Saturday, December 1, 2018

Automatic Climate Control System Tips

Here are some great tips right from the Kia Sales Training site that I thought I would share with you. With Winter coming up, you might run into fogging etc.


ISSUE Windows Fog Up REMEDIES •

Use of the Automatic Climate Control System to defog the windows.
 Climate Control Auto Function:
1. Press AUTO to select Full Auto Operation - The AUTO setting automatically controls the airflow modes, fan speeds, air intake and air conditioning, according to the temperature setting selected.

 2. Set desired Temperature.

 3. Press SYNC to select Dual Temperature Control Operation.

 Defrost Outside Windshield: 1. Set Fan Speed to the highest position.

 2. Set Temperature to Hot. 3. Press the Front Defrost button. Defog Inside Windshield: 1. Set Fan Speed to desired position. 2. Set desired Temperature.

 3. Press the Front Defrost button. • Point out that the defogger will automatically activate as needed when the Climate Control System is set to AUTO.

REMINDERS • Warm air may flow in through vents if Recirculated Air button is not pressed ON (LED lit).
• Pressing any button during AUTO operation will deactivate the AUTO function and switch to manual mode, except for Temperature Control or SYNC Temperature Control.
 • When in AUTO mode, Air Flow Mode and Fan Speed do not display on the Climate Control Display. QUICK TIPS
 • Defrost Mode activates A/C and opens Fresh Air Vent to help dehumidify the air and improve Defroster performance.
 • During AUTO operation the A/C indicator will NOT illuminate. The fan speed, air intake, airflow and air conditioning may automatically be engaged at any time to reach desired temperature and reduce humidity.
 • Keep inside glass as clean as possible to reduce window fogging.

Hope that clears some things up (lol) ... Remember, your AUTO temp setting is like your home heating and cooling system. Set the temperature and it will keep it at that temperature in the cabin.

Remember, you can alway reach me here on the blog site, or visit me at Jim Marsh Kia in Las Vegas, Nv.  Email me at :    cashatkia@gmail.com

Have a Kia Day!

Wednesday, September 5, 2018

SOME OVERALL KIA SETTINGS TIPS

There are a multitude of settings in 'user settings' screen.  Here are some tips that will work for you. You may or may not have all of these, but most Kia cars have at lease some of them.  These are based on the Stinger GT2 which features pretty much everything you can get! 

Navigating the Display

It may not seem intuitive to everyone, but these days, many automakers put a button on the steering wheel that makes it possible for users to adjust some settings, such as turning off the chime notification of the Lane Departure Warning system. Such settings will be displayed on the LCD monitor behind the steering wheel. To get to the main menu, press the steering-wheel mounted button that looks like two sheets of paper. The driver can press it multiple times to cycle through several menus, including fuel economy, driving range, G-force, and User Settings.
Upon arriving at the User Settings menu, another button right underneath the aforementioned button is used to move the selection on screen up or down, and pressing it acts as an “enter” or “okay” button. Use these directions to find the User Settings display. There’s plenty to cover.

User Settings

Upon reaching the User Settings screen, it may be a bit daunting at first. There’s multiple menus there, each with their own set of options. The list consists of:
  • Heads-Up Display
  • Driver Assistance
  • Door
  • Lights
  • Sound
  • Convenience
  • Service Interval
  • Reset
Here’s what each one covers.
Heads-Up Display (HUD)
For those not aware of what a head’s up display (HUD) is, a HUD displays the vehicle’s speed and other information on the windshield, and that allows a driver to keep their eyes on the road rather than glancing down at the information cluster located behind the steering wheel. The HUD options allow one to configure how and what content the HUD displays, if at all. If the consumer wishes to disable the HUD, they may turn it off. Otherwise, there are options to change the display shown on the windshield, including modifying its rotation, selecting what content is shown, and changing the size of the display and the color of the display, such as “RED” for easy visibility.
Driver Assistance
The 2018 Kia Stinger GT2 comes with a “Driver Attention Warning System” (DAW), and it’s an available option on the other Stinger trims. The DAW monitors the driver’s behavior and warns the driver if their driving behavior is abnormal compared to other recordings when driving. Users have the option to turn off the DAW along with many other advanced safety features that are standard in the Stinger GT2.
These options are:
  • SCC Reaction Time – How quickly the smart cruise control (SCC) should react to modify its speed: fast, normal, or slow
  • Driver Attention Warning Sensitivity – How sensitive the DAW should be to different driving behaviors: high, normal, or off
  • Lane Safety – The driver may choose to whether to receive a lane departure warning when leaving their lane as well as turn on or off lane keep assist, the system that will try to force the car back into its proper lane if the turn signal is not on.
  • Forward Collision Avoidance – This is a good feature to keep on. The vehicle will attempt to stop if sensing an imminent collision and no driver input.
  • Forward Collision Warning – The primary to the above, a warning will chime to alert the driver to stop prior to taking over and applying pressure to the brakes automatically.
  • Rear Cross Traffic Alert – The driver may choose to turn this on or off
  • Blind Spot Collision Warning – The driver may choose to turn this on or off
Door Options
There are several options the driver can configure from this menu. They may choose whether the doors automatically unlock in the presence of the key fob, if the door requires the button on the door handle to be pressed twice (Two Press) to unlock, and if the doors lock up after being closed. Two more options are there for the liftgate. (1) Whether it should open manually or if it should act as a Smart Liftgate, i.e. in the presence of the key fob. (2) In the former, the driver can also choose whether the liftgate requires manual power or if it will open up itself once opened via the handle (a Power Liftgate).
Lights
This menu has several options for the lights inside and outside the car. Drivers can enable the one-touch turn signal option that allows them to simply flick the turn signal in the direction they wish, and the turn signal light will blink 3, 5, or 7 times; this can also be turned off for the regular manual operation. When entering the vehicle, ambient light turns on, and drivers may choose how bright the light is on a scale of 1-4, and they may choose one of the following colors: white, yellow, red, green, blue, or violet. Lastly, there is an option for the headlight delay to be turned on or off.
Sound
Pretty simple, the driver can choose the volume for the parking assist system and whether or not a “Welcome Sound” is played when they enter the vehicle.
Convenience
There are a few more options in this menu for ease of access and convenience.
  • Seat Ease of Access – The driver can choose how far the seat is from the steering wheel upon entering the cabin before turning the vehicle on for ease of access.
  • Steering Wheel Easy Access – Like Driver memory settings, this decides whether the steering wheel will move with the assigned key fob or should have its position moved manually up or down.
  • Welcome Mirror/Light – Turn on/off the welcome lights when entering the car
  • Wiper/Lights – Turn on or off this display
  • Gear Position Pop On Display – Choose whether the gear should be displayed on the LCD monitor when switched.
  • Icy Road Warning – This will alert the driver if the road conditions are slippery. Choose to turn this on or off.
Service Interval
Users can choose whether they want to receive vehicle maintenance reminders. Users can set the frequency they receive reminders as well as what services to be reminded about.
Other
These are miscellaneous options, such as whether to reset the fuel economy after ignition or fueling up. There are also unit choices, such as the fuel economy unit (US or UK gallon), the temperature unit (Fahrenheit or Celsius), the tire pressure unit (psi, kPA, or barometer), and the torque unit (lb-ft or Nm). Nothing special unless driving in another country.
Reset
Also self-explanatory. If selling the car or getting it used and want to return the car back to its factory settings, simply choose this menu. Like performing a factory reset on a computer, most of the settings and data will be reset to their defaults if not all of it.

Also, I have received questions about 'dipping' mirrors when in reverse. To activate the 'dipping' feature which allows the side mirrors to tilt down in reverse, you have to have one of the mirror adjustment buttons (left or right) depressed. If you do not have either depressed, (where the mirrors don't move if you try to adjust them) this feature is inactive. 

If you have any questions, please comment, or you can email me at  cashatkia@gmail.com
If you are in the market, let me know. I am in Las VEgas, Nv!!

Have a KIA Day

Thursday, August 9, 2018

Defining the safety features in your Kia...And there are a lot of them!

Ok! Lets talk about the safety features that you may have in your new Kia!!
Something that was introduced recently in the Kia product line that you may have in your new Kia is the DRIVE WISE Package.  It offers a plethora of very helpful function and is available on selected Cars, Suvs and vans. Lets look at some of these:

Back up camera:  Pretty basic. Almost every new car has one. They are very helpful in making sure that you are clear to go...no bikes, pets or small kids behind the car.  They are tied in many times with audible back up sensors for added safety that beep at you if there is something behind you.  Some models, like our SXL packages are available with a surround camera which gives you a view of everything around the car for 360 degree visibility.  Remember, all these safety features are not a substitute for actually looking around and seeing what is there. (just like you did BEFORE all this stuff).

Cross Traffic Alert: This is a nifty sensor that will let you know if someone is crossing your rear. 👉👈Especially helpful if you are in a Stinger 😁and have two large SUVs in your way as you try to back out of a parking space. 

Blind Spot Warning: Again, helpful, but be aware of who is around you. (Sometimes you may accidentally turn off the blind spot system and , well, you get it).  If someone is in your blind spot, you will see an icon light up on the driver's side or passenger's side view mirror.  If you have your turn signal on, it will beep at you. I think this is probably the most important feature to have aside from the rear camera. 

Lane DepartureWarning System:   This will help you pay attention to the road, but is by no means a substitute for driver awareness. Two cameras up behind the rear view mirror read the lines on the road.  If you drift out of the lane without a turn signal, it will warn you that you are drifting, and in the case of the active system (available in some models) may even attempt to bump you back into your lane. I tend to turn this system off in city driving. It activates at about 40mph, and can be annoying in town where streets tend to have a lot of lines. 

Smart Cruise Control: Available of selected Kias.  It works like your old cruise control, but has radar that will pace the car in front of you at a pre set distance.  Slowing down and speeding up with the traffic flow. The link below will explain in detail the LDWS and Smart cruise.

smart cruise and lane change warning

Autonomous Emergency Braking:  I will let the Kia Video below go through this.  It's very informative.

Autonomous Emergency Braking Video


And of course, the most important safety feature is YOU. Drive wise, and drive alert. 

Remember, you can contact me any time by asking a question below, or e mailing me at cashatkia@gmail.com or if you are in Vegasm come see me at Jim Marsh Kia on West Centennial.

Have a KIA DAY!


Friday, July 6, 2018

SOME Summer Air Conditioning Tips

Hello. It's summer! I live in Las Vegas where summer is a serious matter. As I write this, we are looking forward to temps to hit 109* today. 

When we get this hot, I hear a lot of people come in and say that their A.C. is not cooling properly.  Trust me, All is working well.  There is a reason that your Air works great first thing in the morning or later at night. Maybe this will shed a bit of light on the big Air Conditioning Mystery. 

The Air Conditioner in your car is designed to cool the intake air about 15 to 20 degrees.  So, if you are 115 degrees outside, and the A.C. is pulling that air in, the best you can hope for is 95 to 100 degrees in the car. If you have good tint, you can look for a little better because you are not fighting solar heating as much. 

There are, in Kia products, several variations of air conditioning controls.


dual zone
Dual air allows the driver and passenger to set their comfort level individually on the driver and passenger side of the car. They can also be set for one universal temp. It also features an AUTO setting.
Single Zone


There is also a single / simple unit that allows for temp. and fan speed. 

The dual zone units also feature an AUTO button. This allows you to set a temperature that will remain constant. Much like your home heating a cooling units.

 Remember.  Just because you set it to 68, it will only cool the outside air 15-20 degrees. So, how do you cool it down even more?

dual zone / auto
There is a recirculation setting on all the A.C. units. You have seen it. It's the one with the arrow swooping around the car. 

This does exactly what it says it does. It recirculates the in-cabin air and continues to cool it 15-20 degrees at a time. So, when your 140 degree internal air is cooled to 125,  it will continue to cool it in a downward temperature spiral until the car is no longer a pizza oven.  You can run on recirculation all the time without really doing any harm to the system. you need to be patient with your A.C. system.  It can only do what it can do. 

As part of your spring prep for summer, have your A.C. checked. Especially in older cars.  There are do it yourself recharge systems available, but unless you really know what you are doing, I would let a pro check it. Only because the money you save doing it yourself can quickly become a couple of thousand dollars if you screw it up.  (I know from experience)

A.C. units have become smaller and a lot more efficient in that last 10 or so years.  There is very little vampire effect (bogging) in the new units, and if kept serviced will freeze you out. 

Hope this has helped. Stay cool. (The heat can bring out the worst in people. So keep your temper as cool as you car as you drive around in this heat!!)

Remember, you can always ask a question by commenting here, or e mail me at cashatkia@gmail.com.  

Thank you Bobbett who I work with who always has the answers!!

Have A Kia DAY!

Saturday, June 16, 2018

Idle Stop and Go

A lot of Kias have the Idle Stop and Go system (ISG).  Looks like this:

Image result for kia idle stop and go
It is meant to be a fuel saving device. Over time, if your engine is not running at stop lights, you will save some fuel.  It IS a good theory, but if you are old school like me, anytime your engine shuts down you go into a slight panic.  Used to mean something was terribly wrong.  

In my Stinger, the system defaults to ISG whenever you start the car, so I have to make sure I turn it off before I go very far.  This, of course, is a personal preference.  I think the ISG is a good thing in the long run.  Here is an excerpt from KIA explaing the system and how and when it activates. 

Have a KIA day!

Idle Stop and Go (ISG) Description

Idle Stop and Go (ISG) function automatically switches off the engine when the car is at a standstill and starts it again as soon as the brake pedal is released. This not only reduces fuel consumption, it also lowers emissions. Idle Stop and Go (ISG) function also has a built-in sensitivity to driving safety and comfort.
The engine is not switched off if certain conditions relating to safety and comfort have not been fulfilled (for example, when the engine oil is still cold, when the battery is running low or when the outside temperature is below 3º C or 37F). It can be deactivated by pressing the ISG OFF switch on the crash pad lower panel.

Sample scenario:
vehicle moving
the transmission lever position is in D-range. The brake pedal is released
the engine is running (vehicle moving)
the driver brakes until the vehicle comes to a standstill
the transmission lever position is in D-range. The brake pedal is pressed
the engine stops. The symbol “AUTO STOP” lights up in the instrument cluster
the driver wants to continue the journey
the transmission lever position is in D-range. The brake pedal is released
the engine is running again. The symbol goes out.

Operation Condition for the ISG Function
Will function if these conditions are met
- ISG OFF Switch is off
switch (seat/door/hood) closed
- lever position in D or N range
brake pedal pressed or released
- vehicle speed after driving higher than 8kmph (5mph)
a/system operating correctly
engine coolant temperature over 78º C (172.4º F)
brake pressure not below 35kpa
battery SOC over 77% and temperature in the range of 2-55ºC (35.6-131ºF)
Steering wheel – operating angle below 180º
Parking condition – slope up hill <12%, down hill <8%
- no ISG related part errors

Won't function if:
- large steering angle when car is stopped
- low brake operating pressure
- turn on the a/c with max blower
- when battery condition is poor (low SOC)
- active defroster of front or rear glass
- unfasten driver's seat belt or open the door and hood
- on a steep slope
- with ISG system errors and other diagnosis
- ISG OFF switch is on 

Thursday, June 7, 2018

Credit Myths

We all hate the whole checking credit thing when we go buy a car.  Many dealerships will get your social security number and blast it from here to the moon resulting in 15 or more "HITS" every time. Some dealerships will do a SOFT INQUIRY  which is no more than just running your score and history. Once you agree on terms and numbers, they will then "shop" to the lender they think you have the best chance of getting bought with.  Remember, if you are buying a car at a dealership the are required to do a credit check. Even if you are paying cash, they need to run your social through the national data base to make sure it is really YOU.  

Anyway, we all know to some degree what our credit looks like. If you don't, you should check it. Often.

Here is a link to a great article that you should read.

(Kudos to Huffpost)

 Credit Myths

Have a KIA day. and remember, you can direct your questions here or at
 cash at kia

#YESITIZ


Sunday, April 8, 2018

Kia Purchase vs. Lease...Great, Clear explanation From Kia Site

Hi Everyone. It's been a while, I have been really busy selling Stingers! #Yesitiz.  We have discussed leasing Vs. Buying before, but here is a great breakdown from Kia's home page.  It it clear and answers most of the questions my customers have.  Check it out. Remember, you can always e mail me at  cashatkia@cox.net with any questions you have about your Kia. You can also submit questions in the comments below.  Hope this makes the question of Lease v. Purchase a little more clear for you.

Have a KIA Day!

Kia lease v. purchase


Friday, March 23, 2018

#Yesitiz Facebook Page

Well, I have started a Kia Stinger Facebook page #Yesitiz.  NOt just for Stingers, although a lot of the info there is about the new Kia Stinger, which is an amazing GIANT step forward for Kia. I try to put the latest news about the Stinger there so all your research is in one place. But if you own a Kia of any type, please feel free to share your pictures and stories. We LOVE our Kias!

Here is the link

#Yesitiz Facebook page

Have a KIA Day!

Monday, February 19, 2018

MAKE SURE YOU ARE USING THE RIGHT UVO APP

There are several UVO (you voice) interactive applications, and they are geared toward different e services platforms. Here is a guide to using the right ine for your Kia.

https://www.kia.com/us/en/content/technology/uvo/introducing-uvo


If you have questions, please e mail me at   cashatkia@cox.net

or submit any questions right here.

Have a KIA DAY

Monday, February 5, 2018

A Change of Address

A Quick Change of E mail address for Y'all. I have replaced my cenurylink e mail with cashatkia@cox.net 

Please send questions and comments there.  In the meantime, here are a couple of links you might enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YVbVXOjJv4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMgsYIM6AOw

Have a Kia Day!