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Now that winter is in full swing, the sun has begun to set much earlier and the health of your vehicle's headlights is even more imperative than ever! That’s why it can be incredibly scary when one of your headlights goes out! But, don’t worry! Destination Kia is here with a “do-it-yourself” guide to replacing your headlights so that you can get your ride back in tip top shape to take on even the darkest winter roads! Check out our guide below and, if you find that you don’t have the tools or time to take on the job, be sure to schedule your Kia service appointment online today! Destination Kia’s Steps To Replacing A Headlight: Open and prop your vehicle's hood. Remove the power connector from the back of the headlight. This may require a slight turn to get it loose. Remove the dust cover from the back of the headlight. This also may require a small twist to get loose. Some cars have a clip that holds the bulb in place. Press down on this clip to release the light bulb. Grasp the housing of the bulb and pull it out. This step may require a little wiggling to get it loose. Do not pull the bulb by the glass or tug the bulb roughly. You could cause it to break. Holding the old bulb and new bulbs by their housings, compare to make sure they match. To guarantee your bulb is free of dust and fingerprints, gently wipe it with a pre-moistened alcohol wipe or rubbing alcohol on a dust-free cloth. Line up the bulb housing with the open socket and insert carefully. Make sure it's secure. Slide the bulb back in place and twist if necessary to make sure it's locked into its spot. Replace the clip (if you have one), dust cover, and power connector. Turn on your headlights to ensure the bulb and connection are working. Close the hood and pat yourself on the back!

Fall is in full swing and that means that Halloween is right around the corner! Take your spooky season spirit to the next level by decorating your vehicle! You could plan a fun costume/prop duo with your ride or just trick out your car for any trunk-or-treaters that pass by! Take a look at some of Destination Kia’s Halloween decorating tips and get into the mood this Halloween season! We can’t wait to see what you come up with! Destination Kia’s Halloween Decorating Tips: Road safety should always come first! First and foremost if you’re planning on driving your car, it is important to be sure that your decorations don’t become driving hazards. Secure your decorations firmly, keep window decals and stickers from obstructing view and remember not to hang anything from either your interior or exterior mirrors! Stationary vehicles are full of possibilities! If you’re using your vehicle as a prop or for Trunk-or-Treat purposes then by all means, go crazy! Just make sure the parking brake is on and that the keys aren’t within reach of any of your young trick-or-treaters! And it might also help to keep in mind that you’ll have to undecorate your vehicle next time you want to take a ride so don’t go overboard! Save yourself some cash by DIYing your decorations! Styrofoam, cardboard, construction paper, and corn syrup are your new best friends! Make your decorations exactly to your specific needs and get the kids involved so the whole family can have some Halloween fun! Match your costume to your cars! The scooby doo gang and their mystery machine, Batman and the batmobile, and so many more fun costumes you can do with your ride! Step it up a notch and use your vehicle as the ultimate prop!

Temperatures are dropping here in upstate New York and that means your car battery might be on its last leg. Whether you know it or not, your vehicle could leave you stranded and if you’re unsure what to do when your car battery dies, you will be in quite the predicament. Don’t worry though, we have you covered. This week, we have your guide on how to jump your vehicle in a few easy steps. Let’s get into it! Take out your jumper cables It’s a good idea to own your own set of jumper cables and store them in your car. If you don’t have jumper cables, call a friend or look for a good Samaritan who is will to assist you. Place both vehicles in park or neutral and shut off the ignition Both vehicles should be in park/ neutral, engines turned off, and both parking brakes should be engaged as well. Attach one of the red clips to the positive terminal of your battery Attach the other red clip to the positive terminal on the other vehicle. Attach one of the black clips to the negative terminal on the battery of the other vehicle. Attach the last black clip to an unpainted metal surface on your vehicle that is not near the battery. Using a metal strut that holds the bonnet open is perfect for this. Try to start your vehicle If your vehicle will not start, make sure that all cables are properly connected to the right terminals and have the person helping you, run their engine for about five minutes. After a few minutes, try starting your vehicle once again. If your vehicle still will not start, your battery might be beyond help and you’ll need to replace immediately. If you’re unsure how much life your battery has left, stop in to see us for a test and let our technicians take care of your battery! For comments or questions, give our service department a call. We are happy to assist you in any way we can! Stay Safe In A New Kia!

If you’re anything like me, your favorite kind of car wash is one you can drive into and let a few machines clean up your ride. But, if you are the hands-on, DIY kind of person you probably enjoy getting your hands a little dirty. Or in this case, a little clean. This week, we have dedicated our blog to giving you the run-down on the proper way to wash your ride without doing damage to the paint. Check it out our dos and don’ts below! Do put your car in a shaded area or in a garage. The hot summer sun will make proper car care and cleaning, much more difficult. Wash your car on your lawn, any runoff will be absorbed by the grass which is better for the environment. Do wet down your vehicle, thoroughly. All you need is a little sprinkle of water to rid your vehicle of any loose dirt or debris that have made your vehicle home. If you skip this step, expect scratches on your vehicle. Don’t use detergent or dish soap. There are many automotive soaps out there which is usually pH-controlled and has gloss enhancers. Use soaps designed specifically for your vehicle, not household soaps that can cause damage to your vehicle. Do wash your vehicle one section at a time and top to bottom. This will prevent dry soapy spots from forming on your vehicle. Do wet the car if temperatures are hot. Don’t let your vehicle dry in the sun, a shady spot or a garage will prevent water spots from forming on your vehicle. Do spend the extra few minutes drying your vehicle completely to avoid water spots. And there you have it, our complete list of dos and don’ts when it comes to a DIY car wash! We hope you use these tips the next time to grab the bucket and head out to scrub-a-dub your precious Kia! Buy A Clean Kia Today!

If you are anything like me, you’re both an avid road tripper and also really really addicted to being prepared for anything. If you fit this description, I have the list for you! This is a long list of the things you might want to keep in your vehicle in case of things like boredom or real emergency - so feel free to pick and choose your favorites (or at least the things you think you’ll need the most) and then put them in some sort of storage device in your car. Thank me later!!! In The Car Blankets and pillows Music Folding chairs Reading material Camera Cash for toll roads GPS Binoculars Wet wipes Puzzle books and quiet toys for kids Pen, pencil, notepad Tissues, paper towels, toilet paper Small bags for garbage Vehicle Emergency Kit Flashlight, roadside signal flares or reflective cones/warning signs First aid kit Booster cables, wrenches, screwdrivers (basic tool kit) Gallon jug of water Extra washer fluid, oil, transmission oil, brake fluid Rags, workshop towels, old blanket Gloves Spare belts (alternator, fan and air conditioner belts) Candle, warm clothes, heavy blanket (for winter travel) Duct tape and WD40 Stay Organized In A New Kia!

Identify Your Bulb Type Welp, my headlights have gone out. How will I ever survive?!?!? Daylight only extends to 4PM, so I guess I’ll just have to live at my office now. UNLESS I can change the dead bulb in my headlights? WHAT?! It’s not as complicated as I thought! AMAZING! So how do you change the bulb in your headlights? Follow these helpful steps below and you too can enjoy the glorious benefits of night time driving! Tools for the Job Owner's manual: Your owner's manual will have more than just the type of bulb you will need—it will also show you where your bulb is placed and how to switch out your headlight. Screwdriver: While newer vehicle models don't use screws to hold any of the parts in place, you may need one for an older vehicle. Safety glasses: Always a good idea to keep yourself safe. Steps to Change a Headlight Open and prop your vehicle's hood. Remove the power connector from the back of the headlight. This may require a slight turn to get it loose. Remove the dust cover from the back of the headlight. This also may require a small twist to get loose. Some cars have a clip that holds the bulb in place. Press down on this clip to release the light bulb. Grasp the housing of the bulb and pull it out. This step may require a little wiggling to get it loose. Do not pull the bulb by the glass or tug the bulb roughly. You could cause it to break. Holding the old bulb and new bulbs by their housings, compare to make sure they match. To guarantee your bulb is free of dust and fingerprints, gently wipe it with a pre-moistened alcohol wipe or rubbing alcohol on a dust-free cloth. Line up the bulb housing with the open socket and insert carefully. Make sure it's secure. Slide the bulb back in place and twist if necessary to make sure it's locked into its spot. Replace the clip (if you have one), dust cover, and power connector. Turn on your headlights to ensure the bulb and connection are working. Close the hood and pat yourself on the back! Now you know! That wasn’t too hard, was it? If you just responded to that question with, well actually it kinda was and I never in my life want to do that again, the good news is that you can head over to Destination Kia and they will be happy to replace your headlights for you! Stop by today! Get Your Headlights Replaced Today

Camping is in my blood. I feel it deep in my Soul... Literally. Every summer my friends and I get together for a girls camping weekend in Forestport, NY. The 4 of us went to college together and have remained very close since those college years. While we don’t see each other every day, we still work hard to keep in touch as often as possible. The annual camping trip has become something of a staple in our lives. We look forward to it every year and it gives us a chance to really catch up, put our phones down and really take a break from our lives which have become increasingly busy. When we started this tradition about 5 years ago everyone shared 2 tents, but I have a bad back so sleeping on the ground wasn’t exactly something that worked for me. After a while, I ended up sleeping in my car, which at the time, wasn’t that much of a step up from the ground, but it worked. From there I have developed a better system to actually set up a mini campsite in my car. When I got my Kia Soul last year from Destination Kia, my camping experience improved drastically! It took a few tries and engineering prowess that I acquired from Youtube, but I finally have a quality setup that works for me. Here is what I did: 1 -  board of plywood cut 51" Wide X 42" Long - Then cut in half so you end up with two 25.5" x 42" boards. (they do this free at most lumberyards / home depo) 1 -  30" Piano Hinge Some foam pipe Insulation Coleman Single High Quickbed - Full Size (not twin, queen, or king) Air pump When it was all said and done, it cost $90 for everything, including bed and pump. Not bad for a make shift car bed. What you’re going to want to do is take the hinge and attach it to both halves of the plywood so that you have 51” wide x 42” piece that can fold and be stored easily. I then wrapped pipe insulation around the edges of the board and secured it with duct tape to keep the wood from scratching the interior. Make sure the driver and passenger seats are upright and pushed completely forward. This gives you about 5' 11" of room with the rear door shut. The sleeping board rests perfectly on the middle arm rest. No need for additional support, and you have a nice little storage space for your bags and things that you may need under the board. I then cover the sleeping board with a cushy comforter to protect the air mattress from the wood. Add the air mattress and blankets and you have a bed fit for a good night’s sleep! Now that I have this magical camping Kia, I have to say I actually enjoy sleeping in a car more than a tent. For one thing, it keeps you off the ground, and thus away from creatures and moisture. Another thing, it protects you from the wind, rain, and other elements. For example - even better, this past year when it started to rain and hail outside, I ended up with 4 friends squished in a Kia because my sleeping option was safer! Finally, it's just easier to pull into a parking lot, or off the road and have everything ready to go for spending the night without drawing attention to yourself. So when I go on long road trips, I have a simple and cheap bed option right there in my car! So there you have it! Now you can camp in your Kia at your leisure! Enjoy! See Your Soul is Good for Camping!