2006 KIA Optima check engine light

KNOWING YOUR VEHICLE
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AIR BAG WARNING LIGHTThe purpose of the air bag warning light
in your instrument panel is to alert you of
a potential problem with your Air Bag -
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS).
Have the system checked if:
• The light does not illuminate when
you turn the ignition ON.
• The light stays ON after the engine
starts.
• The light comes ON or flashes while
you are driving.
SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT
SYSTEM SERVICEYour Supplemental Restraint System is
virtually maintenance-free. There are no
parts which you can service.
You must have the system serviced
under the following circumstances:
• If an air bag ever inflates, the air bag
must be replaced. Do not try to
remove or discard the air bag by
yourself.
This must be done by an Authorized
Kia Dealer.
• If the air bag warning indicator light
alerts you of a problem, have the air
bag system checked as soon as
possible. Otherwise, your air bag
might not inflate when you need it.
The entire SRS system must be inspected
by an authorized Kia dealer 10 years
after the vehicle manufacture date.
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT
AIR
BAG
AS2B03035
 Do not use excessive force
on the side of the seat.
 Do not place any objects
over the airbag or between
the airbag and yourself.
 Do not place any objects (an
umbrella, bag,etc.) between
the front door and the front
seat. Such objects may
become dangerous projectiles
and cause injury if the side air
bag inflates.
 To prevent unexpected
deploy-ment of the side air
bag that may result in
personal injury, avoid impact
to the side airbag sensor
when the ignition key is
“ON”.
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3-57
• To remove the cap, turn it coun
terclockwise.
• To install the cap, turn it clock wise
until it “clicks”.
This indicates that the cap is securely
tightened.The fuel filler neck is designed to
prevent filling the fuel tank with
anything but unleaded fuel.
Always insure that the
engine is OFF before and
during refueling. Once
refueling is complete, check
to make sure the fuel filler
cap and door are securely
closed, before starting the
engine.
 Do not light any fire around a
gas station. DO NOT use
matches or a lighter and DO
NOT SMOKE or leave a lit
cigarette in your vehicle while
at a gas station especially
during refueling. Automotive
fuel is highly flammable and
can, when ignited, result in
explosion by flames.
 If a fire breaks out during
refueling, leave the vicinity of
the vehicle, and immediately
contact the manager of the
gas station or contact the
police and local fire
department. Follow any
safety instructions they
provide.
✻
NOTICE
A loose fuel filler cap may cause the
OBD-II Malfunction Indicator
Light ( ) light in the instrument
panel to illuminate unnecessarily.
Always ensure that the fuel filler
cap is tight.
CHECK
✻
NOTICE
If the fuel filler cap requires
replacement, use only a genuine
Kia cap. An incorrect fuel filler cap
can result in a serious malfunction
of the fuel system or emission
control system. Correct
replacement caps are available at
Authorized Kia Dealers.
MMSA3049
Fuel filler cap
holderFuel filler neck Remove
Install
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Check the brake warning light each time
you start the engine. The light is located
in the instrument panel. This warning
light will be illuminated when the engine
is running and the parking brake is set.
Before driving, be sure the parking brake
is fully released and the brake warning
light is off.
If the brake warning light remains on
after the parking brake is released, there
may be a malfunction in the brake
system. Immediate attention is
necessary.
If at all possible, cease driving the
vehicle immediately. If that is not
possible, use extreme caution in
operating the vehicle and only drive it
until you reach the first safe location or a
repair shop.
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AN7B04014
CAUTION
When stopped, do not use the
gearshift lever in place of the park-
ing brake. Always set the parking
brake fully AND make sure the
gearshift lever is securely positioned
in P (Park) with an automatic
transaxle or in 1st (First) or R
(Reverse) gear with a manual
transaxle.
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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.
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MMSA4020
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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
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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
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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.
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✻
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.
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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
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CHECK
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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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