think to take it out is when a red light appears on the dash or you can’t figure out how something operates. A little industry secret that most vehicle owners don’t know is that the owner’s manual is the most important tool that they have at their disposal. If followed carefully, it will not only end up saving you money; it will extend the life of your car. Understanding your Toyota repair schedule is critical to maintaining it correctly.
Oil Changes
For the sake of convenience, most people go to oil change outlets to make sure that their oil is maintained properly. The problem with oil change drive-thrus is that they operate as if all cars require a one-size-fits-all fluid change schedule. When you go, they usually offer you different grades of oil, and for the layperson, it appears that you can either pay for a standard or premium oil and that it is really up to you. Sure, it is up to you, but it’s likely that you are making an uninformed decision based on options that might not even work for your car’s make and model. Every car has different needs, and although you have good intentions, if you don’t know what your car requires, you might be spending money unnecessarily.
Upselling
Another common thing that we see in the car repair and maintenance industry is what we call “upselling.” When you go to a drive-thru oil change place, they will change your oil. And during your time there, they will do what they say is a “maintenance check” and go through things like your air filter and other important aspects of your car. It isn’t that they are trying to deceive you intentionally; they are trying to sell you products according to what things “appear” to be instead of what your owner’s manual says. The owner’s manual has very specific instructions about when to change things. That means, by merely looking at something without checking the manual, you might either fail to change something when you should or change something and spend money that you don’t need to.
Parts
When you need car repairs or maintenance, things can need to be replaced. Sometimes it is appropriate to use after-market or not certified parts, and sometimes that is a complete no-no. After-market parts are parts that come from someone other than the carmaker. The problem that you can run into is that they may not be appropriate for the make and model of your car. Or they can be lower quality, and for certain operations of your car, that can lead to excessive wear and tear or needing repairs. It is important to know which types of parts you can use for your specific car, and which ones you can’t.
Your Car is as Complex as You
You wouldn’t go to a pulmonologist if you were having stomach issues. The same is true for your car. You should have a trained professional who knows how to maintain and service your specific vehicle. Your car is not only a significant investment; it is holding onto very precious cargo, which is why finding a professional who goes by the book – literally – is so important.
At Japanese Imports, we understand that every car is unique and comes with a unique set of maintenance needs. To treat an engine with a one-size-fits-all approach is a recipe for disaster and could end up harming your car, or worse, putting more wear and tear on it than necessary that can shorten your car’s lifespan. If your light is on – or even if it isn’t – reading the manual is the first and most important step to know how to take care of your car so that it will take you wherever you want to go. Let us take care of all of your Toyota repair needs today!
