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Things to look for when buying Used Cars

admin — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 03:49:59 +0000

Everyone has had to drive a used car at some point or another. While it is a very smart consumer choice for those strapped for cash, a used car purchase can make or break someone’s mobility. Find a good car for a cheap price, and end up loving that Used Toyota for generations to come. Miss a couple key details, however, and you’re stuck with a car that isn’t reliable and bound to fail at one point or another. Here are several important things to keep in mind while searching for that next “Oldie but goodie”.

1. Look under the Hood!!

The engine is without a doubt the most important part to inspect when looking at a used car. Many times a used car is only judged on the outer appearance, and that is one of the WORST things to do. In the grand scheme of things, the car needs to actually run more than it needs to look like a luxury Lexus. When looking under the hood, take note of any irregularities like non Toyota OEM parts, loose belts, patched hoses, and corroded batteries. These little things can tell a lot about the former owner, and that usually can hint to how well the car was taken care of. Sometimes, with non OEM parts in older cars, problems can arise from the extra strain they put on the engine. While non-OEM are sometimes advertised as delivering more performance or gas mileage, the best thing to do would be to ask your local Kansas City Toyota Dealership about aftermarket parts.

2. Take it for a test drive!

Make sure to really listen to the car as you drive. The slightest noise or rattle can betray the biggest and most expensive problems to fix, and they aren’t anything to be ignored. Because the history of a used car isn’t always set in stone, you shouldn’t accept anything less than the best your money can buy. If you purchase a cheap car that seems to look nice under the hood and on the interior, but has a little rattle when driving on the highway, then the repairs spent to fix that stretched belt or broken fan could outweigh the cost of spending extra money on a nicer vehicle overall.

3. Don’t just ignore the looks!

While I mentioned not judging a book by it’s cover, the exterior of a car does play an important part in weighing the positives and negatives of a purchase. The more dinged up and scratched a used car is, the worse care it probably got from it’s former owner. It all comes back to trying to figure out what kind of automotive consumer owned the vehicle last. Not to slam the Used Toyota Car seller, but if the car doesn’t appear to have been well taken care of, then it probably isn’t a good buy.

4. Take it to an authorized dealer for an inspection!

One of the best resources for making informed automotive purchases resides at your local Kansas City Toyota Dealerships. It is the mechanic’s job there to be well informed on the different problems that can arise in vehicles over time, and for a quick fee they can usually show you any trouble spots. You may never be able to tell if a car’s transmission is about to give out, but usually a well versed mechanic can see the tell-tale signs of problems before they happen. They can also spot those non Toyota OEM parts that could cause an issue down the road.

Toyota Parts Shortage News – Shocks and Struts May Be Hard To Come By

jasonl — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 16:26:07 +0000

Word has come down from Toyota that, due to earthquake damage, a small number of replacement parts (about 200) are going to be under “controlled allocation” for the next few weeks or months. The parts fall into the following categories:

Shock absorbers and/or struts. Out of our list of 200+ parts on controlled allocation, a good percentage are shock absorbers or struts (even hood and lift-gate struts)
Body panels for Yaris, Prius, and 4Runner. Fenders, hoods, quarter panels, door panels, bumpers or bumper covers, exterior plastic moldings, etc.
Structural parts for Yaris, Prius, and 4Runner. The body parts behind the panels – clips, supports, etc.

As Toyota reported yesterday, the vast majority of the factory Toyota parts we sell at Parts.OlatheToyota.com are in strong supply and, at this point, we do not anticipate any major problems acquiring replacement parts.

However, we are hearing rumors that parts supplied by Tier 1 suppliers may be added to our controlled allocation list next week (we’ll have more info this weekend).

What “Controlled Allocation” Means

When a part has controlled allocation, it means that Toyota dealers can not order that part unless they have a specific customer ready and waiting for that part. “Stock” orders – which are parts that we order from Toyota to hold in stock – are not allowed.

As many consumers may or may not know, numerous Toyota replacement parts are in controlled allocation status from time to time. This is a fairly normal part of our business, and we do not anticipate major problems in getting customers the parts they need.

This is good news, because Toyota requires dealers to use genuine Toyota replacement parts for all warranty repairs, and we are encouraged to use them for all the work we complete. This is because of Toyota’s commitment to parts quality – our genuine OEM parts are second to none in terms of quality and reliability.

Beware Fake Parts

eBay can be a great place to find a deal on an auto part, but it can also be a great place to lose your wallet. Because of the recent crisis in Japan and the subsequent reports of parts shortages (many of which are greatly exaggerated), we’re concerned that some unsavory characters might be emboldened to try and rip people off.

If you’re looking at buying an auto part on eBay – or any other website – remember that only Toyota dealers can sell genuine Toyota parts for all makes and models. If the company that’s selling you parts isn’t associated with a Toyota dealer (Parts.OlatheToyota.com is part of Olathe Toyota in Olathe, KS), be very careful.

New Toyota Tech Blog

admin — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:00:48 +0000

There is a new blog out there for all of us Toyota fans. The website is: toyotatech.

They have stuff about the new engines that are coming, where you can find service bulletins, and issues with the 1997-1999 Toyota Camry and Avalon. It is written by someone that knows what it means to deal with Genuine Toyota parts and accessories.

I have always heard that if you take care of your Toyota then your Toyota will take care of you, and I believe it. This blog even states that fact also. They also give the DIY type of person the step-by-step instructions on changing the rear brake pads on their own vehicle.

Check it out!

Camry And Avalon 1997-1999 Front End Thumping Noise

admin — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 15:00:23 +0000

Do you own a 1997-1999 Toyota Camry or Toyota Avalon and wonder what that noise is coming from the front suspension?

Kansas City Toyota Dealerships everywhere have been asking themselves the same question for years to try and figure out the problem and its solution. They have changed several different parts on these vehicles to see if it would help, including suspension struts and other notable Toyota parts.

Finally in January of 2000, Toyota came out with a new set of strut mounts that corrected the problem. These mounts have a much thicker rubber bushing that eliminates the thumping and corrects the problem.

Here is a list of the genuine Toyota parts numbers: 48603-33021 and 48609-33011.

For more Toyota Service Bulletins you can logon to http://www.lemonlaws.info/Service-Bulletin.aspx?make=Toyota.

Do Your Rear Toyota Brake Pads Need Changing?

admin — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 16:28:09 +0000

Replacing your brake pads with genuine Toyota parts is an important part of keeping your Toyota in top shape. Before you get started you’ll need to follow these three easy steps

Park on flat ground and put blocks in front of the front tires so your Toyota doesn’t move while you are working on it.
Order the Genuine Toyota Parts that you will need for the project.
Make sure that you have all of the tools to do the job.

Find the brake master cylinder under the hood. If it is necessary, remove brake fluid using a turkey baster until the level is less than half full. Always remember to dispose of the fluids according to your state laws. Use a quality DOT 4 Brake fluid for the job.

Raise the back end of your car with a car jack and remove the rear wheels and tire assembly.

Use a socket wrench to remove the caliper mounting bolts. Slide the caliper off the disk rotor and hang it in the wheel well using a small bungee. DO NOT LET THE CALIPER HANG FROM THE BRAKE HOSE!

Remove the brake pads from the caliper also at this time remove all shims, springs, wear indicators and support from the caliper. Remember to always replace with Toyota Parts.

In part II we’ll cover how to install new brake pads on your Toyota.

Toyota Owners Online, the best place for Toyota Owners to be!

admin — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 01:12:34 +0000

Toyota Owners online is the official Toyota website for all Toyota owners. If you own a Toyota you can go here to find out how to get genuine Toyota parts, do-it-yourself tips, a car care guide, the best Toyota Accessories, online maintenance guides and so much more. Powered by Toyota, this is the best site to make sure your Toyota gets the love it needs.

Toyota Owners Online has literally everything you need. Financing options, Quick vehicle reference guides, fun stories from other Toyota owners, basic warranty information for your vehicle type, and so on. You also have access to the Toyota Truck Nation (cool site just for truck owners), and by becoming a member you get exclusive access to owner vehicle information, discounts, benefits and more! More than this blog has room to list so go check it out and see for yourself!

To join simply go to www.toyotaownersonline.com.

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