Trust. Loyalty. Family. These are a few key words that describe North Hills Toyota and these are all the components are the making of a life-long relationship.Our goal at North Hills Toyota is to make YOUR experience nothing but the best whether you are buying a new or pre-owned vehicle or servicing your current vehicle. For more than a decade, North Hills Toyota has provided products and prices with a no-hassle professional approach to the Pittsburgh area and plan on doing so for many years to come.
*Courtesy of Toyota USA Newsroom
Courtesy of Digital Trends
V2H, or vehicle-to-home, systems could turn the car in your driveway into a backup generator.
Future cars will be getting most of their energy from wall sockets, which means that more electricity will be drawn from the grid. However, that does not mean that tomorrow’s car will be just another energy-sucking appliance. Toyota is testing a system that will allow its Prius plug-in hybrid to power a house.
The Prius plug-in can recharge its batteries through an outlet, like a fully electric car, but it still has a gasoline engine for backup power. Toyota reckons that this engine can also generate electricity for a Prius owner’s house during power outages or periods of peak load.
An inverter converts the DC used by the Prius’ electric motor into AC for household use. Software allows the car, house, and charging stand to monitor the flow of current back and forth. The company estimates that a Prius with a fully charged battery and a full tank of gas can power the average Japanese house for four days.
Toyota says this new system will produce greener electricity by drawing it from the grid (or gas tank) at the best times. “With this new method, low-carbon electricity generated from regional or home solar generators, or low-cost late-night electricity, can be stored in a vehicle’s drive battery and then used to supply power to the household during peak consumption times,” the company said in a statement.
Toyota also said that V2H (vehicle-to-home) systems like the one being developed for the Prius could power emergency shelters during a disaster.
The company will begin testing the Prius V2H system in 10 Japanese homes by the end of 2012. If the test is successful, Toyota could move on to developing apps that would allow homeowners to control the flow of power between their cars and houses with smart phones.
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Courtesy of Toyota Pressroom
Toyota today announced the first 25 winners of the Toyota 100 Cars for Good program, a national philanthropic program that is awarding 100 cars to 100 nonprofits over the course of 100 consecutive days. Winners are selected each day through public voting on Facebook at www.100carsforgood.com.
DC Scores | Washington, DC | May 14, 2012 |
Cincinnati Zoo | Cincinnati, Ohio | May 15, 2012 |
Lehmi County Humane Society | Salmon, Idaho | May 16, 2012 |
Pibbles & More Animal Rescue | Ridgewood, New York | May 17, 2012 |
Recycled Doggies, Inc. | Cincinnati, Ohio | May 18, 2012 |
Hope for Paws Animal Rescue | Los Angeles, California | May 19, 2012 |
The Dream Center | Los Angeles, California | May 20, 2012 |
SPCA International's Operation Baghdad Pups | New York, New York | May 21, 2012 |
Petfinder Foundation | Tucson, Arizona | May 22, 2012 |
Together We Rise | Chino, California | May 23, 2012 |
The Children’s Lunchbox | Anchorage, Alaska | May 24, 2012 |
All Hands Volunteers | Carlisle, Massachusetts | May 25, 2012 |
Detroit Dog Rescue | Grosse Pointe Woods, Michigan | May 26, 2012 |
Fences for Fido | Portland, Oregon | May 27, 2012 |
Central Vermont Humane Society | East Montpelier, Vermont | May 28, 2012 |
Operation Blankets of Love | Granada Hills, California | May 29, 2012 |
Kristie’s Foundation | Anaheim, California | May 30, 2012 |
K9 Services German Shepherd Rescue, Inc. | Middleburg, Florida | May 31, 2012 |
Animal Aid, Inc. | Oakland Park, Florida | June 1, 2012 |
Clark County Community Services | Winchester, Kentucky | June 2, 2012 |
Shore Hearts Golden Retriever | Lanoka Harbor, New Jersey | June 3, 2012 |
Special Olympics Illinois | Normal, Illinois | June 4, 2012 |
Last Chance Ranch | Quakertown, Pennsylvania | June 5, 2012 |
Rikki’s Refuge | Rapidan, Virginia | June 6, 2012 |
Feed My Sheep | Gulfport, Mississippi | June 7, 2012 |
Winning organizations can choose from the following vehicles: Camry Hybrid, Highlander SUV, Prius v Hybrid, Sienna minivan, Sienna Mobility or Tundra full-sized pickup. A six-year, 100,000-mile powertrain warranty will also be provided for each vehicle, compliments of Toyota Financial Services.
Nowadays, many drivers have roadside assistance services that will come fix your flats, but it's always smart to know how to change a flat yourself. Because it's a fairly common occurrence, car manufacturers have tried to make the tire change process one that virtually anyone can do.
It's a good idea to get your car serviced before heading out on a road trip. Part of the checkup should include a look at the tires.
Look for any unevenly worn spots, or skimpy tread. If the tires are iffy, invest in new ones. You'll need them eventually anyway, and it's better to start out on a trip with new tires than have a blow-out in the middle of nowhere.
Even if you're not heading on a trip, you should familiarize yourself with the tools you'll use in the event of a flat tire. Most cars come equipped with a simple jack and lug wrench, as well as a spare tire. Check your owner's manual if you aren't sure how to access these items.
Pull out the jack and the tire, and make sure the tire is in good shape. If your spare is flat, get it fixed.
It only takes a few minutes to make sure you have all the tools, and you'll save yourself a big headache later if you find yourself on the side of the road with a flat.
Besides the crucial jack, wrench, and spare tire, you might also want to consider placing these tools in your trunk to make a tire change much easier and more comfortable:
Follow these simple steps to fix the problem and be on your way in no time:
Once in a while, a tire isn't completely destroyed when it goes flat. If the flat is caused by a nail or other sharp object, and you can't or don't want to change your tire on the side of the road, you may be able to give yourself a few miles of leeway by using a flat-fix type spray.
Simply follow the manufacturer's directions. In ideal situations, the spray foam will allow you to at least find a close off-ramp and pull into a service station or a rest stop before you have to change your tire.
Courtesy of DMV.org
Amazement Square from Lynchburg, VA and Last Chance Ranch from Quakertown, PA are finalists today for the 100 Cars for Good program! Voting is opened now to 11:59 p.m. ET. Please make sure to take a few minutes to vote.
Courtesy of Kelley Blue Book
The c is the smallest member of the growing Prius family, which includes the familiar hatchback that is synonymous with hybrids, a larger wagon, and a plug-in model. The budget-friendly c offers up to 53 mpg in city driving, seating for five, and more cargo space than its subcompact dimensions might suggest. It all adds up to make Prius c the perfect choice for those seeking a practical, inexpensive, stylish way to save fuel.
Prevent Engine Overheating
Pay Attention To Tires
Courtesy of Car-Use.net