Page 61 of 238

3-51 The Importance of The Passenger Being
Properly Seated
The front seat passenger’s air bag is much larger than
the driver’s air bag and inflates with considerably more
force. It can seriously hurt or kill a passenger who is
not in the proper position and wearing the safety belt
properly. The front passenger should always move
their seat as far back as practical and sit well back in
the seat. It is essential that the front passenger always
wears his/her safety belt, even when travelling in a
parking lot or along a driveway into a garage.
1B3102002E
The reason for this is that in most frontal impacts there
is substantial pre-impact braking which tends to throw
the occupants forward. If the right front passenger is
not using their safety belt, they will be directly in front
of or even touching the air bag storage compartment
when inflation occurs. In that situation, death or severe
injury is possible.
Because of the air bag, you must NEVER INSTALL A
CHILD RESTRAINT SYSTEM IN THE FRONT
PASSENGER SEAT. There is a very significant risk of
serious or fatal injuries to a child in a child restraint if
the right front passenger air bag inflates.
WARNING -Right Front Seat
Pre-impact braking could throw an unbelted
passenger toward or onto the air bag storage
compartment. Upon impact in a collision, the
air bag would rapidly inflate and possibly
serverly injure or kill that occupant who failed
to wear their safety belt.
RIO ENG CNA 3.qxd 7/29/05 5:13 PM Page 51
Page 64 of 238

Knowing Your Vehicle3-54Air Bag Warning Label (sunvisor - front side)
To remind you of the dangers of the air bag, air bag
warning labels which are now required by the
Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (CMVSS)
are adhered to the driver’s and passenger’s sunvisors
and attached to the glove box.
Note that even though these government warnings
emphasize the risk to children, please be aware of the
risk to adults, as described in previous pages.
Children 12 and under can be killed by the air bag.
The BACK SEAT is the SAFEST place for children.
NEVER put a rear-facing child seat in the front.
Sit as far back as possible from the air bag.ALWAYS use SEAT BELTS and CHILD RESTRAINTS.
AS2B03037
Rear Hatch (For 5 Door Hatchback) The rear hatch can be locked and unlocked with the
key.
You can also unlock the latch with the automatic
door lock system(if equipped) but couldn't open the
rear hatch.
Once the rear hatch has been unlocked, lifting the
rear hatch handle may open it.
To make certain that you close the rear hatch door
before driving your vehicle. Possible damage may
occur to the rear hatch lift cylinders and attaching
hardware if the rear hatch door is not closed prior to
driving.
1B3104003B
handleUnlock Lock
RIO ENG CNA 3.qxd 7/29/05 5:13 PM Page 54
Page 103 of 238

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
RIO ENG CNA 4.qxd 7/29/05 5:06 PM Page 22
Page 109 of 238

Driving Your Vehicle4-28Low Brake Fluid Level Warning
If the warning light remains ON when the parking
brake is released, it may indicate that the brake fluid
level in the reservoir is low.
If the warning light remains ON:
1. Drive to the nearest safe location and carefully stop
your vehicle.
2. With the engine stopped, check the brake fluid level
immediately and add fluid as required. All brake
components should also be checked immediately
for fluid leaks.
3. If leaks are found, if the warning light remains ON,
or if the brakes do not operate properly, do not
drive the vehicle. Have it towed to an Authorized
Kia Dealer for a brake system inspection and nec-
essary repairs.To check bulb operation, the warning light illuminates
when the ignition switch is in the ON position.
Safety Belt Warning As a reminder to the driver and passenger, safety belt
warning light will illuminate for approximately 6 sec-
onds each time you turn the ignition switch ON.
If the driver’s lap/shoulder belt is not fastened when
the key is turned ON, a chime sounds for approximate-
ly six seconds and the safety belt warning light illumi-
nates for approximately six seconds. If the system does
not operate as described, see an Authorized Kia Dealer
for assistance.Air Bag Warning This warning light will remain ON for approximately
6 seconds each time you turn the ignition switch ON.
If the system does not operate as described or if the
light comes on while the vehicle is being driven, see an
Authorized Kia Dealer for immediate assistance.Charging System Warning This warning light indicates a malfunction of either the
generator or electrical charging system.
–
+
WARNING - Brake Warning
Lights
Driving the vehicle with a warning light ON is
dangerous. If the brake warning light remains
ON, have the brakes checked and repaired
immediately.
RIO ENG CNA 4.qxd 7/29/05 5:06 PM Page 28
Page 110 of 238

4-29
If the warning light illuminates while driving:
1. Drive to the nearest safe location and carefully stop
your vehicle.
2. With the engine OFF, check the generator drive belt
for looseness or breakage.
3. If the belt is adjusted properly, a problem exists
somewhere in the electrical charging system. Have
an Authorized Kia Dealer locate and correct the
problem as soon as possible.Engine Oil Pressure Warning This warning light indicates the engine oil pressure is
low.
If the warning light comes ON while driving:
1. Drive safely to the side of the road and stop.
2. With the engine OFF, check the engine oil level. If
the level is low, add oil as required.
If the warning light remains ON after adding oil or if
oil is not available, call an Authorized Kia Dealer.Low Fuel Level Warning This warning light indicates the fuel tank is near
empty. The warning light will come on when the fuel
level has dropped to about 9 liters (2.4 US gal.).
Refuel as soon as possible.
✽
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle with a loose or broken
generator belt; the engine could be damaged by
overheating because this belt also drives the water
pump.
✽
NOTICE
If the engine is not stopped as soon as possible,
severe engine damage could result.
Do not drive the vehicle when the Engine Oil
Pressure Warning Light is ON.
RIO ENG CNA 4.qxd 7/29/05 5:06 PM Page 29
Page 177 of 238
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULEEngine Control systemI: Inspect these items and their related parts. If necessary,
Check the engine oil and coolant levels every week.
R: Replace or change.
NOTE :
Check the engine oil and coolant levels every week.
7-5
(1) Refer to the lubricant and coolant specifications in the Owner’s Manual.
(2) More frequent maintenance is required if driving under dusty conditions.
Kilometers or Time in Months, Whichever Comes First
km 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88 96 104 112 120 128Months 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64
Engine oil & engine oil filter RR RRRRRRRRRR RRRR
Drive belts (tension)III I
Cooling system hoses & connectionsIIII I
Engine coolant II IIIRIIIIIRIIII
Fuel filterR
Fuel tank cap, lines and hosesII
Fuel tank air filterIRIR I
Air cleaner element II IIIRIIIIIRIIII
MAINTENANCE
INTERVALS
MAINTENANCE
ITEM
x 1,000
(1)
(1)
(2)
RIO ENG CNA 7-1.qxd 7/29/05 5:16 PM Page 5
Page 178 of 238
Maintenance7-6Engine Control System (cont.)I: Inspect these items and their related parts. If necessary,
Check the engine oil and coolant levels every week.
R: Replace or change.
Kilometers or Time in Months, Whichever Comes First
km 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88 96 104 112 120 128
Months 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64
Ignition wiresII
Spark plugsRR
Idle speedIIIII
Engine timing beltR
MAINTENANCE
INTERVALS
MAINTENANCE
ITEM
x 1,000
RIO ENG CNA 7-1.qxd 7/29/05 5:16 PM Page 6
Page 181 of 238
7-9 Chassis and Body(cont.)
I: Inspect these items and their related parts. If necessary,
Check the engine oil and coolant levels every week.
R: Replace or change.
Kilometers or Time in Months, Whichever Comes First
km 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88 96 104 112 120 128Months 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64
P
ower steering fluid & linesIIIIIIIIDriveshaft dust boots
IIIII
Seat belts, buckles & anchors
IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Locks, hinges & hood latchLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL
MAINTENANCE
INTERVALS
MAINTENANCE
ITEM
x 1,000
RIO ENG CNA 7-1.qxd 7/29/05 5:16 PM Page 9