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Driving Your Vehicle4-18 In the Event of Brake FailureIf the service brakes should fail to operate while the
vehicle is in motion, you can make an emergency stop
with the parking brake. The stopping distance, howev-
er, will be much greater than normal.
WARNING - Parking Brake
Pulling on the parking brake while the vehicle
is moving at normal speeds can cause a sudden
loss of control of the vehicle. If you must use
the parking brake to stop the vehicle, use great
caution in applying the brake.
WARNING
Do not drive with your foot resting on the
brake pedal. This will create abnormally
high brake temperatures, excessive brake
lining and pad wear, and increased stopping
distances.
When descending a long or steep hill, shift
to a lower gear and avoid continuous appli-
cation of the brakes. Continuous brake
application will cause the brakes to overheat
and could result in a temporary loss of
braking performance.
Wet brakes may result in the vehicle not
slowing down at the usual rate and/or
pulling to one side when the brakes are
applied. Applying the brakes lightly will
indicate whether they have been affected in
this way. Always test your brakes in this
fashion after driving through deep water.
To dry the brakes, apply them lightly while
maintaining a safe forward speed until
brake performance returns to normal.
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Driving Your Vehicle4-20
CAUTION
When stopped, do not use the gearshift lever in
place of the parking brake. Always set the park-
ing brake fully AND make sure the gearshift lever
is securely positioned in
P (Park) with an automatic transaxle or in
1st (First) or R (Reverse) gear with a manual
transaxle.
Parking Brake To set the parking brake, pull the parking brake
handle fully and firmly upward while applying the
service brake.
To release the parking brake, pull the handle up
slightly and push the button. Then, lower the handle
to the released position while holding the button in.
1B3105001E1B315001F
CAUTION
Driving with the parking brake on will cause
excessive wear of the brake linings and pads.
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Operating Precautions for Catalytic ConvertersYour vehicle is equipped with a catalytic converter
emission control device.
Therefore, the following precautions must be observed:
Use only UNLEADED FUEL.
Do not park the vehicle over or near flammable
objects, such as dry grass, paper, leaves, etc. Under
certain conditions, they could be ignited by a hot
exhaust system.
Do not operate the vehicle when there are signs of
engine malfunction, such as misfire or a noticeable
loss of performance.
Do not misuse or abuse the engine. Examples of
misuse are coasting with the ignition off and
descending steep grades in gear with the ignition
off.
Do not operate the engine at high idle speed for
extended periods (5 minutes or more). Do not modify or tamper with any part of the engine
or emission control system. All inspections and
adjustments must be made by a qualified technician.
Failure to observe the above precautions could result in
damage to the catalytic converter and to your vehicle
and could void your warranties.
Before DrivingBefore entering vehicle:
Be sure that all windows, outside mirror(s), and
outside lights are clean.
Check the condition of the tires.
Check under the vehicle for any sign of leaks.
Be sure there are no obstacles behind you if you
intend to back up.
Driving Tips5-4
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Keeping a vehicle in good operating condition is
important both for economy and safety. Therefore,
have an Authorized Kia Dealer perform scheduled
inspections and maintenance.
Special Driving ConditionsHazardous DrivingWhen hazardous driving is encountered because of
water, snow, ice, mud, sand, or similar hazard, follow
these suggestions:
Drive cautiously and allow extra distance for
braking.
Avoid sudden movements in braking or steering.
When braking in vehicles without anti-lock brakes,
depress the brake pedal with a controlled up-and-
down motion until the vehicle is stopped.
5-7
WARNING - Engine OFF Motion
Never turn the engine OFF to coast down hills
or anytime the vehicle is in motion. The power
steering and power brakes will not function
without the engine running. Instead, downshift
to any appropriate gear for engine braking
effect.
✽
NOTICE
Do not pump the brake pedal on ABS equipped
vehicle.
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Driving Tips5-8Rocking the Vehicle
If it is necessary to rock the vehicle to free it from
snow, sand, or mud, move the shift lever of an
automatic transaxle from D (Drive) to R (Reverse) in a
repeat pattern while depressing the accelerator gently.
With a manual transaxle, move the shift lever back and
forth from 1 (First) to R (Reverse).
Do not race the engine. If you are still stuck after a
couple minutes of rocking, have the vehicle pulled out
by a tow vehicle to avoid engine overheating and
possible damage to the transaxle.
✽
NOTICE
Prolonged rocking may cause engine overheating,
transaxle damage or failure, and tire damage.
WARNING - Spinning Tires
Do not spin the wheels especially at speeds
more than 56 km/h (35 mph). Spinning the
wheels at high speeds when the vehicle is
stationary could cause a tire to overheat,
explode and injure bystanders.
When starting from a stop in snow, mud, or sand,
use second gear and accelerate slowly to avoid
spinning the front wheels. Low gear may be used, if
necessary.
Use sand, rock salt, tire chains, or other non-slip
material under the front wheels to provide traction
when stalled on ice, snow, or mud.
WARNING - Downshifting
Downshifting into first gear with a manual
transaxle or into low with an automatic
transaxle while driving on slippery surfaces
can cause an accident. The sudden change in
tire speed could cause the tires to skid. Be
careful when downshifting on slippery
surfaces.
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CLUTCH
8-5
GEAR RATIOGear Manual Transaxle Automatic Transaxle1st 3.417:1 2.800:12nd 1.895:1 1.540:13rd 1.296:1 1.000:14th 0.968:1 0.700:15th 0.780:1 -Reverse
3.272:1 2.333:1
Clutch Control
Type
Clutch PedalCable
Suspended
Full stroke129.3 mm
(5.091 inches)
Height195 mm
(7.677 inches)
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