Toyota Knoxville FAQ

All of Your Essential Questions, Answered Here

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Vehicle Maintenance

How many miles before my Toyota needs an oil change?
Part of the Toyota Knoxville ownership experience is leaving all of the worry about when you should get a service done to us. We will make sure that someone from the Toyota Knoxville service center contacts you to make arrangements every time. You can also always check your owner’s manual for the time intervals for maintenance for your specific model. If you cannot locate your owner’s manual, you can call our service center and we will be happy to look it up for you.
When should I replace my car battery?
You should always check your warranty date on your battery. The letter stands for the month (A is for January, B is for February, and so on) and the number is the year. If you have a battery that shows C19, then your battery should be find until just before March 2019. As a rule of thumb, it is good to change your battery before this date so you do not end up with a dead battery and stranded. You can also bring it in to our service center at any time so we can check to see if it still holds a charge well.
What if my vehicle doesn’t start?
This could be the result of a variety of issues such as a dead battery, a bad alternator, or even a bad starter. It could even be a bad sensor or a stretched or broken timing belt. If the issue is the starter, you will probably hear a clicking noise when you try to turn it on but that could also indicate a dead battery. if you have a voltmeter around, you should check your battery to make sure it shows at least 12 volts when the vehicle is off and that is drops below 10.5 volts when you turn it off. If it doesn’t, then it is most likely the starter.
What if my “Service Engine Soon” light turns on?
If you do see your check engine light or your service engine light come on, it is best to bring it in to our service center right away. The only way to determine what the issue is would be to plug a code reader into the diagnostic port.
How can I make my car last longer?
If you want your Toyota to last a long time, the best thing you can do is to make sure it is well-maintained. That means bringing it in for service regularly. You should also take care of your tires as regular maintenance and ensure they have the proper air pressure so they do not wear out too fast.

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Tires

How often do I need to buy or replace tires?
There is no general rule of thumb for this because it depends on how you drive, how often, where you drive, and the type of tires you have. When driven on rough surfaces like gravel, tires tend to wear faster. Tires that are made with softer rubber or highway tires will also wear faster. Every tire has an expected number of miles it should last but you should always check your tires for wear, low pressure, or other issues. When the tread is almost even with the wear bars, it’s time for new tires.
Do I need to align my tires when I get new ones?
It’s always a good idea to have the alignment checked. No matter the wear pattern, you should definitely have the alignment done.
What kind of tires should I get?
Let your Toyota Knoxville service adviser know what kind of driving you do, whether it’s mostly highway driving, city driving or if you often drive on rough surfaces such as a long gravel driveway or off road. You should also indicate how much driving you tend to do and they will let you know the best kind of tires for your current driving habits.

Parts

When should I replace my belts and hoses?
This can vary depending on the types of belts and hoses and how often you use your vehicle. When the hoses start to get soft or if they start to show cracks thenit is time to get them replaced. When your belts start to show signs of dry rotting, if the bottom is shiny, or if the tensioner is no longer keeping tension, then it time to change them.
What is the difference between OEM and generic parts?
OEM parts are “original equipment manufacturer” parts. That means they are made by the manufacturer, Toyota. They may be sold by Toyota or a third party. Generic parts are made by someone else to fit your Toyota. While these will fit, they may not have the same quality. We only use Toyota OEM parts for all of our services.

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Certified Professionals

Why Use ASE-Certified technicians?
No one knows your Toyota better than the technicians at Toyota Knoxville. Our Toyota Service Center personnel are Toyota trained and certified—so they’ll fix your car according to the exact manufacturer standards. In order to even properly service a Toyota vehicle, you have to be cerified to use the special equipment. This equipment is needed to properly diagnose any issues with your Toyota vehicle and it cannot be determined without it. If you get the wrong diganosis, you could end up paying more for the wrong work but that will not happen here. We will repair them right the first time because we use ASE Certified technicians.
What’s wrong with uncertified mechanics?
Unless they have their certification, you cannot be sure if they actually know how to get the job done. You also cannot know if they will be using OEM parts. Even further, you probably won’t be able to get a guarantee for the parts or the service.
What are the certification requirements?
The technicians who work for Toyota Knoxville Service Center must take and pass the ASE certification test in their specialty. Or, if a technician is a master technician, he or she must pass a group of tests in a series. A master technician must also have two years of documented hands-on work experience.
For automobiles, a master tech must pass eight tests for the master status. For collision repair, a tech must pass four tests in the series. The A series for automobiles and light trucks include:
Engine repair
Automatic transmission/transaxle
Manual drivetrain and axles
Suspension and steering
Brakes
Electrical/Electronic system
Heating and air conditioning
Engine performance
The ninth test in the series is for light vehicle diesel engines and that test is not required to become a master technician.
Master techs in body repair or collision must pass these four tests:
Painting and refinishing
Non-structural analysis and damage repair
Structural analysis and damage repair
Mechanical and electrical components
All master tech must recertify every five years.

Call our certified technicians at Toyota Knoxville Service Center to schedule an appointment for maintenance and repairs.


Technology

Homelink puts you in control without the remote control.
Toyota vehicles now come with HomeLink, the leading vehicle-based wireless control system. With HomeLink you can easily open and close your garage door or front gate, control your home security system, and even turn on or off interior and exterior lighting, appliances and electronics. Homelink incorporates three easily accessible buttons into your automobile’s interior so whatever functions you program are readily available so there are no more remote controls cluttering up your driving space and you’ll never have to worry about changing batteries. Programming Homelink is easy and compatible with nearly all garage door openers and gate systems, and an ever-growing list of other radio-frequency (RF) controlled devices.
It’s just another way to transform your driving experience in a Toyota from Toyota Knoxville.
Stay Connected With Toyota Bluetooth
Your new Toyota allows you to connect your smartphone using Bluetooth technology. This is a feature that allows you to have hands-free access to many of your phone’s functions including receiving or making phone calls, voice messaging, even listening to the music on your phone, and much more. Pairing your smartphone and your Toyota is a simple process which takes just a few steps. You can do it yourself using the following instructions or have one of the friendly technology experts at Toyota Knoxville do it for you.
Pairing Your Phone to Toyota Bluetooth
To get started make sure your vehicle is safely parked then go to your smartphone’s Bluetooth screen and turn Bluetooth on. Your device will now search for Bluetooth connections.
You should now see the connection Toyota BT on the screen of your smartphone, followed by the last four digits of your Toyota’s VIN number. Select this to confirm the Bluetooth connection.
Now, look at the center console display on which you will see a message asking you to connect. Select this option and the screen will display will show a 6-digit pin number corresponding to the one shown on your phone.
Select “Yes” and then finally, press “Pair” on your smartphone.

Does Your Car Have a Safety Recall?

Recalls have been in the news a lot lately. We know you have questions about the effect of these recalls on the safety of you and your passengers. We can’t service every vehicle with an open recall, but we can alert you if your vehicle has one.

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