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Winter brings with it added hazards and risks to your vehicle’s overall condition. Winter preparation should be done in the fall and maintained throughout the winter months. Here are some tips and tricks to protecting your vehicle and yourself this winter season! Check your battery. Check for corrosion, make sure it isn’t past its warranty, and pay attention to anythings that might signify that its in need of replacement. The harsh cold can be hard on a vehicle’s battery, and you don’t want to get caught with a dead battery in a blizzard. You can always get your battery checked at Heintz Toyota of Mankato’s service department and a replacement if needed! Replace wiper blades. Are your blades dragging, streaking or under-performing? It may be time to swap them out for a newer pair, which our service department would be pleased to do. Replacing wiper blades is a quick and easy process, and you don’t want to be caught on a salty road or blizzard without a good pair of wiper blades. In addition to new wiper blades, you should also top off your windshield wiper fluid with winterized fluid. Non-winterized wiper fluid can freeze up inside your vehicle and not work as effectively. Check oil and fluid levels. Top off the fluids in your vehicle if they’re running low. Keeping them below full runs the risk of water evaporating and freezing inside your vehicle. Don’t delay getting your oil changed on a regular basis and make sure your vehicle has enough coolant or antifreeze. Don’t allow your gas levels to run below half, and don’t be afraid to put some antifreeze in your vehicle every other time you top off your tank. Check & replace tires if needed. With the change in temperature, it’s not uncommon for your vehicle’s tire pressure to go down. Make sure your tires are fully inflated to improve its gas mileage, handling, and tire life. Winter is also a good time to check your tires to see if they need replacing. Remember to check on your spare tire! Emergency kit. Whether your make your own or purchase one, an emergency kit is a winter driving necessity. Your kit should include things like jumper cables, blankets, a knife, de-icer, a first aid kit, flashlight, phone charger, a small shovel, kitty litter or sand, an ice scraper, and snacks. In the unlikely event that you are left stranded, being prepared will come in handy. In addition to these tips, you should also check your filters and replace any that are dirty and inspect all lights and bulbs on your vehicle. If your check engine light is on, bring it in for a diagnostic. As always, check out our service offers to see if you can save on your service!

On behalf of all of Heintz Toyota of Mankato, we are excited to finally welcome you to our brand-new blog! Starting today, we will provide you with relevant and engaging content to ensure your experience with us is the best it can possibly be. We would like to provide a range of quality content, including: How-tos, tips and tricks, and other life hacks when it comes to caring to your vehicle Information about our dealership staff, philosophy, and experience Community news and events to keep you connected in the local area News from various manufacturers to keep you updated on any and all relevant information to your vehicle Other small tidbits we think you will find interesting and relevant If you aren’t already, we strongly encourage you to follow us on all forms of social media to ensure you don’t miss a post! Again, we are extremely excited to be launching this blog and are eager to share our content with you. Feedback is very much appreciated, which you can leave in the comments of our blog posts and Facebook page! See you all again soon!

With the unpredictability of Minnesota fall, you don’t want to get caught off-guard by the winter weather unprepared. Here are some tips to ensure your vehicle is ready for the changing seasons: Check fluid levels. Be sure to check the levels of your windshield wiper fluids, power steering fluids, transmission fluids, coolants, and brake fluids. Over time, the quality of various fluids can deteriorate for a number of reasons—evaporation, extreme heat and cold, or just simply from use. Take a look at your fluids and schedule a routine check-up to ensure your vehicle will run smoothly this fall and winter. Check belts and hoses. Over time, belts and hoses can become worn out, frayed, or cracked. The harsh cold weather of winter can make things even worse for your vehicle. Schedule a routine maintenance appointment to ensure everything is in tip-top shape for the next season. Check tires. Tires are one of the most crucial components of your vehicle, and it can be very risky and even dangerous to enter into the winter season with sub-par tire quality. Be sure to routinely check the tire pressure of all tires – even your spare! Heintz Toyota of Mankato offers a number of tire service specials and makes it easy to order new tires. Order four tires before October 31st and get the fourth for only $1! Check brakes. Brake quality is a bit trickier than other aspects of vehicle maintenance – there’s no fixed time that brakes need to be replaced. This makes it extremely important to get them checked on a regular basis and changed as soon as issues arise. If you hear any squealing or grinding or feel any vibrations when you brake, it may be time to schedule service on your brakes. Check the battery. Cold weather is exceptionally hard on your vehicle’s battery. Before you get stranded in your driveway before work or at the mall after close, be sure to check your battery. Is your battery older than three years old? Is there corrosion around your battery’s posts or cables? Does your vehicle stutter when it starts or are any warning lights turned on? If you are observing any of these issues, it may be time to schedule service with us to ensure your battery is good to go. Invest in all-weather mats. Your vehicle is an investment and you should protect it – the harsh chemicals found in road salt can be damaging to the original carpet of your vehicle. All-weather mats will prevent damage to your vehicle. Check out our accessories page to find all-weather mats for your Toyota! Check wiper blades. The last thing you want to get caught in is a snowstorm with barely-functioning windshield wipers. Windshield wipers should be replaced every six months to a year, but can still vary. If your windshield wipers are streaking, dragging, or falling apart, you should replace them immediately. Heintz Toyota of Mankato offers specials on windshield wipers if it’s time for you to replace yours. Touch up any scratches. Like said before, road salt can be very harsh on your vehicle. Touch up any scratches or damage to your exterior to avoid rust or further damage to your vehicle. You can do this at home or contact our service department to see what options are available to you. Put together an emergency kit. You can put one together yourself or buy an emergency kit from our accessories. Some items emergency kits should include jumper cables, warm clothes and blankets, and a flashlight.