Satisfied with your Prius? What’s good is getting now getting better.
The Wall Street Journal
reports that Toyota is determined to significantly improve the
efficiency of its Prius gasoline-electric hybrid car and produce it in
the U.S.
Among the techniques Toyota is reportedly exploring to upgrade the
Prius is shrinking major hybrid parts such as batteries, inverters and
electric motors to make them as small as one-quarter their current
size. This would not only reduce weight but would also mean that the
redesigned Prius, expected to hit the market within the next few years,
would be more affordable and would have better fuel economy, the WSJ
story said.
That’s good news for all Prius lovers. But in the meantime, why not update your Prius’ look with a new grille, door hinge, or taillights? Check out Toyota Parts Online for the best Toyota auto parts.
If you’ve ever found yourself almost asleep at the wheel, you know how extremely scary, and dangerous it is.
Sleepiness and driving is a dangerous combination. Most people are
aware of the dangers of drinking and driving but don’t realize that
drowsy driving can be just as fatal. Like alcohol, sleepiness slows
reaction time, decreases awareness, impairs judgment and increases your
risk of crashing.
Drowsiness can sneak up on you when you're driving. For both adults and
teenagers, driving late at night, between eleven p.m. and two a.m. is
particularly dangerous for falling asleep at the wheel. Here are some
signs to watch for--and do something about before you run into a tree
or another car and waste the good money you spent updating your Camry
with new hood from Toyota Parts Online:
Yawning a lot
Having trouble keeping eyes open
Not being able to concentrate
Not remembering the last few minutes or seconds
Jerking of your head or body from the brink of falling asleep
Car wanders from the road or into another lane
What to do:
Slow Down
Pull off road into a safe parking space.
Call home if you can.
Talk to passenger if you have one
Turn radio to a lively station, try singing
Roll down window and get some fresh air for a few minutes, or turn vent on full blast
Make a pit stop, use the bathroom and get a Coke or coffee to drink
Your Toyota’s windshield is an important part of your vehicle. It allows you to enjoy dust-free, smoke-free, and safe driving.
If you have a ding or star on your windshield, here is how you can deal with them:
Inspect
the ding. If it has a cone shape, a circle deep in the glass or looks
like a small star with points spreading out, have the ding repaired
promptly. These are serious dings that can grow into a cracked
windshield.
Don't
touch a ding or attempt to repair it yourself. Without special
equipment and training, you will only contaminate the damaged area,
making repairs hard to complete.
As
a temporary measure, put a piece of clear tape, like packing tape, over
the ding. This won't keep the ding from spreading, but will help
prevent the spot from becoming contaminated.
Don't
wash the vehicle-especially through the car wash. Soap and water can
contaminate the spot and a high-pressure wash can cause the ding to
expand.
Driving
a vehicle with a windshield ding causes vibration and exposure to
environmental conditions that cause the ding to spread.
Avoid
slamming the car doors and don't close the doors with the windows
rolled all the way up. The vibration or build up of air pressure inside
the car can cause the ding to spread.
Don't
run the defroster, heater or air conditioning on high settings. Don't
park the vehicle in the sun. Rapid changes in interior temperature or
prolonged exposure to sunlight can stress and weaken the windshield.
Toyota
is known for being one of the most environment-friendly automakers,
what with its ardent development of environment-friendly technologies
such as its hybrid program. How can you, as a Toyota owner, do your
part in helping preserve the environment? Here are some tips you can
use:
Keep
your engine tuned up. A misfiring spark plug can reduce fuel efficiency
as much as 30%. Follow the service schedules listed in your owner's
manual. Replace filters and fluids as recommended.
Check
your tires for proper inflation. Underinflation wastes fuel your engine
has to work harder to push the vehicle. Wheels that are out-of-line (as
evidenced by uneven tread wear or vehicle pulling) make the engine work
harder, too. Properly maintained tires will last longer, meaning fewer
scrap tires have to be disposed.
Keep
your air conditioner in top condition and have it serviced only by a
technician certified competent to handle/recycle refrigerants. Air
conditioners contain CFCs-gases that have been implicated in the
depletion of the ozone layer. According to the Environmental Protection
Agency, almost one third of the CFCs released into the atmosphere come
from mobile air conditioners; some simply leaks out, but the majority
escapes during service and repair-so it's important to choose a
qualified technician.
Do-it-yourselfers:
dispose of used motor oil, anti-freeze/coolant, tires, and old
batteries properly. Many repair facilities accept these items. Or call
your local municipal or county government for recycling sites. Never
dump used oil or anti-freeze on the ground or in open streams.
Drive
gently. Avoid sudden accelerations and jerky stop-and-go's. Use
cruise-control on open highways to keep your speed as steady as
possible.
Avoid
excessive idling. Shut off the engine while waiting for friends and
family. Today's vehicles are designed to "warm up" fast, so forget
about those five-minute warm ups on cold winter mornings.
Remove
excess items from the vehicle. Less weight means better mileage. Store
luggage/ cargo in the trunk rather than on the roof to reduce air drag.
Plan
trips. Consolidate your daily errands to eliminate unnecessary driving.
Try to travel when traffic is light to avoid stop-and-go conditions.
Join a car pool.
Remember, how your car runs, how you drive it, and how its fluids, old
parts, and tires are disposed of all have serious consequences on the
environment. A properly maintained and operated vehicle will also run
more efficiently, will be safer, and will last up to 50% longer. And
should you need replacement Toyota auto parts, there is still your trusted online auto parts store, Toyota Parts Online.
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