ToyoTechs, Specializing in Toyota and Lexus Service

Jennie Johnson is as busy as the bees in the three hives she oversees in her backyard. When she’s not tending to the bees, she and her husband Fred are raising a family and operating ToyoTechs , the Toyota and Lexus service center on 4185 Clairmont Road in Chamblee.

“People love us. We’re really nice people, and we’re not too busy to explain things to our customers.” Jennie says of the business that she and Fred started on Buford Highway in 1988.

The service center was originally named Import Autoworks, Inc., and it specialized in servicing German and Japanese automobiles. Although Fred and Jennie had built up a list of loyal clientele, they grew dissatisfied with the limited visibility of their Buford Highway location. In March 1999, they moved the service center to Clairmont Road and changed the business name to ToyoTechs , signifying their exclusive service of Lexus and Toyota automobiles. The can’t-miss red, white and blue ToyoTechs sign is less than a mile from the intersection of Peachtree Industrial Boulevard and Clairmont Road.

“People usually get a car fixed close to where they live or close to where they work,” Jennie says. “That’s why we didn’t want to move too far away.”

Fred and Jennie’s decision to limit their business to Toyota and Lexus service stems from Fred’s motto, “Do one thing, and do it well.”

The technicians at ToyoTechs can perform any type of service that a Toyota or Lexus owner needs except for paint and body work. The service and repair work includes brakes, air conditioners, door locks, emission failures, batteries, engine repairs, manufacturers’ service intervals, transmissions, safety inspections, used car check-out and more.

“We fix what is wrong with your car and nothing else-the right repairs, done on time, at a fair price,” Jennie says.

The technicians use a CD ROM program called ALLDATA that gives them access to a variety of automotive resources, such as maps, diagrams, dealer part numbers, and service bulletins.

“(The computer program) streamlines everything,” she says.

The technicians almost always use Toyota genuine parts and pride themselves on their commitment to give their customers an accurate quote.

“For the most part, we stay with what we tell people,” Jennie says, “and if we can’t, we call our customers and explain why prices changes.”

Fred and Jennie’s commitment to their customers comes from their dedication to quality customer service, as well as their shared interest in the automotive industry. Fred has 20 years of experience in mechanical and electrical diagnostics.

“Fred is one of the best diagnosticians around,” Jennie says. “I’ve been in the office for so many years and heard the guys talking that I could probably pass those Automotive service Association tests,” she says.

In addition to managing the business, keeping track of quality control and writing the company newsletters, Jennie, like the technicians, addresses customer concerns and inquiries, as well as offers tips and advice. For example, she suggests turning on the fresh air vent when the windows fog. It will bring outside air into the car and clear the windows.

Fred and Jennie also advise drivers to keep a check on their tires. In the summer, the heat puts a lot of stress on tires and when the weather gets cooler, tires can loose 20 pounds of air pressure. Drivers should check their tire air pressure when the seasons change.

“Maintain your vehicle, and it will survive temperature changes,” Fred says.

He advises drivers to keep a check on fluid levels during the summer, as well as the belts and hoses. The summer heat also puts a lot of pressure on belts and hoses and can cause them to blow. Fred suggests replacing them at 60,000 miles. He also tells drivers to “Listen to your car.” If a car is making noises that are out of the ordinary, it can be an indication that there is a problem.

Fred and Jennie warn that overheating can severely damage a car, and the problem should be tended to immediately. You should not attempt to drive a car that has overheated. It’s also important to change your oil regularly, and make sure that it does not overheat.

“If you car overheats, turn on the heater,” Jennie says. “It will lower the temperature inside your engine.”

As Fred and Jennie continue to own and operate a family business, they also continue to raise a family-Bryan, 15 and Katherine 12. And then there are the bees. About four years ago, Jennie’s brother, who earned a bee-keeping badge in the early 70’s, bought her son a bee suit, bee equipment and a bee pack. Family interest in the insects soon began to fizzle out, and Jennie took over the responsibility after the bees’ first spring in the Johnson’s backyard.

“I just started doing it more and more myself,” she says, “and now I’m a member of the Metro Atlanta Bee Keepers Association.”

She is also an avid gardener who used to catch and keep snakes. She is most proud of the seven-foot long rate snake that she once captured.

“It’s just interesting to me. I’ve always like nature and bugs and stuff,” she says.

Jennie was able to process 120 pounds of honey this season, and she is looking forward to selling it at ToyoTechs . Shehoney jokes that the fear of getting stung also makes the hobby a good reprieve from the demands of motherhood.

“Nobody comes out there and bugs me while I’m (working with the bees),” she says.

Written by Kelly Conn for The Dunwoody Crier