Keeping your kids safe on the road is a priority for everyone at our dealership here. The new school year brings specific safety concerns, including how to maintain a safe carpool. We have some tips to help you make your carpool a success.

Get together with other parents and choose an agreed-upon route for your carpool. Decide on the rules up front so everyone knows what’s expected such as being on time every morning. Don’t forget to create an emergency contact list just in case.

Never let children ride without being buckled and using a booster seat if they’re under 4’9″ per the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommendation. Always remind children to use the curbside when getting in and out of the vehicle.

The start of the new school year is a perfect time to test drive a family-friendly vehicle. Stop by and visit us at Kia of Fargo in Fargo, ND at a time that’s convenient for you.

Tags: carpooling tips, new inventory, new Kia inventory
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At Kia of Fargo, we want people to take pride in the appearance of their car or truck. A little bit of interior detailing can make a big difference and keep your car looking like new.

If you have a pet that sheds hair all over the seats of your car, there are several techniques you can use to remove their fur. Adding a brush to the vacuum hose can make vacuuming more effective. If that isn’t enough, using a pumice block to rake up the hair can get it loose from sticky carpet fibers.

Driving around Fargo, ND can cause dirt to accumulate on your carpets. To get them spotless, consider using a hot water extractor. To make the cleaning process even more effective, give your carpets a dry scrubbing with a brush. Pre-spray your carpets with a non-foaming cleaner before going over them with the extractor.

Tags: car detailing tips, new Kia inventory
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You don’t want to be driving in rain without properly working windshield wipers. Replacing your blades regularly will go a long way to keeping your drive safe and you seeing clearly

There are some tell-tale signs that your windshield wiper blades need replacing. If your current wiper blades leave your windshield streaky or blurry, it is time to replace them. Some blades even will scratch your windshield if the rubber is too frayed or destroyed.

Most car owner’s manuals suggest which wiper blades to buy for your car and the replacements are fairly simple to install. Most come with instructions and you can ask an auto professional for help too.

At Kia of Fargo, we want Fargo, ND drivers to have a safe driving experience. We can replace your wiper blades or perform any other auto service you need. Let our team look at your vehicle and set up a maintenance schedule.

Tags: replacing your wiper blades, service, service center, windshield wiper blade replacement
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Your vehicle’s engine has many components that help it run properly. If one of these components becomes damaged, it can cause the entire engine to malfunction, which is why it’s important to keep your vehicle’s parts changed as needed. Your vehicle’s engine relies on the timing belt to keep the crankshaft and camshaft turning at a synchronized rate.

Your vehicle’s timing belt can withstand excessive heat and pressure, but it will eventually wear over time. A worn timing belt can suddenly snap and lead to a number of problems. If the timing belt snaps when you’re on the road, the engine could shut off, so you are more prone to a collision. A damaged timing belt can also cause problems with your engine that are expensive to repair. If the camshaft stops turning, it could cause intake valves and pistons to break.

For most vehicles, it’s best to have the timing belt replaced after 60,000 to 100,000 miles. If you reference your vehicle’s manual, it will give you an idea of when to visit our service center for a timing belt replacement.

Tags: service, service center, timing belt, timing belt service
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It is easy to jump start another car on your own as long as you have working jumper cables and another car with a fully charged battery and running engine.

After you make sure that both cars’ engines are completely turned off, access the batteries by popping their hoods. Attach the ends of the jumper cables to the positive and negative battery ends. They should be clearly labeled and matched by color. Someone needs to start the working car’s engine and let it run for at least a minute. This should be long enough to try starting the other car. Give it a few tries if needed, and do not turn it off right away.

In the event that the dead battery did not allow the engine to start at all, this might mean you need an immediate car battery replacement. Come see the service team at Kia of Fargo in Fargo, ND right away.

Tags: battery service, how to jump start a car, service, service center
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When it comes to traveling safely with your pets, these tips are easy to follow and will save you headaches and time in your travel. Spending some time securing your pet safely in the car will prevent accidents and injuries.

In addition to using a pet restraint, you should not strap your pet in the front seat. The airbags in the front seats of a vehicle are too powerful to be safe for your pet in an accident. Do not open the windows more than a slight crack because your pet will likely want to stick his head out in the breeze. This is fun, but it is not safe. Your pet could be hit by another car or some other object. Turn up the air conditioning to keep you both cool on the road instead.

Kia of Fargo in Fargo, ND has some of the best pet-friendly vehicles around to test drive.

Tags: new Kia inventory, traveling with pets
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Have you heard of gaskets and wondered what they were? Gaskets are important because they bind at least two surfaces together to prevent fluids and gases from leaking and mixing. While gaskets are long-lasting, you will need to replace them eventually. However, you can extend the life of your gaskets if you keep coolant and oil levels at the recommended temperatures. It is also helpful if you use a manufacturer-recommended coolant and oil.

Gaskets are usually made of multi-level steel, but they can be made of a wide range of materials, which include copper and rubber. Common types of gaskets include head gaskets, intake manifold gaskets, exhaust gaskets, and bearing gaskets.

Gaskets serve an important purpose, so it is important to have them replaced at the first sign of a problem. If there is foaming or gurgling near the radiator, then high compression levels may have caused a hole to form in a gasket. A mayonnaise-looking substance in or around the oil can also indicate gasket failure.

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