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Motor oil is the lifeblood of your car's engine. The oil must be kept fresh and in tip-top condition to keep your engine fully lubricated, clean, and corrosion-free. Read on to find out the optimal oil change intervals for your car. If in doubt, you can visit your local Kia dealer for expert guidance and to arrange a convenient oil change schedule. more Check Your Owner's Manual In most cases, oil should be changed at least twice a year. However, there's no one-size-fits-all when it comes to oil changes. As such, the first place to look should be in your owner's manual. Follow whatever oil type and change intervals are recommended for your particular model. Keep Your Powertrain Warranty Valid If you have a valid warranty, you'll need to maintain a certain maintenance and oil change schedule to make sure you don't void the warranty's conditions. A warranty's servicing stipulations are there for a reason; if you stick to them, you're sure to keep your car's engine in great condition while enjoying the peace of mind a warranty provides. Consider Your Usual Driving Habits Always take your regular daily driving conditions into account when deciding how frequently to change your oil. Driving habits make a big difference to how rapidly motor oil wears down. One common example of more severe driving habits is regular short drives of under five miles. If you mostly use your car for very short trips, you're putting a great deal of strain on the engine and oil, which isn't given time to fully warm up. Other examples include the regular use of particularly dusty, dirty, sandy, or salty roads, which increases the volume of contaminants that get into the oil. Towing trailers for long distances, prolonged driving at low speeds, and extreme heat can all cause motor oil to wear down faster. If any of these conditions reflect your regular driving, consider having your oil changed three or four times a year. Book Routine Oil Changes With Your Kia Dealer The best way to know for sure how often to change your oil is with the guidance of a trusted technician. A technician can discuss your usual driving habits with you and determine an ideal interval for your car. If you book routine oil changes with us, we'll send you courteous reminders whenever you have an upcoming oil change. That way, you'll never accidentally forget to refresh your oil, and your engine will stay safe from excessive wear and tear. Have your oil changed today at Randy Marion Kia in Salisbury, NC. We're a local full-service Kia dealership offering a broad range of excellent vehicles, competitive deals, and high-quality customer care.

Good tires are one of your vehicle's first lines of defense, but your tires take a beating every time you're on the road, so it's important to maintain them and replace them when it's time. But how can you tell when it's time to schedule a Kia tire service at your Kia dealer? more Your Tire Treads Are Worn With repeated use, the treads on your tires will eventually wear down, reducing the traction you have on the road. When your treads wear down to 1/16 of an inch or less, it's time to buy replacement tires. Some tires have built-in wear indicator bars that make it easy to tell when replacement tires are in order. We also check out your tires each time your vehicle is in the shop and can make a recommendation about the proper timing for a new set of tires. But the penny test is a great at-home way of testing your tread depths yourself. Simply place a penny in your tread with Lincoln's head facing toward the center of the wheel. If you can see Lincoln's entire head, you still have enough tread left to safely drive. Your Tires Have Visible Signs of Wear or Damage Cracks in the sidewalls or bulges in the outer rubber surface of your tires are both signs that you need new tires. These blemishes sometimes develop as a result of exposure to heat or the salt and chemicals your tires encounter over time on roads. Hitting a pothole or brushing the curb can also cause tire bulges and blisters. These signs of wear indicate weak spots and damage, and they can put you at risk of leaks and tire failure. Your Tires Frequently Lose Pressure Tires lose pressure from time to time, but if your tires are consistently experiencing air pressure issues, you may have a small puncture that needs repair. Our service department can easily check your tire pressure, and if you want to keep an eye on it yourself, you might keep an inexpensive tire gauge on hand. If you've got a punctured tire, our team can make a recommendation about whether to repair the tire or replace it. Your Tires Are Old New tires usually last anywhere from three to five years. If you drive frequently, or at high speeds, they might need to be replaced sooner than that. If you can't remember when you last purchased new tires, check with our service department to see what our records show. Our Kia-trained technicians can repair your tires and advise you when it's time to purchase a replacement set. When it's time to schedule your next service appointment, come see us at Randy Marion Kia in Salisbury, NC.

Your new or used Kia is a reliable vehicle designed to provide years of driving enjoyment. However, you need to do your part by adhering to proper Kia maintenance. Visit your Kia dealer for regular maintenance and checkups to enjoy proper service from your ride. more Catch Problems Early Routine maintenance helps catch minor issues before they escalate into costly repairs. During each service, our Kia-certified technicians will inspect the car's crucial systems and components. Their trained eyes can spot minor signs of wear and impending failure that you'd likely miss. These include issues like worn brake pads, low fluid levels, worn-out belts and hoses, faulty spark plugs, and battery problems. Enjoy Better Handling and Performance Your Kia will drive better and perform at its best if it's well maintained. Tasks like timely tire rotation, wheel alignment, and brake service optimize traction, steering response, and stopping power. Under-the-hood services like replacing worn air filters, spark plugs, starter components, belts, and hoses will keep your Kia's engine operating at peak efficiency. Increase Your Safety on the Road Servicing your Kia regularly increases the reliability of safety systems. Oil and filter changes keep the engine running optimally, preventing overheating and failure. Regular brake service ensures your brakes are working perfectly when you need to use them. Your technician will also routinely check transmission components and top up the fluid to avoid gear slippage. Monitor Your Engine's Health As the heart of your Kia, the engine requires regular monitoring to make sure all parts are working properly. Scheduling regular engine diagnostic tests can help you keep things running smoothly under the hood. These tests usually check the following components: Spark plugs and coils Fuel injection system Throttle system Engine cooling system Oxygen sensors Catalytic converter Wheel and ABS sensor Improve Fuel Efficiency Timely oil and filter changes keep the engine running at maximum efficiency. Minor tasks like rotating and inflating the tires can also increase fuel efficiency by reducing rolling resistance. Enjoy Longer Service If you adhere to service schedules and preventive maintenance checks, your Kia's systems will perform better and last longer. Remember to use OEM Kia parts for all repairs to ensure optimal operation. Even if you don't plan to own the Kia until the end of its usable life, proper maintenance will increase its value. Routine vehicle maintenance offers many benefits, so there is no excuse for skipping it. If you're ready to cash in on these perks, schedule a maintenance appointment for your Kia at Randy Marion Kia in Salisbury, NC.

It's tucked away under the back of your Kia. You probably don't even think about it. Then, one day, something goes wrong, and you ask yourself, "Do I need a new car muffler?" There are a few key signs to look out for that can tell you when it's time to replace your muffler at our Kia dealership. more Louder Than Usual Engine Noise This is usually the first sign that something might be wrong with your muffler. If your car suddenly sounds like a roaring lion when you start it up or when you're accelerating, that's a clear warning that your muffler might be damaged. The muffler's job is to dampen the noise produced by the exhaust system, and if it's not doing its job, you'll definitely hear about it. Decrease in Fuel Efficiency If you notice that you've started to make more frequent trips to the gas station, your muffler might be the culprit. A damaged muffler can cause your engine to work harder, which in turn reduces your car's fuel efficiency. Keep an eye on your car's MPG, and if you see a significant drop, it might be time to have your muffler checked out. Bad Smells Your muffler also plays a role in directing exhaust fumes out and away from your car. If there's a problem, you might start smelling those fumes in the cabin, and that's definitely not something to ignore. Breathing exhaust fumes while driving can be a serious health hazard, so it's important to get your car checked out right away. Visible Rust or Damage Take a peek under your car every now and then. If you see rust or damage on your muffler, that's a sign that it might be time for a replacement. Road salt and other debris can take a toll on your muffler, causing it to corrode over time. If it's visibly damaged, it might not be able to do its job anymore. High Engine Temperatures If you've noticed your car's temperature gauge creeping higher than usual, it might be more than just an overheating issue. Surprisingly, it could actually be caused by your muffler. A damaged or clogged muffler can cause exhaust gases to back up, creating extra heat under the hood. Replace Your Car Muffler at Your Kia Dealer If you've noticed any of the signs that your muffler isn't doing its best, it might be time to give it a little love. And where better to do that than at our local Kia dealer? Randy Marion Kia's Service Department knows new and used Kia models inside and out and are equipped to give your car (and its muffler) the attention it deserves. With our professional technicians there's no guesswork and no hassle, just a smooth ride and quiet performance like when you first drove it off the lot. A well-functioning muffler reduces noise and pollutants, contributes to better engine performance and efficiency, and is just plain safer for you and your passengers. If something's not right with it, you should schedule a service appointment with Randy Marion Kia in Salisbury, NC.

A worn or damaged battery can let you down at any time. Inevitably it will happen when you need to be somewhere urgently. Fortunately, if you experience battery problems in the area around Salisbury, NC, your local Kia dealer is here to help. These are a few warning signs that you new or used Kia may need a new car battery very soon. more Low Electrolyte Level Some batteries are completely sealed, but other batteries have removable caps. If your battery has caps, you can remove the caps to check the electrolyte level. Each cap is a separate battery cell. The cells have a minimum electrolyte level marked on them. When you top up the electrolyte, don't fill it above the line. The electrolyte solution allows the chemical reactions to take place that enable your battery to store and supply electricity. The solution level can drop during extreme hot or cold conditions. Electrolytes can also boil away if your battery is being overcharged by a failing alternator. We'll check your electrolyte levels and ensure your battery has no other problems. Parasitic Drain A parasitic drain occurs when power continues to be supplied to a system that should have switched off. Many systems use low amounts of power, but if one of these systems continues to draw electricity when it shouldn't, it can quickly drain your battery. Two of the most common sources of this problem are the glove box light and the trunk light. When you open the glove box or the trunk, an electrical circuit is completed, and the light comes on. This circuit is broken when the relevant lid is closed, and the lights switch off. An electrical fault can keep either of these lights on, and electricity will drain from your battery. We can test your electrical system to identify the problem, and then we'll fix it. Bad Smell If you smell the stench of rotten eggs rising from under the hood, your battery is probably failing. This foul smell means that hydrogen sulfide is present in your engine. This toxic and corrosive chemical can form when your battery starts to fail. Sulfuric acid is a vital chemical in your battery, but it slowly breaks down over time. Hydrogen gas is released by sulfuric acid as it breaks down, and this gas will escape the battery. Your engine contains sulfur, which is released naturally by fuel. The hydrogen and sulfur will combine to form hydrogen sulfide. This chemical can corrode your battery terminals and other metal items. A battery that's releasing hydrogen can't be fixed, but we can replace the battery with a new one. If you experience these or any other battery problems, schedule a se r vice appointment right away at Randy Marion Kia.

Have you ever wondered, "Where's the best place to get my Kia serviced?" Well, the answer might be closer than you think. Let's dive into why getting your new or used Kia serviced at our Kia dealership in Salisbury, NC is the way to go. more The Expertise of Familiar Hands Imagine buying a high-end coffee machine. Would you trust just anyone to fix it, or would you prefer someone who knows the machine inside out? Similarly, when it comes to your Kia, the technicians at our Kia dealer are trained specifically for all types of Kia models. They know your car like the back of their hand. It's like having a personal doctor for your car who knows its entire history! Genuine Parts, Genuine Care Ever heard the saying, "You are what you eat?" Think of your Kia in the same way. If you feed it with genuine Kia parts, it's bound to run smoother and longer. At Randy Marion Kia, you're guaranteed authentic parts that are designed just for your vehicle. No more worrying about mismatched or subpar components. Value for Money Now, you might be thinking, "But isn't it more expensive?" While it might seem that way initially, think long-term. With specialized care, genuine parts, and expert technicians, you're actually saving money in the long run. Fewer breakdowns, fewer replacements, and a longer lifespan for your Kia. Sounds like a win-win, doesn't it? A Personal Touch Remember the last time you went to your favorite local café, and they remembered your order? It's that personal touch that makes all the difference. At our local Kia dealership, Randy Marion Kia's Service Department keeps detailed records of your car's history. Every time you visit, they know exactly what your car needs, making the service swift and efficient. Peace of Mind Lastly, there's something intangible yet invaluable about the peace of mind you get from knowing your car is in the best hands. It's like leaving your pet with a trusted friend while you're on vacation. You know they'll get the best care possible. So, the next time you're pondering where to take your Kia for its next service, remember the coffee machine analogy. Just as you'd want an expert handling your prized possessions, your Kia deserves the specialized care that only our local Kia dealer can provide. After all, isn't your car worth it? Choose wisely and schedule an appointment at Randy Marion Kia's local Kia Service Center in Salisbury, NC. Your Kia will thank you!

Brakes are one of your car's most important safety systems. The braking system relies on many different parts to bring your car to a stop ASAP. Over time, these parts can become worn or damaged, and your braking system will become less responsive. Fortunately, our Kia dealer in Salisbury, NC, can help you. These are some signs that you need to visit us for a brake repair. more Burning Chemical Smell Acrid chemicals smell when you brake and are usually a sign that your brake fluid is overheating. The brake fluid provides the hydraulic power that allows the braking system to work. When we service your brakes, we check the consistency and quality of your brake fluid and replace it. As brake fluid ages, it becomes more prone to overheating. If you're driving and smell what could be overheating brake fluid, we advise pulling over as soon as it's safe to do so. Overheating fluid can quickly start to boil, and boiling brake fluid doesn't provide any hydraulic power. Without hydraulic power, your brakes will immediately fail when you step on them. We'll investigate the reason for the overheating brake fluid and fix it. Soft Brake Pedal Brake fluid is highly pressurized. Pressurization is vital as it needs to bring a car weighing over 3,500 lbs to a stop almost instantly. As you step on the brake pedal, you'll feel resistance. This resistance increases as you apply more pressure to the brake pad. If you stop on the pad and it goes almost to the floor before your brakes engage, you have a soft brake pedal. A soft pedal is very dangerous, as it means that your ability to brake when you need to has been compromised. It is possible for air to enter through a tiny hole anywhere in the system. Once inside the hoses carry brake fluid, the air will form a bubble. This bubble blocks the movement of fluid and prevents your brakes from working correctly. We can bleed your brakes to remove any air in the system. Hard Brake Pedal A hard brake pedal is the opposite of the situation above. In this case, the braking system provides far more resistance than it should when you step on the pedal. This particular problem is caused by a failure of the brake pedal booster. The brake pedal booster uses a vacuum system to reduce the pressure you need to exert to make your brakes work. It enables you to press down on the pedal and exert 10x normal human strength to make the braking system engage. If the vacuum in the booster has been compromised, your pedal will become very difficult to move. We'll examine the booster and install a new one if it's been damaged. If you suspect you have a braking problem, schedule an appointment right away at Randy Marion Kia's Service Center in Salisbury, NC.