Vehicle owners rely on their vehicles to get them where they need to go, on time and safe and sound. When you use your vehicle every day, it’s easy to take it for granted and forget to perform the necessary maintenance. That’s a mistake that could come back to haunt you, though.
Factory maintenance is one of the simplest ways to avoid costly, time-consuming vehicle problems down the line. More importantly, it helps keep you and your passengers safe by ensuring your vehicle is in proper working order.
But what does factory maintenance, specifically Toyota factory maintenance, entail? How often do you need to take your Toyota in to be checked, for example? Read on to learn the answers to this and other key questions about Toyota factory maintenance.
What is a Typical Toyota Factory Maintenance Schedule?
For each vehicle make and model, the car manufacturer sets a list of recommended maintenance items and a schedule in miles or months for the car to receive that maintenance. For example, the manufacturer may recommend that you have your car serviced every 30,000 miles or every 6 months.
The Toyota factory maintenance intervals are every 5,000 miles or six months, whichever comes first. Different service visits can entail different recommended service items, but some services are necessary at each visit.
Each time you bring your Toyota in for factory maintenance, the technicians will probably inspect all the fluid levels, rotate the tires, check the brakes, and check or replace the wiper blades. Other services like replacing the engine oil or replacing the cabin air filter only need to be completed once every other visit or less often.
Additional Services
Bear in mind that these service recommendations are based on typical driving conditions so if you put unusual strain on your vehicle, it may need additional service.
For example, frequent driving in harsh weather conditions like heavy rain can cause additional wear and damage to your vehicle that should be checked out more frequently. Also, towing large objects like boats and trailers can stress your Toyota more than normal. That doesn’t mean you can’t do it, of course, it just means you might want to come in for factory maintenance more often than the recommended schedule.
Make an honest assessment of your vehicle use to get an idea of how often your Toyota needs service.
Why Should You Bring in Your Toyota for Factory Maintenance?
Many Toyota owners know that Toyotas are known for their reliability. This leads them to wonder whether going in for factory maintenance is even necessary. The truth is that you can potentially skip factory maintenance without any terrible consequences. Your car won’t explode but you may still end up regretting it later.
You can think of factory maintenance like a check-up visit at the doctor for your Toyota. The maintenance visit is a chance to catch any smaller problem before it transforms into a much larger problem that could compromise your safety or end up costing significantly more to fix.
Though it may seem like unnecessary time and money to spend at a service station, these maintenance checks can save you big time down the line.
Beyond just saving you money, regular Toyota factory maintenance can help ensure the reliability of your vehicle and promote maximum performance. Your Toyota is probably an integral part of your daily routine so it’s worth treating properly with timely service.
If for any reason, you chose to sell your Toyota down the line, regular service will lead to a higher resale value, too. It’ll be worth more to you and to whoever you’re selling it too next.
Finally, going in for factory maintenance can be a requirement of the warranty on your vehicle. To keep from inadvertently voiding your vehicle warranty, you should go in for regular service and keep records of all the work done on the vehicle. Check out your warranty for more information on the service conditions.
What does Toyota Factory Maintenance Cost?
When you buy a new Toyota, part of what you’re paying for is free maintenance called ToyotaCare. Through ToyotaCare, maintenance visits are free for the first 2 years after your purchase or through 25,000 miles, whichever comes first. This coverage can every transfer to subsequent owners so long as the car is still within that range.
After ToyotaCare expires, you’ll have to cover maintenance costs yourself. On average, you can expect to pay between $75 and $200 for the majority of the maintenance visits and up to $500 on more detailed maintenance visits. Those costs are much lower than the price of fixing a major problem down the line after it’s caused significant damage.
If your car does need repairs beyond the typical maintenance, the factory maintenance visits will bring that to your attention. Luckily, repair costs for Toyotas are lower than those with other car manufacturers. You should be able to have your car repaired easily and affordably by a qualified technician.
Read Your Owner’s Manual
Many vehicle owners cast aside their owner’s manuals as soon as they complete the vehicle purchase and never look at them again. That’s a mistake!
Your vehicle’s owner’s manual contains key information about the Toyota factory maintenance. Better to read it ahead of time and get an idea of when to go in for service than must read it after you already have a problem. In the best-case scenario, you could avoid ever having to see the check engine light.
Turn to the Experts
For Toyota factory maintenance you can trust, bring your vehicle to Toy Care Care. We have plenty of experience taking care of Toyotas, so we’ll know what to do to maintain yours. With our help, you’ll be able to keep your Toyota working reliably for years to come.
Don’t wait until you notice a problem with your vehicle to come in for service, be proactive. Reach out to schedule an appointment with us for Toyota factory maintenance or speak to service advisers to learn more. You’ll be glad you did.