GDI SERVICE ... THIS IS IMPORTANT TO DO...READ ON

I recently got a call from a customer of mine asking if the GDI service was something that was necessary for his Kia Optima.  He went on to say that the service writer had told him it was something he should do about every 15,000 miles or so. He was concerned that it was just something that they were selling that was not necessary. It's not outlandish as far as cost to have it done, though it can cost a bit for the service. Short answer here is YES, you really should have it done. The once a year cost to have the GDI service done is so worth it.

I had my Stinger GDI service yesterday. It has about 16,000 miles on it. The before and after was astonishing.  

What is GDI?  GDI stands for Gas Direct Injection. Simply put, your fuel delivery is injected straight into the cylinder (combustion chamber) rather than going through the intake valves as on a traditional engine. Bottom line, there is a trade off. As much as the GDI system is more efficient for fuel delivery and mileage, more responsive when you jump on the gas, it is a carbon builder. Carbon builds up on the valves and in the combustion chamber. Much like when you get sinus build up and can't breathe. Think of GDI service as a big dose of decongestant. Nothing feels better after having a bad head cold than being able to breathe again. 

When your engine can breath it feels better....like its old self.  Again, the results are like day and night.  We drive our GDI cars and over time lose a little power and performance .... We really don't even notice...We forget what that car drove like the day we purchased it. We get our oil changed, our tires rotated, filters changed and we just go on with life. 

So, I brought my car to my service department at Jim Marsh Kia, and had the service done. I wanted to see for myself if there was any difference in performance before and after. Let me tell you...When I drove home last night, it was amazing. The car performed like the day it rolled off the showroom floor.  I walked in this morning and the service manager, Blair, has this grin like "I told you...." and yes, he told me. 

GDI service is every bit as important as oil changes and should be part of your regular service schedule. Every 15,000 miles is what they recommend. Obviously the longer you wait, the more build up and the harder to do a thorough cleaning.  Prepare for an OMG moment after this service.  If you own a Kia with a GDI engine, and have not had this done, you need to get with your Kia service Department and schedule a time. It takes a couple of hours or so to do so bring a book to read.  If you don't get it done, your are doing a huge dis-service to yourself, your car and your wallet.  unaddressed engine carbon deposits can lead to expensive problems down the road.  In the Vegas area, call Jim Marsh Kia (702) 946-1000 and ask for the service department. They will schedule your GDI service appointment. 

As always, I am available to answer your KIA questions right here, or you can email me at: cashatkia@gmail.com, or just come by Jim Marsh Kia  8555 West Centennial Pkwy, Las Vegas and say Hi!

Have a KIA DAY!!

Adjusting your clock

It's that time again. Time to re-set your clock in your Kia. We are going to kill two birds with one stone here.  Here are instructions for setting to daylight savings time (which you will need in the spring). To "fall back" follow these steps and UN-CHECK the daylight savings time box. That will bring you back to standard time. Pretty simple.

As always, you can leave a question here, and I will answer it!  Thanks for visiting, and have a KIA Day!!

How to Adjust the Clock in Your Kia for Daylight Saving Time

To begin the process of adjusting your clock, make sure your car is either ON or in the ACCESSORY position. Find a safe spot to stop before you start going through the next steps.

Adjusting Time Via the UVO Infotainment System

• Press the Setup button on your instrument panel
• Select the Clock button on the touchscreen
• Set Daylight Saving Time to "On"
• Clock will adjust automatically

Adjusting Time Via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto

• Touch the gear-shaped Setup button on your touchscreen
• Swipe to the next page and select Date and Time
• Turn Daylight Saving Time on to automatically adjust time

And that's how you adjust your clock for Daylight Saving Time! Be sure to make the adjustment for March and November to avoid one of those awkward hour-off moments.

A word about smart keys

Smart Keys are all the rage.  A few things about your smart key.  You can unlock your car and start it without ever taking that key out of your pocket.  To unlock your car, just walk up with your key in your pocket or purse and press the button on the door handle. Once for the drivers door and twice to unlock all the doors. As long as the key in within about 3 feet of the driver's door it will work. If it does not unlock the door, it indicates a weak fob battery. Simple to replace, just bring it to your Kia dealership or any auto parts store.  

If your battery is too low to enter the car, simply take the hard key out of the fob. Push the small button on the fob and slide they key out.  Use it to unlock the door. Then push the start button WITH THE FOB and the car should start. 

I always recommend that you keep a key next to your bed.  Should you ever have an intruder or medical emergency, you can always hit the panic button on the fob to draw attention to your emergency.

Also, NEVER keep your fob next to any exterior wall or near your front door.  There are people that can access the key code that your fob transmits to unlock and start your car.  As great as these keys are, like anything else, they have their shortcomings.  Keep your key somewhere in the center of your house, or you can get an aluminum box that will block the signal. They are available on line. 

All in all, push button start and smart keys are great.  Rumor is the next step with be bio-metric ID to start and unlock your car with a finger print, much like many smart phones.  Some upper Luxury Brands are already doing this. 

As always, should you have any questions or comments, leave me a note here... or email me at cashatkia@gmail.com

Come see me any time at Jim Marsh Kia, West Centennial in Las Vegas, NV

Have a KIA day!!

Kia Telluride

Hello boys and girls, if you haven't heard about the Telluride you've probably been asleep or under a rock somewhere. I've been selling Kia for 7 years and I have seen the introduction of many models... the K900, the Cadenza, the Niro, the Stinger (which I drive), and now the Kia Telluride which is our full-size SUV with 7 and 8 passenger capability. Price wise it's in line with the top end Kia Sorento SXL at around $50,000 for the fully equipped and in the upper 30s for the LX model which is also nicely equipped, beautiful vehicles.
Some of the features you'll find in the new fully equipped Telluride include video blind spot for left and right side where a picture of whatever is in your blind spot shows up in the middle of your instrument cluster ... captains chairs in the middle with  heated and cooled seats... also premium suede headliner a TalkBack feature which allows you to press a button on the dashboard and talk to your third row passengers without having to turn around and yell at them. it allows you to calmly say "Kids, don't make me come back there".... And allows them to talk back to you with such smart comebacks as" well he started it". You will also notice the enhanced entertainment system screen which now comes in a triple screen mode where you can have three things on the screen at once, plus you also get the added feature of the 360° surround view camera.

Another great thing that's featured on the S models and above include the smart driver pack which includes blind spot indicator, active Lane change warning indicators, Lane keep indicator, autonomous emergency braking, and of course smart cruise control.
all of these things help you to be more aware of what's going on around you on the road. All in all this is one of the best SUV values on the market for the price.  The best thing to do is just come into the dealership and test drive one.

 I rarely dedicate my blogs to promoting a specific model or a specific buying motif, But  I must tell you I've never seen an outpouring of clients for a single new vehicle introduced through the key line as I have with the Telluride. I cannot keep them on my lot. I'll get 5 in today and I'll have one left tomorrow. T

hey are available to pre-order but the best thing to do is keep your eye on the JimMarshKia.Com website and see when we have them in and then come on in and see what we can offer you for lease or purchase. If you live outside of Las Vegas visit your Kia dealership wherever you are and get more information on this amazing vehicle. Remember you can always get a hold of me right here on this blog page or you can email me at cashatkia@gmail.com

As always have a Kia day!

Again with the spare tire!

Just got a call from a customer who was "venting" about no spare tire. As a sales professional, I point out to ALL my customers that many new cars do not come with a spare tire. You will find instead a 'Tire Mobility Kit' which consists of a compressor to refill the tire and a can of sealer.  This will enable you to re inflate the tire (as long as it is a puncture and not a blowout or sidewall damaging hole) and get to your nearest Kia dealership. Calling Kia Roadside assistance (1800-333-4KIA) will get you help in using the kit if you are unsure of your ability to do it.  If you have a catastrophic tire issue, they will tow you to the nearest Kia dealership / service center. 

This being said, if you do not know if you have a spare or not, go check. If you need a spare tire you can purchase a spare tire kit from a Kia parts department, or through your local tire center.  

There is a reason that many cars come sans spare.  It is a weight thing. In order to stay within Federal fuel efficiency standards, many manufacturers (not just Kia) are loosing the spare. The theory is that the extra 30-40 pounds of weight makes a difference in the long haul on fuel consumption.  One of the other ways they are doing this is by instituting the Idle-stop-and-go system that shuts your car down at red lights, and restarts the engine when you take your foot off the brake. I personally hate this feature, and turn it off.  I am old school...If I am at a light and the car quits running, my brain goes in to panic mode....'Something is wrong...' but that's just me and a topic for another blog. 

Remember, you can get ahold of me here with questions or comments. I will do my best to answer any questions you have. 

Have a Kia Day   #Yesitiz

Some more Smart Trunk Tips

I have had several people ask about the Kia SMART TRUNK / TAILGATE.  Some clients don't even know they have it.  Remember to set it up in your SETTINGS so that when you walk up to back of the car, the trunk or power liftgate will open automatically.  (Found on EX models and above)

To maximize the Smart Trunk feature understanding:

• This feature can be activated in the instrument cluster settings menu (default setting from the factory is OFF). To enable the Smart Trunk, go to User Settings in the LCD Instrument Cluster modes.
• When the Smart Key fob is in your possession and you are near the back of the vehicle, within close proximity, the hazard lights will blink and a chime will sound for about 3 seconds as an alert that the Smart Trunk is about to open. Then the alert system will blink and chime two additional times before opening the Trunk. Once you are finished, simply close the rear trunk and it will lock automatically when you walk away.

KEY REMINDERS 

The Smart Trunk feature will not operate: 

• If doors are recently closed and locked upon exiting the vehicle. The Smart Key will be detected for 15 seconds within close proximity of the door handles (60 inches)
• When a door is not locked or closed
• When the Smart Key is in the vehicle

For additional information on the Smart Trunk operation, please refer to the vehicle Owner’s Manual.

A Good Video For Lease Returns

So your lease is coming to an end, and you are wondering what you need to do. Here is a great, short video from Kia going through it step by step. 

Lease return video..What You need to know

Also this just came thorough. Good Information:

Kia Finance customers who are affected by the current government shutdown and need assistance can contact customer support at 1-866-331-5632


Don't forget I am here for you if you have any questions.  Stop By Jim Marsh Kia in Las Vegas and let me put you in your next KIA!!


Have a KIA DAY!