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Every wheel on your car is attached to a brake rotor that spins with it. When you step on your brake pedal, a caliper squeezes the brake rotor and causes it and the wheel to slow down to a stop. This creates a massive amount of friction and can do irreparable damage to your rotors. To combat that friction and keep your brakes in working order, brake pads are placed between the caliper pistons and the rotors.

Of course, this all means that the brake pads themselves are under a lot of friction and will wear out relatively quickly. There…

If you live in mountainous, snowy, or icy areas, then you may drive a vehicle with 4-wheel drive capabilities. Your 4-wheel drive car or truck may also have 2-wheel drive capability. If it does, then it may contain a part called a transfer case.

Transfer cases are specialized torque converting devices that attach to regular transmissions. When engaged, these devices can convert 2-wheel drive to 4-wheel drive, and vice versa. Many transfer cases also have the ability to run in high-mode or low-mode.

Low-gear ranges allow the transfer case to enhance the torque coming from the main...

 

Without a properly functioning car battery, your vehicle would not be able to function properly. That is why our team here at Kia on the Boulevard want to be sure that you know the basics so that you can be the most informed car owner possible.

First, a car battery's primary function is to create an electrical current that is used to create the spark which starts the engine of the vehicle. Experts say that the average car battery will last for about four years but this can be higher or lower depending on a variety of factors. These…

Tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), a feature included on all newer cars produced after September 2007, measures tire pressure either directly by sensors located in the tires or indirectly through wheel speed and other indicators. Your warning lamp will illuminate when data indicates that tire pressure is low.

The indicator can become illuminated for a number of reasons. On cold mornings in Philadelphia, for example, the lamp may be on for a short time, then turn off. This occurs because tire pressure may have fallen overnight...

Nothing is worse than the sound of a dead battery. The sequence to jump a car is to first clamp the positive cable to the positive terminal of the dead battery, and second, clamp the positive cable to the positive terminal of the live battery. The third step is to clamp the negative cable to the negative terminal of the live battery, and finally, clamp the negative cable to the negative terminal of the dead battery.

Once you start attaching the cables to the batteries, use caution not to let the metal parts of the cable touch any part of…

In order for the tires on your vehicle to last as long as they should, you need to keep the right amount of air in your tires. Having too much air in the tires causes problems as does having your tires underinflated.

If you have too much air in your car's tires, the tires will not hit the pavement correctly. There will be too much pressure in the center of the tires leading to uneven wear in the center. When the tires don't have enough air, the pressure is placed on the edges leading to excessive wear and…

The key to getting the most life and optimal performance from your vehicle is regular maintenance. One of the most critical parts of your vehicle to keep an eye on is its battery. If your car battery is dead, your vehicle will not start and none of the electronics inside will work.

Keeping your battery regularly inspected and serviced by professionals, like our service department staff at Kia on the Boulevard in Philadelphia, is vitally important to your vehicle's health. We can test your battery to ensure it is working properly, and if it is not, we can fix…

If you’ve started to feel like you’re steering a small boat on a choppy sea, it could be due to your car’s suspension needing attention. Roads are full of pot holes and bumps of every kind. With time, they can wear out a suspension’s bearings and fittings, causing it to feel loose.

There are three key elements that your vehicle’s suspension system provides. The first is comfort. You don’t want to feel every road imperfection as you drive. Secondly, the shocks or struts provide control for your car when you hit a rut in…

Even when your vehicle is in the best possible condition, it never hurts to have it looked over by skilled technicians and certified mechanics like the ones working in our service center. And this is especially true if you are gearing up for a big road trip!

 

By keeping your gas tank full as you drive around town this winter season, you will prevent some big problems for your ride that tend to be expensive to fix. You won't be as likely to experience frozen fuel lines inside your vehicle, and you will reduce the chances of having your fuel filter getting clogged by dirt that may make its way into your gas tank over time in addition.