How to Connect Bluetooth to your Toyota Car, Van, SUV or Truck

Wondering how to pair your Bluetooth device to your Toyota? Here we have videos and step by step instructions to help you. If you are still having trouble, call us 336-288-1190 and a Rice Toyota representative will be delighted to help you.

What is Bluetooth?
Bluetooth is a new wireless technology that enables connectivity between two or more devices (for example, cell phone and vehicle) by utilizing a 2.4-GHz radio spectrum that has a range of 10 meters. Bluetooth allows customers to use their compatible cell phones hands-free in the vehicle and some will allow you to play music through your phone. Pairing allows a phone to be connected to the vehicle. Due to variations among service providers, handsets and technology, keep in mind that not all Bluetooth handsets will offer the same level of functionality within Bluetooth-equipped Toyota vehicles.

Videos to help you:
How to set up Bluetooth on Toyotas with a Navigation System

How to set up Bluetooth on Toyotas without a Navigation System


How do I play music through my bluetooth device?
Some Toyota vehicles now feature Bluetooth audio streaming capability, allowing you to stream mobile phone music through your Toyota vehicle. Find out if your phone is compatible here.

Benefits of Bluetooth
Hands-free mobile phone operation with a built-in microphone and utilization of the audio speakers.
Answering incoming calls with one touch of the steering-wheel control or the navigation screen.
Automatic audio mute when receiving or making a call.
Dialing a number by using the touch pad on the navigation screen.
One-touch dialing on the navigation screen for speed-dial numbers (17).
Making a call from the phone book (1000 numbers).
Making a return call from the outgoing call log or the incoming call log (five most recent calls).
One-touch dial to points of interest on the navigation screen.

Don't have a bluetooth enabled vehicle?
No worries, we have plenty on our lot. View bluetooth capable vehicles here.

Toyota Works for Electric Vehicles

Tesla Motors, Inc. and Toyota Motor Corporation announce they intend to cooperate on the development of electric vehicles, parts, and production system and engineering support at a news conference in Palo Alto, Calif., on May 20, 2010.

Spring Cleaning for Your Car

Wheel and Tire Cleaning
Cleaning the wheels and tires regularly is just as important as washing the exterior of your Toyota. And not just for appearance sake, but for protection too. Brake dust can pit and damage the surface of the rims if left to sit for an extended period of time.
When you wash your vehicle, clean the wheels first. Make sure that you do not use any of the rags, sponges, brushes, or even the bucket that you used on your wheels to clean any other part of the vehicle. Brake dust and other contaminates can scratch your vehicle's finish.
Ask Rice Toyota for Toyota Wheel Cleaner. It's safe and effective for chrome and alloy wheels, as well as plastic and rubber components.
Also, don't forget to put the finishing touch on your tires with Spray-n-go Toyota Tire Shine. To purchase, visit, click or call Rice Toyota. 2630 Battleground Avenue Greensboro, North Carolina
336-288-1190.

Celebrity Prius Drivers

Cameron Diaz
“It gets 52 miles per gallon. In the city. Isn't that exciting?”

Will Ferrell
"I absolutely love our Prius. In addition to being obviously economical and environmentally friendly, they drive great and are just plain sexy. There’s no reason all Americans shouldn’t be driving hybrid cars."

Miley Cyrus
"I didn't like [my Porsche] because it was bad for the environment. My dad surprised me last night with a black Prius."

Larry David
"I needed something to make me feel smugly superior."

Arianna Huffington
"So my Toyota Prius is an automotive two-fer: a pleasure to drive and patriotic to boot.

What celebrities can you think of have driven or arrived at an event in a Prius?

Toyota to Boost Hybrid Battery Capacity by 10%, Nikkei Says

By Chris Cooper

June 13 (Bloomberg) -- Toyota Motor Corp. will boost hybrid battery production capacity as much 10 percent over earlier plans next year as orders for its Prius model rise, the Nikkei newspaper said.Toyota to Boost Hybrid Battery Capacity by 10%, Nikkei Says

The automaker aims to increase manufacturing capacity to 1.1 million nickel-metal hydride cells in 2010, the paper said, without saying where it got the information.

Toyota originally planned to boost production capacity by 300,000 batteries from 700,000 a year, the report said. Panasonic EV Energy Co., owned by Toyota and Panasonic Corp., will make the batteries, the paper said.

Toyota increased output of the Prius in Japan this month as orders rose 75 percent since the hybrid went on sale in May.

To contact the reporters on this story: Chris Cooper in Tokyo at ccooper1@bloomberg.net

What You Need to Know About Antifreeze

You've probably never thought about your coolant or antifreeze unless you have a leak in your car. However, this fluid is one of the most important parts of your Toyota. Here are a few facts about antifreeze/coolant and why it is important to your car.

This versatile fluid serves two purposes: It keeps your engine from overheating in warm weather and your engine from freezing in cold temperatures.

You should have your radiator flushed every two years to keep fresh antifreeze/coolant in there. Particles of rust and metal can erode and build up in the fluid if it is not maintained. This can clog the system and create a number of problems and expensive repairs.

You can recycle antifreeze, but you should never throw it in sewage systems, storm drains or in your trash container.

Whether used or new, antifreeze is extremely toxic and can lead to death. Always use special care when handling antifreeze around children or pets.

Antifreeze must be able to withstand heats in excess of 250 degrees. It also contains rust inhibitors and a lubricant to keep the cooling system working properly at all times.

These are just a few things your Greensboro, NC area Toyota dealer thought you should know about antifreeze and your cooling system.

Hybrid Wars-Toyota's New Prius

Airtime: Wed. Mar. 25 2009 | :52:5 09 ET

Toyota is being challenged by competitor like never before and is responding with a new version of the Prius. Insight with CNBC's Phil Lebeau.

Is Your Car Covered in Pollen?

Mine is. What was once grey is now yellow. It reminds me of my first car, a yellow Toyota Celica. I can say that pollen was not really an issue on that citrus-lemon-yellow automobile. I digress.

This time of year many Americans spend their Saturdays washing their cars which helps with the pollen, and its good for the exterior of any car. Here are a few tips form the pro's to make sure you are doing it right.

Routinely washing your Toyota is the best thing that you can do to maintain your vehicle's original shine and finish.
Here are a few tips to keep your Toyota looking new:
1) Use a quality car wash soap.
2) NEVER USE DISH DETERGENT to wash your car - it can strip off wax and damage the finish.
3) Car-wash-specific soaps are specially formulated to dissolve dirt without compromising your vehicle's finish.
4) Wash in the shade. This helps keep your car cool while you work, reducing the possibility of water spots.
5) Rinse the vehicle first, then wash from the top down and rinse often.
6) Use a clean 100% terrycloth towel for washing and drying.

First Look The 2009 VENZA

With the new Toyota VENZA hitting showrooms, we thought we'd give you a sneak peek into the interior, brought to you by the best man for the job: Benjamin Jimenez, Calty Design Research's very own project chief designer of the VENZA.
From concept to production, the VENZA was created primarily in North America in both the Newport Beach, California, and Ann Arbor, Michigan, studios.
As a clear representation of Toyota's future of design, the VENZA expresses a bold design move that sets itself apart not only from its competitors, but from its fellow Toyota cars as well. The VENZA's center console creates the illusion of floating free-form geometrics, while the entire dashboard exudes sweeping lines and an overall light feel. A unique blend of textures and materials were used to create a feeling of warmth and indulgence.
But we'll let the designer himself give you a detailed tour of the interior of the new Toyota VENZA. Come on in!


Protoype vehicle(s) shown with options. Production model may vary.
Article, Picture and Video from Toyota "Behind the Wheel"

Toyota and Resale Value

From Official Toyota Blog "Open Road"

"There are lots of ways to calculate a vehicle’s value. Its utility and its fuel economy probably are good indicators, and reliability and long-term customer-satisfaction numbers also probably are good indicators. Fortunately, Toyota fares well in those departments.
But a critically important way to measure overall worth is a vehicle’s resale value.
Obviously, a vehicle that loses but a small amount of its initial value with the passage of time and usage is a better investment than a vehicle that loses a larger amount of that initial value.
So we’re pleased to report that Toyota vehicles figure prominently in Kelley Blue Book’s 2009 best-resale value list, according to a story posted recently on one of the Los Angeles Times’ blogs.
The list recognizes vehicles for what Kelley Blue Book calls their "projected retained value five years from now."
The Toyota and Lexus vehicles that made their way onto this important by-category list are as follows:
Compact pickup: Toyota Tacoma; full-size pickup: Toyota Tundra; hybrid crossover: Toyota Highlander Hybrid; and mid-size car: Lexus IS.
The list also named Toyota and Lexus to their list of the top 10 brands in terms of resale value.
But what of Scion? Did Scion get left out? Well, yes, and no.
Kelley Blue Book’s criteria for a brand’s making the list requires that a brand have a minimum of four nameplates in its portfolio. This eliminated Scion, which is among those ranked highest in resale of the small-car brands, but which has just three nameplates flying the Scion flag.
The Times story lists the top-10 2009 models in terms of resale value, though, without regard to category and we find Scion represented. Six of those spots, in fact, are held by Toyota products. They are the Scion xB, Scion xD, Scion tC, Toyota Corolla, Toyota Prius and Toyota Yaris.
We recognize that this is not on the same scale as someone giving you a hot tip for the stock market - as if any of us would be crazy to act on such a tip these days. But still, we think it’s pretty interesting information.
- Jon F. Thompson, Editor, Open Road