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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. 

When you start to skid, you may think that you always have to steer into the slide. In truth, this can help, but if you oversteer or understeer, you could also be in trouble. Top notch cars don't typically allow you to slide that much, but if you do then you should be careful in how you control your vehicle. If you find your vehicle is stuck headed straight, you may want to oversteer, which means turning the steering wheel too hard.

When an understeer happens, it's because you can't turn the wheel hard enough, resulting in…

Auto-dimming rearview mirrors became popular in the 1980s. Today, it's a feature that many drivers are looking for. While they may seem simple, these innovative mirrors have a lot of technology behind them. We here at Barnes Crossing Kia want you to be an informed vehicle owner, so here's some information about these must-have auto accessories.

The unique component of auto-dimming mirrors is the electrochromic gel. The gel is located between two panes of glass. The fluid responds to an electric charge by darkening. To initiate that process, the mirror uses sensors or cameras. 

A hatchback has traditionally been optimized for cities that have heavy traffic. This type of vehicle has a compact platform that's suitable for navigating narrow roads and parking lots with limited visibility. Barnes Crossing Kia offers affordable models for those who want to save money on fuel and maintenance costs.

Under the hood, a modern hatchback usually has a four-cylinder engine block that runs on regular unleaded gasoline. Depending on the make and model, a turbocharged engine might be available for extra output on the highway.  

Some people who are used to the older vehicles may consider some of the newer features of newer models to be rather unnecessary. However, when you look at the way that technology actually helps people drive, then you will come to understand that there is a use for infotainment systems and other features. This is one of the reasons that we focus on getting these features for our new Kia inventory.

The current features of the vehicle involve listening to high quality music.  

Flat tires are the cause of many accidents on the road. Understanding your spare tire and how it works will help you to avoid using it improperly, keeping you safer while driving.

Using a full-size tire as your spare can be an excellent option. When you need to replace a flat tire, using the full-size spare means you don't have to buy a new tire. Simply install it and be on your way. You will need to remember to rotate it out with your other tires so that it wears equally with them. A compact temporary is a quick…