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Winter in eastern Idaho brings severe freezing temperatures, heavy mountain snow, and icy commutes along I-15. Preparing your vehicle before the first winter storm hits is essential for safe driving, maintaining performance, and avoiding costly roadside emergencies. Whether you drive a RAV4, Tacoma, or Camry, here is a step-by-step winter maintenance checklist to get your Toyota fully prepared for cold-weather driving. 1. Check & Service Your Battery Cold weather drastically reduces a battery’s output—at freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit), a battery loses about 20 percent of its strength, and at 0 degrees Fahrenheit, it can lose over 50 percent. Test Cold Cranking Amps (CCA): Ensure your battery has enough power to turn over a cold engine on freezing mornings. Inspect Terminals: Look for corrosion, loose connections, or swelling on the battery case. Proactive Replacement: Most vehicle batteries last 3 to 5 years. If yours is approaching that mark, consider replacing it before winter sets in. 2. Inspect Tire Tread & Consider Winter Tires Tires are your only contact point with icy roads. Proper tread depth and rubber flexibility are crucial for maintaining traction and reducing stopping distances. Check Tread Depth: Ensure your tires have sufficient tread depth (at least 4/32 inches for winter conditions). Monitor Tire Pressure (TPMS): Tire pressure drops roughly 1 PSI for every 10-degree Fahrenheit drop in outside temperature. Keep your tires inflated to the recommended PSI listed on your driver’s side door jamb. Switch to Winter Tires: Standard all-season tires harden when temperatures drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Dedicated winter tires feature specialized rubber compounds and aggressive siping patterns designed to grip snow and ice. 3. Top Off Essential Engine Fluids Cold weather impacts how engine fluids flow and protect internal components. Engine Coolant / Antifreeze: Antifreeze prevents your engine block from freezing and cracking. Ensure your coolant mixture is at a proper 50/50 ratio of antifreeze to water. Winter-Grade Windshield Washer Fluid: Replace summer washer fluid with a winter formula rated for 20 degrees below zero Fahrenheit or lower to prevent the fluid and spray nozzles from freezing. Fresh Engine Oil: Lower viscosity oil flows better in sub-zero temperatures, reducing engine wear during cold starts. 4. Test Brakes, Lights & Wiper Blades Visibility and stopping ability are paramount when driving through winter storms or dark commutes. Brake Inspection: Have your brake pads and rotors checked for wear to ensure responsive braking on slick surfaces. Replace Wiper Blades: Swap worn blades for heavy-duty winter wiper blades designed to push heavy snow and ice off the windshield without streak marks. Inspect All Exterior Lights: Ensure headlights, taillights, fog lights, and brake lights are clean and working properly so other drivers can see you in low-visibility conditions. 5. Build an Emergency Winter Driving Kit Even with a fully maintained vehicle, unexpected delays or extreme weather can leave you stranded. Keep a winter emergency kit in your trunk or cargo area containing: Ice scraper and snow brush Jumper cables or a portable jump-starter pack Flashlight with extra batteries Small shovel and traction mats (or cat litter/sand) Blankets, extra gloves, and warm clothing First-aid kit, bottled water, and non-perishable snacks Schedule Your Toyota Winter Service in Pocatello, ID Don't wait for the first winter freeze to find out your vehicle isn't ready. Bringing your vehicle in for seasonal service ensures your brakes, battery, tires, and fluids are inspected by factory-trained technicians using Genuine Toyota Parts. Schedule your winter maintenance service online at Phil Meador Toyota or visit our service department located at 1855 Flandro Dr, Pocatello, ID 83202.

How to Use the Toyota App for Charging Your Toyota Electric Vehicle? Toyota is rapidly expanding its electric vehicle lineup in Pocatello, ID. These EVs stand out in the ever-growing segment with innovative technology and great performance. While there are plenty of noteworthy traits featured on these vehicles, today, we’re focusing on the one that allows you to charge your EV with ease. We’re talking about the Toyota app. Designed for modern users, this intuitive app lets you do everything from finding the nearest charging station to paying. To understand how this app works, watch this video tutorial uploaded by Toyota folks explaining how to use the Toyota app to charge your Toyota EVs. If you’re interested in a Toyota EV, get in touch with the Phil Meador Toyota dealership today. View Our New Toyota Inventory Contact Us 2023 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid Video

2022 Toyota Mirai Refueling Process Video With impressive features, the advanced-to-its-core 2022 Toyota Mirai redefines innovation and performance. Its fantastic hardware improvements and the fact that it runs on hydrogen make this fuel cell electric vehicle remarkably easy to refuel. To know how to refuel your Mirai, keep reading this blog that features the 2022 Toyota Mirai refueling process video. Join our team at Phil Meador Toyota in Pocatello, ID, as we explore more about the 2022 Toyota Mirai hydrogen refueling process. View Our New Inventory Contact Us Are you interested in discovering more about the 2022 Toyota Mirai? Visit us at Phil Meador Toyota in Pocatello, ID. You can browse our online inventory to pick your match and schedule a test drive. Contact us for more information about any other Toyota vehicle. Also Read: How Powerful is the 2022 Toyota GR Supra?

Learn how to check the tread depth in your Toyota Functional and good-condition tires offer traction to grip the road while driving, making the ride less bumpy and more comfortable. Evaluating the tread depth of your tires at regular intervals is a way of protecting your tires and yourself from harm. Join us at Phil Meador Toyota in Pocatello, ID, to learn how to check the tread depth in your Toyota. Continue reading for more information. View Our Inventory Contact Us How to check if my tires are worn out? There is an easy way to check the tread depth of your Toyota. The penny or the quarter test is a fool-proof way of checking if your tires are worn out. Place a penny upside down in your tread, and if you can see the top of President Abraham Lincoln's head, then it is time to change new tires as your tire is not maintaining the recommended tread depth of 12/32". You can always use a tire pressure gauge to ensure that your tires are properly inflated, and there is no loss of air owing to a possible puncture or flat. Ensure that the tire pressure is maintained at your Toyota's recommended inflation pressure; this information can be found in the owner's manual as well. Looking out for cracks, bumps, bulges, punctures, scrapes, or cuts is also a good way of checking your tire's condition. Keep in mind your tire's age, which can be found at the end of the dot stamp containing four digits that indicate the month and year of manufacture. Join us at Phil Meador Toyota in Pocatello, ID, for a service appointment. You can order tires online at the dealership, and remember to use our service coupons for a discount on your purchase and visit. Reach out to the dealership for further assistance.

Enabling Wi-Fi Hotspot on Toyota’s Multimedia System Toyota has again topped over all other brands as the best-selling automobile manufacturer globally. Curious to know why? Numerous reasons make the vehicles offered by the brand stand apart from its competitors. The brand focuses on providing long-lasting, high-quality vehicles that can endure generations. Customers can now enjoy state-of-the-art technology features directly from the multimedia system available at the center console. It’s important to be staying connected to network services to get the maximum out of your Toyota. Watch the video below to learn how to enable Wi-Fi Hotspot on Toyota’s Audio Multimedia System at Phil Meador Toyota in Pocatello, ID. View Our New Toyota Vehicles Inventory Schedule A Test Drive Visit Phil Meador Toyota today! Contact our team of automotive specialists to learn more about the features included in Toyota’s Multimedia System.

Can I Connect my Phone to the 2021 Toyota Camry? The technological revolution happening within the Toyota vehicle inventory is nothing short of miraculous. As more Phil Meador Toyota customers get more comfortable with the idea of combining their favorite mobile devices with their new vehicle purchase, we increasingly hear questions like, ‘Can I connect my phone to the 2021 Toyota Camry?’ In a word, yes. Yes, you can connect most Apple and Android phones to the 2021 Camry and most other 2020 and 2021 Toyota models in our showroom. We thought it would be helpful to provide some materials to help people connect to and use this incredible technology. Let’s see what our team put together. READ MORE: Reserve the 2021 Toyota Camry today View the new Phil Meador Inventory Contact a Phil Meador Toyota Product Expert How do I set up Android Auto™? Before starting the setup process for Android Auto™ and your 2021 Camry, make sure you have downloaded the Android Auto app from the Google Play store. Also, ensure that your phone is running Android 5.0 (Lollipop) or later. • Insert your USB cord into the phone’s port, then connect the cord to the vehicle’s USB port on the center stack. • You should see a display on the vehicle’s touchscreen that says, “On” or “Off.” Select “On.” • Unlock your phone as though you are going to make a call and follow the on-screen instructions on both your mobile device and the vehicle’s touchscreen. Be sure to allow or accept all permissions and terms of service. • After the setup process is complete, launch the Android Auto™ system on your vehicle by pressing the Menu button and then select Android Auto™. Activating Apple CarPlay® in a 2021 Camry Before going through the Apple CarPlay® setup process, make sure Siri and Apple CarPlay® are activated. Turn on Siri by going to, Settings > Siri & Search. Activate Apple CarPlay® by going to Settings > General > CarPlay®. If you get an error message or something isn’t working right, ensure the parental controls are turned off by following the path, Settings > General > Restrictions > Siri & Search. • Use an approved Apple Lightning cable to connect your iPhone to the vehicle’s infotainment system. You will see a prompt with three choices: Do Not Enable, Enable Once and Always Enable. Pick Enable Once if you only plan to use the Apple CarPlay® apps one time. Choose Always Enable if you’ll regularly use the technology. You can change these settings by following the path, Menu > Setup > General, then toggling Apple CarPlay® on or off. • Be sure to accept all permissions and acknowledge the necessary terms of service and you work through the steps. If you run into any issues setting up Apple CarPlay® or Android Auto, please feel free to stop by Phil Meador Toyota today.

For the most part, cleaning the inside of your car isn’t anything special. There have been wipes and solutions for cleaning vinyl and leather interiors, soaps for cloth car seats and all kinds of products to make the inside of your car look new again, but can you use those on your car’s touchscreen? It’s best to make sure you have a safe way to clean your infotainment screen so you don’t end up damaging it. Continue reading for advice on how to get rid of smears, fingerprints, residues and more. How to Build an Emergency Kit for your Vehicle What Kind of Cloth Should I Use for a Car Touchscreen? Cleaning a touchscreen should be done with care, and not with just any old cloth. Go for microfiber cloths or rags, and make sure they are clean before you use them on your touchscreen. You might be tempted to use alcohol-based wet wipes, but don’t do it. Wipes often leave streaks and can damage some touchscreens with plastic surfaces, not to mention the fibers aren’t very soft. Don’t use regular rags, paper towels or newspaper either, save those for drying off your windows. How Do I Prevent Rust on my Car? What Liquid Should I Use to Clean my Car’s Touchscreen? For the most part, regular fingerprints, dust, and other light deposits can be cleaned off with clean water. For best results, avoid tap water and go for distilled water instead. Soap is not necessary, even if you have tougher residues. If you do run into difficult spots that harden, mix some distilled white vinegar into an equal amount of clean water and use that instead. The acidity of the vinegar can help break down oils and sugar so they wipe off. What Is the Difference Between a Sunroof and a Moonroof? What is the Best way to Wipe a Screen? Pick one of the following methods and stick to it. Either wipe side-to-side or up-and-down. You might be tempted to do circles, but your screen won’t be as clean. On a wider screen, side-to-side will be your best bet.

During times of pandemic or poor weather, it gets hard to celebrate the same holidays you took for granted before. Since you probably won’t be able to gather all your family and friends together for a grill-out like many Americans do when Memorial Day rolls around during quarantine, you can try some of these ideas as a way to celebrate the holiday from your own home. Broil your Favorites from the Grill If you can’t get the grill out this Memorial Day, you can still get a similar open flame kind of taste by broiling burgers, hot dogs, chicken, or your favorite veggies. If you haven’t used the broil function on your oven, you shouldn’t be too scared to try it out. Here are some tips for how to broil your favorite grill foods: Ovens vary, so be sure to look up how best to use your broiler and don’t let yourself get distracted or you may have a smoky mess on your hands. Use baking sheets or cake pans to broil a single layer of meat or vegetables at a time. Should I Have My Toyota Serviced This Summer? If you don’t have baking sheets or oven-safe pans, you can lay a sheet or two of aluminum foil on the rack below the food to catch dripping sauce or juices. Note: broiling heats food from the top of the oven with intense heat, unlike baking which heats from below with ambient heat. Flip your food halfway through cooking, just like you would on a grill. The higher heat level means it takes less time to cook than baking. Cook your meat all the way through. Broiling may not be the best way to cook chicken breasts and other thick, unevenly shaped meats. Use this link to make sure you cook your food safely: https://www.foodsafety.gov/food-safety-charts/safe-minimum-cooking-temperature. Try New Foods Mix tradition with new and exciting experiences by trying new sides with your broiled meats or vegetables. If you haven’t made your own pasta salad or potato salad, you might want to try making them yourself. Where Can I Get a New Car Battery in Pocatello, ID? There are plenty of variations on both, so feel free to explore! Don’t forget mayonnaise, you’ll need a lot of it. Try making your own deviled eggs, hummus, artichoke dip, tortilla chips, or salsa for a refreshing homemade Memorial Day indoor picnic.

The turning of the calendar into a brand-new year carries an aura of new beginnings, clean slates and the ability to completely reverse course or stay headed to a better future. However, one thing that will stay for the next couple months is often-freezing temperatures, which can lead to serious annoyance when you're trying to get your days started in the mornings. Luckily, there's hope, and today we'll show you how to quickly defrost your windshield in cold weather! Join our Phil Meador Toyota team and get rolling faster with nothing but positivity for what the next 24 hours have in store. Use Your Defroster We'll start with the most obvious method. If you've got some extra time to spare in the morning, a tried and true way to clear off your windshield is to run your interior defroster at full go for a bit. This way, you'll also give your vehicle a chance to warm up before heading out, reducing strain on gears and acceleration when you go! Apply Wiper Fluid to your Windshield Some people often overlook the resources that are held outside of your defroster. Another great way to get snow and ice off your windows is to spray your wiper fluid on your windshield and let your wipers do the work. The chemicals contained in this fluid are utilized to break away particles that could impede your vision, including ice! Use Your Scraper the Night Before Though Idaho nights can often get a little crispy, they're also clear, for the most part. If you notice a cold front coming on but there's no snow in the forecast, make sure to take your scraper and clear off all your windows. It's good for cardio, and it also ensures that there's one less thing for you to worry about once the sun comes back up! Come see us for fast and friendly automotive repair!