Tips to help your car cope with cold weather

It's indisputable that vehicles require periodic maintenance round the year to stay in trouble-free condition. But when the mercury starts dipping, your car needs that extra care to overcome the harsh weather and hazardous road conditions. Cold weather will have direct impact on your car which impedes its performance making it a bit sluggish.

Toyota of Colchester, the prime dealer of new Toyota cars in Columbia is happy to announce that the technicians at their well-equipped service center are always at your service to help you prepare your car for the harsh winter. You can also get original Toyota parts and accessories from their automotive accessory store.

So plan ahead and don't let your car 'succumb' to the extreme winter conditions. Spruce up your car to battle the cold weather better by taking the following 'anti-winter' measures.

Check the Battery:
When the temperature drops, so does the battery power of your car. So do a load-test and ensure that it's strong enough and has optimum cranking power to start in cold conditions. Check the fluid level and top it off with distilled water. Check for any loose cables and adequately remove corrosion to facilitate energy transfer.

Go for winter tires:
Don't use your car as your ski board! The summer or all-season tires may not provide adequate grip to ride safely on snow or ice. Opt for winter tires which have snow-friendly tread patterns that offer better grip. Also, keep tires inflated at the air pressure recommended by the manufacturer and rotate tires at specified intervals.

Check the Oil level:
Check the oil level and filter at regular intervals and switch to lighter oil that gets circulated easily. The cold weather will make oil thick and it's highly recommended to use suitable winter motor oil that provides optimum oil flow at low temperatures. Any oil brand with a "W" (which stands for "winter") in the name is suitable. Common formulas include 5W-20, 5W-30, and 10W-30.

Check the Cooling System:
The cooling system consists of radiator, thermostat, pump, heater and a bunch of hoses that helps your car to keep running at normal operating temperatures. Check the fluid level and anti-freezer/water ratio in the radiator. The radiator should have 50/50 mixture of anti-freezer and water. The anti-freezer prevents your car from freezing which otherwise would over heat your car resulting in cracked hoses and damaged pumps. It's highly recommended to flush the cooling system every other year.

Maintain Visibility:
Ensure that your ice-repelling wiper blades are in good condition. Also check whether the headlights, tail lights and turn lights work properly. Replace the burned-out bulbs immediately. Clean the snow and ice from the light for better visibility which also help other motorists to see you. Keep the windshield washer reservoir filled with solution that has an antifreeze agent added.

Login to http://www.toyotaofcolchester.com/parts-service/service-appointment.jsp and submit the form that represents your desired date and time for an appointment and the dealer's Service Appointment Coordinator will contact you promptly to confirm the availability of your request. You can also visit http://www.toyotaofcolchester.com/parts-service/order-parts.jsp and submit the Toyota part order form and the Parts Professional of the new Toyota car dealer in Columbia will contact you promptly.

Toyota Matrix on the Top Ten List of Back to School Cars!

Toyota of Colchester is happy that our very own Toyota Matrix makes it to the Top 10 list of Back to School Cars, rated by Autotropolis, a leading resource for new and used cars. The Toyota Matrix features high on the wish list of the trendy high schooler.

The Toyota Matrix is an affordable car with distinctive, fashionable styling and enough room to carpool. The Toyota Matrix is among the most versatile and sporty hatchback vehicles in this class with low starting MSRPs. For 2010, the Matrix starts at $16,550, and gets 32 mpg on the highway. The spacious, well-designed cabin offers plenty of room for people and baggage which would make the car a great choice for travelling with friends for a night out or a weekend trip with camping gear in the trunk.Toyota Matrix was launched in the US for the 2003 model year as a compact five-door hatchback/wagon. It is a joint venture between Toyota and General Motors and the GM version of it is the Pontiac Vibe. The Matrix is based on the Corolla platform and was redesigned completely in 2007. For 2010, the refined and versatile Matrix remains largely unchanged except for the addition of standard stability control system.

Contact Toyota of Colchester your Toyota Dealer in Colchester, CT for more information on the Matrix and check out our extensive line of New and Pre-owned Inventory or the online specials we have to offer.