A car’s battery is its life’s blood. With a good battery, the car starts easily. With a bad battery, the car does not start at all. The difference between having a good battery and a bad battery is a small measurement of voltage when the car is at rest or when it is running.

To accurately test your car’s battery you need a voltmeter and an assistant. A healthy battery should measure a charge of 12.6 volts when the car is off. When the car is running, the charge should measure somewhere between 13.7 volts…

Many things can cause a tire to blowout, and all of them are relatively easy to avoid or at least detect.

Many car owners have discovered a nail or a screw lodged in their tire and thought about how lucky they were not to suffer a blowout. Having a sharp object protruding from your tire can most certainly cause one to occur, but they more commonly result from excessive wear and tear. A tire's tread is integral to keeping traction on the road while driving. If your tread is too worn down and your tires are bald, you are…

Anytime your engine overheats, it is cause for concern. An engine that runs too hot can damage many vital parts of your vehicle, including bearings, pistons, valves, and cylinders. Never ignore overheating and always shut down your engine when it begins to run too hot. Here are some common reasons why your engine may overheat.

Lack of coolant is the most common cause of overheating. Regular use or leaks can cause reduce coolant levels. Overheating can also be the result of fan, pump, hose or thermostat failures. When a water pump malfunctions, it can cause leaks or bearing problems that…

Having a dead battery is a relatively common occurrence. It's easy to accidentally leave your headlights on overnight or a car door open just enough that the dome light stays on a few too many hours. Knowing how to jumpstart your battery is a critical skill that every driver should master.

First, clamp a jumper cable to the positive side of the dead battery. Then attach that cable to the positive side of the battery that is still working. Next, clamp the other cable to the negative side of the battery that is not working, and then attach the…

Are you hearing great things about online vehicle financing applications these days? You're definitely not alone there. Online vehicle financing is an up-and-coming concept. It's one that's swiftly gaining popularity in automotive dealerships located all across the vast United States, too. The Internet makes applying for a loan for an upcoming vehicle purchase easy, convenient and simple for all.

Who has the energy to cope with big crowds at automotive dealerships? Who has the ability to complete complex forms while other people are around? Submitting a vehicle financing...

We at Doug Smith Kia know that winter driving can be a pain in the neck for a lot of people, but they should make sure that they do not have to make it any rougher than it already is by having the gas tank in their vehicle always full to capacity. If they do this, then they will be making sure that they have enough fuel in their vehicle to get them where it is that they need to go. They will no longer have to worry about stopping at the gas station for fuel, waiting in long lines…

During the summer, your windshield wipers probably perform great. When it doesn't rain, you don't even need them. When a steady rain starts coming down, your windshield wipers may get more use. Still, they will probably perform great. But when it starts getting colder outside, rain turns into snow and ice. So what do you do when your windshield wipers stop working so well?

Winter windshield wiper blades are what you need. During the winter, these blades work harder to push away the snow that has built up on your car. If you leave your car sitting all…

Here at Doug Smith Kia, we put the overall wellbeing of our customers first. That is why we advise everyone who is considering purchasing a vehicle from us to consider all factors that will contribute to the total cost of ownership of that vehicle.

We know how easy it is to get caught up in the excitement of buying your next car, truck, or SUV. But when picking out that next vehicle to drive off the lot, be sure to look past just what the monthly payment is going to be. For example, is the vehicle that you are looking…

Kitty litter is known as a great substance to get your car tires out of sticky situations, especially those when it’s cold outside. Although kitty litter is made up of nothing more than clay, you can sprinkle a healthy barrier between your vehicle’s wheels and the snow, likely causing your car to gain traction on the clay, which can get your vehicle out of scenarios in which it’s stuck.

Sand is used to help your vehicle gain traction in situations in which you’re stuck, like those related to the above situation, along with those where you…

Replacing parts on your car or adding new modifications can be an exciting DIY project, but there's a lot to consider. When searching for the right part, you may find that there are dozens of similar versions and you may not be sure which is the best item to purchase. Here's where we can help at Doug Smith Kia.

At our American Fork, UT service center, we recommend stopping by and browsing our selection of OEM parts for your vehicle. OEM stands for "original equipment manufacturer" and essentially means that the part was specifically designed for your car…