ToyoTechs, Specializing in Toyota and Lexus Service

This informative piece of literature contains all kinds of good information on how to operate the gadgets, change tires and maintenance schedules for your car. If you haven’t looked at this book lately, you should soon. If you don’t have one, they are available from the manufacturer. It is a good idea for you to review the maintenance schedule for your car every six months. Timing belts are often listed under “drive belts” which are normally replaced every 60,000 miles. Timing belts should not be overlooked because without one, your car will cease to operate! (see “Time” for a Change?)

Remember, when the maintenance schedule suggests it is time to replace worn drive belts, make sure the timing belt is included.

Owner’s manuals also often contain post cards in the back to mail to the manufacturer if you purchase the car used, so they can notify you of recalls that will apply to your car.

We install bolt-on mufflers and exhaust pipes, just like what originally comes on your car.

When the time comes that your car begins to make obnoxious noises or fails the emissions test due to a leaky exhaust system, bring it on in to us. We want you to know we do these types of repairs and we are very competitive on our price. Our difference over the 10,000 muffler shops in Atlanta is we don’t have pipe-bending equipment or arc-welders. We do no carry an assortment of mufflers that will fit a given number of vehicles. Often we must deal with the mess created by shops that cut off original exhausts and bend to match the best they can the original shape, then weld it into place. There are two problems with this:

1. When the technician is working under your car, there are times the exhaust system is just in the way. Normally they would unbolt it and move it off the car, but if it is welded on they work around it or take it off at the exhaust manifold. In car repair, the longer it takes or more trouble it is, the more money it costs you. So when it is time for a new muffler, give us a call. We very well may beat the neighborhood muffler shop on price and in quality.
2. Quite often the fit is not exactly right and your “muffling” system vibrates and knocks on the underbody of the car, while idling, decelerating, or pretty much all the time. When this happened to me years ago, I went back twice! They took long pry-bars and tried to bend the mounts away from the vibration source. It did get better but still vibrated at various times.

We use Ansa or original manufacturer equipment for your quality repair.

Overheating, even of a slight nature, is a problem that needs to be taken care of right away. Thermostats, worn “old” hoses and water pumps are a lot easier and cheaper to fix than head gaskets.

Head gaskets separate the block and the head of the engine. Pre-1980, heads and blocks were made of the same metals. Now they are lighter metals and very different. They expand and contract at different rates. The head is the one that normally warps from getting too hot - this is what causes a “blown head gasket”. The head gasket keeps the water jackets separated from the combustion chambers. When this separation breaks down, the water goes through the combustion chamber or oil and gas get forced into the cooling system, depending on physics. So a few bucks now, when an overheating problem is first detected, saves Large Dollars later.

Summertime is one of our busiest times of year. Not only are people getting their cars ready for vacation trips but also the summer heat takes its toll on vital cooling systems.

If sometime while you are driving and notice the temperature gauge showing hotter than normal, take action. If the air conditioner is on, turn it off and see if it cools down at all. The air conditioner puts an additional strain on the engine. If the gauge is in the red or close to it, turn off the air conditioner, roll down the windows, and turn on the heater. The heater has a little radiator. By blowing the air through it and on you, a lot of heat is removed from the engine. Don’t shut the engine off (unless you have lost all water). You can reduce heat faster by driving and using your heater. If you can get to water, running water over the radiator will help a lot, too. Then call for a tow.

If your car starts to get hotter than normal while sitting in traffic then cools down while driving, listen and look for the following: Is the auxiliary fan coming on? The same fan that comes on after you park and get out of your car also comes on while you are sitting in traffic.

Thermo-switches are normally the faulty item in this overheating situation but a partly clogged radiator or stuck thermostat can also cause this type of symptom.

Also keep an eye out for coolant leaking out under your car. You should check the water level in the plastic overflow reservoir next to the radiator. Fill it there if needed with coolant (or water in a pinch). It is not advisable to take the cap off the radiator - the system will suck it from the reservoir if needed.