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Cars are very resilient, but their parts can break down over time, and they require maintenance to stay in great shape. By getting all the right Kia service for your vehicle, you're ensuring you get the most value possible out of your car by helping it last for many years. You can get all the necessary types of service you need from your Kia dealer. more 1. Full Kia Service You need a full service every twelve months. A full service consists of numerous inspections and replacements for your vehicle. Parts such as the cooling system, throttle, parking brake, and engine are checked. Dozens of other components are also fully inspected. You also need a major service, too. This is performed every other year and is more comprehensive than full service. The technicians do everything they do during a full service, but they also examine more parts of your car and replace worn-down components such as the pedals, spark plugs, and brake pads. 2. Engine Diagnostic An engine diagnostic is typically performed when your vehicle's check engine light comes on. You can also ask the dealer to perform a diagnostic when you stop by for full service or other types of service throughout the year. During an engine diagnostic, the technicians use specialist equipment to scan your vehicle. If the check engine light is on, then the equipment will specifically scan the check engine light code to determine why this light has been activated. The test helps the technicians narrow down what kind of issues your car is having. For example, specific error codes that come up during the diagnostic may let the technicians know which system in your car is faulty. The technicians then manually investigate to figure out the exact issues your car has. 3. Tune-Up Getting regular tune-ups helps your car last longer and perform at its best. During a tune-up, the technicians typically check on all the wear-and-tear parts of your vehicle such as the belts and hoses. They also change fluids and filters that need to be changed. Any parts that have worn out, such as your spark plugs, wires, or ignition coils, are replaced. 4. Oil Change and Oil Filter Replacement Your vehicle's motor oil and oil filter need to be replaced at regular intervals. Most vehicles need an oil change after driving 5,000 to 7,500 miles, but this can vary, so check your owner's manual to see the recommendation for your Kia model. You'll typically need to stop by the dealer for an oil change twice a year. It's wise to get other forms of interim service, such as a tire rotation and battery check, at the same time as your oil change. Having issues with your car? Visit Bergstrom Kia of Oshkosh in Oshkosh, WI for service today.

The ignition coil is a small but essential part of your car's engine, generating the electrical power that allows each spark plug to ignite the fuel inside the cylinders. If your engine has lost power, started misfiring, or experienced any more of the following problems, a faulty coil might be to blame. Read on to learn when to head to your local Kia dealer to repair or replace a coil. more Your Engine Starts Sputtering and Shaking Misfiring is often the first symptom of a malfunctioning coil. As the coil fails to deliver a consistent flow of voltage to the spark plug, the plug fails to ignite the fuel. The resulting misfiring makes the engine vibrate and sputter, especially when driving at high speeds or idling. Your Car Struggles To Gain Speed Acceleration will become difficult with at least one bad coil. You may find it difficult to reach higher speeds on the highway. More alarmingly, you might also struggle to overtake other vehicles or accelerate quickly when crossing a busy intersection. Your Tailpipe Produces Smoke and Backfiring As a bad coil causes misfiring, unspent fuel will be collecting inside the combustion chamber. This unburned fuel eventually leaks back toward the tailpipe, where it can ignite and cause all kinds of problems. When this occurs, you're likely to hear backfiring and see smoke in the exhaust fumes. Your Fuel Efficiency Has Plummeted All these above problems lead to a far less efficient engine, meaning your gas mileage will drop sharply. You may be surprised at how rapidly the dashboard's fuel gauge swings toward empty. You Can't Start Your Car in the Morning Without a fully reliable supply of electricity, the engine may fail to start in the morning. Just one faulty coil is unlikely to prevent it from starting entirely, but at the least, you'll need to turn the key or press the starter button several times before the engine turns over. Your Check Engine Light Turns On The advanced sensors throughout your Kia are designed to detect problems such as a bad coil. Therefore, the first indication of a malfunctioning coil could be the check engine light appearing on your dashboard. An experienced technician can then diagnose the coil issue and promptly repair it. Your Kia Dealer Can Clean, Repair, or Replace a Bad Coil Depending on the manner and severity of the fault, a failing coil can be cleaned, repaired, or replaced. Whatever the solution, a coil malfunction is rarely a complex issue to resolve and your car should be running smoothly again in short order. Visit Bergstrom Kia of Oshkosh in Oshkosh, WI, today to have your engine repaired by courteous, experienced professionals. We offer first-rate vehicles, financing, maintenance, repairs, and customer care.

We all depend on our tires to get us where we need to go, but even the best tire will eventually wear out or become damaged. Worn or damaged tires reduce your control over your Kia, making accidents more likely. As your Kia dealer, we'd like to tell you a few signs you need to visit us for new tires. more Worn Tread Centers Tread wears down naturally due to friction with the surface, but excessive wear in the center of the tire tread is a sign your tires are overinflated. Your tires perform best and wear out slower if they're maintained at the correct tire pressure. The right pressure for your Kia's tires is listed in your car manual. Overinflated tires not only suffer more damage, but they're also dangerous to drive on. The air inside a tire heats up when driving due to friction. As the air gets hotter, the tire's internal pressure increases. An overinflated tire already has higher than normal pressure, which also stretches the tire's surface thinner. An overinflated tire is more likely to blow out, and this can cause a serious accident. We can correct the tire pressure and check your tires are still safe. Scalloped Tire Edges Scalloping or cupping is an odd wear pattern on the outer edges of the tread. It looks as if parts of the tread have been scooped out with an ice cream scoop at regular intervals. This type of damage is caused by a suspension problem or damaged shocks. The shocks are designed to absorb vibrations caused by driving over a surface and prevent your car from bouncing as you're driving. Damaged shocks don't absorb and dissipate these vibrations, and this causes sections of your tires to hit the surface harder than they should as the tires move more erratically. Worn shocks can also cause damage to many other components due to the increased vibrations that spread through your car. We'll replace​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ damaged shocks to give you a smoother ride and protect your tires. Bald Tires A bald tire is so severely worn down that its tread has almost completely disappeared. The surface of this type of tire looks smooth, and it's very dangerous to drive on. The lack of tread means the tire can't grip the surface, and this can cause it to skid if you drive through water or mud, as your car could hydroplane. Bald tires are more likely to suffer leaks as the rubber has worn thin. They are also illegal, and you could get a citation. We'll check your tire to confirm the diagnosis and can quickly replace it with a new one. Don't risk an accident. Visit our service center today at Bergstrom Kia of Oshkosh in Oshkosh, WI.

In modern cars, transmissions are remarkably durable despite their complexity. However, all transmissions undergo wear and tear; if you can recognize the early warning signs of low transmission fluid or other problems, you can respond quickly and save yourself repair work later. Here are a few of the most common indications that it's time to visit your local Kia dealership for transmission service. more Leaking Transmission Fluid Transmission fluid serves a number of important purposes, the first of which is lubricating the bearings, gears, and other moving parts. If your transmission springs a leak, you might notice a puddle of reddish liquid under your car when you pull away from parking. Harsh Grinding Noises Low transmission fluid will often result in a grinding sound as insufficiently lubricated gears struggle against each other. Grinding might also result from worn-out transmission linkage, a bad clutch, or faults in the synchronizer rings or bearings. Don't delay in asking a technician to diagnose and repair the cause of a grinding gearbox. High-Pitched Whining Sounds Automatic transmissions may also whine when the fluid is low. Whining can also be caused by a malfunctioning torque converter or worn-out transmission gears in the planetary gear system. Suddenly Slipping Gears Malfunctioning gears can occasionally slip, which is hazardous as the engine's power momentarily becomes disconnected from the wheels. When slipping, gears might even shift on their own. Early warning signs of slipping gears include loud engine revving while shifting, delayed shifting, delayed acceleration, and harsh gear shifts. Stubbornly Sticking Gears Alternatively, you might find your gears refusing to shift at all. Sticking gears may point to low or dirty transmission fluid, a faulty sensor or solenoid, stuck valves, a clogged transmission filter, or something else. As is often the case with complex modern transmissions, there are multiple potential causes for sticking gears; you'll probably need a skillful technician to figure it out. Unpleasant Burning Smells When transmission fluid starts to degrade or lessen in volume, friction and heat rise inside the gearbox. This worsens the problem by burning the fluid, further reducing its volume, thickening it, and creating a burning smell, which you're likely you catch in the cabin above. Flush Transmission Fluid Frequently at Your Kia Dealer As you can see, low, leaking, burned, or aging transmission fluid is often the cause of gearbox trouble. With this in mind, it's wise to pay careful attention to the condition of your transmission fluid and keep it topped up as required. Transmission fluid also needs to be flushed and replaced entirely every 60,000 to 100,000 miles (every 30,000 to 60,000 for manual transmissions). You can have this done at your local dealership. Visit Bergstrom Oshkosh Kia in Oshkosh, WI, today to have your transmission inspected and serviced by qualified professionals. Our locally trusted dealership serves as a one-stop shop for all your automobile needs.

With as many electronic components as modern cars have, the car battery has never been more important. All drivers should keep a close eye on the condition of their batteries, which tend to last about three to five years on average. If you notice the following indications of trouble, visit your local Kia dealership for a new car battery right away. more Misshapen Battery Casing When aging or damaged by extreme temperatures or internal shorts, a car battery can sometimes start to warp out of shape. If the walls of your batter are not perfectly straight, then you can be sure it's failing. It's best to replace a warping battery before the casing cracks and leaks. Leaking Battery Acid When a car battery's casing cracks open, it can sometimes leak battery acid or gas. This hazardous substance emits a strong, sulfury smell and can cause damage to other car parts. Needless to say, a leaking car battery will no longer work effectively and has to be replaced. Corrosion on the Terminals A little corrosion on the terminals may not seem like much damage, but corrosion can prevent the battery from properly delivering its voltage to the rest of the car. So if your battery's terminals are so corroded that you can't easily clean them, you'll probably need to replace the whole battery. Slow-Starting Engine As a dying battery fails to store or transmit electricity as efficiently, you may find it harder to start your car's engine in the morning. At first, the starter might become slow to turn the engine over. Eventually, all you'll hear is a clicking sound with no response from the engine at all. Faltering Electronic Accessories The various other electronics in your car will also slow down as the battery weakens. At first, inessential electronic components like the stereo, phone charger, and power windows are likely to fail. Finally, vital components such as the dashboard dials and headlights will also lose power. Battery Warning Light When a car battery has problems, the car will usually detect it and alert you with the battery warning light on your dashboard. This battery-shaped light might also indicate a problem with other parts of the electrical supply such as the alternator, so it's best to ask a technician to diagnose the problem. Have Your Car Battery Tested at Your Local Kia Dealer If you're in doubt as to the condition of your battery, you can always have it tested at your local dealership. The technicians will be happy to measure the battery's voltage using a multimeter or similar tool. Visit Bergstrom Oshkosh Kia in Oshkosh, WI, today to have your battery examined or replaced. We're a locally trusted dealership offering a terrific range of vehicles and courteous, attentive customer service.

Keeping your Kia humming along at its best means more than just regular maintenance at the Kia dealer. It's also about the parts you choose when it's time for a repair or an upgrade. While saving a few bucks on an aftermarket part might seem like a win, there's a compelling case to be made for sticking with OEM parts straight from the original manufacturer. OEM Parts Are Tailor-Made for Your Car Genuine parts, made by the original manufacturer of your vehicle, are designed to fit your Kia perfectly. This perfect fit is about more than just how it looks, it's about keeping your car running as smoothly as the day you drove it off the lot. Brand-name parts are always made from high-quality materials and undergo rigorous testing to meet the manufacturer's standards. Aftermarket parts are often cheaper, and they might fit okay, but they're never going to match the perfection of brand-name parts designed specifically for your vehicle. Even a small mismatch in fit or materials can lead to problems with your car's performance, possibly even causing you to need further repairs. Peace of Mind Comes Standard Worried about voiding your warranty, or the part not living up to its promises? With genuine brand-name parts, you can put those fears to rest. These parts often come with a warranty of their own, and using them for repairs helps keep your car's warranty intact. Genuine Parts: Built to Last Parts made by the original manufacturer are built to last. Designed specifically for your Kia, they work more efficiently and wear down less over time than cheap alternatives. This means you'll spend less time visiting the repair shop and more time on the road. Aftermarket parts might claim to save you money upfront, but the potential for more frequent replacements can turn those savings into expenses. Keeping Your Car's Value If you're thinking about selling your Kia down the line, sticking with Original Equipment Manufacturer parts can help maintain its value. Parts that match and function as well as the original parts your car was built with can help you avoid undesirable price cuts when it's time to sell. Avoid Decision Fatigue Finding the right part in an endless sea of aftermarket options can be overwhelming. When you go with OEM instead, the choice is simple. You get the part that was made for your car with no guesswork required. Visit Your Kia Dealer for Brand-Name Parts The next time your Kia needs a little TLC, don't wait. Head to your local dealership for genuine parts and professional repairs performed by our certified technicians. From ensuring a perfect fit to protecting your warranty, choosing brand-name parts not only supports the health of your vehicle but also provides you with peace of mind. Call Bergstrom Kia of Oshkosh in Oshkosh, WI, to schedule your service today.