2008 KIA Optima air bag

363
Knowing your vehicle
Frontal air bags are not designed to
inflate in rear collisions, because occu-
pants are moved backward by the
force of the impact. In this case, the air
bags do not provide protection. Front air bags may not inflate in side
impact collision, because occupants
move to the direction of the collision,
and thus in side impacts, frontal air bag
deployment does not provide occupant
protection.
However, side or curtain air bags may
inflate depending on the intensity, vehi-
cle speed and angles of impact. In a slant or angled collision, the force
of impact may direct the occupants in a
direction between the front and side air
bags, and thus the sensors may not
deploy any air bags.
1JBB3520
1JBA3516
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Knowing your vehicle64 3 Just before impact, drivers often brake
heavily. Such heavy braking lowers the
front portion of the vehicle causing it to
“ride” under a vehicle with a higher
ground clearance. Air bags may not
inflate in this "under-ride" situation
because deceleration forces that are
detected by sensors may be signifi-
cantly altered by such “under-ride” col-
lisions. Air bags may not inflate in rollover acci-
dents because air bag deployment
would not provide proper protection to
the occupants.
However, side air bags may inflate
when the vehicle is rolled over by a
side impact collision, if the vehicle is
equipped with side air bags and cur-
tain air bags. Air bags may not inflate if the vehicle
collides with objects such as utility
poles or trees, where the point of
impact is concentrated to one area and
the full force of the impact is not trans-
mitted to the sensors.
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365
Knowing your vehicle
Air bag system operation Air bags only operate when the ignition
switch is turned to the ON or START
positions.
Air bags inflate instantly in the event of
serious frontal or side collision (if
equipped with side air bag or curtain
air bag) in order to help protect the
occupants from serious physical injury.
There is no single vehicle speed at
which the air bags will inflate.
Air bag deployment depends on a
number of factors including vehicle
speed, angles of impact and the densi-
ty and stiffness of the vehicles or
objects which your vehicle hits in the
collision. However, factors are not limit-
ed to those mentioned above.
The front air bags will completely
inflate and deflate in an instant.
It is impossible for you to see the air
bags inflate during an accident. It is
much more likely that you will simply
see the deflated air bags hanging out
of their storage compartments after the
collision. In order to help provide protection in a
severe collision, the air bags must
inflate rapidly. The speed of air bag
inflation is a consequence of the
extremely short time in which a collision
occurs and the need to get the air bag
between the occupant and the vehicle
structures before the occupant impacts
those structures. This speed of inflation
reduces the risk of serious or life-
threatening injuries in a severe collision
and is thus a necessary part of air bag
design.
However, air bag inflation can also
cause injuries which normally can
include facial abrasions, bruises and
broken bones, and sometimes more
serious injuries because the inflation
speed also causes the air bags to
expand with a great deal of force.
There are even circumstances
under which contact with the steer-
ing wheel air bag can cause fatal
injuries, especially if the occupant
is positioned excessively close to
the steering wheel.
WARNING -
Seated
positioning
To avoid severe personal injury or
death caused by deploying air
bags in a collision, the driver
should sit as far back from the
steering wheel air bag as possible
(at least 250 mm (10 inches) away).
The front passenger should
always move their seat as far back
as possible and sit back in their
seat.
Air bag inflates instantly in an
event of collision, passengers
may be injured by the air bag
expansion force if they are not in
proper position.
Air bag inflation may cause
injuries which normally include
facial or bodily abrasions, injuries
by the broken glasses or burns by
the explosives.

Knowing your vehicle66 3Noise and smokeWhen the air bags inflate, they make a
loud noise and they leave smoke and
powder in the air inside of the vehicle.
This is normal. After the air bag inflates,
you may feel substantial discomfort in
breathing due to the contact of your
chest to both the safety belt and the air
bag, as well as from breathing the smoke
and powder.We strongly urge you to
open your doors and/or windows as
soon as possible after impact in order
to reduce discomfort and prevent pro-
longed exposure to the smoke and
powder.
Though the smoke and powder are non-
toxic, it may cause irritation to the skin
(eyes, nose and throat etc.). Wash and
rinse with cold water immediately and
consult a doctor if symptoms persist.
Installing a child restraint on a
front passenger seat is extremely
dangerous and should never be
done.Neverplace a rear-facing child restraint
in the front passenger’s seat. If the air
bag deploys, it would impact the rear-fac-
ing child restraint, causing severe or fatal
injuries.
In addition, do not place front-facing child
restraint in the front passenger’s seat
either. If the front passenger air bag
inflates, it may cause severe or fatal
injuries to the child.
WARNING
- Hot air bag
parts
When the air bags deploy, the air
bag related parts in steering wheel
and/or instrument panel and/or in
both sides of the roof rails above
the front and rear doors are very
hot. To prevent injury, do not touch
the air bag storage area’s internal
components immediately after an
air bag has inflated.
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367
Knowing your vehicle
Air bag warning lightThe purpose of air bag warning light in
your instrument panel is to alert you of a
potential problem with your air bag -
Supplemental Restraint System (SRS).
When the ignition switch is turned ON,
the indicator light should blink or illumi-
nate for approximately 6 seconds, then
go off.
Have the system checked if:
The light does not turn on briefly when
you turn the ignition ON.
The light stays on after the engine
starts.
The light comes on while the vehicle is
in motion.
Air bag (Supplemental Restraint
System) service Your 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 to a problem, have the air
bag system checked as soon as possi-
ble. Otherwise, your air bag system
may be ineffective.
WARNING
- Children
Never put a child in the front pas-
senger seat, even if they are in a
child restraint. If the front passen-
ger air bag inflates, it may cause
severe or fatal injuries.
When children are seated in the
rear outboard seats in which cur-
tain air bags are equipped, be
sure to put the child restraint sys-
tem as far away from the door
side as possible, and secure the
child restraint system to be
locked in position.
AIR
BAG
CAUTION
- No modification
Do not modify any part of the air
bag system. Modification could
make the air bag system ineffective
or could cause unnecessary
deployment.

Knowing your vehicle68 3Repairing or scrapping the vehicle Repairing/replacing the steering
wheel, instrument panel, center con-
sole headliner/pillar trim, or modifying
vehicle sheet metal components could
disable the air bag system. Have such
repairs and maintenance performed by
an authorized Kia dealer.
Special care must be taken in scrap-
ping or junking an air bag-equipped
vehicle. Always refer such activities to
a qualified professional.
WARNING
- No mainte-
nance or repair
Do not work on the air bag sys-
tem’s components or wiring. This
could cause the air bags to inflate
inadvertently, possibly seriously
injuring someone. Working on the
system could also disable the
system so that the air bags would
not deploy in a collision.
Any work on the air bag system,
such as removing, installing, or
repairing the steering wheel must
be performed by a qualified Kia
technician. Improper handling of
the air bag system including the
steering wheel may result in seri-
ous personal injury or death.
Air bag warning labelAir bag warning labels are attached to alert driver and passengers of potential risk of
air bag system.
2
(if equipped)7JBN3519/1MGA3055/OMG035103
1

433
Driving your vehicle
Trunk lid open
warning (if equipped)This warning light activates when the
trunk is not closed securely.Door ajar warningThis warning light illuminates when a
door is not closed securely.Low fuel level
warningThis warning light indicates the fuel tank
is nearly empty. The warning light will
come on when the fuel level has dropped
to about 7~8 liters (1.8~2.1 gallons).
Refuel as soon as possible.
Headlight high beam
indicator This indicator illuminates when the head-
lights are on and in the high beam posi-
tion or when the turn signal lever is pulled
into the Flash-to-Pass position.Air bag warning
(if equipped) This warning light will blink or illuminate
for approximately 6 seconds each time
you turn the ignition switch to the ON
position.
If this indicator does not go out, or if it illu-
minates while the vehicle is being driven,
see an authorized Kia dealer for immedi-
ate service.
Malfunction indicator
(if equipped)This indicator light is part of the Engine
Control System which monitors various
emission control system components. If
this light illuminates while driving, it indi-
cates that a potential problem has been
detected somewhere in the emission
control system.
Generally, your vehicle will continue to be
drivable and will not need towing, but
have the system checked by an author-
ized Kia dealer as soon as possible.✽ ✽
NOTICEA loose fuel filler cap may cause the On
Board Diagnostic System Malfunction
Indicator Light ( ) in the instrument
panel to illuminate unnecessarily.
Always make sure that the fuel filler cap
is tight.
CHECKCHECK
AIR
BAG

611
In case of an emergency
Driver-side knee bolster
Description Fuse rating Protected component
H/LP 10A Headlight
A/CON SW 10A Air conditioner
START 10A Start motor
P/SEAT RH 30A Power seat (right)
P/WDW RH 25A Power window (right)
WIPER 25A Front wiper
MIRR HTD 10A Outside rearview mirror defroster
RR FOG 15A Rear fog light
P/SEAT LH 30A Power seat (left)
P/WDW LH 25A Power window (left)
SPARE 10A Spare fuse
MODULE-2 10A Cluster
W/DEICER 15A Deicer
TAIL RH 10A Taillight (right)
TAIL LH 10A Taillight (left)
EPS 10A Power steering wheel
A/CON 10A Air conditioner
SAFETY PWR 20A Safety power window
A/BAG IND 10A Airbag warning
A/BAG 15A Airbag
DR LOCK 25A Central door lock
SPARE 10A Spare fuse
CLUSTER 10A Cluster
MODULE-1 10A BWS buzzer, ESP switch
Description Fuse rating Protected component
HAZARD 15A Hazard warning light
STOP LP 15A Stop light
SPARE 15A Spare fuse
TELL TALE 10A Clock
T/LID OPEN 15A Trunk lid opener
ADJ PEDAL 10A Adjust pedal relay
SPARE 15A Spare fuse
T/SIG 10A Turn signal light
TPMS 10A TPMS
BLOWER MTR 10A Blower, Air conditioner
MEMORY 15A Cluster, ETACS, A/C, Clock,
Room lamp
AUDIO 15A Audio
C/LIGHTER 25A Cigar lighter
D/CLOCK 10A Clock