Maintenance & Service

Brakes, oil, tires, and preventive care for hybrids and EVs — plus keeping rodents out of your car.

Toyota Prius Catalytic Converter Theft: Which Years Are Targeted, and How a Cat Shield Helps

Short version: The Toyota Prius is the single most targeted vehicle in the country for catalytic converter theft, and the 2004–2009 (second-generation) Prius sits right...

The Hidden Danger Under Your Hood: How to Spot Counterfeit Toyota and Denso Parts

Short version: Counterfeit Toyota and Denso parts have gotten good enough to fool experienced buyers, and they show up in places people trust — third-party...

Toyota Oil Leak vs Oil Seep: How to Tell the Difference

Short version: A true oil leak pools and drips—droplets on bolt heads, spots on your driveway, or a dropping oil level—and should be repaired promptly....

Mice in Your Toyota! Prevention, Detection, and Solutions

Short version: Mice get into Priuses, RAV4s, Subarus, Hondas, and EVs through the HVAC fresh-air intake, wheel wells, and firewall gaps, then chew wiring and...

The "4mm Myth": Why Your Hybrid Brakes Are Different

Short version: On a hybrid or EV, brake pads at 4mm are not automatically due for replacement. Regenerative braking does most of the slowing, so...

"I need control arm bushings": What You Need to Know

Short version: Surface cracks on control arm bushings are a sign of age, not failure — and they look far worse on a lift because...