2005 KIA Sportage Owner's Manual

Maintenance28 7
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AIR CONDITIONER AIR FILTER (IF EQUIPPED)The air conditioner air filter installed
behind the glove box filters the dust
or other pollutants that come into the
vehicle from the outside through the
heating and air conditioning system.
If dust or other pollutants accumulate
in the filter over a period of time, the
air flow from the air vents may
decrease, resulting in moisture accu-
mulation on the inside of the wind-
shield even when the outside (fresh)
are position is selected. If this hap-
pens, have the air conditioner air fil-
ter replaced by an Authorized Kia
Dealer.The air filter should be replaced
every 15,000 km (10,000 miles). If
the vehicle is operated in the severe-
ly air-polluted cities or on dusty
rough roads for a long period, it
should be inspected more frequently
and replaced earlier. When you try to
replace the air filter by owner mainte-
nance, replace it performing the fol-
lowing procedure, and in this case,
be careful to avoid damaging other
components.
1LDA5047
Outside air
Recirculated
air
Air conditioner
air filterBlower
Evaporator
coreHeater core
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Maintenance
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WIPER BLADES Wiper blade maintenance ✽ ✽
NOTICECommercial hot waxes applied by
automatic car washes have been
known to make the windshield diffi-
cult to clean.
Contamination of either the wind-
shield or the wiper blades with for-
eign matter can reduce the effective-
ness of the windshield wipers.
Common sources of contamination
are insects, tree sap, and hot wax
treatments used by some commer-
cial car washes. If the blades are not
wiping properly, clean both the win-
dow and the blades with a good
cleaner or mild detergent, and rinse
thoroughly with clean water.✽ ✽
NOTICETo prevent damage to the wiper
blades, do not use gasoline,
kerosene, paint thinner, or other sol-
vents on or near them.
Windshield wiper blade
replacement When the wipers no longer clean
adequately, the blades may be worn
or cracked, and require replacement.✽ ✽
NOTICETo prevent damage to the wiper
arms or other components, do not
attempt to move the wipers manual-
ly. ✽ ✽
NOTICEThe use of a non-specified wiper
blade could result in wiper malfunc-
tion and failure.
1KMA5022
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Maintenance30 7
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1. Raise the wiper arm and turn the
wiper blade assembly to expose
the plastic locking clip.✽ ✽
NOTICEDo not allow the wiper arm to fall
against the windshield.
2. Compress the clip and slide the
blade assembly downward.
3. Lift it off the arm.
4. Install the blade assembly in the
reverse order of removal.
Rear window wiper blade
replacement 1. Raise the wiper arm and pull out
the wiper blade assembly.
1LDA5023
1LDA50241LDA5025
1KMB7038
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2. Install the new blade assembly by
inserting the center part (
➀) into
the slot (
➁) in the wiper arm until it
clicks into place.
3. Make sure the blade assembly is
installed firmly by gently pulling on
the blade.
WARNING
- Battery
dangers
Always read the follow-
ing instructions carefully
when handling a battery.
Keep lighted cigarettes
and all other flames or
sparks away from the
battery.
Hydrogen, which is a
highly combustible gas,
is always present in bat-
tery cells and may
explode if ignited.
Keep batteries out of the
reach of children
because batteries con-
tain highly corrosive
SULFURIC ACID. Do not
allow battery acid to con-
tact your skin, eyes,
clothing or paint finish.
(Continued)
(Continued)
If any electrolyte gets
into your eyes, flush your
eyes with clean water for
at least 15 minutes and
get immediate medical
attention. If possible,
continue to apply water
with a sponge or cloth
until medical attention is
received.
If electrolyte gets on
your skin, thoroughly
wash the contacted area.
If you feel a pain or a
burning sensation, get
medical attention imme-
diately.
Wear eye protection
when charging or work-
ing near a battery.
Always provide ventila-
tion when working in an
enclosed space.
(Continued)
1KMB7039
BATTERY
➀
➁
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Maintenance32 7
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For best battery service : Keep the battery securely mount-
ed.
 Keep the battery top clean and dry.
 Keep the terminals and connec-
tions clean, tight, and coated with
petroleum jelly or terminal grease.
 Rinse any spilled electrolyte from
the battery immediately with a
solution of water and baking soda.
 If the vehicle is not going to be
used for an extended time, discon-
nect the battery cables.
Battery recharging Your vehicle has a maintenance-free,
calcium-based battery.
 If the battery becomes discharged
in a short time (because, for exam-
ple, the headlights or interior lights
were left on while the vehicle was
not in use), recharge it by slow
charging (trickle) for 10 hours.
 If the battery gradually discharges
because of high electric load while
the vehicle is being used, recharge
it at 20-30A for two hours.Items to be reset after the battery
has been discharged or the bat-
tery has been disconnected. Clock (See page 3-100)
 Sunroof (See page 3-102)
 Trip computer (See page 4-42)
 Compass (See page 4-56)
 Climate control system (See pages
4-68)
 Audio (See the audio manual)
1KMN5030
(Continued)
 When lifting a plastic-cased
battery, excessive pressure on
the case may cause battery
acid to leak, resulting in per-
sonal injury. Lift with a battery
carrier or with your hands on
opposite corners.
 Never attempt to recharge the
battery when the battery
cables are connected.
 The electrical ignition system
works with high voltage.
Never touch these compo-
nents with the engine running
or the ignition switched on.
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✽ ✽
NOTICE• Before performing maintenance
or recharging the battery, turn off
all accessories and stop the engine.
• The negative battery cable must
be removed first and installed last
when the battery is disconnected.
WARNING
- Recharging
battery
When recharging the battery,
observe the following precau-
tions:
 The battery must be removed
from the vehicle and placed in
an area with good ventilation.
 Do not allow cigarettes,
sparks, or flame near the bat-
tery.
 Watch the battery during
charging, and stop or reduce
the charging rate if the battery
cells begin gassing (boiling)
violently or if the temperature
of the electrolyte of any cell
exceeds 49°C (120°F).
 Wear eye protection when
checking the battery during
charging.
(Continued)
(Continued)
 Disconnect the battery charg-
er in the following order.
1. Turn off the battery charger
main switch.
2. Unhook the negative clamp
from the negative battery ter-
minal.
3. Unhook the positive clamp
from the positive battery ter-
minal.
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Maintenance34 7
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TIRES AND WHEELSTires care For proper maintenance, safety, and
maximum fuel economy, you must
always maintain recommended tire
inflation pressures and stay within
the load limits and weight distribution
recommended for your vehicle.Inflation pressures All tire pressures (including the
spare) should be checked every day
when the tires are cold. “Cold Tires”
means the vehicle has not been driv-
en for at least three hours or driven
less than 1.6 km (one mile).
Recommended pressures must be
maintained for the best ride, top vehi-
cle handling, and minimum tire wear.All specifications (sizes and pres-
sures) can be found on a label
attached to the front driver’s door sill.
1KMN5045
WARNING
Severe underinflation (70 kPa
(10 psi) or more) can lead to
severe heat build-up, especially
on hot days and when driving at
high speed. This can potentially
cause tread separation and
other tire irregularities to
appear that can result in the
loss of vehicle control leading
to severe injury or death.
WARNING
 Underinflation results in
excessive wear, poor han-
dling, reduced fuel economy,
and the possibility of
blowouts from overheated
tires. Also, low tire pressure
can cause poor sealing of the
tire bead. If the tire pressure is
excessively low, wheel defor-
mation and/or tire separation
is possible. So, keep your tire
pressures at the proper levels.
If a tire frequently needs refill-
ing, have it checked by an
Authorized Kia Dealer.
 Overinflation produces a
harsh ride, handling prob-
lems, excessive wear at the
center of the tire tread, and a
greater possibility of damage
from road hazards.
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✽ ✽
NOTICE• Warm tires normally exceed rec-
ommended cold tire pressures by
28 to 41 kPa (4 to 6 psi). Do not
release air from warm tires to
adjust the pressure or the tires will
be underinflated.
• Be sure to reinstall the tire infla-
tion valve caps. Without the valve
cap, dirt or moisture could get into
the valve core and cause air leak-
age. If the cap have been lost,
install new one as soon as possible.
Checking tire inflation pres-
sureCheck your tires once a month or
more.
Also, check the tire pressure of the
spare tire.How to checkUse a good quality gage to check tire
pressure. You can not tell if your tires
are properly inflated simply by look-
ing at them. Radial tires may look
properly inflated even when they're
underinflated.
Check the tire's inflation pressure
when the tires are cold. - "Cold"
means your vehicle has been sitting
for at least three hours or driven no
more than 1.6 km (1 mile).
WARNING
- Tire Inflation
Overinflation or underinflation
can reduce tire life, adversely
affect vehicle handling, and lead
to sudden tire failure. This could
result in loss of vehicle control.
CAUTION
Always observe the following:
 Check tire pressure when the
tires are cold. (After vehicle
has been parked for at least
three hours or hasn't been
driven more than 1.6 km (one
mile) since startup.)
 Check the pressure of your
spare tire each time you check
the pressure of other tires.
 Never overload your vehicle.
Be careful not to overload a
vehicle luggage rack if your
vehicle is equipped with one.
 Worn, old tires can cause acci-
dents. If your tread is badly
worn, or if your tires have
been damaged, replace them.
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