2006 KIA AMANTI Owners Manual

721
Maintenance
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BRAKESChecking brake fluid level Check the fluid level in the reservoir
periodically. The fluid level should be
between MAX and MIN marks on the
side of the reservoir.
Before removing the reservoir cap
and adding brake fluid, clean the
area around the reservoir cap thor-
oughly to prevent brake fluid contam-
ination.If the level is low, add fluid to the
MAX level. The level will fall with
accumulated mileage. This is a nor-
mal condition associated with the
wear of the brake linings. If the fluid
level is excessively low, have the
brake system checked by an
Authorized Kia Dealer.
Use only the specified brake fluid.
(Refer to “RecommendedLubricants” later in this section.)
Never mix different types of fluid.
1GHA422
WARNING
When changing and adding
brake fluid, handle it carefully.
Do not let it come in contact
with your eyes. If brake fluid
should come in contact with
your eyes, immediately flush
them with a large quantity of
fresh tap water. Have your eyes
examined by a doctor as soon
as possible.
WARNING
In the event the brake system
requires frequent additions of
fluid, the vehicle should be
inspected by an Authorized Kia
Dealer.
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Checking the parking brake Check whether the stroke is within
specification when the parking brake
pedal is depressed with 44 lb (20 kg,
196 N) of force. Also, the parking
brake alone should securely hold the
vehicle on a fairly steep grade. If the
stroke is more or less than specified,
have the parking brake adjusted by
an Authorized Kia Dealer.
Stroke : 3.5~3.8 in (88~98 mm)
1GHA3011
PARKING BRAKE
CAUTION
Do not allow brake fluid to con-
tact the vehicle's body paint, aspaint damage will result. Brakefluid, which has been exposedto open air for an extended timeshould never be used as itsquality cannot be guaranteed. Itshould be thrown out. Don't putin the wrong kind of fluid. Forexample, just a few drops ofmineral-based oil, such asengine oil, in your brake clutchsystem can damage brakeclutch system parts.

723
Maintenance
DRIVE BELTSDrive belts should be checked peri-
odically for proper tension and
adjusted if necessary. At the same
time, belts should be examined for
cracks, wear, fraying or other evi-
dence of deterioration and replaced
if necessary.
Belt routing should also be checked
to be sure there is no interference
between the belts and other parts of
the engine. After a belt is replaced,
the new belt should be adjusted
again after two or three weeks to
eliminate slack resulting from initial
stretching after use.
Checking the compressor
drive beltWhen the air conditioning is being
used regularly, the compressor drive
belt tension should be checked at
least once a month.
To check the drive belt tension, turn
the engnie off, press down on the
belt halfway between the engine
crankshaft and compressor pulleys.
Pressing with your finger, you should
not be able to deflect this belt any-
more than 1/3 of an inch. If you have
the instruments to check it, with a
force of 22 lb. (98N), the deflection
should be 0.315 inches (approx. 8.0
mm). If the belt is too loose, have it
adjusted by an authorized Kia
Dealer.
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POWER STEERING Checking the power steering
fluid level With the vehicle on level ground,
check the fluid level in the power
steering reservoir periodically. The
fluid should be between MAX and
MIN marks on the level gauge
attached to the cap.
Before adding power steering fluid,
thoroughly clean the area around the
reservoir cap to prevent power steer-
ing fluid contamination.
If the level is low, add fluid to the
MAX level. In the event the power steering sys-
tem requires frequent addition of
fluid, the vehicle should be inspected
by an Authorized Kia Dealer.
✽ ✽
NOTICE• To avoid damage to the power
steering pump, do not operate the
vehicle for prolonged periods with
a low power steering fluid level.
• Never start the engine when the reservoir tank is empty.
• When adding fluid, be careful that dirt does not get into the tank.
• Too little fluid can make the steer- ing wheel heavier or strange noise
can be generated.
• The use of the non-specified fluid could reduce the effectiveness of
the power steering wheel and
cause damage to it.Use only the specified power steer-
ing fluid. (Refer to "RecommendedLubricants" later in this section.)
Power steering hoseCheck the connections for oil leaks,
severe damage and the twists in the
power steering hose before driving.
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Maintenance
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STEERING WHEELPark the vehicle on level ground,
start the car and place the tire
wheels in the straight-ahead posi-
tion. Turn the steering wheel to the
left and right with a little force and
check the free play until you get a
feel for resistance against the tire
wheels movement.
Standard value: 1.2 in (30 mm) or
less✽ ✽NOTICEIf the measured value exceeds the
standard value, have the system
checked by an authorized Kia deal-
er.
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLEChecking the automatic
transaxle fluid level The automatic transaxle fluid level
should be checked regularly.
The volume of the transaxle fluid
changes with temperature. Although
it is best to check the level after hav-
ing driven the vehicle for at least 30
minutes, the level can be checked
after warming the fluid using the fol-
lowing procedure. 1. Park the vehicle on level ground
and firmly apply the parking brake.
2. Allow the engine to idle for about 2 minutes.
3. Depress the brake pedal and move the shift lever slowly through
all ranges then set it in P (Park).
4. With the engine still idling, pull out the dipstick, wipe it clean and rein-
sert it fully.
5. Pull out the dipstick again and check the fluid level.
1.2 in (30 mm)2GHN5100
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If the fluid has been warmed to nor-
mal operating temperature of approx-
imately 158~176° F (70~80°C), the
fluid level should be within “HOT”
range.✽ ✽ NOTICE“COLD” scale is for reference only
and should NOT be used to deter-
mine transaxle fluid level.
✽ ✽NOTICENew automatic transaxle fluid
should be red. The red dye is added
so the assembly plant can identify it
as automatic transaxle fluid and dis-
tinguish it from engine oil or
antifreeze. The red dye, which is not
an indicator of fluid quality, is not
permanent. As the vehicle is driven,
the automatic transaxle fluid will
begin to look darker. The color may
eventually appear light brown.
Therefore, have an Authorized Kia
dealer change the automatic
transaxle fluid according to the
Scheduled Maintenance at the
beginning of this section.
CAUTION
 Low fluid level causes
transaxle slippage. Overfillingcan cause foaming, loss offluid and transaxle malfunc-tion.
 The use of a non-specified fluid could result in transaxlemalfunction and failure.
WARNING
- Parking brake
To avoid sudden movement of
the vehicle, apply parking brake
and depress the brake pedal
before moving the shift lever.
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Maintenance
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Changing the automatic
transaxle fluid 1. Raise and suitably support thevehicle. 2. Remove the drain plug located at
the bottom of the transaxle pan.
3. After the oil has drained complete- ly, install a new washer on the
plug, reinstall the drain plug, and
tighten to 21~24 lbin (290~340
kgcm, 29~33 Nm).
4. Lower the vehicle.
5. Remove the automatic transaxle dipstick located near the center of
the engine compartment bulkhead
and, using a funnel, add approxi-
mately 2 US quarts (2 liters) of
automatic transaxle fluid.
Use only the specified automatictransaxle fluid. (Refer to"Recommended Lubricants" later inthis section.)
✽ ✽ NOTICEDo NOT overfill the automatic
transaxle reservoir. Doing so can
cause a seal “blow out”, loss of fluid,
and damage to the transaxle. If you
overfill the reservoir, you must drain
the excess prior to driving the vehi-
cle. The transaxle will hold 2.5 US
qt. (2.5 liters) when completely
empty. However, it is likely that
there will be fluid left in the
transaxle after draining, especially if
the front of the vehicle was raised to
remove the drain plug. 6. Check the fluid level. If necessary,
add a small amount of fluid and
check the level again. Continue
this process until the level reads
within “HOT” range.
7. Replace the dipstick and properly dispose of the used transaxle fluid.
WARNING
- Lifting your
vehicle
If you raise your vehicle, always
ensure that it is supported at all
four jacking or lift points for the
vehicle. Only if this level of sup-
port is provided can you ensure
that the vehicle will remain sta-
ble and not fall off the jack
stands or other supports. If you
do not provide such support,
the vehicle may fall off the jack
stands, or other supports, caus-
ing serious injury or death.

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LUBRICANTS AND FLUIDS Checking the washer fluid
level The reservoir is translucent so that
you can check the level with a quick
visual inspection.
Check the fluid level in the washer
fluid reservoir and add fluid if neces-
sary. Plain water may be used if
washer fluid is not available.
However, use washer solvent with
antifreeze characteristics in cold cli-
mates to prevent freezing.
Body lubrication All moving points of the body, such
as door hinges, hood hinges, and
locks, should be lubricated each time
the engine oil is changed. Use a non-
freezing lubricant on locks during
cold weather.
Make sure the engine hood second-
ary latch keeps the hood from open-
ing when the primary latch is
released.
1GHA421A
WARNING
 Do not use radiator coolant or
antifreeze in the washer fluid
reservoir.
 Radiator coolant can severely obscure visibility when
sprayed on the windshield
and may cause loss of vehicle
control or damage to paint
and body trim.
 Windshield Washer fluid agents contain some amounts
of alcohol and can be flamma-
ble under certain circum-
stances. Do not allow sparks
or flame to contact the washer
fluid or the washer fluid reser-
voir. Damage to the vehicle or
it's occupants could occur.
 Windshield washer fluid is poisonous to humans and ani-
mals. Do not drink and avoid
contacting windshield washer
fluid. Serious injury or death
could occur.