2006 KIA Optima Owner's Manual

POWER STEERING 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 vehicle 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 STEERINGA tilt steering wheel allows you to adjust
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.
Move the steering wheel to a comfortable
level.
DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
4-18
MMSA3051
✻
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 greatly
increased.
MS-CNA-Eng 4(~39).QXD 7/25/2005 5:16 PM Page 18

INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
4-19
A/T: Automatic Transaxle
0 1234
5
6
7
8
X1000rpm
PRND
RESET MODE
BRAKE
CRUISE
TRIPAB
ODO
km/h
0 20406080100120
140
160
180
200
220
240
km/hmph
0 20406080
100
120
140
MMSA4059A
Warning and
indicator lights
Tachometer
Engine temperature gauge
Turn signal
indicators
Fuel gauge
Speedometer
Warning and
indicator lights
A/T range indicator(For A/T only)
Odometer/Tripmeter
Tripmeter mode button
Tripmeter reset button
MS-CNA-Eng 4(~39).QXD 7/25/2005 5:16 PM Page 19

DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
4-20GAUGESSPEEDOMETERThe 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.TRIPMETERTRIP A: Tripmeter A
TRIP B: Tripmeter B
The tripmeter indicates the distance of
individual trips selected by the driver.
Tripmeter A and B can be reset to zero
by pressing the reset button for one
second or more, and then releasing.
TACHOMETERThe 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.
FUEL GAUGEThe fuel gauge indicates the approximate
amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank.
Fuel tank capacity: 65L (17 us gal.)
The fuel gauge is supplemented by a low
fuel warning light located in the
instrument panel.
MMSA4021
MMSA4022Red Zone
✻
NOTICE
Do not operate the engine within
the tachometer’s RED ZONE. This
may cause severe engine damage.
MS-CNA-Eng 4(~39).QXD 7/25/2005 5:16 PM Page 20

ENGINE TEMPERATURE
GAUGEThis gauge shows the temperature of the
engine coolant when the ignition switch
is ON.
If the gauge pointer moves beyond the
normal range area toward the H position,
it indicates overheating that may damage
the engine.
Do not continue driving with an
overheated engine. If your vehicle
overheats, refer to “Overheating” in the
Index.
WARNINGS AND
INDICATORSWARNING LIGHTS/
AUDIBLE INDICATORSCHECKING OPERATIONAll the warning lights, except the brake
warning light, are checked by turning the
ignition switch ON (you do not need to
start the engine). Any light that does not
come ON should be checked by an
Authorized Kia Dealer.
If the brake system warning light does
not come ON when the ignition switch is
in the START position, have the system
checked by an Authorized Kia Dealer.
After starting the engine, check to make
sure that all warning lights are OFF. If
any are still ON, this indicates a situation
that needs attention. When releasing the
parking brake, the brake system warning
light should go OFF.
PARKING BRAKE AND
BRAKE FLUID WARNINGPARKING BRAKE WARNINGThis light comes on when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition switch
in the START or ON position. The
warning light should go OFF when the
parking brake is released.LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL
WARNINGIf 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.
4-21
MMSA4020
MS-CNA-Eng 4(~39).QXD 7/25/2005 5:16 PM Page 21

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 necessary
repairs.
To check bulb operation, the warning
light illuminates when the ignition switch
is in the ON position.
IMMOBILIZER
INDICATOR
(IF EQUIPPED)This light illuminates when the
immobilizer key is inserted and turned to
the ON position to start the engine.
If this light turns off or blinks when the
ignition switch is in the ON position
before starting the engine, have the
system checked by an authorized Kia
Dealer. 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.
SAFETY BELT WARNINGAs a reminder to the driver and
passenger, safety belt warning light will
blink for approximately 6 seconds each
time you turn the ignition switch ON.
If the driver's lap/shoulder belt is not
fastened when the key is turned ON or if
it is unfastened after the key is turned
ON, the safety belt warning light blinks
for approximately 6 seconds. SAFETY BELT WARNING
CHIME If the driver's seat belt is not fastened
when the ignition key is turned “ON” or
if it is disconnected after the key is ON,
the safety belt warning chime will sound
for approximately 6 seconds.
DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
4-22
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.
AIR
BAG
MS-CNA-Eng 4(~39).QXD 7/25/2005 5:16 PM Page 22

CHARGING SYSTEM
WARNING
(IF EQUIPPED)This warning light indicates a
malfunction of either the generator or
electrical charging system.
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 or other
competent 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 illuminates 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 8.5 L (2.2 US gal.).
Refuel as soon as possible.
4-23
✻
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle with a
loose or broken generator belt; the
engine could be damaged by over-
heating because this belt also drives
the water pump.
✻
NOTICE
Do not drive the vehicle when the
Engine Oil Warning Light is ON.
If the engine is not stopped as soon
as possible, severe engine damage
could result.
MS-CNA-Eng 4(~39).QXD 7/25/2005 5:16 PM Page 23

MALFUNCTION
INDICATOR LIGHT
(IF EQUIPPED)The CHECK ENGINE or malfunction
indicator light is installed in your
vehicle’s instrument panel and responds
to signals from the vehicle’s On Board
Diagnostic (OBD -II) System. The OBD-
II System monitors the performance of the
vehicle’s Emission Control System
(ECS), which is designed to reduce the
amount of air pollutants in engine exhaust
to the levels required by government
regulations.
When you first start the engine, the check
engine light will illuminate briefly as a
system check to confirm that the OBD-II
System is operating properly. As the
engine starts, this light turns off.
However, if at any time the OBD-II
system detects a faulty signal or
determines that the ECS is not performing
to specification, the CHECK ENGINE
light will illuminate continuously or flash.
Continuously ON :If the CHECK ENGINE light comes ON
while driving and illuminates continuously,
a potential problem has been discovered in
the ECS or one of the exhaust system
components. Generally, the vehicle will
continue to be driveablebut it should
be checked by an Authorized Kia Dealer
as soon as possible. This condition is
unlikely to lead to engine damage unless
a decrease in vehicle power or poor
running conditions is immediately
apparent.
Flashing ON and OFF :If the CHECK ENGINE light begins to
flash ON and OFF, a more serious
problem with the ECS or exhaust system
component has been detected. If this
happens, and there is no degradation
to performance, the vehicle is still
driveable(avoid high speeds) but should
be checked by an Authorized Kia Dealer
at your earliest possible convenience. If
the flashing CHECK ENGINE light is
accompanied by a decrease in power or
poor running conditions, safely stop the
vehicle and immediately contact Kia
Roadside Assistance.
Note that the CHECK ENGINE light
will illuminate for a problem like a loose
or missing gas cap, but will not
illuminate as a result of low engine oil or
coolant, low automatic transaxle fluid or
engine overheating. The driver will be
alerted to these conditions by other
indicators on the instrument panel.
DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
4-24
CHECK
MS-CNA-Eng 4(~39).QXD 7/25/2005 5:16 PM Page 24

4-25
KEY REMINDER WARNING
CHIMEIf the driver’s door is opened and the
ignition key is left in the ignition switch,
the key reminder warning chime will
sound. This is to remind you to remove
your keys from the ignition before you
lock the vehicle.
HEADLIGHT HIGH
BEAM INDICATORThis indicator illuminates when the
headlights are on and in the high beam
position or when the turn signal lever is
pulled into the Flash-to-Pass position.DOOR AJAR WARNINGThis warning light comes on when a
door is not closed securely with the
ignition switch in any position.
CAUTION
 Prolonged driving with the On
Board Diagnostic System
Malfunction Indicator Light ( )
illuminated may cause damage to
the emission control systems
which could effect driveability
and/or fuel economy.
 If the On Board Diagnostic
System Malfunction Indicator
Light ( ) begins to flash ON
and OFF, potential catalytic con-
verter damage is possible which
could result in loss of engine
power. Have the On Board
Diagnostic System inspected as
soon as possible by an
Authorized Kia Dealer or other
competent repair shop.
CHECK
CHECK
✻
NOTICE
A loose fuel filler cap may cause the
On Board Diagnostic System
Malfunction Indicator Light ( ) in
the instrument panel to illuminate
unnecessarily. Always ensure that
the fuel filler cap is tight.
CHECK
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