Page 272 of 312
PARKING BRAKEChecking the Parking Brake
Check the stroke of the parking brake
by counting the number of “clicks’’
heard while fully applying it from the
released position. Also, the parking
brake alone should securely hold the
vehicle on a fairly steep grade. If the
number of “clicks’’is more or less
than specified, have the parking
brake adjusted by an authorized Kia
dealer.Stroke:
4~6 “clicks’’at a force of 22 lbs (10kg,
98N).
MAINTENANCE
7-15
S2BLC302B
CAUTION
Do not allow brake/clutch fluid
to contact the vehicle's body
paint, as paint damage will
result. Brake/clutch fluid, which
has been exposed to open air
for an extended time should
never be used as its quality can-
not be guaranteed. It should be
thrown out. Don't put in the
wrong kind of fluid. For exam-
ple, just a few drops of mineral-
based oil, such as engine oil, in
your brake clutch system can
damage brake clutch system
parts.
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1. Park the vehicle on level ground
and firmly set 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.5. Pull out the dipstick again and
check the fluid level.
If the fluid has been warmed to nor-
mal operating temperature of approx-
imately 167°F (75°C), the fluid level
should be between the 2 notches
marked 75°C.MAINTENANCE7-18
25 C
75 C
S2BLA712A
LowOk
Ok
Full
Low
Cold fluid scaleHot fluid scale
Full
✽ ✽
NOTICEThe notch on the 25°C scale is for
reference only and should NOT be
used to determine transmission
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
distinguishes 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.
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Page 276 of 312

LUBRICANTS AND FLUIDSChecking 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. In cold
climates, use washer solvent with
antifreeze 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.
MAINTENANCE
7-19
HIGHLOW
S2BLC703
Washer fluid
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
animals. Do not drink and
avoid contacting windshield
washer fluid. Serious injury or
death could occur.
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MAINTENANCE
7-25
(Continued)
Disconnect the battery charg-
er in the following order.
1. Turn off the battery charger
main switch.
2. Unhook the negative clamp
from the negative battery
terminal.
3. Unhook the positive clamp
from the positive battery
terminal.
✽ ✽
NOTICE Before performing maintenance
or recharging the battery, turn
off all accessories and stop the
engine.
The negative battery cable must
be removed first and installed last
when the battery is disconnected.
WARNING - Recharging Battery
When recharging the battery,
observe the following precau-
tions:
The battery must be removed
from the vehicle and placed in
an area with good ventilation.
Do not allow cigarettes,
sparks, or flame near the bat-
tery.
Watch the battery during
charging, and stop or reduce
the charging rate if the battery
cells begin gassing (boiling)
violently or if the temperature
of the electrolyte of any cell
exceeds 120°F (49°C).
Wear eye protection when
checking the battery during
charging.
(Continued)
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Page 299 of 312

Recommended SAE Viscosity
Number
Engine oil viscosity (thickness) has
an effect on fuel economy and cold
weather operating (starting and oil
flow). Lower viscosity engine oils can
provide better fuel economy and cold
weather performance, however, high-
er viscosity engine oils are required
for satisfactory lubrication in hot
weather. Using oils of any viscosity
other than those recommended could
result in engine damage.MAINTENANCE7-42✽ ✽
NOTICEAlways be sure to clean the area
around any filler plug, drain plug,
or dipstick before checking or
draining any lubricant. This is
especially important in dusty or
sandy areas and when the vehicle is
used on unpaved roads. Cleaning
the plug and dipstick areas will pre-
vent dirt and grit from entering the
engine and other mechanisms that
could be damaged.
When choosing an oil, consider the range of temperature your vehicle will be
operated in before the next oil change. Proceed to select the recommended
oil viscosity from the chart.
Temperature Range for SAE Viscosity Numbers
Temperature
Gasoline
Engine Oil °C
(°F)
-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50
-10 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
10W-30
5W-20, 5W-30
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Waxing
Wax the vehicle when water will no
longer bead on the paint.
Always wash and dry the vehicle
before waxing. Use good quality liq-
uid or paste wax, and follow the man-
ufacturer’s instructions. Wax all metal
trim to protect it and to maintain its
luster.
Removing oil, tar, and similar materi-
als with a spot remover will usually
strip the wax from the finish. Be sure
to re-wax these areas even if the rest
of the vehicle does not yet need wax-
ing.
MAINTENANCE7-44
WARNING
After washing the vehicle, test
the brakes while driving slowly
to see if they have been affected
by water. If braking performance
is impaired, dry the brakes by
applying them lightly while
maintaining a slow forward
speed.
WARNING- Water Washing in Engine
Compartment
Water washing in the engine
compartment may cause failure
of electrical circuits. Systems
of your vehicle could fail when
you need them. Wash your
engine compartment carefully.
Check your vehicle’s features
before driving again.
✽ ✽
NOTICE Wiping dust or dirt off the body
with a dry cloth will scratch the
finish.
Do not use steel wool, abrasive
cleaners, or strong detergents
containing high alkaline or caus-
tic agents on chrome-plated or
anodized aluminum parts. This
may result in damage to the pro-
tective coating and cause discol-
oration or paint deterioration.
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