This is the first in a three part series about new Toyota car maintenance.

The best way to keep your new Toyota car running nicely -- and to keep your resale value high -- is to make sure you keep an eye on a few common maintenance factors. If you’re nice to your Toyota now, it will be nice to you for a long time to come. Here are some things to get you started.

Keep Air Filter Clean

Your air filter will gradually get built up with dust, dirt and grime -- that’s its job. You want it to filter the junk floating around so the junk doesn’t wind up in your engine. Eventually, though, the air filter on your new Toyota is going to get blocked, and that’s going to reduce your engine’s performance. (You can often find out about a filter block by noticing the “check engine” light.) If the filter is only a little dirty -- you can tell by looking at it, it will be slightly discolored -- you can clean it out quickly by giving it a quick tap on a hard surface. Make sure the bottom side is down. It’s an easier way to clean your air filter.

Verify Battery Connections are in Tact

First off, periodically check to make sure the casing of your battery is clean. Check the connections on your battery to make sure they haven’t become corroded over time. If you notice bulges or cracks, you might need to replace your battery. If you do find corrosion at the point of your terminals, you can carefully try to clean it with a mixture of water and baking soda and a stiff brush. Make sure the brush doesn’t have metal bristles! Using clean water you can rinse the terminals, making sure to catch the run off water in a tray.

Clean Windshield Wipers Periodically

One of the most important parts of safe driving is effective windshield wiper blades. You want to make sure they’re all intact -- you’d be surprised by how many aren’t -- and that they’re clean. It’s easy to clean your wiper blades with paper towel and a mild detergent -- dish detergent will do the trick. If your blades are getting worn down, they’re easy and inexpensive to replace. If it’s only the rubber part that’s looking like it’s seen better days, you can just replace that without replacing the entire arm.

Stay tuned for the next two articles about new Toyota car maintenance to keep your Toyota in tip top shape.

For Toyota maintenance, stop by the Peruzzi Toyota Dealership in Hatfield, PA today between Limerick and Doylestown.