2006 KIA PICANTO coolant level

Driving your vehicle
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Warning lights / audible indi-
cators
Checking operation
All warning lights are checked by
turning the ignition switch ON (do not
start the engine). Any light that does
not illuminate should be 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. The fuel warning light will stay on
if the fuel level is low. Engine temperature indicator
These indicators shows the tempera- ture of the engine coolant when the
ignition switch is ON. Red indicator illuminates if the tem-
perature of the engine coolant is
above 117±3
°C (240±5.5 °F).
Blue indicator Illuminates if the tem-
perature of the engine coolant is
below 60±3 °C (140±5.5 °F).
Do not continue driving with an over-
heated engine. If your vehicle over-
heats, refer to “Overheating ”in the
Index.
✽✽
NOTICE
If the red engine temperature indi-
cator illuminates, it indicates over-heating that may damage theengine.
WARNINGS AND INDICATORS
Blue Red

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Driving tips
BEFORE DRIVING
Before entering vehicle:
 Be sure that all windows, outside mirror(s), and outside lights are clean.
 Check the condition of the tires.
 Check under the vehicle for any sign of leaks.
 Be sure there are no obstacles behind you if you intend to back up.
Necessary inspections
Fluid levels, such as engine oil,
engine coolant, brake fluid, and
washer fluid should be checked on a
regular basis, with the exact interval
depending on the fluid. Further
details are provided in Section 7,
Maintenance. Before starting
 Close and lock all doors.
 Position the seat so that all con-
trols are easily reached.
 Adjust the inside and outside rearview mirrors.
 Be sure that all lights work.
 Check all gauges.
 Check the operation of warning lights when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position.
 Release the parking brake and make sure the brake warning lightgoes out.
For safe operation, be sure you are
familiar with your vehicle and itsequipment.
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WARNING - Driving under
the influence of alcohol or drugs
Drinking and driving is danger-
ous. Drunk driving is the num-
ber one contributor to the high-
way death toll each year. Even asmall amount of alcohol will
affect your reflexes, perceptions
and judgement.
You are much more likely to
have a serious accident if you
drink and drive.
If you are drinking or taking
drugs, don’t drive. Do not ridewith a driver who has beendrinking or taking drugs.Choose a designated driver orcall a cab. Driving while under the influ-
ence of drugs is as dangerous
or more dangerous than drivingdrunk.

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In case of an emergency
OVERHEATING
If your temperature gauge indicates
overheating, if you experience a loss
of power, or if you hear a loud knock-
ing or pinging noise, the engine has
probably overheated. Should any of
these symptoms occur, use the fol-
lowing procedure:
1. Turn on the hazard warning flash- er, then drive to the nearest safe
location and stop your vehicle; set
the automatic transaxle in P
(Park), or shift the manual
transaxle to N (Neutral) and apply
the parking brake.
2. Make sure the air conditioner is off.
3. If coolant or steam is boiling out of the radiator, stop the engine and
call an Authorized Kia Dealer for
assistance. If coolant is not boiling out, allowthe engine to idle and open the
hood to permit the engine to cool
gradually.
If the temperature does not go
down with the engine idling, stop
the engine and allow sufficient
time for it to cool.
4. The coolant level should then be checked. If the level in the reser-
voir is low, look for leaks at the
radiator hoses and connections,
heater hoses and connections,
radiator, and water pump. If youfind a major leak or another prob-
lem that may have caused the
engine to overheat, do not operatethe engine until it has been cor-
rected. Call an Authorized Kia
Dealer for assistance. If you do not
find a leak or other problem, care-
fully add coolant to the reservoir.
If the engine frequently overheats,
have the cooling system checkedand repaired by an Authorized Kia Dealer.
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WARNING - Removing
radiator cap
Do not remove the radiator cap when the engine and radiator
are hot. Scalding hot coolant
and steam may blow out under
pressure. This could cause seri-
ous injury.

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Maintenance
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7
NORMAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE (cont.)
I : Inspect and if necessary, adjust, correct, clean or replace.
R : Replace or change. *3
: If the diesel fuel specifications don't meet the European standards EN590, replace it more frequently.
Consult an authorized Kia dealer for details.
*4 : When adding coolant, use only a qualified coolant additive for your vehicle and never mix hard water in the coolant filled at
the factory. An improper coolant mixture can result in serious malfunction or engine damage.
MAINTENANCE ITEM
Number of months or driving distance, whichever comes first
Months 12 24 36 48 60 72 84 96
Miles×1,000 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Km×1,000 15 30 45 60 75 90 105 120
Fuel filter cartridge *3
Diesel R R R R
Fuel lines and hoses I I I I
Cooling system Engine coolant For Europe
*4
Except Europe
Battery condition
I I I I I I I I
All electrical systems I I I I
Brake lines, hoses and connections I I I I I I I I
Brake pedal, clutch pedal I I I I
Parking brake I I I I
Inspect “Coolant level adjustment and leak” every day
Inspect “Water pump” when replacing the drive belt or timing belt
At first, replace at 90,000 km or 60 months: after that, replace every 45,000 km or 24 months
Replace every 45,000 km or 24 months
MAINTENANCE INTERVALS

Maintenance
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OWNER MAINTENANCE
Owner maintenance schedule
The following lists are vehicle checks and inspections that should be per-
formed by the owner or an AuthorizedKia Dealer at the frequencies indicat-
ed to help ensure safe, dependable
operation of your vehicle.
Any adverse conditions should be
brought to the attention of your deal-
er as soon as possible.
These Owner Maintenance Checks
are generally not covered by war-
ranties and you may be charged for
labor, parts and lubricants used.
When you stop for fuel:
 Check the engine oil level.
 Check coolant level in coolant reservoir.
 Check the windshield washer fluid level.  Look for low or under-inflated tires.
While operating your vehicle:
 Note any changes in the sound of
the exhaust or any smell of
exhaust fumes in the vehicle.
 Check for vibrations in the steering wheel. Notice any increased steer-
ing effort or looseness in the steer-
ing wheel, or change in its straight-ahead position.
 Notice if your vehicle constantly turns slightly or “pulls” to one side
when traveling on smooth, levelroad.
 When stopping, listen and check for strange sounds, pulling to one
side, increased brake pedal travel
or “hard-to-push” brake pedal.
 If any slipping or changes in the operation of your transaxle occurs,
check the transaxle fluid level.
 Check automatic transaxle P (Park) function.
 Check parking brake.
 Check for fluid leaks under your vehicle (water dripping from the air conditioning system after use is
normal).
At least monthly:
 Check coolant level in the coolantrecovery reservoir.
 Check the operation of all exterior lights, including the stoplights, turn
signals and hazard warning flash-
ers.
 Check the inflation pressures of all tires including the spare.
At least twice a year
(i.e., every Spring and Fall) :
 Check radiator, heater and air con- ditioning hoses for leaks or da-
mage.
 Check windshield washer spray and wiper operation. Clean wiper
blades with clean cloth dampened
with washer fluid.
 Check headlight alignment.
 Check muffler, exhaust pipes, shields and clamps.
 Check the lap/shoulder belts for wear and function.
 Check for worn tires and loose wheel lug nuts.
WARNING
Be careful when checking your
engine coolant level when the
engine is hot. Scalding hot
coolant and steam may blow out
under pressure. This could
cause serious injury.

717
Maintenance
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ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM
The high-pressure cooling system
has a reservoir filled with year-round
antifreeze coolant. The reservoir is
filled at the factory.
Check the antifreeze protection and
coolant level at least once a year, atthe beginning of the winter season,
and before traveling to a colder cli-
mate. Checking the coolant level
WARNING
- Removing
radiator cap
 Never attempt to remove the radiator cap while the engine
is operating or hot. Doing somight lead to cooling system
and engine damage and could
result in serious personal
injury from escaping hotcoolant or steam.
 Turn the engine off and wait until it cools down. Even then,
use extreme care when
removing the radiator cap.
Wrap a thick towel around it,
and turn it counterclockwise
slowly to the first stop. Step
back while the pressure is
released from the cooling sys-
tem. When you are sure all thepressure has been released,
press down on the cap, using
a thick towel, and continue
turning counterclockwise to
remove it.
(Continued)
(Continued)
 Even if the engine is not oper-ating, do not remove the radi- ator cap or the drain plugwhile the engine and radiator
are hot. Hot coolant and steam
may still blow out under pres-
sure, causing serious injury.

Maintenance
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Check the condition and connections of all cooling system hoses and
heater hoses. Replace any swollen
or deteriorated hoses.
The coolant level should be filled
between F and L marks on the side
of the coolant reservoir when theengine is cool.
If the coolant level is low, add enough
specified coolant to provide protec-tion against freezing and corrosion.
Bring the level to F, but do not over-
fill. If frequent additions are required,
see an Authorized Kia Dealer for acooling system inspection. Changing coolant Change coolant according to the
Maintenance Schedule.
 Use only soft (de-mineralized)
water in the coolant mixture.
 The engine in your vehicle has alu- minum engine parts and must be
protected by an ethylene-glycol-
based coolant to prevent corrosionand freezing.
 DO NOT USE alcohol or methanol coolant or mix them with the spec-ified coolant.
 Do not use a solution that contains more than 60% antifreeze or less
than 35% antifreeze, which would
reduce the effectiveness of thesolution. For mixture percentage, refer to the
following table.
1SAA5005
-15°C (5°F) 35 65
-25°C (-13°F) 40 60
-35°C (-31°F) 50 50
-45°C (-49°F) 60 40
Ambient
Temperature Mixture Percentage (volume)
Coolant
Solution WaterFull
OK
Low

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Maintenance
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1. Turn the radiator cap counter-clockwise to remove it.
2. Loosen the radiator drain plug and drain the coolant into a suitable
container.
3. With the plug loose, flush the sys- tem with running water.
4. Drain the system completely and retighten the drain plug. Add the
necessary amount of ethylene-gly-
col based coolant and water to
provide the required protection
against freezing and corrosion. In
extremely cold climates, add ethyl-ene-glycol based coolant in accor-
dance with the instructions of the
manufacturer. 5. Run the engine at idle with the
radiator cap off. Slowly add addi-
tional coolant as necessary.
6. At this point, wait until the engine reaches normal operating temper-
ature. Depress the accelerator two
or three times; then add coolant asrequired. Be careful not to burn
yourself.
7. Reinstall the radiator cap. Inspect all connections for leaks and
recheck the coolant level in the
reservoir. Recheck again after a
few days and add coolant as nec-
essary.
1SAA50061SAA5007
WARNING
Do not remove the radiator cap when the engine and radiator
are hot. Scalding hot coolant
and steam may blow out under
pressure. This could cause seri-
ous injury.