A Toyota Matrix
Toyota gets its name from Sakichi Toyoda, who used income from his inventions to start Toyota Motor Company in the 1930s with the help of the Japanese government. About 20 years later, Toyota set up its first U.S. office in 1957, and, when the Corolla arrived 12 years after that, it quickly became America's favorite small car. The Corolla's reliability built Toyota's reputation and helped it become the success it is today. This reliability might be the reason you own a Toyota but every vehicle has its problems. Knowing what to do can make life a lot easier.
Dash Warning Lights
It's easy to get irritated by lights on your dash if you don't understand them. Some lights, such as your brake warning light, aren't typically caused by a malfunction. This light is usually a reminder that your parking brake is engaged. If it stays on after you disengage the parking brake, the fluid in your brake master cylinder is low and your brakes might be leaking. Your dashboard's maintenance light also can be annoying if you're following a different servicing schedule. You can shut it off by turning the key in your ignition to the on position while pressing your trip meter reset knob and holding it in for at least five seconds. If this doesn't work, try your "Trip A" or "Trip B" controls. Your check engine light will come on only when your ECM (Electronic Control Module) detects a malfunction, but you can retrieve the ECM code and find out what's wrong if you have a scanner and Toyota repair manual.
Short Trip Service
Toyota recommends oil and filter changes every 5,000 miles, but if you have a short commute or work at home and your errands are nearby, it could take forever to reach 5,000 miles. It might surprise you that driving less than 50 miles a week is harder on your oil and engine than driving 250 miles a week. When your oil doesn't have time to heat up properly, it's unable to burn off contaminants and moisture, so they accumulate in the crankcase. These residues destroy the additives in your oil and turn it into an acid bath that attacks your engine's bearings and other contact points. That's why you should change your oil more often and find reasons to drive whenever you can.
Stuck Accelerator
Bad publicity from stuck accelerator accidents forced Toyota to recall 3.8 million vehicles in late 2009, but there are things you can do to deal with this problem. Start by applying firm continuous pressure to your brake pedal with both feet. You should also put your transmission in neutral or turn off your engine if this doesn't work. You'll lose power steering and brakes, but, if the key is in the ignition (at the ACC position), your brakes and steering will keep working. If your vehicle has an engine start/stop switch, you also should hold it down for three seconds to shut off the engine.
Tags: your brake, your engine, doesn work, ignition position, miles week
