It’s that time of year again, things are getting spooky and we’re ready to celebrate! But before you head out, it’s important to remember that things are still looking different this year, so it’s important to check with local officials to ensure that events are taking place in your community. And if they are, we encourage you to use our tips below that will help you and your family stay safe and healthy this weekend! Or if you’re looking for alternative options, we have you covered this Halloween! Take a peek below for some alternative, yet fun, ways to celebrate Halloween!

Virtual Costume Parties –

• Today’s age offers plenty of technology to a wide variety of audiences which means you can use them to your advantage this Halloween weekend! We recommend setting a time with friends and family that you all can join and enjoy the time together! And don’t forget to pass out the virtual candy! 

Make Masks A Costume Prop – 

• We know that it might be difficult to get your kiddos to wear those masks but if you make it part of their costume, you might have a winning way to stay safe this weekend. Some great options are surgeons, superheroes, or even evil characters! Be sure to double line with an approved mask! 

Spooky Movie Night 

• Things definitely look a lot different this year so maybe it’s time to switch up those traditions! Like having a spooky movie night instead of heading out to trick or treat! Of course, we recommend some fan-favorite age-appropriate movies like Hocus Pocus, The Addams Family, or Hocus Pocus! Did we say that one twice?! 

Outdoor Community Events – 

• If your community is having a few outdoor events, we encourage you to attend but be safe and mindful of you and your family while in attendance. Be sure to pack your masks and extras in case. Hand sanitizer is also a must-have these days. Always choose events where physical distancing and one-way walkthroughs are enforced. As always, remind your children of potential dangers when out and about and to always be on alert. 

And now you have all those tips and tricks but what if you’re ready to treat yourself to a new Toyota this October? Then we encourage you to stop in to see our team this week and let us help you upgrade into a brand new Toyota that fits your budget and lifestyle. From the new Camry, RAV4, and even the Tacoma – there are plenty of options waiting for you all right here at Simi Valley Toyota! Hurry in today! 

Must-Have Winter Accessories:

Ice scraper and snow brush 

• With winter right around the corner, it’s crucial to have a sturdy ice scraper and snow brush in your vehicle.
• Whether you’re leaving work, the mall, the grocery store, etc, snow can obstruct your view, and just using your wipers to clear your view can be dangerous for other drivers when the snow flies off at them. 

Small/Collapsible shovel 

• Keeping a small or collapsible shovel in your truck can be a lifesaver if you find your vehicle stuck in the snow or if you have to clear a path to drive

Gloves, hats, scarves, etc.

• You have the snow brush and shovel, but now you need to actually use them.
•  Having extra gloves will be a lifesaver when you have to brush off your vehicle, pump gas, or even change a tire!

Blanket

• Doesn’t everybody have extra blankets lying around at home? Just me? Well, if you have an extra blanket, throw it in your trunk in case you find yourself in an accident having to stand outside, or experience a breakdown in colder temperatures. 

Emergency flares or reflectors

• Finding yourself stuck in the snow? Ensure other vehicles can see you with emergency flares or reflectors

Rock salt 

• Stuck in the snow? Did ice form around your tires? Gain traction with rock salt, sand, or kitty litter! 
• Spread the material near your tires and in your car’s path to get out of a slippery situation.

First aid kit 

• This is an all-year-round necessity, but it’s always good to replenish what you need in your first aid kit 
• Whether your passenger has a small cut or you’re in an accident and need to be bandaged up, a first aid kit is crucial to this list

Extra windshield washer fluid 

• Make sure your windshield washer fluid has antifreeze components to prevent it from freezing. Clearing your windshield with fluid will improve visibility in a winter storm.

Flashlight

• We all know it gets dark very early during the winter months. Having a flashlight in your trunk is always a good idea. 
• Whether you need it for maintenance purposes or even to feel safer when walking to and from your vehicle. 

Jumper cables

• Cold weather can affect a car’s battery. You can’t start your car if the battery’s dead, which means you won’t be able to use the car’s heater for warmth. Waiting for a jump start in the cold is not fun. You won’t have to wait as long if you have jumper cables with you.

Cell phone charger 

• It’s always important to keep your phone charged before hitting the road but with maps, music, and more, your battery can die quickly 
• Keep your phone charged up in case you need to make a call for assistance or need your maps for directions 

Water and non-perishable snacks 

• Breakdowns are never fun and sometimes happen in the worst place. This means if you find yourself stranded, waiting for a tow truck and it might be a while before you get help, having a snack to hold you over is always helpful

October Toyota Offers:

2021 Toyota Tundra SR RWD Double Cab 

• Lease for only $409/mo for 36 months*

2022 Toyota Camry SE FWD 

• Lease for only $323/mo for 36 months*

2022 Toyota Corolla LE FWD 

• Lease for only $249/mo for 36 months*

2021 Toyota Highlander L 

• Lease for only $412/mo for 36 months*

*Offers expire 10/31/2021. See dealer for full details.

Fall in love with new savings this month at Simi Valley Toyota! It’s a new month which means we have brand new service savings now available to all of our guests. It’s National Car Care Month, which means right now is the perfect time to your ride back into tip-top shape after a long summer of travel. Whether you need regular maintenance or a more serious repair, our team is here to help and help you save while we complete the job. Check out our new service specials below, claim your offer, and schedule your service appointment today!

Service Offers: 

Alignment Special 

• Only $179.95* 

Battery Test 

• FREE*

Headlight Restoration Special 

• Only $139.95*

*All Specials Expire 10/31/2021. See Our Specials Page For Information

Car Battery: 

• Pop open your hood and brush away the dust. Fall is a great time to inspect your car battery to ensure there are no issues down the road when the colder weather creeps in! 
• Make sure your engine cables and terminals are in good shape and retighten if necessary for good contact. 
• Make sure there’s no corrosion or dirt build-up. If this is the case, this would be a good time to disconnect and clean them up.
• If your vehicle is newer and you have a maintenance-free battery with no removable caps, there’s not much for you to do besides peeking around the remainder of your hood to ensure there are no leaks, breaks, or issues.

Headlights: 

• Many new vehicles have LED headlights that you can’t just pop out and clean, so you might need scheduled maintenance with our team if this is your situation. 
• If you still have non-LED lighting, it’s important to clean/replace your headlights to avoid haziness. 
• Clouded headlights can be a safety hazard, compromising night vision, and reducing the effectiveness of your headlights. This is especially dangerous in winter, where conditions are less than favorable and the darkness is more consistent.
• You can purchase a headlight cleaning kit, or use household items such as a toothbrush, baking soda, and the owner’s manual approved products. 

Tires:

• Tire maintenance is always a must, not just during the winter months. However, your tires play a crucial role in your vehicle’s winter performance. 
• The first thing you should do is to check your tire tread. When your tread is 2/32″ your tires are considered bald and you will need to replace your tires immediately. If your tire tread is above this you’re okay, but should consider replacing soon if it’s closer to balding. 
• Most vehicles are purchased with all-season tires, which provide good performance all year round. However, if you live in a very snowy area, we highly suggest purchasing snow tires. 
• Once your tires are on and in good condition, we suggest scrubbing away any dirt, grime, or buildup. 

Wash & Wax: 

• Chances are your vehicle needs good washing after all your summer travel. Between dirt, dead bugs, and even beach sand, your exterior probably isn’t shining like it used to.
• Give your vehicle a good cleaning, this means the top, sides, underneath, and even the tires. 
• Once you’ve washed your car, it’s a good idea to wax your vehicle’s exterior. Getting a car wax is a great way to keep your car’s finish looking new. 
• Waxing can be tricky, so be sure to check your owner’s manual for safe products from your vehicle or leave it to the pros in our service department!

Wipers: 

• Windshield wipers maintenance is regularly overlooked. However, your wipers are extremely important for your vision behind the wheel…especially in the fall and winter months. 
• Leaves will be falling very soon, and rain is no stranger to the fall months. This means you’ll need strong wipers to clear the leaves and rain off your windshield. 
• Right after the leaves comes the snow, and anyone who has driven in a snowstorm knows how important your winters are. 
•  If your wipers are leaving streaks of water on your windshield, it’s time to replace or clean them.
• Although drivers rarely change them, wipers break down pretty quickly. In fact, they should be changed every 6-12 months.

Interior:

• It’s time to say goodbye to the trash that’s taken up a vacancy in your car! After traveling all summer long, it’s only normal your interior needs a little pick me up. 
• We suggest grabbing a garbage bag, your vacuum cleaner, and some multi-surface cleaner. 
• First started by taking everything out, and we mean everything! 
• Then, vacuum away crumbs, dust, and whatever else is in there. Don’t forget to clean off whatever item you’ll be putting back in your vehicle. 
• Then it’s time to dust, spray down your dash, console, gear shift, radio system, and of course windows! 
• Finally, put whatever you’re keeping back inside your cabin in a neat and orderly way, and toss whatever is remaining!

It’s football season and that means it’s time to get your vehicle tailgate ready! There’s only one thing that is almost as important as the game itself and that’s the pre-game! There’s nothing like getting the grill going, tossing the football, and repping your team, and that’s why we want to help make sure that the next time you hit the tailgate it is one to remember. This week we are delivering up some helpful tips on how to take your ride from carpool champion to tailgate dominator. So let’s get this party started by checking out all of our helpful tips below! 

Basics: 

Every tailgate has basics, these include chairs, tables, food (it’s a must), drinks, coolers, plates, utensils, and a grill (be the grill master of the tailgate party)!

Take It Up A Notch:

Everybody can bring a grill and some food, but that doesn’t make them tailgate masters…take it to the next level with portable phone chargers, wireless speakers, and a portable satellite TV so that you and your guests can watch the pre-game action at the same time. You’ll definitely get some brownie points for that!

All Decked Out:

What is a tailgate without some team pride?? Not a good one that’s for sure! Get all decked out, apparel, magnet decor for your vehicle, balloons, foam fingers, and don’t forget to serve the opposing team fans a burger on a paper plate that has your team’s decor…oh yeah I went there!

Location:

You can have everything for the perfect tailgate party, but it won’t be enough without the right spot! Weather is never perfect, especially in the months ahead, so get there early and ensure you get the perfect spot that shelters your vehicle from the sun, wind, and rain away is generally a wise choice.

Thinking that your ride isn’t ready for the tailgate party? No problem, just browse our available inventory and schedule a test drive when you find the right one for you! Already have a vehicle that can take on the tailgate but looking to give it a tune-up before hitting the road? Lucky for you Simi Valley Toyota has brand new service specials that are going to help you save big on the service your ride needs!

September Toyota Offers:

2021 Toyota C-HR XLE FWD 

• Lease for only $244/mo for 36 months*

2022 Toyota Camry LE FWD 

• Lease for only $298/mo for 36 months*

2022 Toyota Prius LE FWD 

• Lease for only $308/mo for 36 months*

*Offers expire 9/30/2021. See dealer for full details.

Service Offers: 

Alignment Special 

• Only $179.95* 

Battery Test 

• FREE*

Headlight Restoration Special 

• Only $139.95*

*All offers expire 9/30/2021. See specials page for details.

Battery Power: 

• Making sure your battery is fresh is important. The experts say you should change your battery every 3 years, though you could get away with 5 depending on how much you drive…If you’re thinking to yourself “I can’t remember the last time I changed my battery,” it might be time to do so. 
• Make sure the cables are not loose. With the engine off, see if the cables can slip free from the nodes. Don’t yank, but be firm.
• Check for corrosion, a white powder that forms around the nodes or clamps of your battery. You can clean this off using baking soda, water, and a toothbrush. 

Fill your Fluids:

• It might cost you a little bit more but invest in a “winter blend” type of windshield wiper fluid. These tend to have more alcohol in them and less water so the chance of freezing is less. 
• If your windshield washer fluid tank hasn’t been flushed in a few years then it could use it! Be sure not to mix colors; most antifreeze is green, blue, or yellow, but be sure not to mix colors.
• Checking your vehicle’s oil is important. If you have not had an oil change in a long time, it might be time for one.

Additional Preventative Measures: 

• Buy an emergency kit with cables, a first aid kit, flares, a battery-powered air compressor, and other things that can prevent a minor inconvenience from becoming a major problem.
• Check the clarity of all your lights. 
• Keeping the gas tank at half-filled can help prevent a fuel line freeze; so can that fuel-line antifreeze mentioned earlier.
• Tire pressure is important in the snow, be sure that your vehicle’s tires are to the correct PSI.

The end of August is quickly coming to an end. That can only mean one thing – fall is just around the corner. After a long summer of hitting the road, it’s important to give your Toyota the tune-up and service it needs most. However, we know many car owners don’t like to complete service on their vehicles because it can become costly. But don’t worry, there are plenty of services that are DIY! This week we’re talking about tips for storing your summer tires once you’ve put on your winter tires. So take a peek below and find out all you need to know about storing your summer tires. And if you’re in need of new tires for the fall/winter season, check out our tire store now at Simi Valley Toyota!

Clean them up nice. 

After removing your tires from your vehicle, the first thing you should do is show them a little TLC and clean them up well. If you leave your wheels on your tires as well, be sure to use proper cleaning tools for your wheels. Soap, water, and a scrubbing brush can help elongate the lifespan of your tires by getting rid of any excess dirt, grime, and brake dust. I mean, who wants to sit in filth for months on end until it’s their time to shine? No one, so clean them up nice!  

Let them air dry and bag them.

After the cleaning process is complete, let your tires dry completely and begin placing each tire in its separate plastic bag. Each bag should be big enough to completely cover the tire and close by using a zip tie or tape. You can use extra-large garbage bags or look online for specifically made bags for tires. Then,  remove as much air from the bag as possible as this will keep any necessary oils from escaping your tires and will keep them healthy. 

Avoid stacking your tires. 

You should try not to stack your tires as they can become distorted. Instead, store your tires upright. If you have no choice but to stack your tires, stack them “white to white” and “black to black” and try to keep the tower lower to avoid toppling over while stored. If you leave your wheels on your tires, you should indeed stack them and be sure to rotate throughout their “off-season.” 

Keep them cool and dry. 

Your tires should be kept in a cool, dry, temperature-controlled area away from any sources of heat and ozone. We recommend staying away from places like sheds, garages, attics as they can cause major damage to your tires. Keep your tires out of direct sunlight, away from sump pumps, electric motors, and furnaces. Trust us, it’ll make a difference.