We work by appointment only
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Our Business Hours are
Monday - Thursday
7 AM - 530 PM
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Feel free to check out our rating at the
Better Business Bureau of New Mexico.
Go directly to our rating by clicking on the Better Business Logo below:
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We recommend the following businesses for services / work we do not perform here:
AC Work / Other Make Vehicles
Alton Automotive 471-1497
Alignment
Portillo’s 471-5012
Automatic Transmission Work Precision
Transmission 471-2095
Body Work
Villa’s Autoworks 204-5386
Don Juan’s 471-2121
Detailing
Santa Fe Auto Detail 984-1123
Towing
Tony’s Towing 470-6362
Used Toyota Parts
Capital Scrap Metal 471-0740
Windshields/Glass
Discount Glass 438-3086
Tires
Garcia Tires 473-9715
For Tire Information
www.tirerack.com
These businesses were chosen to be on our recommendation list because we have heard positive things about them.
Please let us know any feedback, negative or positive, of YOUR experience with them.
Thank you !
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TOY AUTO MAN
uses
CASTROL OIL
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Toy Auto Man uses high quality
Interstate Batteries,
the top rated battery of
"Consumer Reports" magazine,
see November 2007 issue.
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Please note that TOY AUTO MAN is a cell phone free environment.
Please do not use your cell phone while waiting.
It is impolite to others in the waiting area and distracting to those of us trying to work.
We appreciate your cooperation.
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Business Hours
We are open Monday through Thursday 7 AM until 530 PM.
We work by appointment only
and schedule the work to be done for that day on a First Come - First Served basis.
In other words, you have an appointment for a particular day and when you drop off your vehicle is up to you.
We unlock the door at 7 AM and take customers in order. If you drop off at 8 AM,
you will most likely not get your vehicle back until mid to late afternoon.
The early bird gets the worm at Toy Auto Man.
Most work is completed on the same day, however, the later you drop off your vehicle in the morning, the later towards the end of the day it will be ready for pick up.
We always try to make time for unscheduled work/emergencies,
but they will be taken care of after scheduled appointments have been completed.
Please do not have your vehicle towed to us without trying to contact us first. Our answering machine is always available for you to leave a message. We check our messages frequently during business hours.
We cannot be responsible for vehicles towed to our location during the weekend
No one is there during the weekend to move vehicles inside the safety of our building.
Our lot cannot be accessed during the weekend.
Please do not leave vehicles out in the street.
We cannot and will not guarantee their safety there.
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We found the following article on the Internet,
it always creates great interest...
You can read it here and also download it to share it with your friends and family via email.
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Keep your old car or buy a new one ???
The Basics
Let’s divide the car-buying universe into two camps:
Those who keep a car until it drops, and those who think a new car will change their lives. Check out your options:
To the first, a round of applause. There’s nothing short of the bus that’s cheaper than keeping a car until it crumbles into a pile of rust. Almost any car can be nursed to 200,000 miles without endangering your life.
To the second, another round of applause, because the 16 million or so new cars they buy every year instantly become used cars soon available at a considerable discount to those in Camp 1. And a moment of silence, because a new car will change their lives in ways they never foresaw on the dealer’s lot.
If you’re in a drive-until-the-muffler-is-dragging wannabe, read on. We’ll look at ways to keep your car on the road longer and realistically weigh the costs of upgrading.
I’d love to keep my old car, but …
It no longer fits my life. You may have taken up gardening in a big way but still own a Corolla. You may feel nervous about taking your ’88 Camry on a trip to Colorado. Your little Tercel may be a tight squeeze when family comes to town. The answer to all: Rent. Why buy a gas-sucking pickup because you visit Home Depot twice a year or a $30,000 sport-utility because you take the kids skiing for a week at Easter? Even at $100 a weekend, renting is far cheaper than a car payment. Plus you get to drive the very latest without worrying about insurance, license tags, maintenance or depreciation. Or try swapping cars with a friend, returning it gassed-up and clean (with the oil changed, too, if the loan was more than a day or two. You want to be able to ask again next year).
Those repair bills are really adding up.
Then do the math. Does the cost of repairs exceed the cost of a new car? A typical new car is $21,000, about $350 a month for five years after 20% down. A rebuilt transmission might run $2,500, a huge outlay in one chunk, but far less than the $4,200 a year you’d spend on new-car payments alone.
Then do the math. Does the cost of repairs exceed the cost of a new car? A typical new car is $21,000, about $350 a month for five years after 20% down. A rebuilt transmission might run $2,500, a huge outlay in one chunk, but far less than the $4,200 a year you’d spend on new-car payments alone.
If you can’t afford repairs twice a year, it’s unlikely you can afford a new car payment every month.
In any case, anybody with a car older than three years should be tucking aside $50 a month for repairs and maintenance. If the gods smile, you’ll never use most of it and you’ll have a tidy sum to blow on your next car.
I’m nervous driving an older car.
Maybe little things are beginning to go: a new thermostat one month, a starter the next. You might simply spend $50 on a AAA membership and carry a cell phone, reminding yourself that even new cars aren’t immune to mechanical failure. The upside of frequent breakdowns is that you’ll get to know mechanics quite well. Find one you like. Flatter him. Pay your bills on time. And the next time he fixes your car, ask him to take a few minutes to see what else will need repair soon. (SAFETY SERVICE !!!)
Never skimp on maintenance
Pay special attention to the things that will cost you a fortune if they break. That means REGULAR OIL CHANGES, tire rotations and Yearly Safety Services , even if the car is running fine. Timing belts and water pumps should be inspected at least every 60,000 miles to make sure there are no signs of damage or wear. The timing belt is the critical link between engine parts, and if pushed too many miles will fail with no warning, and your engine will just stop running, leaving you stranded wherever and whenever it breaks.
The repair costs more than the car is worth.
A $1,500 timing chain that keeps your ’89 Toyota 4 Runner on the road still makes good financial sense. It’s at this point, however, that all but the flintiest drivers begin to think about upgrading. Which brings us to our next question:
Am I ready for a newer car?
Your first step is to do nothing except write a check to yourself in the amount you’re thinking you can afford for a new car every month. Put aside a car payment every month for three months (long enough for at least one of life’s little emergencies to crop up).
To pass the time, make three phone calls: one to your bank, to find out what kind of rates they charge on loans to people with your credit history; one to your insurer, to ask the rates for comprehensive insurance on a model you think you’d like to buy; and one to your local DMV, to see what registration and licensing would cost.
At the end of three months, ask yourself these questions:
How much did it hurt? If you skimped at all on other bills or shorted the amount of the payment, you’re not ready.
Would I have enough left over to pay for insurance and licensing fees each year?
Would I pay this much every month for the car that’s in my driveway already? Sooner or later, every new car becomes an old car, and you’ll feel about the next car just the way you do about your old clunker.
Would I rather have the cash? Our typical car payment, $350, adds up to more than $1,000 in just three short months. Perhaps you’d prefer to get a tan in Mexico and limp along with ol’ Betsy another year.
Could I continue to save for another year and simply pay cash? Five grand would buy any of hundreds of reliable used models. Save for two years and you’re in new-car territory, if your old car will fetch a few thousand.
If the craving for a shinier car hasn’t passed in three months, at least you begin the shopping process with a few months’ worth of car payments and a more realistic idea of the hit your wallet will take.
To check out the value of your current vehicle, click here and it will take you to Kelly Blue Book, a very user friendly website.
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What do you fix when money is tight
Spending money on service and maintenance to keep your vehicle safely on the road is a necessary part of everyone’s budget. When your finances are getting squeezed, there are some automotive services that are high priority and should never be put off, and others that can be temporarily delayed without greatly sacrificing your vehicles reliability.
High Priority:
Good, Safe Brakes-Are a must. Use only high quality brake parts and have them installed by professionals. Be very wary of discount offers using cheap, low quality parts and labor. You may have to spend hundreds more to fix your brakes correctly later somewhere else. Noisy or pulsating brakes do not always mean they have to be replaced - have them inspected by a professional and get a second opinion if you are at all suspicious that you are being taken advantage of.
Safety Equipment-Seat belts and air bags are not cheap items to replace, but can save your life if you have an accident. You never know when you will need them, so don’t put off fixing them.
Tires are a key ingredient to maintaining proper control of your vehicle. Make sure they are inspected at least every oil change for pressure, uneven wear, and safe remaining tread depth.
Windshields that are badly pitted or cracked in your line of sight should be replaced. If you shop around you will find that some windshields cost less than $200 to replace. Windshield wipers get dried out quickly in New Mexico, and should be replaced at least yearly.
Lights should be checked and replaced as needed. Most bulbs are inexpensive and easy to replace, and much cheaper than a ticket. The nice, bright HID headlights are unfortunately VERY expensive (some bulbs cost $300 each!)
High Quality Oil changes at a real service facility or garage may cost slightly more than discount chains, but you need to trust the business and people who keep you and your family on the road safely. Are your tires, lights, belts and brakes inspected for you? The oil should be changed at least twice a year for people that drive under 6,000 miles a year, and more often for everyone else. Changing the oil is the least expensive thing people can do that will have the greatest impact on the length of engine life.
Timing Belts and Accessory Drive Belts should be replaced before they break and leave you on the side of the road or cause serious (expensive) damage to the engine. Some belts are easy to replace when worn or broken, and some require special tools and many hours to replace, so have them inspected at least once a year to prevent unexpected failures.
Make sure you are familiar with what kind of engine your vehicle has, you may have a timing chain instead of a timing belt. Timing chains often last 200K miles or more with proper maintenance.
The Overall Running Condition of your vehicle should be maintained as well as possible to keep you safely driving down the road without stalling in traffic or risking break-downs on the road. A properly serviced vehicle will run smoother and better, save you money on gas, reduce emissions and pollution, and should last longer.
Lower priority items that can wait if money is tight:
Fluid Changes or flushes (coolant, differential, brake, etc.) should be taken care of as needed, but unless the fluids are severely burnt, contaminated or damaged, these can probably wait until your finances have stabilized.
Tune Ups are helpful to the running condition and should lower fuel consumption and emissions if your vehicle is not running properly, but if the vehicle is starting and running smoothly, save your money for more important things.
High Quality or High Octane Gas may or may not be necessary for your vehicle at our altitude. Most vehicles being operated in Albuquerque and Santa Fe can often run on regular octane fuel, and may actually run better on lower octane fuel. If in doubt, check your owners manual or call your mechanic for advice.
Music, power antennas and DVD players may make your drive more enjoyable, but they certainly are not necessary to get to work safely.
Luxury Items such as cigarette lighters, power outlets, sun roofs and power options like air conditioning are nice to have, but unless they are necessary for you health, save your money for more important things.
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GET READY FOR WINTER
Long winter months put extra strain on a vehicle's systems. Here are items to inspect and service.
Are you eyeing your car with more scrutiny these days? Hoping it's in good enough shape to get you through the winter?
You'll need to do more than merely hope, of course. Now is a good time to review critical items that may need servicing for the cold-weather season.
Vehicle stress and strain increases greatly during the winter months, and minor deficiencies can turn into major problems. So it's extremely important for motorists to take precautions before the weather gets too cold.
Depending on your savvy with vehicles or the time you have, some or all of the items suggested here can be checked by you. If you would rather have someone do them for you, we can check these items for you during our "Winterize Service" or, if it’s been a while since your vehicle had a thorough check-over, we can perform the more comprehensive Safety Service. (You can download or see our Safety Service Sheet on our "Services we offer" page.)
Batteries Get Zapped by Cold
Cold weather is hard on batteries; therefore, checking your car's battery should be at the top of any winterizing to-do list. Look at the connections and make sure they're tight and corrosion-free and cables aren't loose. A qualified technician should determine the condition of the battery via a load test. Some people recommend replacing a battery with less than a year left on its warranty regardless of how it scores on a load test. A battery may lose as much as a third of its starting cranking power at freezing, which is 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Get Fluids Up to Snuff
We strongly recommend that you get a thorough check of your vehicle's vital fluids and filters as well as hoses, belts and tires. At the very least, a change of season should automatically tip you off to have the oil and filter in your vehicle changed. While a car may well be due for an oil change, some cars also require a lighter weight, or lower viscosity oil if driven in severe cold. If applicable, your owner's manual will have details or feel free to ask us questions. Coolant level also should be checked. Make sure the mix between antifreeze and water is correct, usually 50/50. If the coolant level has remained at what is specified in the car's owner's manual, it may be okay . But if water has been added from time to time, have the cooling system checked and, if necessary, flushed and refilled. We always test the strength and mixture of your coolant during or "Winterize Service" or while performing our more thorough Safety Service.
Visibility Is Critical
Don't overlook windshield-washer fluid. If it's low, top it off with a commercial no-freeze fluid from a local auto parts store. In addition, we recommend checking to see how well the wipers work. Blades aren't expensive, and they're relatively easy to replace. If your blades are more than a year old and/or don't get the windshield completely clean—without streaks—in three swipes, it's time for new ones. Inspect and keep clean and in good working order your car's headlights, taillights, fog lights, brake lights and defrosters, too. Don't forget to include your emergency flashers. "See and be seen" is a motto of the American Automobile Club—and for good reason.
Interior Items Count, Too
Check your vehicle's floor for any cracks or holes that could let in dangerous exhaust gases. All gases need to be vented to the outside and not allowed to come into your vehicle. Remember, deadly carbon monoxide gas is odorless, so don't ignore this issue. Test your vehicle's heater to make sure it's in good working order, so you and your riders will be comfortable during winter drives.
Don't Forget Brakes, Belts, Hoses
Brake fluid and clutch fluid should be topped off, as should transmission fluid. If these fluids appear dark and cloudy, it may be time for a flush.Push and pull on engine belts and squeeze hoses. These items tend to deteriorate over time, so regular checkups should help you spot trouble before it occurs. The rule of thumb is that belts giving more than one inch under finger pressure might need adjustment. At any sign of cracking or fraying of either, have the offender replaced. As for hoses, look for loose connections, unusual bulges, cracks, tears and holes.
Tires Change in the Cold
Tire pressure and tread depth affect traction in snow and rain. A tire inflated at 32 pounds per square inch (psi) on a warm 70-degree Fahrenheit day will register at an under-inflated 26 psi in freezing weather. Tire inflation is very important, since a properly inflated tire provides optimum traction and will last longer. A tire loses 10 percent of its expected tread life for every 10 percent it's under inflated. This is not a once-a-winter check. Make a point to monitor your tire pressure about twice a month in the cold months. And don't forget to check your spare.
Be Ready for Trouble
Be sure to stock your emergency kit and keep it inside your car. Your kit should include flashlight, flares, first-aid kit, blanket, warm clothes, gloves, hat, paper towels, snow shovel, snow brush, ice scraper, washer fluid and extra food and water. Many experts also recommend carrying a bag of cat litter. Poured under tires, it can help provide traction if your vehicle gets stuck. Finally, if you own a cell phone, remember to carry it with you.
Put at least one coat of wax on the exterior of your vehicle. Not only will it protect your paint in winter, it can help snow and ice slide off more easily.
You can get all of this out of the way and taken care of before the busy holiday season arrives, and you can avoid the worry if winter strikes early or is particularly nasty.
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The importance of a healthy Timing Belt
(Please not that YOUR vehicle may or may NOT have a timing belt.
Many of the newer vehicles are equipped with timing CHAINS
and the following information does NOT apply to timing chain driven engines)
The timing belt is a critical part of your engine. If it should break, your engine stops running.
The timing belt works like a bicycle chain….It connects the crank shaft and the cam shaft. Its purpose is to keep the valves in time with the pistons, hence its name. Your timing belt is hidden away and often forgotten about when other belts are checked for wear and tear.
The belt is made of a tough rubber and nylon substance and is subjected to the worst kinds of abuse you can imagine. Heat, ozone, friction and other factors will wear out a timing belt and if it breaks while driving, your car will leave you stranded.
Most manufacturers suggest that the timing belt should be inspected every 60,000 miles.
We can visually inspect your timing belt by removing a few screws and looking under the timing belt cover. This is done every time you bring your car in for our Safety Service. We recommend this Safety Service to our customers at annual intervals.
The timing belt is usually tucked away and very labor intensive to get to. At the time of replacement, we also inspect the idler pulley(s) and your water pump. It makes no sense to install a new timing belt and not replace worn out idler pulleys and/or water pump at this time as running a new timing belt on worn out idler pulleys is a sure way to shorten the belt’s life significantly. Replacing a water pump is very labor intensive and if your water pump shows any sign of leakage at the time of replacing the timing belt and idlers, we strongly suggest replacing the water pump at this time also to spare you the expense of labor to replace the pump at a later date. All of your drive belts and the timing belt have to come off in order to access your water pump. We also inspect your drive belts (A/C, Alternator and power steering) at the time the timing belt is replaced. There is no labor involved to replace your drive belts with fresh ones at this time because they have to come off to get to the timing belt.
Please keep in mind that the most expensive part of replacing your timing belt will be the labor charge and the idler pulley(s)…not necessarily the cost of the belt itself. Timing belt, idler pulleys and water pump replacement are a labor intensive and therefore expensive procedure. This is why we suggest doing it all at the same time instead of in several stages as you would only be paying for the same labor over and over again.
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PLEASE do NOT bring your dog(s) along for your appointment. Dogs are no longer allowed inside our customer or shop area due to too many incidents of marking and damage to the business.
We appreciate your understanding.
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We accept cash and checks as well as the 3 major credit cards below.
We do not accept DISCOVER cards.
We love debit cards if they are used with a PIN
(Personal Identification Number)
Without the PIN they are equal to a credit card and cost us a substantial fee.
Using your PIN with your debit card is GREATLY appreciated!
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Please note that TOY AUTO MAN is a cell phone free environment.
Please do not use your cell phone while waiting.
It is impolite to others in the waiting area and distracting to those of us trying to work.
We appreciate your cooperation.
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