2006 KIA Optima brakes

REAR DRUM BRAKES
(IF EQUIPPED)Your rear drum brakes don’t have wear
indicators. Have the rear brake linings
inspected if you hear a rear brake
rubbing noise. Also, have your rear
brakes inspected each time you change
or rotate your tires and when you have
the front brakes replaced.
PARKING BRAKE• To set the parking brake, pull the
parking brake handle fully and firmly
upward while applying the service
brake.DRIVING YOUR VEHICLE
4-16
MMSA4012
MMSA4011
CAUTION
Always replace brake linings or
front pads as complete front or
rear axle sets.
CAUTION
Driving with the parking brake on
will cause excessive wear of the
brake linings and pads.
MS-CNA-Eng 4(~39).QXD 7/25/2005 5:16 PM Page 16

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

4-39
✻
NOTICE
• Keep the main switch off when
not using the cruise control.
• Do not use the cruise control
when it may not be safe to keep
the car at a constant speed, for
instance, driving in heavy or
varying traffic, or on slippery
(rainy, icy or snow-covered) or
winding roads or over 6% up-
hill or down-hill roads.
• Pay particular attention to the
driving conditions whenever
using the cruise control system.
• During cruise-speed driving with
a manual transaxle vehicle, do
not shift into neutral without
depressing the clutch pedal,
since the engine will be over-
revved. If this happens, depress
the clutch pedal or release the
main switch.
• During normal cruise control
operation, when the set button is
activated or reactivated after
applying the brakes, the cruise
control will energize after
approximately 3 seconds. This
delay is normal.
MS-CNA-Eng 4(~39).QXD 7/25/2005 5:16 PM Page 39

 Keep the engine in tune and follow the
recommended periodic maintenance
schedule.
This will increase the life of all parts
and lower your operating costs.
 Do not use the air conditioner
unnecessarily.
 Slow down when driving on rough
roads.
 For longer tire life and better fuel
economy, always keep the tires
inflated to the recommended
pressures.
 Maintain a safe distance from other
vehicles to avoid sudden stops. This
will reduce wear on brake linings and
pads and save fuel because extra fuel
is required to accelerate back to
driving speed.
 Do not carry unnecessary weight in
the vehicle. Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving. This can cause
needless wear, possible damage to
the brakes, and poor fuel economy.
 Improper wheel alignment causes the
tires to roll at excessive angles,
which results in faster tire wear. It
takes more power to overcome this
improper alignment, which wastes
fuel.
 Open windows at high speeds can
reduce fuel economy.
 Crosswinds and headwinds reduce
fuel economy. To help offset some of
this loss, slow down when driving in
these conditions.
Keeping a vehicle in good operating
condition is important both for
economy and safety.
Therefore, have an Authorized Kia
Dealer perform scheduled inspections
and maintenance.
DRIVING TIPS
5-6
WARNING - Engine OFF
Motion
Never turn the engine off to
coast down hills or anytime the
vehicle is in motion. The power
steering and power brakes will
not function without the engine
running. Instead, downshift to
any appropriate gear for engine
braking effect.
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SPECIAL DRIVING
CONDITIONSHAZARDOUS DRIVINGWhen hazardous driving is encountered
because of water, snow, ice, mud, sand, or
similar hazard, follow these suggestions:
 Drive cautiously and allow extra
distance for braking.
 Avoid sudden movements in braking
or steering.
 When braking in vehicles without
anti-lock brakes, depress the brake
pedal with a controlled up-and- down
motion until the vehicle is stopped.
 When starting from a stop in snow,
mud, or sand, use second gear and
accelerate slowly to avoid spinning
the front wheels. Low gear may be
used, if necessary.
 Use sand, rock salt, tire chains, or
other non-slip material under the
front wheels to provide traction when
stalled on ice, snow, or mud.
ROCKING THE VEHICLEIf it is necessary to rock the vehicle to
free it from snow, sand, or mud, move
the shift lever of an automatic transaxle
from D (Drive) to R (Reverse) in a
repeat pattern while depressing the
accelerator gently. With a manual
transaxle, move the shift lever back and
forth from 1 (First) to R (Reverse).
Do not race the engine. If you are still
stuck after a couple minutes of rocking,
have the vehicle pulled out by a tow
vehicle to avoid engine overheating and
possible damage to the transaxle.
5-7
WARNING -
Downshifting
Downshifting into first gear with
a manual transaxle or into low
with an automatic transaxle
while driving on slippery
surfaces can cause an
accident. The sudden change in
tire speed could cause the tires
to skid. Be careful when
downshifting on slippery
surfaces.
✻
NOTICE
Prolonged rocking may cause
engine overheating, transaxle
damage or failure, and tire
damage.
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DRIVING TIPS
5-8
DRIVING AT NIGHTBecause night driving presents many
more hazards than driving in the
daylight, here are some important tips to
remember:
 Slow down and keep more distance
between you and other vehicles as it
may be more difficult to see at night,
especially in rural areas where there
may not be any street lights.
 Adjust your mirrors to reduce the
glare from other driver’s headlights.
 Keep your headlights clean and
properly aimed. Dirty or misaimed
headlights will make it much more
difficult to see at night.
 Avoid staring directly at the
headlights of oncoming vehicles.
You could be temporarily blinded
and it will take several seconds for
your eyes to readjust to the darkness.
DRIVING IN THE RAINRain and wet roads can make driving
dangerous, especially if you’re not
prepared for the slick pavement. Here are
a few things to consider when driving in
the rain:
 Be sure your windshield wipers are
in good condition.
 A heavy rainfall will make it harder
to see and will increase the distance
needed to stop your vehicle, so slow
down.
 If your tires aren’t in good condition,
making a quick stop on wet
pavement can cause a skid and
possibly lead to an accident. Be sure
your tires and windshield wipers are
in good shape.
 Turn on your headlights to make it
easier for others to see you.
 Driving too fast through large
puddles can affect your brakes. If
you must go through puddles, try to
drive through them slowly.
WARNING -
Spinning
Tires
Do not spin the wheels
especially at speeds more than
35 mph (56 km/h). Spinning the
wheels at high speeds when the
vehicle is stationary could
cause a tire to overheat,
explode and injure by standers.
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5-9
 If you believe you may have gottenyour brakes wet, apply them lightly
while driving until normal braking
operation returns.WINTER DRIVING We recommend that you carryemergency equipment. Some things
you might include are tire chains, a
window scraper, windshield de-icer,
a bag of sand or salt, flares, a small
shovel and jumper cables.
 Make sure you have sufficient ethylene glycol coolant in the
radiator.
 Check the battery condition and cables. Cold temperatures reduce the
capacity of any battery, so it must be
in top shape to provide enough
winter starting power.
 Make sure the engine oil viscosity is suitable for cold weather.
 Check the ignition system for loose connections and damage.  Use antifreeze-formulated windshield
washer fluid and make sure you have
sufficient fluid for your trip. (Do not
use engine coolant antifreeze.)
 Do not use the parking brake if it might freeze. This is most likely to
happen after driving in slushy or wet
conditions and temperatures drop into
the freezing range. When parking,
shift to P (Park) with automatic
transaxle, or to 1 (First) or R
(Reverse) with a manual transaxle
and block the rear wheels.
SNOW TIRESWhen snow tires are used, select the size
and construction specified on the Tire
Pressure Label. It is strongly
recommended that snow tires be used on
all four wheels, or poor handling may
result. Snow tires should not be operated
at speeds exceeding 120 km/h (75 mph).
These tires should be inflated 4 psi (28
kPa, 0.3 kg/cm
2) above the recommended pressures shown on the Tire
Specification/Pressure Label, but inflation
should never exceed the maximum cold-
tire pressure shown on the tire sidewalls.
Do not install studded tires without first
checking local, provincial and municipal
regulations for possible restrictions
against their use.
WARNING - Snow Tire
Size
Snow tires should be
equivalent in size and type to
the vehicle’s standard tires.
Otherwise, the safety and
handling of your vehicle may be
adversely affected.
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DRIVING TIPS
5-10TIRE CHAINSTire Chain SelectionRegulations regarding the use of tire
chains vary according to location or type
of road, so always check them before
installing chains.
Use only SAE Class “S” tire chains.
Chains must be the proper size for the
vehicle, as recommended by the chain
manufacturer.CHAIN INSTALLATIONWhen installing chains on your tires,
carefully follow the instructions of the
chain manufacturer.
The chain bands will scratch the wheel
covers. Remove the covers before
installing the chains.Install the chains on the front tires as
tightly as possible. The use of chains on
the rear tires is not recommended.
Retighten the chains after driving 0.5-1.0
km (1/4-1/2 mile).
Driving in Flooded AreasAvoid driving through flooded areas
unless you are sure the water is no higher
than the bottom of the wheel rims. Drive
through any water slowly. Allow
adequate stopping distance because
brake performance may be affected.
After driving through water, dry the
brakes by gently applying them several
times while the vehicle is moving slowly.
WARNING - Tire Chains
 The use of chains may
adversely affect vehicle
handling.
 Do not exceed 30 mph (50 km/
h) or the chain manufacturer’s
recommended speed limit,
whichever is lower.
 Drive carefully and avoid
bumps, holes, sharp turns
and other road hazards,
which may cause the vehicle
to bounce.
 Avoid sharp turns or locked
wheel braking.
 Do not attempt to use a tire
chain on the temporary spare
tire because it may impair
vehicle handling and result in
damage to the vehicle and the
tire.
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