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4-13
For improved engine performance, the transaxle will
not shift into 4th gear until the engine coolant reaches
normal operation temperature.
2 (2nd)
Move shift lever to this position for driving in heavy,
slow-moving traffic or when climbing hills. This posi-
tion also provides engine braking when going down
hills and helps reduce wheel spin on slippery surfaces.
1 (1st)
Move the shift lever to this position in hard pulling sit-
uations and for climbing or descending steep grades.
Moving Up a Steep Grade from a Standing
Start
To move up a steep grade from a standing start,
depress the brake pedal, shift the shift lever to 
D (Drive), 2 (2nd), or 1 (1st). Select the appropriate
gear depending on load weight and steepness of the
grade, and release the parking brake. Depress the
accelerator gradually while releasing the service
brakes.Shift Lock System
For your safety, the Automatic Transaxle has a shift
lock system which prevents shifting the transaxle out
of P (Park) unless the brake pedal is depressed.
To shift the transaxle out of P (Park):
1. Depress and hold the brake pedal.
2. Start the engine or turn the ignition key to the ON
position.
3. Depress the lock release button and move the shift
lever.
When the ignition switch is in the ACC or LOCK posi-
tion, the transaxle cannot be shifted from P (Park).
If the brake pedal is repeatedly depressed and released
with the shift lever in the P (Park) position, a chatter-
ing noise near the shift lever may be heard. 
This is a normal condition.
Also, the ignition key cannot be removed unless the
shift lever is in the P (Park) position. If the ignition
switch is in any other position, the key cannot be
removed.
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4-15
3. Press the brake pedal.
4. Depress the lock release button and move the shift
lever.
5. Have your vehicle inspected by an Authorized Kia
Dealership immediately.
AS2B04006A
Brake SystemPower BrakesYour vehicle has power-assisted brakes that adjust
automatically through normal usage.
In the event that brake system power assist is lost
because of a stalled engine or some other reason, you
can still stop your vehicle by applying greater force to
the brake pedal than you normally would. The stopping
distance, however, will be longer.
When the engine is not running, the reserve brake
power is partially depleted each time the brake pedal is
depressed. Do not pump the brake pedal when the
power assist has been interrupted, except when neces-
sary to maintain steering control on slippery surfaces.Anti Lock Brakes (ABS) (if equipped)The anti-lock brake system is designed to prevent lock-
up of the wheels during sudden braking or braking on
slippery surfaces. Compared to a conventional brake
system, the anti-lock brake system provides greater
steering control during braking in such situations.
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4-17
✽
NOTICE
 If the ABS warning light is ON and stays ON,
you may have a problem with the ABS system.
In this case, however, your regular brakes will
work normally.
 The ABS warning light will stay ON for 2~3
seconds after the engine starts. During that
time, the ABS will go through self-diagnosis
and the light will go OFF if everything is nor-
mal. If the light stays ON you may have a
problem with your ABS system. Contact an
authorized Kia dealer for service as soon as
possible.✽
NOTICE
 If the battery is discharged and the engine is
jump started, the ABS warning light may come
ON. This condition occurs because of a dis-
charged battery and not because there is an
anti-lock brake system malfunction.
 Have the battery recharged before driving the
vehicle.
AN7B04015
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Parking on Curbed Streets When parking your vehicle on an uphill grade, park
as close to the curb as possible and turn the front
wheels away from the curb so that the front wheels
will contact the curb if the vehicle moves backward.
 When parking your vehicle on a downhill grade,
park as close to the curb as possible and turn the
front wheels toward the curb so that the front wheels
will contact the curb if the vehicle moves forward.
4-21
Check the brake warning light each time you start the
engine. The light is located in the instrument panel.
This warning light will be illuminated when the igni-
tion switch in ON or START and the parking brake is
set.
Before driving, be sure the parking brake is fully
released and the brake warning light is off.
If the brake warning light remains on after the parking
brake is released, there may be a malfunction in the
brake system. Immediate attention is necessary.
If at all possible, cease driving the vehicle immediate-
ly. If that is not possible, use extreme caution in oper-
ating the vehicle and only drive it until you reach the
first safe location or a repair shop.
AS2B04009
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Driving Your Vehicle4-22Power Steering (If Equipped)Power steering uses energy from the engine to assist
you in steering the vehicle. If the engine is off or if the
power steering system becomes inoperative, the vehi-
cle may still be steered, but it will require increased
steering effort.
Should you notice any change in the effort required to
steer during normal vehicle operation, have the power
steering system checked by an Authorized Kia Dealer.
Tilt Steering (If Equipped)A tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust the position
of the steering wheel before you drive. You can also
raise it to the highest level to give your legs more room
when you exit and enter the vehicle.
To tilt the wheel, hold the steering wheel and pull the
lock release lever down. Move the steering wheel to a
comfortable level, then push the lock release lever up
to lock the steering wheel in place.
✽
NOTICE
Never hold the steering wheel against a stop (extreme
right or left turn) for more than five seconds with the
engine running. Holding the steering wheel for more
than five seconds in either position may cause damage
to the power steering pump.
If the power steering drive belt breaks or if the power
steering pump malfunctions, the steering effort will
become increased significantly.
After your vehicle was left in the outside for a long
time in cold weather, ambient temperature is less than
14°F (-10°C), if you would start the engine, the power
steering might be delayed once in a while because of a
rise of the viscosity of the power steering fluid. But,
it's not malfunction. In this case you must warm up
the power steering fluid by idling properly. 
WARNING
Never adjust the angle of steering wheel while
driving. You may lose your steering control
and cause severe personal injury or accidents.
1S2104007A
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4-23
Instrument Cluster 
2FDA409A
With tachometer
A/T: Automatic Transaxle
Turn signal indicators
Speedometer
Tachometer
Warning and
indicator lights
Tripmeter/OdometerTripmeter reset
buttonWarning and indica-
tor lights
Fuel gauge Engine temperature gauge
A/T
A/T
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Driving Your Vehicle4-24
2FDA410A
Without tachometer
Turn signal indicators
Speedometer
Engine tempera-
ture gauge
Warning and
indicator lights
Tripmeter/OdometerTripmeter reset
buttonFuel gaugeWarning and
indicator lights
A/T: Automatic Transaxle
A/T
A/T
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4-25
GaugesSpeedometerThe speedometer indicates the forward speed of the
vehicle.Odometer/TripmeterYou can choose the odometer, Tripmeter A and
Tripmeter B by pressing the mode selection button.OdometerThe odometer indicates the total distance the vehicle has
been driven.Tripmeter (If equipped)TRIP A : Tripmeter A
TRIP B : Tripmeter B
The tripmeter indicates the distance on individual trips
selected by the driver. Tripmeter A and B can be reset to
zero by pressing the mode selection button for one
second or more, then releasing. 
Tachometer (If Equipped)The tachometer indicates the approximate number of
engine revolutions per minute (rpm).
Use the tachometer to select the correct shift points
and prevent lugging the engine and/or over-revving it.
The tachometer pointer may move slightly when the
ignition switch is in the ACC or ON position with the
engine OFF. This movement is normal and will not
affect the accuracy of the tachometer once the engine
is running.
0 1234567
8
1000rpm 
✽
NOTICE
Do not operate the engine within the tachometer’s
RED ZONE.
This may cause severe engine damage.
1B3105004A
redzone
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