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Leaving your vehicle unused for extended periods of time can lead to a number of unexpected issues and in these challenging times are more likely to happen. To ensure customers continue to have a dependable vehicle when they need it, Kia have created a series of four short animation videos giving guidance on what safety and maintenance procedures that can be carried out at home on their car on a regular basis during this time.
Here are a few helpful hints and tips..
It's important to perform these exterior safety checks to any vehicle that's been parked up for an extended period.
Check all exterior lights are functioning by illuminating them and walking around the car. Check brake lights by positioning the car’s rear next to a wall and observe via your rearview mirror, or ask someone to assist.
If your Kia is fitted with a tyre pressure monitoring system, low tyre pressure will trigger a warning in your instrument cluster whilst you drive. If you don’t have the monitoring system, check pressures and top up at your nearest fuel station as soon as possible.
Refer to your owners manual or the figures inside your vehicle’s door shut for the pressures you need.
Pop the bonnet and follow these maintenance steps to keep your car in running order during an extended stationary period.
To check your oil, make sure your vehicle is on level ground and has been run recently. Let the engine cool, pull out the dipstick, wipe it and dip again. If the oil is close to or below the bottom marker on the dipstick, open the oil filler cap and pour in the right amount of oil to reach the maximum mark. It is really important to use the correct grade of oil, visit the Kia website to find out more (www.kia.com/uk)
If your coolant level drops, a warning light should appear on your dashboard. However, you can check the level is correct by finding the expansion tank and checking the min and max level markers. If it is low, check the engine is cool, then add antifreeze into the tank. Book an appointment at Ken Brown Kia.
Follow these simple steps to keep your car's battery charged during an extended stationary period.
To help prevent your battery going flat, ensure all battery sapping functions are off or disconnected when you leave your car – like interior lights, a phone or satnav charger. If the battery does go flat, refer to your owners manual for instructions on how to safely use jump leads or a jump pack
To keep the battery charged, we recommend running petrol or diesel cars for 20 minutes every two weeks. If you have a plug-in hybrid or fully electric vehicle, we recommend you charge to full capacity.
Don't be alarmed if your brakes show signs of corrosion after an extended stationary period.
After a vehicle has been parked for several days, some surface corrosion of the brake discs will naturally occur. This may result in initial resistance and/or a knocking noise when first pulling away as the brake pads release.
There may also be an unusual noise when braking which will improve after a few brake applications. These noises are not a cause for concern and will disappear with use.
If you are planning to visit us for a service or repair, rest assured we are following government guidelines. Kia’s Family-like Care. Focused on keeping you safe.
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