Winter wipers and washer fluid

So if you live anywhere that gets cold like I do in Utah. Then now is the time for winter wiper blades, and winter washer fluid. These are easily accessible at your dealer, at Walmart, and at your part store. 

Word of caution no don't replace your entire wiper blade if all you need to do is buy a wiper insert if you're still running with your original factory wiper blades or you replace him at the dealer chances are you can just buy a five dollar wiper insert.

Maintenance lights......

I guess I'm just gonna sharing kind of mood tonight so let's talk about the maintenance light.

Real simple it's tied your odometer that's it. Now there are some models out there that actually monitor your oil those are the models the say things like 10%, 20%, or 25% left. You need to follow those exactly as they say. All I am saying is just take a minute and read your owners manual about the maintenance light or look it up online I get at least 30 calls a week from people they see there  maintenance lights on, and it scares them, I even had a car towed in from over three hours away because the maintenance light came on, now I am happy to take the calls and questions. So when in doubt call your manufacture for sure. I know it is just a lot easier to live your life without that stress

Oil change intervals!

OK this one has become more and more important & the longer that I spend working for Toyota, the more important it is. Please right now go to your owners manual find out what your actual oil change interval is, on synthetic cars most on the market right now have a 10,000 mile oil change interval, but if you have free maintenance every other trip is a tire rotation. The reason I bring this up is we continue to see people come in at 12 or 13 or even 15,000 miles and they're just thinking there a little bit late when the reality is there oil has not been changed for 12 or 13 or 15,000 miles. If this happens once that's not a big deal if it happens all the time you're going to end up having to put an engine in your vehicle. OK no admittedly every make and model is different and if you're driving a truck or your towing are you doing other strenuous things with your vehicle you should already be on top of your oil change, but the casual every day driver needs to be aware if you're at 13,000 miles & your maintenance light is on chances are your oil has not been changed yet. 

Rat in Your Cabin filter? A quick word!

Okay so along the lines of just good car wisdom, we know to change our oil, check our tires, look at the air filter every so often. One hugely neglected piece of your car, also very personal piece. You interior cabin filter..... Oh yes if your driving something 2010 or newer it most likely has one. This is a great item, if kept up. If not, it becomes like a stinky sock or worse. 

The cabin filter is typically located behind your glove box, it is designed to filter the air you put through the a/c system. This also means the air you put through the defrost in most models.

Why am I blogging about this little item, well yesterday a vehicle presented with a strange noise and a bad odor, this sometimes happens so nothing to exciting yet, then removed the glove box and the filter cover and the filter and find what is left of a RAT! yes I said RAT. Folks rodents love your car, it is warm (most of the time) it is full of tasty wires, crevices, and most of all nesting material and areas. 

Please have your cabin filter checked, and replaced if needed or get on youtube and do it yourself. They typically last 15k to 20k if not rodent infested, run between 20 and 60 bucks. This can really change the driving experience, and who wants to breath in rat poop or worse decomposing rat.

Winter is so hard on your car!

..A quick reminder for everybody that's in cold climates winter is so hard on your vehicle not only cold starts on the engine but your tires take a beating,your breaks take a beating, and your transmission takes a beating when you're stuck in the snow.

So my simple piece of free advice, get in and have your vehicle checked. Most repair shops including the one I work at. will do a quick check on your vehicle at no charge. Have your brakes checked, have your tires checked, have your oil checked, and put in your cold-weather windshield washer fluid for sure everybody good luck out there and safe driving!