So you spent the weekend finding adventures off the pavement and now your ride is running a little different. Chances are you damaged something without even meaning to, a common predicament when you're taking on off-road trails in your spare time. It's easy to break and tweak things when you put your Clermont Toyota to the test on new terrain, but we're here to help. Check out these common types of off-roading damage and schedule an appointment for repairs or maintenance at Toyota of Clermont today.
Four types of damage to look for after off-roading
You damaged the undercarriage.
This type of off-roading damage is tricky to diagnose because you typically don't spend too much time under your car, so how would you know if there's damage? Unfortunately, the undercarriage of your car contains a lot of essential performance parts and components, like your exhaust and oil pan, for starters. If you spend all day scraping rocks and roots as you tackle new terrain, it can do a number on these VIP parts. The easiest way to catch this damage is to be on the lookout for leaks, but if you had a rough day or suspect you may have done some damage, bring your car to Toyota of Clermont right away so our techs can take a look.
Your wheels are now misaligned.
Another common side effect of frequent wheeling in off-road terrain is knocking your alignment out. Remember, your wheels are aligned to provide proper tire wear and the right performance. The best way to find out if you did damage? Once you're back on the pavement and aired up, drive in a straight line. If your steering wheel vibrates or you feel your car pulling to one side even though the steering wheel is straight, you likely knocked out your wheel alignment and will need to visit Toyota of Clermont to get things straightened out (literally).
You did damage to the body.
Tackling off-road trails comes with the inherent risk of doing damage to your body. Whether you're scraping past branches or running into rocks, it's easy to find blemishes, chips, dings, and dents after the fact. The best way to find this type of off-roading damage is to just wash your vehicle when you get home and see what appears, and then schedule repairs at the Toyota of Clermont body shop.
You inadvertently caused transmission issues.
When you're off the pavement and traversing new terrain, you may find that your RPMs are going up and down pretty drastically. Over time (or if you're not careful), all of this up and down can do a number on your car transmission. If you notice that transmission fluid is leaking, that your transmission is slipping, or that you're having a hard time shifting gears, it's time to pay our service center a visit.
Get your fixes at Toyota of Clermont
Need help getting your ride road-ready after an off-road adventure? Toyota of Clermont is open seven days a week. Call us today at (352) 404-7001!
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