Keeping your Toyota running smoothly in Alberta requires routine maintenance. That means regular service appointments and care from mechanics that know your vehicle best. At Mayfield Toyota, we understand that life gets busy. Bringing your vehicle in takes time and costs money.
What may seem like a lot now might actually save you thousands of dollars down the road. And if you ever decide to trade your Toyota in for a newer model, you will get a far better return on your investment with a well-cared vehicle that has a long history of regular service appointments.
#1 Keeps you safe. A well-maintained vehicle is a reliable one. With regular oil changes, filter replacements and routine servicing, you can feel confident your vehicle is up to the task. This is especially important during winter when an unexpected breakdown can leave on the side of the road in the cold.
#2 Keeps your trade-in value high. If you decide to trade into a newer model Toyota in a few years, your vehicle will be appraised at a higher value if it is well maintained. This is especially true if you keep an organized record of all your appointments.
#3 Saves you time. Unexpected breakdowns are almost always a result of neglected systems in your car failing. Breaking down on the side of the road can cost you hours of your day, calling a tow-truck, missing work, etc. With service appointments, you decide when to bring your vehicle in.
#4 Your car runs longer. Take care of your Toyota and your Toyota will take care of you. The Toyota brand is synonymous with reliability for a reason. When well-maintained, these engines were built to last decades.
#5 Saves you money. Changing your oil and air filter are relatively affordable. Having to replace entire systems in your engine because of neglect can cost thousands of dollars. While it might seem like a lot now, regular service appointments help you avoid those hefty bills down the road.
Need to bring your Tundra, Tacoma, Camry, Corolla, RAV4, 4Runner or other Toyota model in for service? Mayfield Toyota is a state-of-the-art Toyota service centre on the west end of Edmonton equipped with the latest tools and technologies to repair your vehicle.
We service all makes and models and our highly-trained technicians are able to perform a variety of repair procedures from engine and transmission repair to professional windshield repair. Come see us today at the corner of Stony Plain Road and 170th Street.
We serve customers from Edmonton and the surrounding areas of St. Albert, Spruce Grove, Sherwood Park, and Stony Plain, and are open Monday – Friday from 7:30am – 5:30pm and Saturday from 8:00am – 4:30pm. Book Appointment.
The check engine light is probably one of the most frustrating things about owning a car. The light comes on and you know something is wrong. The only thing is, there is zero information telling you what the problem is.
What Do I Do?
While there are lots of reasons why your check engine light might come on, here are five common ones that you should look at first.
At Mayfield Toyota, our team of technicians are trained to diagnosis almost any issue. If you need help with your check engine light or have other another question, call us at (780) 483-2121 or book an appointment online today.
Inside your gas tank is an oxygen sensor that measures how much fuel is being burned. If the sensor is faulty or loose, it won’t deliver the right information to the computer.
This lowers your fuel economy and actually increases the number of emissions your car creates. Most vehicles have between two to four oxygen sensors and the code you from a scanner will tell you which one needs to be replaced.
What You Should Do: Have it fixed sooner than later. It’s a minor repair that when fixed right away, is relatively inexpensive. However, if left for too long, a fault oxygen monitor can lead to a broken catalytic converter and cost you thousands in repairs.
When your gas cap comes loose, it throws your entire fuel system off. Not only do fuel vapors leak out, but you also start lowering your fuel efficiency and you increase the number of emissions you’re dispersing in the air.
What You Should Do: This is an easy fix all around. If the gas cap is loose, pull over, give it a quick tighten and be on your way. If the check engine light turns off, you’re in the clear. However, if you pull over you see the gas cap has been fractured or is broken, it’s time for a new one. Luckily, they are cheap!
A catalytic converter takes carbon monoxide and other toxic materials that come from your vehicle and turns them into harmless compounds. While rare, catalytic converters can break down if your spark plugs are deteriorating or you have a broken engine sensor.
If your converter is broken, your car will be less efficient or worst yet, it won’t accelerate when you push the gas.
What You Should Do: If your catalytic converter is broken, your car will eventually stop running. It will also hit your wallet hard at the pumps because you’ll be burning way more fuel than you should be.
This type of repairs costs more money than a broken oxygen sensor or loose gas pump. Depending on the vehicle, it can cost a few thousand dollars.
The mass airflow sensor is responsible for telling your car how much fuel you need based on the amount of air that is coming into the engine. A sensor usually only breaks if your air filter has been replaced improperly. If broken, your car will produce more emissions, become less efficient and ultimately stall.
What You Should Do: While fixing a broken airflow sensor isn’t an immediate need, you will end up paying more in fuel due to a reduction in efficiency anyway. Your car might end up stalling a lot, too. So you might as well just do it. The overall repair job is minor and takes relatively little time.
Spark plugs seal the combustion chamber and provide space for a spark to jump across the engine and initiate combustion. If the plugs aren’t working properly, the spark will misfire and you’ll feel a jolt in your car’s acceleration.
While plugs can last for thousands of kilometres, they eventually fail and need to be replaced.
What You Should Do: Fixing broken spark plugs is easy and inexpensive. Some drivers opt to change them out at home. However, if you want to leave the job in the hands of a factory trained technician, our team will have them replaced in no time at all.
That way, you can have the peace of mind knowing it was done correctly.
Driving in Alberta during the winter can be an adventure. It can also be really hard on your vehicle, especially your brakes. There are all sorts of pitfalls you might come across — ice, sleet, slush, and snowdrifts, to name a few. With so many tricky surfaces to deal with, making sure your brakes work is the most important thing you can do.
There are certain factors that make winter especially tough on your brakes…
Snow and water can build up in your brake pads and rotors. When the temperature drops below zero, that water can actually freeze inside your brakes, making them grind and squeal the next day. Eventually, once your brakes start warming up the water will melt and fix the issue. However, this back-and-forth creates a lot of wear-and-tear on your brakes.
Many cities including Edmonton put salt on the road in order to melt the ice. While this is great because it helps your tires gain more traction, it also wreaks havoc on the metal and rubber pieces of your vehicle. It also speeds up vehicle rusting, especially the undercarriage and parts around your tires.
One way to minimize salt damage to your brakes is to wash your vehicle underneath. Doing that every few weeks will lengthen the lifespan of your brakes. Check out our amazing valet & car wash services for the best results.
Rust build-up on your brakes is inevitable, especially if you live in Alberta where rough winters are common. That rust can actually be the culprit of a lot of the squeaking noises you hear when it comes to your brakes. If you park your vehicle outside at night, moisture collects on the surface of your brake rotors. In the morning, you can feel that translated into your braking. While this isn’t necessarily bad in the moment, it can cause permanent damage over time.
Sometimes just listening to your vehicle can make all the difference. When you get a chance, crack your window and listen when you brake.
IF you hear a squealing or squeaking noise, it usually is the first sign something is wrong. Pay attention and get your Toyota in to see one of our trained factory technicians right away. By getting your vehicle in early, you avoid bigger repairs down the road — saving yourself time and money.
IF you hear a grinding or growling sound, it could mean a much more serious issue. Typically, that type of noise means the brake pads are completely worn down and have begun grinding into the rotor. Not only is it bad for your vehicle and brakes (because there is no material left), it is very unsafe. Make an appointment immediately!
If you hear a grinding or buzzing noise when you slam on your brakes, there’s a chance it could be your anti-lock brake system (ABS) — no need to panic. That is perfectly normal. However, if the brakes are squeaking or grinding as your drive, that signals more serious brake issues.
Are your brakes making a weird noise? Maybe you just want to make sure everything is in perfect working order before the next snow dump. Whatever the case, our highly-skilled and experienced service team is here to assist you with all your brake needs.
We are one of the busiest Toyota service departments in Edmonton — we pride ourselves on our ability to keep our guests satisfied and safe and keep their Toyotas running optimally for years to come. With customers across Alberta, including Spruce Grove, St. Albert and beyond, let us show you the Mayfield Toyota way. Book a service appointment online today!
So… what does this mean for your vehicle?
Edmonton road crews use a salt on roadways that has no corrosion inhibitor to keep it from rusting metal. That means that the undercarriage, the most exposed part of your vehicle, is at serious risk for rust and damage. Other parts at risk for salt damage include your exhaust system, muffler, subframe, coil springs, and hydraulic brake system.
At Mayfield Toyota, we offer a comprehensive protection package for your vehicle that includes a silicon-based undercoat. Silicon bonds with the metal and is by far the most effective way to prevent the damaging effects of salt on your vehicle. Silicon also protects the electrical components of your vehicle while making sure they don’t dry out or crack.
Pretreating the undercarriage of your vehicle before the snow falls will allow things like brake and fuel lines, as well as your exhaust system, to withstand the harmful effects of salt. Silicon protective spray can even help your vehicle absorb road noise making the inside of your vehicle quieter on the highways.
The Mayfield Toyota comprehensive protection package and undercoating spray works to protect your vehicle by coating all inner-surfaces and cracks. It doesn’t harm any electrical parts or wiring, either.
By applying it to preexisting holes and coating the entire bottom exterior of the vehicle, we don’t just increase the longevity of your vehicle; we keep it running longer and healthier for winters to come. Prevent rust and maintain your vehicle’s resale value with an undercoating spray today!
