A car's alternator charges the battery and powers the electrical system. Many people mistakenly believe that the battery is responsible for giving juice to the electrics but that is the alternator's role. The battery helps the car start by transferring electricity to the starter motor. Because it powers the electrical system in your car, the alternator is an important component you want to ensure is in good condition.

Alternators usually need changed every seven years or 100,000-250,000 miles, so you don't have to worry about this replacement often. 

If you want to know when it is time to get your tires replaced, pay close attention to these four warning signs.

1. Pay very close attention to the tire warning light on the dash of your vehicle. Something is wrong with the tires and needs to be looked at closely by a mechanic.
2. If you notice cracked tires, this could be a defective tire about to fail or a tire that has been wearing incorrectly. Either way, this issue needs to be addressed quickly.
3. When the tire experiences wear on one side, it means something is off with the alignment…

It is a tough process to figure out what kind of vehicle you want to invest in for your family. After you have made your decision and drove off of our Doug Smith Kia lot you will need to decide what type of car seat is going to be the safest option for your child. Let's take a look at some of your options:

If you have a newborn or an infant then you will want to invest in an infant carrier. This installable base comes with a separate carrier that can be removed and re-attached as need be…

When you decide to purchase a new or used car, it's a good idea to know the financing process. And we're here to help!

First, you should know that the financing will be determined by your credit score. Are you aware of your score? A low score will mean a higher annual percentage rate (APR) and that's going to affect your monthly payment, as well as the cost of your loan. Many times, a larger down payment is used to offset any negatives, which also builds equity in the car. However, the down payment is determined by…

We at Doug Smith Kia love helping people get their vehicles ready for fall and the back-to-school rush. Your vehicle is a very important part of staying on schedule and organized for those hectic school day events. Safety and being prepared will help you feel secure in having reliable transportation.

When getting your car, SUV, or truck ready for back-to-school driving, prepare a list of maintenance to-dos! Your list should include fluids topped off, checking or changing your oil, and looking at your manual to see if you are following the recommended maintenance schedule. 

When it comes to vehicles, there are a lot of safety precautions to take. While you have to be as safe as possible when you are on your road, you also have to make sure that your car is safe when it is parked. There are certain times in the year when the car could become dangerous even when it is off.

When it comes to temperatures, you want to make sure that everything is manageable. On hot days, it can be very dangerous for anyone in a vehicle that is parked and deactivated. Therefore, it is very important to…

When the sun is glaring down, your vision can become bad. When you are trying to drive and you are finding that hard to do because of the sun, there are some things that you can do to stay safe. Doug Smith Kia wants you to know just what you can do so that you stay safe while driving in sunny conditions.

If the sun is messing with your ability to see the road and what is before you, try to leave extra following distance between yourself and the vehicle in front of you. You should keep your windshield clean…

Our crew here at Doug Smith Kia would like to pass on tips for touching up the paint chips on the exterior of your vehicle.

Wet a clean cloth with a soapy mix, rub in circular motions to get any of the debris or dirt out from the inside of the chip. Place a small amount of polishing compound on the chip, rub with your cloth in an effort to soften the edges of the paint around the chip. This will allow the new paint to blend in more easily.

Use the small brush in the touch up paint to…

We at Doug Smith Kia love welcoming new drivers into the community! Before your teenager starts driving, we have some tips for you to talk to them about so they stay safe. Distracted driving goes beyond cell phones and is a problem that can be helped with early education.

Cell phones are one of the highest distractions while driving. Have your teen put the phone away while driving, and pull over to answer important calls or texts. Hands-free is not distraction free and shouldn't be used for social calls.

GPS, playlists, and mirrors should all be set and checked…

The backup camera is a safety feature that has been appearing in cars for over fifteen years, but from 2018 onward they will be required in all new vehicles. In this post, we will talk about how this can affect the price of a used vehicle.

Originally, backup cameras only appeared in top trims and luxury packages. They needed a large screen in the dashboard, which was unusual in the early 2000s. If you want a car from 2014 or 2015 and earlier, then you will need to seek out the higher-level models. After that, backup cameras migrated gradually down…