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It is very important to watch out for the top signs that your car needs a repair. If you hear certain sounds and feel different sensations when pulling your brakes, it could be a sign that you need to visit a service center. Scheduling your car for brake repair is one way to make sure you're driving safely. Functional brakes are necessary for safe driving on almost every single public road. more Grinding Noises When Slowing Down Do you hear squealing or grinding sounds when you pull your breaks? Some people may think that these are typical car noises, but they can be one of the first signs you need to rush to a service center. These grinding, squealing sounds might mean that your brake pads have worn away. They indicate that your brakes are not working as expected and should be replaced as soon as possible. Difficulty When Pulling Your Brakes Another sign that you might need a car repair is when it feels as if your brake pedal has become harder to push. Do you need to step harder on your brake pedal before your car responds? A brake pedal that requires extra force can be a sign of various car problems. For example, low air pressure might be preventing your breaks from functioning smoothly. A brake pedal that's difficult to push can also mean that you're dealing with a dangerous brake fluid leak. Vibrations From the Brake Pedal Can you feel vibrations from the brake pedal, steering wheel, or throughout the vehicle when decelerating? You might need to get a car checkup in a professional service center. These vibrations can also mean that your brakes are in need of repair. Worn-out or warped rotors often cause problems with your car brakes. They can also cause those unusual vibrating sensations while you're driving. Car Drifting While Braking Your vehicle should stay in a straight line when you apply the brakes. If your car "drifts" from its proper direction, it is likely that you're dealing with a brake problem. Ideally, your car should feel smooth to drive and should not drift away from its path when you apply the brakes. If you can't always control the direction of your car's movement, something must be wrong with the brakes. Otherwise, you may be dealing with contaminants in the brake fluid, or you might have a malfunctioning wheel cylinder. ABS Light Notification Your dashboard has several lights that can inform you of potential problems. If you notice your ABS (anti-lock braking system) light stays on, you'll need to rush to your mechanic right away to have the car checked out. Paying attention to the earliest signs of brake problems will help you prevent brake failure in the future. When in need of a professional car service, don't hesitate to visit an expert. Schedule an appointment with Toyota of Kingsport in Kingsport, TN today, and we'll do everything to ensure that your new or used vehicle is safe and reliable! Image via DealerOn

When you need a radiator repair, stop driving immediately. Pull over, call our dealership, and get towed there. You can't drive with a broken radiator, so you need to get your vehicle fixed ASAP. Your local Toyota dealership in the Kingsport, TN area can help you with this and read our blog below so you know when it's time to get your radiator fixed. more Overheating Your temperature gauge will let you know if your vehicle is running too hot. Sometimes the gauge will point to hot because it's a warm day, and you've been driving for a long time. However, if you notice the gauge is almost constantly pointing to hot, then you have a problem. You could be having radiator trouble. Get your radiator checked out and fixed before the problem gets worse. The issue can get much worse if you don't get the radiator fixed straight away. Smoke billowing out from under the hood is a more serious sign of overheating. Parts of your engine can melt if they get too hot, and that's going to cause a problem that'll be far costlier and more time-consuming to repair. Your Radiator Appears Rusty or Discolored Sometimes the signs of a faulty radiator aren't obvious. You might only notice the fault if you're looking under the hood. If you notice that your radiator is a strange color, or if you notice that it's rusty, it may be leaking. When your radiator or hose leaks, the cool fluid escapes. The cool fluid can come into contact with hotter parts of your engine, and it bubbles and dries quickly. This leaves small discolored spots, and if left long enough, the spots will rust. Coolant Leak If you notice some colorful liquid near your vehicle, then your coolant may be leaking. Coolant is usually bright green, but it can be pink or yellow too. If your vehicle lacks coolant, then it can overheat easily. Get your radiator fixed as soon as you can to avoid your engine overheating. You should clean up the coolant before you leave for the dealership, though. It smells sweet, and the sweet scent has been known to attract animals. Coolant is deadly if consumed, so please keeps your pets and the local wildlife safe. Your Coolant Levels Are Low You might not notice a coolant leak, but you'll definitely notice if your coolant levels are low. You should check the levels of your vehicle's fluids regularly, as you need to ensure that everything is functioning as it should. If you notice a low coolant level during one of your regular checks, then you need to get to a technician. Something is wrong, and you want to get it repaired as soon as you can. If you need your radiator fixed, then get an appointment scheduled with Toyota of Kingsport in Kingsport, TN! We'll get you fixed up in no time and provide the best service we're capable of since our Service Department aims to leave all of our customers feeling satisfied! Image via DealerOn

A healthy transmission is as important to a vehicle as its engine. It's the transmission's job to multiply engine torque to send power to the wheels in response to varying gear and speed ratios. It's a big job but one that most drivers take for granted simply because the transmission is so good at doing what it's designed to do. Luckily, there are some telltale signs that you're having transmission problems and need maintenance at Toyota of Kingsport in Kingsport, TN. more Slipping Gears Slipping gears is a serious safety hazard. To avoid a potentially disastrous situation, recognizing when your vehicle isn't holding gears is imperative. If your car is not responding, or slipping between gears when you've not intended it to do so, you need to have it serviced immediately. Noisy in Neutral If you've never really put your car into neutral, try it. It should sound pretty much like the other gears; that is, it shouldn't sound like anything at all. If, when you put the car into neutral, there is a bumping or clunking sound, or possibly an independent shaking, there is likely an issue with your transmission fluid. If gone untreated, this warning sign could become more serious. The Smell of Burnt Rubber A burning smell is never good, whether at home, at work, or in your car. Any burning smell should be investigated immediately. If you notice an odor similar to burnt rubber after you've turned off your engine and exited the vehicle, it is likely caused by your transmission fluid overheating and burning any debris that may have contaminated the fluid. If gone unattended, smoke will eventually accompany the smell and you'll have a much worse problem on your hands. Transmission Fluid Leak When transmission fluid is low, contaminated, or overheated, it will set into motion many of these signs mentioned here. But a fluid leak will be the easiest to diagnose as you can see it with your own eyes. If a puddle forms on the pavement or garage floor under your parked car, investigate it. If it is red or brown, it's transmission fluid and the leak must be fixed without delay. Check Engine Lights We mostly expect the check engine lights to illuminate only for engine problems, but it may also light up when a transmission issue is detected. Often we, as drivers, put off having our car serviced when that light comes on simply because we completely forget about it when the vehicle is turned off. But ignoring a service light can make a small issue into a large one. Your vehicle's sensors are designed to catch issues; it's our job to listen. We get it, it's hard to make time to bring your car in to have it looked at. But we know that delaying service only exacerbates problems that could have been solved with a simple fluid flush or computer check. Schedule an appointment at Toyota of Kingsport's service center today to let us make sure your car is running smoothly!

The brake pads and shoes on your vehicle are designed to last for a very long time. Some brands even offer a specified mileage or guarantee their products for life. But the reality is that at some point they are going to wear out. One thing you can do is pay attention to your driving habits and follow a few easy steps to make sure you get the maximum lifespan out of your brakes. Watch That Left Foot You should never use your left foot to use the brake pedal. Instead, always use your right foot. If you look around while you are driving, you might be surprised at how many people are driving at cruising speed with their brake lights on. This means the driver has a foot on the brake pedal. No matter how lightly the driver is applying the brakes, the pads or shoes will wear far more quickly than intended. more Play the Memory Game If you drive the same routes every day, you probably already know where the stop lights and signs are and where traffic tends to slow down on a regular basis. Planning ahead and coasting when appropriate can help you reduce the amount of time you have to actually use your brakes. Pay Attention to Traffic By paying closer attention to the traffic and traffic lights ahead of you, you can learn how to time the lights and your speed to make sure you hit as many green lights as possible. You might also be able to see where traffic is backing up and find new ways to get around it that require you to stop less frequently, once again reducing the amount of wear and tear on your brakes. Lighten the Load Reducing the extra weight in your car can not only help save you money at the pump by increasing your fuel economy, but it can also help your brakes. The more weight you are hauling, the more difficult it is for your brakes to stop the car. This extra weight can and will cause extra wear on your brakes, so lighten the load and save your brakes. Saving a Penny, Spending a Dollar Never make the mistake of buying cheap brake pads and shoes. While doing this might save you money at the outset, it will only cost you more in the long run. Bargain pads might be cheaper, but they are only designed to last a very short time, as they wear quickly due to being made from inferior materials. Paying top dollar for premium pads will cost you more, but will provide many more years of service and offer better overall performance, making them a better choice. By following these simple steps, you can make your brakes last for a long time. It also pays to have your brakes inspected by a professional regularly to make sure they are wearing evenly and that there are no other mechanical problems or leaks. Image via Pixabay

DealerRater recently awarded select dealerships with the 2016 Consumer Satisfaction Award. This is the second year that DealerRater has given out the awards recognizing car dealerships in the United States and Canada who have achieved high review scores from online reviewers. This year, we were fortunate enough to be recognized as one of the top car dealers in the country and were awarded the 2016 Consumer Satisfaction Award. How we won the award Every member of Toyota of Kingsport has worked tirelessly to deserve this honor. We’ve made it our mission to put serving our customers above all else and this award proves that it pays off! more The sales, service, and finance teams at Toyota of Kingsport strive to provide the best car-buying experience in Kingsport and the surrounding Tennessee area, and our customers come back over and over again with positive things to say. Winning the 2016 Consumer Satisfaction Award from DealerRater is a tremendous honor and we’re thrilled for our sister store. Consumer Satisfaction is right at your fingertips To start your award-winning car dealership experience, visit Toyota of Kingsport to see all of the amazing new and used cars we have in stock. We couldn’t be more humbled by our success and we want everyone to come to us if they’re in the market for a Toyota!