Toyota Service in Woodbridge 

As Canadians, we know the drill. The air starts to feel colder and then there's that one-day where the flurries start to fall and we're all reminded that winter is headed for us at full speed. Often, people will wait until Jack Frost rears his icy head before looking into switching to winter

As Canadians, we know the drill. The air starts to feel colder and then there's that one-day where the flurries start to fall and we're all reminded that winter is headed for us at full speed. Often, people will wait until Jack Frost rears his icy head before looking into switching to winter tires, but this can present some problems.

"...It's a great idea to start looking into getting winter tires during the spring summer months"

Many other people will be having the same thought process, and as the demand for winter tires rises the supply is depleted quickly. There's no reason you should have to worry about not being able to get the winter tires you need, which is why we think that it's a great idea to start looking into getting winter tires during the spring and summer months…the off-peak seasons.

Have you ever thought of including winter tires into your car purchase? Now, hold on and hear us out. We know what you're thinking, "Why should I be adding extra costs to my purchase?"

Well, if you decide to opt for winter tires at the time of your purchase the price of those tires would be worked into your monthly payments - making it a much more affordable and practical process. This will allow you to budget accordingly and won't leave you strapped for cash when the holidays roll around.

Another big question we get asked a bunch is, "Why do I even need winter tires?" We're sure you're familiar with the road conditions during the snowy months, and they can get pretty ugly and especially slippery. That's what winter tires protect you from.

If you opt for winter tires with a great, open tread these will allow you to grip the road better and maneuver through those layers of thick snow that cover the road.

Winter tires that come equipped with sipes and studs are designed to grip the roads when the conditions are wet or icy.

Whichever style of winter tire you choose, they're engineered to work the best in colder temperatures - so they'll grip the roads better, handling the road will be easier and you'll be able to trust the brakes.

We recommend when committing to winter tires, that you replace all four of your tires. If you just decide on the front two, the balance and overall performance of your car could be compromised.

 "...Winter tires can shorten braking distances during winter up to 25%." 

In the end, it comes down to you and your car's safety. Installing winter tires can be the difference of stopping in time or ending up in a crash. According to The Ontario Ministry of Transportation, winter tires can shorten braking distances during winter up to 25%.

So, put your safety first and Come See Us at Woodbridge Toyota. We'd love to talk about our various high quality and state-of-the-art winter tires.

In the world of dashboard symbols, the check engine light is one of the more pesky little lights that can pop up at any time and it could mean a variety of things.

Once this little light flicks on, you don't necessarily need to pull off the road in that instant, but it's definitely not something to put off looking into either.

The first thing you should do if your "check engine" light turns on is to check for any problems that might need to be fixed as soon as possible. Once you've safely parked your car, double check your dashboard lights. Are any other symbols lit up? Depending on which symbols they are - you may have a problem with your oil pressure or overheating.

If no other dashboard lights are on, you may simply need to check your gas cap. A common issue associated with the "check engine" light is a loose gas cap. Just tighten it up and see if the light turns off. It's a quick fix.

After you've completed those troubleshooting steps if the "check engine" light still persists then you may have a larger problem to deal with.

Some common issues linked with the "check engine" light are:

• Faulty Car Battery or Charging System
• Defective Spark Plugs or Wires
• Misfiring Engine
• Broken Oxygen Sensor
• Failing Catalytic Converter 

Since the "check engine" light can signify any number of various problems with your car - it's best not to panic. The chances are that this isn't an emergency situation, but just in case it's best to take your vehicle to a certified technician.

Here, at Woodbridge Toyota, our technicians are trained and qualified to handle all of the ins and outs of our Toyotas of every make and model. So it'll be easy for us to identify what the problem is with a quick visit to our service department.

We're more than happy to clarify why your engine light is on - so give us a call at 905-851-3993 or visit us at Woodbridge Toyota in the Number 7 Auto Mall today.

A car battery is an essential piece of machinery that provides power to a vehicle. It helps start the engine, power the lights, and run the accessories. Over time, however, batteries will become less efficient and will need to be replaced. After three years of use, it is typically time to install a replacement battery. There are a few reasons for this.

First, as batteries are used, they gradually lose the ability to hold a charge. Second, exposure to extreme temperatures can damage batteries and shorten their lifespan. Finally, as batteries age, they stop working as effectively as they did when they were new. For these reasons, it's essential to change your car battery every three years or so to ensure that your vehicle always has the power it needs to run smoothly. Our team of experts at our service centre at Woodbridge Toyota in Woodbridge, Ontario, can help you do just that.

Why Would a Car Need a New Battery?

There are several reasons why a car might need a new battery. One reason is simply that the old one has reached the end of its lifespan and can no longer hold a charge. Another possibility is that the battery terminals have become corroded, making it difficult for electricity to flow freely.

Additionally, extreme cold or heat can damage batteries and cause them to fail prematurely. If a car is frequently driven in cold weather, it may be necessary to replace the battery more often. Finally, if a vehicle sits idle for long periods, the battery may lose its charge and need to be replaced.

How Often Should a Car Battery Be Replaced?

The frequency with which a battery needs to be replaced will vary depending on several factors, including the age and make of the vehicle, the climate in which it is driven, and the owner's driving habits.

However, it is recommended that batteries be replaced every three to five years. If you are unsure when to replace your battery, contact us at Woodbridge Toyota, and our team of experts will be glad to help you out.

Signs You Need to Change Your Car Battery

Several warning signs may indicate that your car battery is on its last legs and needs to be replaced. For example, if you notice that your car's headlights are dimming or flickering, this could be a sign that the battery is losing its charge.

Additionally, if your car takes longer than usual to start up or the engine makes a clicking noise when you turn the key, these could also indicate a dying battery. If you notice any of these issues, it's best to have your battery tested by a qualified mechanic to see if it needs to be replaced. Ignoring the problem could lead to a dead battery - and being stranded on the side of the road.

Replace your old battery all by yourself! Let's get started.

1. Make sure your car is in the park, turned off and your key is NOT in the ignition. Now, pop the hood and find your battery. It will look like a rectangular shaped box with two cables connected to the top.

2. Acquaint yourself with which cable is negative and which is positive. The negative cable is usually black while the positive one is usually red.

3. Disconnect the negative cable first, so that you don't have a short circuit on your hands. Feel free to use a wrench to loosen the negative clamp.

4. Repeat the same step, except this time, disconnect the positive cable from the terminal.

5. You may have to remove a bar that sits across the top of the battery. Take out any screws holding it there and anything else holding the battery in place.

6. Take this opportunity to clean the battery clamps and tray. If you find any extreme corrosion on any of the connections or clamps - you'll need to replace those parts.

7. Take the new battery and line it up with the positive and negative connections on the proper sides.

8. Reconnect the positive cable first. Tighten it with a wrench.

9. Repeat the same step, but with the negative cable.

10. Refasten the bar holding the battery in place and recheck to make sure everything is tightened properly.

11. Close the hood and try starting your car. Make sure you take note of the date that you replaced the battery as well as how many kilometers are on your vehicle. This will help you in the future when you're trying to recall how old your battery is.

With gas prices remaining as unpredictable as ever, we're all trying to fill up when it's at it's the lowest price. It's unavoidable; we all have to gas up at some point. But, the amount you fill up all depends on your driving habits. We've rounded up some driving tips that can help you optimize your fuel efficiency a significant amount.

Keeping up with the service of your vehicle

Staying on top of your vehicle's maintenance schedule is very important if you want to increase your fuel efficiency. Replacing parts such as the air filter and getting regular oil changes will contribute to better use of your fuel. Also, you should check your car battery and its cables. Make sure these parts are free of build-up or corrosion because this can affect the alternator and use up unnecessary fuel.

Another servicing tip for conserving fuel is using synthetic oil with your vehicle instead of conventional oil. Synthetic oil will allow you to increase the mileage you get per tank.

Actions you can take while driving

There are some simple steps you could take while you're behind the wheel that will drastically impact your fuel efficiency going forward.

By accelerating gradually then, you end up saving all of the fuel that would be wasted when jetting off. The same outcome applies to when you are slowing down. Instead of tapping or slamming the break down to stop, it's much more fuel-efficient to just ease off the gas and coast until you've slowed down enough to justify using the brake pedal. You can utilize this tip if you're approaching stopped or slowed traffic so that you don't have to waste fuel by having to slam on your brakes. Just looking ahead and planning accordingly can save your fuel consumption.

When you drive at high speeds you use a lot more fuel than if you were to maintain a steady pace. The speed limit on highways is generally 100 km/h and if you maintain that speed instead of speeding up or slowing down (often happens when tailgating) then you could be using almost 20% more fuel.

According to Natural Resources Canada, implementing these practices into your driving routine can "reduce fuel consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by as much as 25%."

Planning ahead

We'll start with the most obvious way you can save your fuel…cut the amount you're driving. We know, this may be a tough rule to follow since we're all on the go with appointments to make and people to see.

Before heading out, it's best to plan your trip. It's best if you try and lump together all of your errands into one trip so that you're driving with a warm engine. It is said that driving an already warmed up engine as opposed to starting an engine from cold several times can save you fuel in the long run. Also, make sure you aren't unnecessarily carrying extra weight. Do you still have the roof rack from when you went on a road trip last week? Now is the time to remove it because that can add to the amount of fuel you use.

In the realms of planning ahead is making sure your tires are inflated properly. Something as simple as a slightly deflated tire can decrease your fuel efficiency more than you might think.

Finally, a common occurrence is that you'll be caught in traffic, waiting at a long traffic light, or waiting in a drive-thru line. What do these all include? Idling your car. You can eliminate so much wasted fuel as well as carbon dioxide emission by turning off your car in these situations (provided it is safe to do so). It uses less fuel to turn off and restart your car than to allow it to sit and idle.

Now that you're equipped with a vast arsenal of ways that you can optimize your fuel efficiency we hope you'll keep some in the back of your mind while you're on the road.

If you have any more questions about fuel efficiency and what you can do to save your fuel as well as the environment feel free to contact us at Woodbridge Toyota at 905-851-3993 or you can fill out our Ask-a-tech form and one of our talented service technicians will respond to you ASAP.

So, you just bought a Toyota vehicle and you're super excited to get it out on the road and test out all of the amenities our vehicles have to offer. One of our convenient and modern features is the ability to pair your phone with the car using the Bluetooth® function in order to utilize your phone "hands-free" while you drive. Are you curious about how to set up your smartphone with your Toyota? Follow the simple steps below and you'll be on your wireless way.

Step 1 - Enable Bluetooth® on your smartphone.

You can usually find this in settings on your phone - simply switch Bluetooth® to "on" or "enable."

Step 2 - Now that your phone's Bluetooth® is enabled and scanning for networks you can enable Bluetooth® in your car.

Depending on what type of car you have, enabling Bluetooth® will differ. Refer to either car type "A" or car type "B" for proper instructions

Car Type A

• Press the Bluetooth^® icon, usually located on your steering wheel
• Follow the voice explaining the steps to pair a new device
• On your smartphone choose your vehicle's Bluetooth^® in your phone's Bluetooth^® settings

Car Type B

• On your vehicle's navigation screen, click the "Set Up" button
• Select Bluetooth®
• Select "Add" to set up your smartphone
• On your smartphone choose your vehicle's Bluetooth^® in your phone's Bluetooth^® settings

Step 3 - Enter the password provided by your Toyota vehicle after the connection has been established and you are asked to do so.

There you have it? simple steps for you to pair your smartphone with your amazing Toyota vehicle. Pretty simple, don't you think?

For more information on connecting your device with your Toyota vehicle please reference your owner's manual located in the glove box or give us a call at Woodbridge Toyota at 1-888-301-9195.