2007 KIA Optima Windshield wiper

4
Ignition switch / 4-2
Starting the engine / 4-3
Manual transaxle / 4-4
Automatic transaxle / 4-6
Brake system / 4-10
Steering wheel / 4-16
Cruise control system / 4-18
Electronic stability control / 4-21
Instrument cluster / 4-24
Gauges / 4-25
Warnings and indicators / 4-30
Compass - Z-Nav™ compass / 4-36
Back warning system / 4-37
Lighting / 4-40
Wipers and washers / 4-43
Defroster / 4-46
Hazard warning flasher / 4-47
Manual climate control system / 4-48
Automatic climate control / 4-55
Windshield defrosting and defogging / 4-63
Driving your vehicle

443
Driving your vehicle
Daytime running light
(if equipped)Daytime Running Lights (DRL) can make
it easier for others to see the front of your
vehicle during the day. DRL can be help-
ful in many different driving conditions,
and it is especially helpful after dawn and
before sunset.
The DRL system will make your high-
beam headlights turn OFF when:
1. The head light switch is ON.
2. The parking brake engaged.
3. Engine stops.
Windshield wipers Type AOperates as follows when the ignition
switch is turned ON.
OFF : Wiper is not in operation
INT : Wiper operates intermittently atthe same wiping intervals. Use
this mode in a light rain or mist. To
vary the speed setting, turn the
speed control knob ( 1). (S : slow
operation, F: fast operation)
LO : Normal wiper speed
HI : Fast wiper speed MIST : For a single wiping cycle, push
the lever forward and release it
with the lever in the OFF position.
The wipers will operate continu-
ously if the lever is pushed
upward and held.
✽ ✽NOTICEIf there is heavy accumulation of snow
or ice on the windshield, defrost the
windshield for about 10 minutes, or
until the snow and/or ice is removed
before using the windshield wipers to
ensure proper operation. ✽ ✽NOTICE• To prevent possible damage to the
wipers or windshield, do not operate
the wipers when the windshield is dry.
• To prevent damage to the wiper blades, do not use gasoline, kerosene,
paint thinner, or other solvents on or
near them.
• To prevent damage to the wiper arms and other components, do not attempt
to move the wipers manually.
WIPERS AND WASHERS
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Driving your vehicle44
4Type BOperates as follows when the ignition
switch is turned ON.
OFF/LO/HI/MIST: See the explanation
for type A operation.
AUTO (if equipped)
; The rain sensor located on the upperend of windshield glass senses the
amount of rainfall and controls the wip-
ing cycle for the proper intervals. The
more it rains, the faster the wiper oper-
ates. When the rain stops, the wiper
stops. To vary the speed setting, turn
the speed control knob (1). (S : slow
operation, F: fast operation.) If the ignition switch is turned ON when
the wiper switch is set in AUTO mode, or
wiper switch is set in AUTO mode when
the ignition switch is ON, wiper will oper-
ate once to perform a self-check of the
system. Set the wiper to OFF position
when the wiper is not in use.
✽ ✽
NOTICEWhen washing the vehicle, set the wiper
switch in the OFF position to stop the
auto wiper operation.
Wiper may operate and be damaged if
the switch is set in AUTO mode while
washing vehicle.
Do not remove the sensor cover located
on the upper end of the passenger side
windshield glass. Damage to system
parts could occur and may not be cov-
ered by you vehicle warranty.
When the starting the vehicle in winter,
set the wiper switch in the OFF position.
Otherwise, wipers may operate and ice
may damage the windshield wiper
blades. Always remove all snow and ice
and defrost the windshield properly
prior to operating the windshield
wipers.
OMG045029Sensor

445
Driving your vehicle
Windshield washers In the OFF position, pull the lever gently
toward you to spray washer fluid on the
windshield and to run the wipers 2-3
cycles.
Use this function when the windshield is
dirty.
The spray and wiper operation will con-
tinue until you release the lever.If the washer does not work, check the
washer fluid level. If the fluid level is not
sufficient, you will need to add appropri-
ate non-abrasive windshield washer fluid
to the washer reservoir.
The reservoir filler neck is located in the
front of the engine compartment on the
passenger side.
✽ ✽
NOTICETo prevent possible damage to the wash-
er pump, do not operate the washer
when the fluid reservoir is empty.
CAUTION
When the ignition switch is ON and
the windshield wiper switch isplaced in the AUTO mode, use cau-tion in the following situations toavoid any injury to the hands orother parts of the body:
 Do not touch the upper end of the
windshield glass facing the rainsensor.
 Do not wipe the upper end of the
windshield glass with a damp orwet cloth.
 Do not put pressure on the wind-
shield glass.
WARNING
Do not use the washer in freezing
temperatures without first warming
the windshield with the defrosters;
the washer solution could freeze on
contact with the windshield and
obscure your vision.
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447
Driving your vehicle
Front windshield deicer (if equipped)To activate the front windshield deicer,
press the front windshield deicer button.
The indicator on the button illuminates
when the deicer is ON.
The front windshield deicer automatically
turns off after 20 minutes or when the
ignition switch is turned off. To turn off the
defroster, press the front windshield
deicer button again.
The front windshield deicer is designed
to defrost wiper blades. If you want to
defrost and defog on the front wind-
shield, refer to “Windshield Defrosting
and Defogging” in this section. The hazard warning flasher causes the
rear tail lights and front turn signal lights
to flash on and off, which serves as a
warning to other drivers to exercise cau-
tion when approaching or passing your
vehicle.
To activate the flasher, depress the haz-
ard warning flasher switch. This switch
operates in any ignition switch position.
To turn the flashers off, depress the
switch again.
OMG045100
OMG065001
HAZARD WARNING FLASHER

57
Driving tips
Driving at night Because night driving presents more
hazards than driving in the daylight, here
are some important tips to remember:
 Slow down and keep more distancebetween you and other vehicles, as it
may be more difficult to see at night,
especially in 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 prop- erly aimed on vehicles not equipped
with the automatic headlight aiming
feature. Dirty or improperly aimed
headlights will make it much more diffi-
cult 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 read-
just to the darkness.
Driving in the rain Rain and wet roads can make driving
dangerous, especially if you’re not pre-
pared for the slick pavement. Here are a
few things to consider when driving in the
rain:
 A heavy rainfall will make it harder tosee and will increase the distance
needed to stop your vehicle, so slow
down.
 Keep your windshield wiping equip- ment in good shape. Replace your
windshield wiper blades when they
show signs of streaking or missing
areas on the windshield.
 If your tires are not in good condition, making a quick stop on wet pavement
can cause a skid and possibly lead to
an accident. Be sure your tires are in
good shape.
 Turn on your headlights to make it eas- ier 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.
 If you believe you may have gotten your brakes wet, apply them lightly
while driving until normal braking oper-
ation returns.
Winter driving We recommend that you carry emer-gency equipment, including a window
scraper, windshield de-icer, a bag of
sand or salt, flares, a small shovel and
jumper cables.
 Make sure you have sufficient ethyl- ene-glycol coolant in the radiator.
 Check the battery condition and cables. Cold temperatures reduce the
output capability of any battery, so it
must be in excellent condition to pro-
vide 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. (Do not use engine
coolant antifreeze.)
 Do not use the parking brake if it might freeze. When parking, shift to 1 (First)
or R (Reverse) with a manual transaxle
or P (Park) with an automatic transaxle
and block the rear wheels.

77
Maintenance
OWNER MAINTENANCE Owner maintenance schedule The following lists are vehicle checks and
inspections that should be performed by
the owner or an authorized Kia dealer at
the frequencies indicated to help ensure
safe, dependable operation of your vehi-
cle.
Any adverse conditions should be
brought to the attention of your dealer as
soon as possible.
These Owner Maintenance Checks are
generally not covered by warranties 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 reser-voir.
 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 steering
effort or looseness in the steering
wheel, or change in its straight-ahead
position.
 Notice if your vehicle constantly turns slightly or “pulls” to one side when trav-
eling on smooth, level road.
 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 oper- ation 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 condition-
ing system during or after use is nor-
mal).
At least monthly: Check coolant level in the coolantrecovery reservoir.
 Check the operation of all exterior lights, including the stoplights, turn sig-
nals and hazard warning flashers.
 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 condi- tioning hoses for leaks or damage.
 Check windshield washer spray and wiper operation. Clean wiper blades
with clean cloth dampened with wash-
er 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
- Radiationcoolant
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 burns or
other serious injury.

Maintenance20
7WIPER BLADES Wiper blade maintenance Commercial hot waxes applied by
automatic car washes have been
known to make the windshield diffi-
cult to clean.
Contamination of either the windshield or
the wiper blades with foreign matter can
reduce the effectiveness of the wind-
shield wipers. Common sources of con-
tamination are insects, tree sap, and hot
wax treatments used by some commer-
cial car washes. If the blades are not wip-
ing properly, clean both the window and
the blades with a good cleaner or mild
detergent, and rinse thoroughly with
clean water.✽ ✽
NOTICETo prevent damage to the wiper blades,
do not use gasoline, kerosene, paint
thinner, or other solvents on or near
them.
Windshield wiper blade replace-
ment When the wipers no longer clean ade-
quately, the blades may be worn or
cracked, and require replacement.✽ ✽NOTICETo prevent damage to the wiper arms or
other components, do not attempt to
move the wipers manually. ✽ ✽NOTICEThe use of a non-specified wiper blade
could result in wiper malfunction and
failure.
1. Raise the wiper arm and turn the wiper
blade assembly to expose the plastic
locking clip.✽ ✽NOTICEDo not allow the wiper arm to fall
against the windshield, since it may chip
or crack the windshield.
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