Reno Kia BLOG

Understanding the inner workings of your vehicle can have lasting benefits, such as saving money by knowing when it needs to be serviced before a small issue becomes an expensive problem. Choosing the right motor oil for your car is vital, as without the right lubricant, your engine won't run properly.

Viscosity is just another word for how quickly liquids flow. When applied to motor oil, it's a measure of how fast it will run through your engine according to temperature. The first number on a motor oil label, such as 10-W, tells you how fast the oil…

When a tire fails, we sometimes must install the spare tire. The type of spare makes a big difference. Drivers can operate as usual with a full-sized, matched spare tire. A compact spare has limitations on speed and distance. Automakers design compact spares as an emergency tire; it helps get the vehicle home or to a nearby repair shop.

Drivers understand the importance of checking the tire information on compact spares. Drivers should know the spare's speed and overall driving distance limitations. 

It is important to make sure that you are on top of your tires when it comes to wearing out. However, you should do more than just observe when your tires are wearing. There are chances that your tires might be wearing out a little faster than they should.

If your tire is under-inflated, then it is very likely wearing out at a faster rate than it should. When a tire is under-inflated, then it is going to be softer. Also, when it is on the road, it is going to generate even more friction and heat which will cause…

Detailing your vehicle with a clay bar doesn’t need to be a time-consuming or confusing process. These bars are very easy to use, and they will quickly strip away some of the contaminants that are damaging your car’s paint. Here is a closer look at the basics of a clay bar exterior treatment.

A clay bar should only be used after your vehicle has been washed, and you will need clay lubricant to prevent smudging. After the lubricant has been applied, you should pull the bar across the surface of the car in short strokes.

If you've been looking for ways to take better care of your car, you have plenty of options. Regular maintenance checks, oil changes, and tire rotations are essential to making sure your car lasts for a long time, but did you know that waxing is important, too?

Wax acts as a protective barrier for your car. It ensures that your paint isn't damaged because of air pollution, dirt, dust, or pollen. If you live in an area with high exposure to UV rays, you may also find that wax helps further protect your paint. 

Life, and the unexpected, can come at you fast. That's why the Kia service professionals at our Reno, NV dealership recommend that you keep a roadside emergency kit handy as you navigate the streets. Here are just a few of the items you'll want to pack inside your car's roadside emergency kit.

Jumper cables are essential for your kit and can make getting the battery jump-started a breeze. Now just about any driver willing to connect to their battery can get you back on the road. Flashlights are something you'll need in your kit to help…

A tire blowout is more than just an inconvenience. A blowout can cause you to be in an accident. This is especially true if you are driving fast. You want to avoid a blowout if at all possible. Here are a few tips on how to avoid blowouts from our Kia service team.

Always make sure that your tires are inflated to the proper level. Both over-inflated and under-inflated tires can cause the tread to wear, and this leads to blowouts. Make sure that your wheels are properly aligned. Wheels out of alignment wear unevenly leading to blowouts. 

If you notice the lights dimming while you're driving at night or your vehicle getting harder to start, then you might have battery issues. One way that you can test your battery is to bring it to Dolan Kia in Reno so that someone can use an electrical gauge specifically designed to test the voltage.

Another option is to look at the battery to see if there is any corrosion. If there is, then you can try cleaning the ends of the cables to see if a cleaner connection will make a difference. Turn components on inside the vehicle…

A car's starter is an electric motor that cranks the engine using electricity from the battery when you turn the ignition. There are several common ways starters can fail, but they usually give you warning signs before it happens.

A warning sign that you will notice sometimes before a starter fails completely is called freewheeling. This is when the starter's gear slips and doesn't engage the flywheel that cranks the engine. If you start to hear a high-pitched whine before the engine starts, you should have the starter inspected soon. 

If the tire pressure lights illuminate on the dashboard, it might be signs of trouble. To find out what the issue, see if any of these conditions are present.

The most common cause for the tire pressure lights to turn on is a severe change in temperature. When the outside temps are freezing, the pressure can drop in the tires, but will return to normal as the temperature warms. If there is an obstruction in one of the tires, it could cause a slow leak and trigger the pressure indicators to the trouble. Never remove the obstruction on your own…