5 Car Maintenance Tips From Your Local Kia Dealer

Regular Kia maintenance maintains your vehicle's high standards of performance and efficiency so you can enjoy your driving experience. It also reduces long-term repair costs, as our technicians can fix minor issues before they develop into more serious problems. As your Kia dealer, we want to tell you about some examples of the types of maintenance we provide. more Examples of Kia Maintenance Available at Your Kia Dealer Water Pump Replacement The water pump is part of your cooling system and is responsible for pushing coolant through your engine at high speed. When your engine temperature reaches a preset level, coolant is released, and the water pump activates. It's a vital component, as coolant has to move through your engine to remove heat to protect the engine against overheating. The pump can wear out or temporarily fail due to a blown fuse or other electrical issue. If the pump doesn't work, coolant will still be released but won't move. You'll notice a spike in your engine temperature as the heat builds up. If your engine temperature increases and continues to rise, we advise shutting it down ASAP and contacting our service department. We'll examine the pump and repair or replace it to fix this problem. Tire Checks Your tires suffer natural wear and tear as you drive due to friction with the surface. They also wear due to incorrect pressure, incorrect balance, or alignment issues. Regular tire checks allow our technicians to carefully examine your tires to correct these issues and reduce long-term damage. Worn tires can also cause damage to other systems like the brakes and shocks. We'll examine each tire for damage and test its tread to ensure it's safe to drive on. We can correctly pressure your tires and rebalance them if necessary. Tire alignment issues can be corrected by connecting your wheels to our wheel alignment machine. This machine is computer-controlled and will adjust your wheels as needed to correct any issues. Soft Brake Pedal The braking system contains pressurized brake fluid that provides the hydraulic power that forces your braking system to engage. You can feel the pressure in the system as resistance when you push down on the pedal. As you apply more force, you'll feel increased resistance, and your brakes will engage faster. If you feel low resistance from the pedal, there's a problem in the braking system. It could be caused by a brake fluid leak or an air bubble in the brake hoses. Low resistance is dangerous, as it means your brakes won't respond as quickly as they should. Our technicians will investigate and fix the issue. If your Kia isn't working as well as it should, contact our service department today at Mike Kelly Kia in Butler, PA, and we'll resolve the issue in no time. Image via Kia

A good maintenance schedule prevents avoidable repairs and helps keep your Kia in good condition for years. Most Kia maintenance is based on your mileage, but weather and temperature also affect your vehicle and cause unnecessary wear and tear. As your Kia dealer, we want to give you some examples of season-specific maintenance and improve your Kia's performance. more Spring Maintenance Now winter is in the rearview mirror, it's time to get your Kia ready for the warmer weather ahead. Checking your tires is advisable, as the low winter temperatures reduce tire pressure naturally. On average, tire pressure will drop by one PSI per 10 degrees of temperature drop, and this can leave them under-inflated. An underinflated tire will suffer extra and unnecessary wear until the pressure is corrected. Spring is also a good time to schedule an AC service. During winter, the AC is idle, which could cause bacteria to develop in the system's dark, partially damp, sections. A regular AC checkup will ensure the vents blow the cold air you need on a hot summer day. Summer Maintenance While our Pennsylvania summers don't reach the high temperatures in some other states, we get days in the 70 F to 90 F bracket. A coolant level check and a radiator check will help to keep your engine running perfectly and protect it against overheating. Changing the oil is a good idea in summer. As time passes, older oil becomes thick and sluggish. This reduces the oil's ability to protect engine components from friction damage and cool the hot components as it passes over them. We also replace the oil filter during an oil change to ensure the fresh oil flows easily. Fall Maintenance Fall is a great time to get a battery test to check your battery is ready for the winter cold. When the temperature drops, you'll notice that starting the engine takes longer than usual. Low temperatures reduce battery efficiency as the electrolyte solution inside them becomes thicker. If your battery is old, a cold winter could cause it to fail. Checking the headlights for good visibility and brightness will help make driving easier in winter. Our technicians can also check your fuses and electrical system to ensure all components work efficiently. Winter Maintenance Snow and ice can make driving more difficult, but you can prepare for this by visiting us for a tire check. Our technicians will examine your tread and tire condition and can also rebalance or rotate your tires to give them the best possible grip on the surface. We'll replace worn tires and can fit snow tires for you if required. If you'd like to know more about seasonal maintenance, contact us today at Mike Kelly Kia in Butler, PA. Image via Kia

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Kia maintenance is the key to a long and healthy life for your Kia. All our technicians are Kia-trained and we only use Kia-approved parts for all maintenance and repairs. This level of service is the best available for your Kia. As your Kia dealer, we want to tell you about some of the many types of maintenance we can perform. more Types of Kia Maintenance at Your Kia Dealer AC Leak Repair When you turn on your AC on a hot summer day, you want to be greeted by chilled air. Refrigerant is the chemical inside the AC that transforms warm outside air into the cold air you need to fill your cabin. Wear and tear can damage the AC, and refrigerant could leak out. Refrigerant leaks are impossible to spot with the naked eye, but we have the equipment to detect them. Our technicians will add a UV dye to your AC. They use a UV light to trace the path of the dye through the system. When the dye reaches the leak site, it will blossom out as it leaves the AC. Once the hole has been discovered, we'll permanently seal it and refill your AC with fresh refrigerant. Your AC will be cold again in no time. Windshield Wiper Replacement Windshield wipers can be easy to overlook, but they're critical for providing the visibility you need when it's raining. The wipers have rubber blades attached to them to sweep water away quickly. These rubber blades lose their flexibility when they age, and this can cause the blades to crack and break. A damaged blade won't remove water as quickly and efficiently as it should, and this could lead to an accident. In addition, severely damaged wipers can scratch your windshield glass. These scratches can grow wider and deeper in time and could even cause a crack. We'll examine your wipers and either replace the rubber blades or install new windshield wipers, depending on their level of damage. Radiator Repairs The radiator is the most important part of your Kia's cooling system, as it is the place where engine heat is exchanged for cooler air from the outside. It operates under constant high pressure and often contains coolant with temperatures over 300 F. In the long term, the constant heat and pressure can damage the radiator. Worn hoses can leak, and coolant will rapidly be lost. Your radiator can also become clogged by dirt or leaves blown in through the grille. In addition, blockages can develop and restrict the flow of coolant. We can easily fix these or any other radiator issues. If your radiator is severely damaged, we can install a new one for you. When your Kia needs maintenance, visit the experts at Mike Kelly Kia in Butler, PA. Image via Kia