2008 KIA Optima key

Knowing your vehicle32 3
Safety belt warning light and
chimeAs a reminder to the driver and passen-
ger, 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 fas-
tened when the key is turned ON or if it is
disconnected after the key is turn ON,
the safety belt warning light will blink for
approximately 6 seconds.If the driver's lap/shoulder belt is not fas-
tened when the key is turned ON or if it is
disconnected after the key is turned ON,
the safety belt warning chime will sound
for approximately 6 seconds. (if equipped)
If the driver’s lap/shoulder belt is not fas-
tened when you drive over 10 km/h, the
safety belt warning light and chime will
activate for six seconds. This cycle will
repeat 11 times with an interval of 24
seconds between cycles.
WARNING
- Safety belt
care
A damaged belt may not give you
the protection you need in an
accident.
Inspect your safety belts periodi-
cally for excessive wear or dam-
age. Pull out each belt fully and
look for fraying, cuts, burns or
other damage. Pull the safety belt
out and let it retract a number of
times. Make sure that the
lap/shoulder belts return smooth-
ly and easily into the retractor.
Check the latches to make sure
they latch and release without
interference or delay.
Never close the doors on any part
of the lap or shoulder belt.
Any belt not in good condition or
in good working order should be
promptly replaced.
CAUTION
Never close the doors on any part
of the lap or shoulder belt. It can
damage the safety belt or buckle
which could increase the risk of
injury in case of an accident.
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Knowing your vehicle38 3To unfasten the rear center belt 1. Press the release button on the buckle
(D) and remove the tongue plate (C)
from the buckle (D).2. To retract the rear center seatbelt,
insert the key or similar small rigid
device into the web release button (B)
on the anchor connector. Pull up on
the seat belt web (A) and allow the
webbing to retract automatically. (if
equipped)
Proper use and care of the safety
belt system To ensure that the safety belts provide
the maximum protection, please follow
these instructions:
Use the belts at all times - even on
short trips.
If the safety belt is twisted, straighten it
prior to use.
Keep sharp edges and damaging
objects away from the belts.
Periodically inspect belt webbing,
anchors, buckles and all other parts for
signs of wear and damage. Replace
damaged, excessively worn or ques-
tionable parts immediately.
To clean the belt webbing, use a mild
soap solution recommended for clean-
ing upholstery or carpets. Follow the
instructions provided with the soap.
Do not make modifications or additions
to the safety belt.
After wearing a safety belt, make sure
it fully retracts to the stowed position.
Do not allow the belt to get caught in
the door when you close it.
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Knowing your vehicle50 3
Air bag system components The main components of your SRS are:
To indicate that your vehicle is
equipped with air bags, the correspon-
ding air bag covers are marked with
“SRS AIR BAG”.
- Driver’s air bag
- Front passenger’s air bag
- Side air bag (if equipped)
- Curtain air bag (if equipped)
A diagnostic system that continually
monitors the system operation.
Air bag warning light to warn you of a
possible problem with the system.
Emergency power backup in case your
car’s electrical system is disconnected
in a crash.The SRS uses a collection of sensors to
gather information about the driver’s and
front passenger’s seat position, the dri-
ver’s and front passenger’s safety belt
usage and impact severity.
The driver's and front passenger's seat
position sensors, which are installed on
the seat track let the air bag control mod-
ule know where the seats are positioned.
Similarly, the safety belt usage sensors
measure if the driver and front passen-
ger’s safety belts are fastened. These
sensors provide the ability to control the
SRS deployment based on how close the
driver’s seat is to the steering wheel, how
close the passenger’s seat is to the
instrument panel, whether or not the
safety belts are fastened, and the severi-
ty of the impact.
The advanced SRS offers the ability to
control the air bag inflation with two lev-
els. A first stage level is provided for mod-
erate-severity impacts. A second stage
level is provided for more severe impacts.
According to the impact severity, seating
position and safety belt usage, the SRS
Control Module controls the air bag infla-
tion.
Failure to properly wear safety belts
can increase the risk or severity of
injury in an accident.
(Continued)
Driver’s and front passenger’s air
bag are designed to inflate only in
certain frontal collisions, and side
and curtain air bags are designed
to inflate in certain side impacts.
Frontal air bags are not designed
to provide protection in side
impacts, rear impacts, rollovers,
or less severe frontal collisions.
They will not provide protection
from later impacts in a multi-
impact collision.
If your vehicle has been subject-
ed to flood conditions (e.g.
soaked carpeting/standing water
on the floor of the vehicle, etc.) or
if your vehicle has become flood
damaged in any way, do not
attempt to start the vehicle or put
the key in the ignition. Have the
vehicle towed to an authorized
Kia dealer for inspection and nec-
essary repairs.
Disregarding this precaution may
cause an unexpected air bag
deployment, which could result in
serious personal injury or death.

351
Knowing your vehicle
Additionally, your SRS is equipped with
an occupant classification system in the
front passenger’s seat. The occupant
classification system detects the pres-
ence of a passenger in the front passen-
ger’s seat and will turn off the front pas-
senger’s air bag under certain conditions
in order to protect smaller front passen-
ger seat occupants. For more detail, see
“Occupant Classification System” later in
this section.
Driver’s air bag The driver’s air bag is stored in the cen-
ter of the steering wheel.
WARNING
- Seating sen-
sors malfunction
If the seat position sensor is not
working properly, the air bag warn-
ing light ( ) on the instrument
panel will illuminate because the air
bag warning light is connected with
the seat position sensor. If the air
bag warning light does not illumi-
nate when the ignition key is turned
to the "ON" position, if it remains
illuminated after illuminating for
approximately 6 seconds, or if it
illuminates while the vehicle is
being driven, have an authorized
Kia dealer inspect your vehicle as
soon as possible.
AIR
BAG
WARNING
- Seat usage
Modification to the seat structure
can damage the seat position
sensor and cause the air bag to
deploy at a different level than
should be provided.
Do not place any objects under-
neath the front seats since they
could damage the seat position
sensor or interfere with the occu-
pant classification system.
Do not place any objects that may
cause magnetic fields near the
front seat. These may cause a
malfunction of the seat position
sensor.
Have your car checked by a Kia
dealer as soon as possible if the
SRS warning light comes on.
Ignoring the indicator light can
result in serious or fatal injury.
Sitting improperly or out of posi-
tion can provide incorrect data to
the occupant classification sys-
tem and result in serious or fatal
injury in a crash. All occupants
should sit upright in their seats
with their feet on the floor.
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Knowing your vehicle54 3 The “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF”
indicator illuminates after the ignition
key is turned to the “ON” position or
after the engine is started. If the front
passenger's seat is occupied by a very
small person, the “PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF” indicator will remain illumi-
nated and the front passenger air bag
will not deploy in frontal crashes. If the
front passenger’s seat is occupied by
an adult size person seated properly,
the “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF” indi-
cator will turn off after approximately 4
seconds and the front passenger's air
bag will deploy in frontal crashes.
If the front passenger's seat is unoccu-
pied, the “PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF” indicator will turn on, and the
front passenger's air bag will not
deploy in frontal crashes.
If the “PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF”
indicator illuminates, the front passen-
ger’s air bag will not deploy in frontal
crashes.
If the front passenger’s seat is occu-
pied by an adult size person seated
properly, the “PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF” indicator is not illuminated and
the front passenger’s air bag will
deploy in frontal crashes.
Condition detected by
the occupant classifi-
cation system
1. Adult *
1
2. Child *
2
3. Unoccupied Off
On
OnOff
Off
OffActivated
Deactivated
Deactivated
"PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF" indicator light
Air bag warning lightFront passenger air
bag Indicator/Warning light Devices
*1The system detects a person who is generally of adult size as an adult, thus allowing the pas-
senger air bag to deploy. When a smaller adult sits in the front passenger seat, the system
may detect as a child depending on his/her physique and sitting posture thus preventing air
bag deployment.
*2When a larger child who has outgrown a child restraint system sits in the front passenger seat,
the system may recognize him/her as an adult depending on his/her physique sitting position,
or objects in the lap of the occupant, thus permitting air bag deployment.Condition and operation in the front passenger occupant
classification system
CAUTION
If the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator illuminates or blinks continu-
ously when a person of adult size sits in the front passenger's seat, it could
be because that person isn't sitting properly in the seat. If this happens, turn
the vehicle off, make sure the seat back is not reclined, have the passenger
center on the seat cushion, with legs comfortably extended, and the safety
belt properly positioned. Restart the vehicle and have the person remain in
this position long enough to allow the system to detect the person and acti-
vate the passenger air bag.

355
Knowing your vehicle
CAUTION
If the occupant classification sys-
tem is not working properly, the air
bag warning light ( ) on the
instrument panel will illuminate
because the passenger’s air bag is
connected with the occupant clas-
sification system. If there is a mal-
function of the occupant classifica-
tion system, the "Passenger Air bag
Off" indicator will not illuminate and
the front passenger's air bag will
deploy in frontal crashes even if
there is child or no occupant in the
front passenger's seat.
Have an authorized Kia dealer
inspect the occupant classification
system with the SRS air bag system
as soon as possible if any of follow-
ing occur;
The SRS air bag warning light
does not illuminate when the igni-
tion key is turned to "ON" posi-
tion.
The SRS air bag warning light
remains illuminated after illumi-
nating or blinking for approxi-
mately 6 seconds.
The SRS air bag warning light illu-
minates while the vehicle is being
driven.
AIR
BAG
WARNING
The occupant classification sys-
tem can function only when the
ignition key is in the "ON" posi-
tion.
If a very low weight adult is seat-
ed in the front passenger seat, the
occupant classification system
may or may not turn off the right
front passenger air bag, depend-
ing upon the person's seating
position and body type. Everyone
in your vehicle should wear a
safety belt properly -- whether or
not there is an air bag for that per-
son.
If the front seat passenger
changes their seating position
(for example, by not sitting
upright, by sitting on the edge of
the seat, or by otherwise being
out of position), the "Passenger
Air bag Off" indicator may be
turned on, and the passenger's air
bag may not deploy in a collision.
Always be sure to sit properly in
the front passenger’s seat and
wear the safety belt properly and
do not do any of the following.
(Continued)
WARNING
- Children in rear
seat
Even though your vehicle is
equipped with the occupant classi-
fication system, children aged 12
and under should be seated in the
rear seats. Do not install a child
restraint system in the front pas-
senger’s seat since a child restraint
may result in an improper reading
by the occupant classification sen-
sor. The infant/child could be
severely injured or killed by an air
bag deployment in case of an acci-
dent.
Children are afforded the most pro-
tection in the event of an accident
when they are restrained by the
proper restraint system in the rear
seat.

369
Knowing your vehicle
Outside the vehicle To open the trunk, insert the key into
the lock and turn it to the right (clock-
wise).
To close the trunk, use both hands to
push the trunk lid down. Check to see
if the trunk is completely shut.
Trunk room lampTrunk room lamp turns on when the trunk
is opened. It remains on until the trunk is
securely closed.✽ ✽
NOTICEMake sure to close the trunk securely. If
it remains open while engine is not run-
ning, it may cause battery discharge
because trunk room lamp remains on.
TRUNK (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING
Engine exhaust and a wide variety
of automobile components and
parts, including components found
in the interior furnishings in a vehi-
cle, contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects and
reproductive harm. In addition, cer-
tain fluids contained in vehicles
and certain products of component
wear contain or emit chemicals
known to the State of California to
cause cancer and birth defects or
other reproductive harm.
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Knowing your vehicle70 3Inside the vehicleTo open the trunk from inside the vehicle,
pull the trunk lid release lever.
Emergency trunk safety release
(if equipped)Your vehicle is equipped with an emer-
gency trunk release cable located inside
the trunk. The lever glows in the dark
when the trunk lid is closed. If someone
is inadvertently locked in the trunk,
pulling this handle will release the trunk
latch mechanism and open the trunk.
WARNING
- Exhaust
fumes
If you drive with the trunk lid open,
you will draw dangerous exhaust
fumes into your vehicle causing
serious injury or death to vehicle
occupants. Open trunk lids can also
dangerously obscure rear view
vision.
If you must drive with the trunk lid
open, keep the air vents open so
that additional outside air comes
into the vehicle.
WARNING
No one should be allowed to occu-
py the trunk of the vehicle at any
time. If the trunk is partially or total-
ly latched and the person is unable
to get out, severe injury or death
could occur due to lack of ventila-
tion, exhaust fumes and rapid heat
build-up, or because of exposure to
cold weather conditions. The trunk
is also a highly dangerous location
in the event of a crash because it is
not a protected occupant space but
merely a part of the vehicle’s crush
zone.
CAUTION
If a person is locked in the trunk,
they can pull the emergency
release to open the trunk lid.
We recommend that cars be kept
locked and keys be kept out of
the reach of children, and that
parents teach their children about
the dangers of playing in trunks.
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