Road trips are adventurous and exciting, but they can also be exhausting and stressful if you are not fully prepared for one. Here are some tips to get your car ready for that summer road trip you have been looking forward to since last fall. The Crown Kia service staff in St. Petersburg, FL can assist you with many of these steps should you heed the following advice. more Check All Fluid Levels Before hitting the road, check all of your fluid levels. These fluids include power steering fluid, brake fluid, transmission fluid, windshield wiper fluid, oil, and radiator coolant. After checking all fluid levels, make sure every belt and hose is secured in place. If you have recently brought your vehicle in for a check-up or repair, your vehicle is most likely ready to be driven. If you cannot remember the last time you got everything checked out, including an oil change, it might be best to take it in as soon as you can. Our knowledgeable associates in the service department at Crown Kia will happily serve you and ensure your vehicle is in working order before your trip. Check Your Tires Check your tire pressure and treads before starting your vehicle. Deep treads and adequate pressure are significant for proper traction while on the road. You should never inflate the tires more than their allotted amount due to the higher probability of the tires popping. Tire inflation should be closer to its maximum capacity during the summer, so try to keep this in mind before leaving for your trip. Bring a spare tire and car jack in the event of tire failure. Check All Lighting Make sure all of your lights, including interior lighting, are functioning properly. Your headlights, turn signals, and brake lights should be replaced before your journey to establish visibility and safety while on the road. Faulty exterior lighting is a safety hazard and will also get you pulled over by the police. Check your reading lamps and overhead lightbulbs to maintain driver and passenger security. What to Bring A GPS is a popular option to bring along when traveling, but a map will also suffice. It is best to have some sort of guide to reassure yourself that you are headed in the right direction. For emergencies, bring extra fuses, motor oil, jumper cables, a flashlight, first aid kit, and a cell phone charger for each person who carries a cell phone. Fully charged phone batteries will prevent anxiety from creeping up in case an emergency arises. Bottled water and protein-packed snacks will give everyone energy and a full stomach.
At Crown Kia, we will be happy to examine your vehicle and make any necessary adjustments before your next adventure. We will work with your schedule to ensure you get on the road when you need to. Stop by our dealership in St. Petersburg, FL today and allow us to prepare your vehicle for you. We look forward to assisting you!
For most drivers, getting a traffic ticket is not on the top ten lists of things to do! From speeding to tailgating to unsafe lane changes – you’re probably guilty of some of these habits at some point in time. There are several bad driving habits that are likely to get you a traffic ticket if there is a cop in the area – so follow these tips from a Pinellas Park area Kia dealer to help decrease your risks for getting a ticket:
Driving Too Fast
Sometimes speeding is unintentional and you don’t even realize how fast you’re going until you see the flashing lights of the cop behind you. Other times, you are purposely pushing the speed limits because you’re in a hurry to get somewhere. If you find yourself traveling faster than the posted speed limits, you can be pretty sure eventually you will be caught and find yourself paying a traffic ticket fine or facing the judge in court.
You can help prevent speeding when traveling on the highway by using your cruise control to set your speed. When driving through the city or residential areas, just remember to check your speed regularly and keep it under the posted limits to avoid a ticket. It’s better to get where you’re going a few minutes later than get into a car accident or end up with a speeding ticket.
Driving Too Close: Tailgating
When you drive too close to the vehicle in front of you, it’s called “tailgating”. Tailgating is a dangerous way to drive because it does not give you very much time to react if the car in front of you has to stop or turn unexpectedly for some reason. Tailgating usually ends up in a rear ending accident – or if a police officer sees a car tailgating, they may decide to give the driver a ticket for unsafe driving.
A good rule of thumb is to leave about a cars length for every ten miles per hour you’re driving. If traveling at 60 miles per hour, leave six car lengths between you and the car in front of you to give yourself adequate time to stop.
Changing Lanes Without a Turn Signal
Vehicles are equipped with left and right turn signals in order to let other drivers and pedestrians know what your intentions are. If you don’t use your turn signals when turning off a highway or changing lanes on a multi-lane highway, the drivers of the vehicles around you are not sure what you plan to do and a car accident is more likely.
Warranties include 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain and 5-year/60,000-mile basic. All warranties and roadside assistance are limited. See retailer for warranty details.