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When you're driving and you have to take a sharp turn, your car may not respond the way you think it will. In some cases, if you put too much pressure in either direction, you will oversteer, causing your vehicle to steer off sharply. This is problematic whenever you are driving because it means that you are likely steering into the wrong lane to avoid something.

When you understeer, it's the lack of response from your steering wheel that causes you to take a turn too wide. In this case, you'll end up going off the road…

What makes some car engines purr like a kitten, other vehicles roar like a lion, and still others sound like a sack of alarm clocks in a cement mixer? It’s the exhaust system, specifically, the muffler.

How a muffler controls engine noise

An engine creates pulses of alternating high and low pressure when an exhaust valve opens and a blast of vapor enters the exhaust system at high pressure.  

Keeping your car maintained is the best way to extend its life. At Kia of Laurel, our team always tries to keep our consumers informed about ways they can keep their vehicles in tiptop condition. The timing belt is an important component that helps your engine function properly, but what does it do?

Your vehicle's timing belt turns the camshaft and crankshaft simultaneously so that each cylinder will fire at the same time, and it controls the pistons and valves inside the engine cylinders.  

When you bring in your vehicle for an oil change at Kia of Laurel, our service technician recommends a motor oil with a certain viscosity. Viscosity is the measurement of how much that particular motor oil can resist flow. The more viscous an oil is, the slower it will move.

Picture orange juice being poured out of a bottle, which is low viscosity, versus maple syrup, which has high viscosity. The numbers and letters you see on motor oil containers, such as 10W-30, indicate its specific viscosity rating.  

A common misconception among vehicle owners is that their "donut" tire is a replacement tire. Donut tires are temporary tires intended to get you to the mechanic for a proper replacement tire. It's not safe to drive for long on a donut tire.

Donut tires, the nickname for compact temporary tires, have a speed limitation for safety reasons. They hinder traction control, speedometer operation, and ABS. You need to be careful and highly alert while driving with the donut tire. And you should only use the compact temporary tire to get to the dealership without having to tow the…

Becoming more informed as a car owner can only help to save you money in the long run. Choosing a car dealer with ASE Certification can make a difference in the quality of automotive care you receive.

For more than 40 years, the non-profit National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence has maintained minimum standards for automotive technicians so that their work on your vehicle meets certain levels of expertise.  

We have a goal at Kia of Laurel in Laurel, MS to keep you informed about how to keep your vehicle in superior condition. The engine and interior are equipped with air filters that play an important role in how your car operates. To find out more about air filters, read our summary below.

With tons of pounds weighing down on the frame of your vehicle each day, this puts a lot of wear and tear on certain parts of your vehicle. The suspension sees a lot of damage and wear from the weight of your vehicle. There will inevitably be repairs that need to be done to your suspension over time. If you notice one or more of these issues presenting themselves then you might have a suspension issue that needs to be addressed by our technicians here at Kia of Laurel:

• Uneven tire wear on or more tires is cause for concern…

For many drivers, the letters and numbers on tire sizes are a foreign language. They only know that their vehicle needs a specific size. Once you understand what those letters and numbers mean, it's pretty easy. Here is what goes into tire sizing.

The first letter indicates what kind of vehicle. In other words, P is for passenger, while LT is for light truck. Next is the width of the tire in millimeters and then the aspect ratio, which is the height of the sidewall. Another letter comes next to designate the speed rating. It may be followed by…

Shopping for a new vehicle isn't always easy. Finding something that works for your personal needs can be tricky. Have you considered choosing something stylish? Maybe you want something with extra cargo space. If you're searching for a car that's going to make an incredible difference in your life, it's time to think about a hatchback.

A hatchback offers a unique design that provides both space and versatility. Hatchbacks are stylish and provide plenty of cargo room for all of your important belongings. Never leave home without your necessities when you have a hatchback.