Boosting Your Kia's Visibility in Akron, OH

Maintaining Headlights

Just like the lights in your home, the lights on your vehicle need to be maintained properly to ensure that they are working correctly and optimally. An easy way that you can keep your Kia’s headlights in good shape is by frequently washing your vehicle. When you remove the dirt and grime from the exterior, it also gets removed from the clear plastic over the bulbs and will improve your vision on dark roads.

You can also go beyond a standard wash to try and get the headlights in top shape. You can purchase a headlight restoration kit that involves sanding and waxing. However, this method isn’t ideal for most people, as it takes a lot of patience and time. To save yourself the trouble of possibly doing something incorrectly, feel free to bring your car to the VanDevere Kia Service Department and we’ll get your Kia’s headlights looking fresh.

Replacing Headlight Bulbs

While the exterior casing of the headlights is vital to maintain, the actual bulbs underneath them are perhaps even more important. The first thing you should know about your Kia’s headlights is what type of bulb they are. Vehicle headlights are often available as halogen, xenon/HID, or LED. Knowing the bulb type will make it easier to understand what’s happening when you get the bulbs replaced on your Kia.

An easy way to see if the bulbs need to be replaced on your vehicle is to simply turn them on and look at them. Park your vehicle and turn the headlights all the way on, including fog lights if your vehicle has them. Stand in front of the car and try to notice if there is any dimming from the bulbs. You’ll need a friend to help you check the brake lights, as that requires pressing down on the brake pedal.

Replacing light bulbs on a vehicle can be a somewhat complicated process, as it typically involves opening the hood and approaching the headlights from behind. If this seems like too much for your skill level, we’ve got you covered! Make an appointment with our team to handle this quickly and easily.

When To Replace Wiper Blades

Outside of the headlights that add to your visibility, another key component to driving safely are your vehicle’s windshield wipers. Whether it’s raining, snowing, sleeting, or whatever else, the wiper blades will help remove things from the windshield so you can see what’s ahead. 

Replacing windshield wiper blades is perhaps one of the easiest tasks to do on your own, but it can still be difficult to know when to do so. You’ll want to check the wiper blades at the start of every season for things like cracks, tears, or warping of the rubber blade. If you notice any of these issues, you should replace the wiper blades immediately. Your local retail store or online retailer probably sells wiper blades for your vehicle, but you can also get them from our Parts Department at VanDevere Kia.

Outside of the actual blade, you’ll also want to keep an eye on the metal component of the wipers that attach to your Kia. Watch out for rust, as this can cause the wiper to deteriorate and eventually break or fall off! The metal components aren’t typically sold in stores, so you’ll definitely want to reach out to our team for assistance with that if you’re concerned.