Three Waldorf Toyota Employees Receive Recognition from Toyota

Your vehicle is a necessary part of everyday living, whether you're using it to commute to work, take the kids to school, visit family, or even take a cross-country road trip. A breakdown or other mechanical issue can be frustrating in the best of times, but in the winter it can be dangerous. What's more, breakdowns can be more common in the winter because cars don't run as well in cold weather. However, with proper maintenance and preparation, you can keep your car running well even through the cold months ahead. Follow the following five tips to keep your car running smoothly this winter. more 1. Check Your Battery Car batteries are heavily affected by cold weather, especially their cranking ability. At 0°F, a battery has about half the ability to start a car that it does at 80°F. This means that an older battery that might crank your car just fine in the summer can struggle or even fail to start it up in winter. Luckily, checking your battery is easy and simple. Remove the plastic caps on top of the battery and check the fluid level inside. Your owner's manual should have full instructions for how to check your battery and what to consider when doing so. You should also replace your batteries every few years—after five years, if it shows signs of weakness, you should replace it as soon as possible. You can also bring your battery by Waldorf Toyota, where we'll check it, service it, and even replace it for you if need be! 2. Clean Your Windows Oftentimes, winter weather leads to frosted windshields. Before you drive, remove frost, ice, and snow from your windshield using a scraper. If you can't see out of your windshield, you're putting yourself and other drivers in danger. If you know it's going to snow and you're parking outside, store your wipers in a raised position so that they don't freeze to the windshield. You can also wash the winter residue from your windshield with a winter-blend washer solution. Finally, test your defroster and make sure the heater is working properly, and wash your headlights for the best possible nighttime visibility. 3. Replace Your Wiper Blades While you might not think much about your wiper blades unless it's raining, they're an integral part of your ability to see and stay safe when you drive. We recommend replacing wiper blades twice a year, and our service department keeps plenty in stock for whenever yours are starting to show wear and tear. 4. Check Your Engine Oil The single most important maintenance task to keep up with for your Toyota is keeping up with your oil changes. Winter weather can be hard on your engine, as oil naturally gets thicker with colder temperatures. If it's been a minute since you've had your oil changed, consider doing so now before the truly cold weather sets in. During the oil change, have the filter checked, as well as the radiator and heater hoses, for cracks and leaks. Replace them if they're showing their age. 5. Check Your Tires Your tires are the only four points where your car touches the road. It's absolutely paramount that they stay in good health, not only for your safety but for others. If you're in an area that has harsh winter weather, consider buying winter or all-season tires that will perform better in slick conditions. Even if it's not time to replace your tires, make sure they're properly inflated. Air pressure decreases as its temperature decreases, so your tires could become flat overnight if a front moves in. Check them in the morning before your drive. Need Service? Come to Waldorf Toyota! You don't have to do these repairs and maintenance tasks on your own. The Toyota experts at Waldorf Toyota are factory-trained to service every Toyota model, so you can trust that we'll treat your car right. Plus, our specials make it easy to afford the service your car needs to stay running! Give us a call or schedule service online today.

April is National Car Care month, and in effort to help you ensure you’re taking the best care of your car possible, we’ve created a brief checklist of all the things that may get neglected throughout the year, especially during the busy winter months: more Check Vehicle Registration Expiration Date – Now that we’re in a new month, and 4 months into the new year, double check your Registration on your vehicle to ensure the expiration date has not passed. Verify Your Automobile Insurance Coverage – Request a copy of your Insurance Declaration Page to ensure your coverage limits are where you want them to be, and that your premium is paid up-to-date. Check All Lights on Exterior of Vehicle – Ask a friend to help you ensure all your lights are working properly. Be sure to check your headlights and tail lights, brake lights, tag lights, and turning signals. If you’re in need of a replacement bulb, contact our Parts Department, and leave the searching to us! Check Brakes and Tires on Vehicle – Take the coin test to your tires. Be sure that you have the proper amount of tire tread on all four of your tires, and that all your tires are wearing properly. Schedule an appointment with our Service Department to ensure that your brakes are in tip-top shape, or if you’re in need of new tires or even just a rotation or balance. Our team of experts are waiting for your call. Check Fluids and Battery on Vehicle – Schedule an appointment with our Service Department to ensure all your fluid levels are where they should be, and that your battery is in proper working condition. Clean Windows, Inside and Outside – The winter months can be especially brutal on your vehicle, between the salt, dirt and grime that gets splattered onto your vehicle, all winter long, this is a great time to ensure your windows are clean, inside and out! At any point in time, our fantastic teams in our Service Department and Parts Department are available to help. Visit us online, or contact us today to schedule your appointment, and make sure your car is spring-time ready!

May has arrived, and along with Mother's Day weekend that many people travel for, Memorial Day also kicks off the summer vacation and travel season. This year, instead of fighting through traffic or listening to music from radio stations that you’re not familiar with, download some new apps to take along. more Here is a list of some of our favorite Holiday Travel Apps: Spotify – For less than $10.00 per month, you can stream unlimited music to your smartphone. By downloading the music beforehand, you can listen to your playlists on or offline, keeping your ears satisfied on your road-trip. Waze – Heading somewhere far away? Download the Waze app, and keep apprised of traffic conditions, speed traps, and potential dangerous road conditions, all free-of-charge! Citymapper – Visiting a new city? Check out Citymapper for more detailed planning information than Google Maps, including real-time departures and disruption alerts, along with Uber integration and cycle routes! Tripit – Flying or taking mass-transit out of town? Download the Tripit app, and keep all of your flight, car rental, hotel, and event bookings in one streamline place, rather than having multiple itineraries! App in the Air – Flying out of town this year? Check out the App in the Air to keep track of your flight departures, with awesome coverage of airlines and airports. No matter where you’re headed, or how you’re planning to get there, make your holiday travel more enjoyable, just by downloading a few apps! If you’re headed out of town by car, stop in to our Service Department, and make sure your car is road-trip ready, before you head out.