Blog

With the nice weather fast approaching, it's time to pay some attention to your vehicle. After a winter spent on treated roads, your car can become covered with road salt and dirt. When you bring your car for a tune up, the tires, belts and fluids will all be checked.

Pay attention to both the interior and exterior of your vehicle. You'll want to remove any items you don't need, like a shovel and road salt. Carefully wash the inside and outside thoroughly to remove any traces of dirt and debris.  

We all know that summer driving can be hard on a vehicle, and it can also really affect your fuel economy. Every one of our team members at Barnes Crossing Kia want you to be as informed as possible regarding summer driving. Here are some fuel economy tips for driving in extreme temperatures.

Make sure the vehicle is in good condition. You might choose to go for a more fuel-efficient vehicle or drive as conservatively as possible. How can you accomplish this? Do not let the vehicle idle for longer than 30 seconds; it will warm up faster when it…

The Apple CarPlay in-vehicle technology is making it easier to enjoy entertainment behind the wheel. At Barnes Crossing Kia, we’ll show you the exciting advancements that you can look forward to in various vehicles. It may be just what you have been looking for to handle your commute.

You can listen to so much more than the radio when you connect your iPhone with Apple CarPlay. For example, you can stream music, the news, or even play an audiobook. So many apps from your phone can connect, offering you more entertainment options.  

If you have been involved in an accident, there are some very specific steps that you should take. These steps don't have anything to do with who was at fault for the accident. This is to be determined later. Once the accident has taken place, you should:

• Check to see if everyone in the involved accident is ok. If an ambulance is needed, call for assistance immediately. It's important to recognize that you might be injured and not be aware because of the adrenaline from the accident. 

Whether you’re driving a car or riding a bicycle, we want you to be safe on the road. Every year, thousands of auto accidents involving bicyclists occur because of failure to share the road. Some accidents involve injuries while others are fatalities. We at Barnes Crossing Kia would like to offer some tips on how to drivers and bicyclists can safely share the road.

Bicyclists show be alert, follow all traffic signs, wear a helmet, driver slowly around people, signal lane changes and always ride with the flow of traffic. If driving at night, front and rear lights should…

With the warmer temperatures on the rise, Barnes Crossing Kia wanted to inform you of the importance of exterior maintenance so you can get the most out of your car. Did you know that washing your car does more than making it shine? When you wash your car regularly, you're actually protecting the clear coat finish, which ultimately helps maintain the paint color.

As you drive around town, your car naturally picks up particles from the environment that are harmful to the paintwork. Those particles include dirt, road debris, and even certain bugs and insects that can stick to…

At Barnes Crossing Kia, we know how important your car is to you, and we want you to be an informed driver who knows how to keep your car looking and smelling as good as possible. The first step is to control odors before they become a problem. Visit us and let us share our automotive knowledge with you.

The best way to control car odors is by regularly vacuuming the interior and cleaning floor mats regularly while also wiping any visible spills. Carry around a roll of paper towels so you can wipe up spills when they happen before…

When you wash your vehicle, you’ll need to clean your wheels in the beginning. When dust and grime is stuck in your tires and under the axles, you’ll get a lot of splash back that goes on other parts of your car. The best way to avoid this is by cleaning your tires regularly and always using a professional grade wheel cleaner, such as Wolfgang Tire and Wheel Cleaner. These are especially made to clean rubber, even if it’s coated or anodized.

In addition, you want to make sure that you dilute this cleaner up to 3…

At Barnes Crossing Kia, we like our community to be ready for winter driving. We have some tips for travelers to ready an emergency kit for winter. An emergency kit can include personal items, survival items and maintenance items for your vehicle.

Items for you and your passengers should fit together and include food, water, blankets, gloves, and other warm clothing. Blankets and small pillows are great for warmth and comfort. Cell phone chargers can help you stay connected in winter weather.  

Barnes Crossing Kia wants you to know what can happen to your vehicle when it sits in a place where rodents are present. It is important that you understand the damage that rodents can bring about and that you do what you can to protect your vehicle while it is parked.

Do not keep food near your vehicle if you want to keep rodents away from the vehicle. It is not a good idea to store your pet food on the ground in the garage with your vehicle, as that can attract rodents and bring them to your vehicle.