2008 KIA PICANTO service

i
Thank you for choosing a KIA vehicle. When you require service, remember that your dealer
knows your vehicle best. Your dealer has factory-trainedtechnicians, recommended special tools, genuine KIAreplacement parts and is dedicated to your complete sat-isfaction. Because subsequent owners require this important infor- mation as well, this publication should remain with thevehicle if it is sold. This manual will familiarize you with operational, main- tenance and safety information about your new vehicle. It
is supplemented by a Warranty and Maintenance bookthat provides important information on all warranties
regarding your vehicle. We urge you to read these publi-cations carefully and follow the recommendations to helpassure enjoyable and safe operation of your new vehicle.
KIA offers a great variety of options, components and
features for its various models. Therefore, some of theequipment described in this manual, along with the vari-ous illustrations, may not be applicable to your particularvehicle.
The information and specifications provided in this man-
ual were accurate at the time of printing. KIA reservesthe right to discontinue or change specifications or designat any time without notice and without incurring anyobligation. If you have questions, always check with your
authorized KIA dealer.
We assure you of our continuing interest in your motor-
ing pleasure and satisfaction in your KIA vehicle.
© 2007 KIA MOTORS Corp. All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means, elec- tronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording,or by any information storage and retrieval system ortranslation in whole or part is not permitted without writ-
ten authorization from KIA MOTORS Corporation. Printed in Korea
Foreword

Safety features of your vehicle
22
3
✽✽
NOTICE
Because the sensor that activates the
SRS air bag is connected with the pre-
tensioner seat belt, the SRS air bag
warning light on the instrument
panel will illuminate for approximately
6 seconds after the ignition switch hasbeen turned to the ON position, andthen it should turn off.WARNING
Pre-tensioners are designed to operate only one time. After acti-
vation, pre-tensioner seat belts
must be replaced. All seat belts,
of any type, should always be
replaced after they have been
worn during a collision.
The pre-tensioner seat belt assembly mechanisms become
hot during activation. Do not
touch the pre-tensioner seat belt
assemblies for several minutes
after they have been activated.
Do not attempt to inspect or replace the pre-tensioner seat
belts yourself. This must be done
by an authorized KIA dealer.
Do not strike the pre-tensioner seat belt assemblies.
Do not attempt to service or repair the pre-tensioner seat belt
system in any manner.
(Continued)
CAUTION
If the pre-tensioner seat belt is notworking properly, this warning light will illuminate even if there is no malfunction of the SRS air bag. If
the SRS air bag warning light does not illuminate when the ignitionswitch is turned ON, or if it remains illuminated after illuminating for
approximately 6 seconds, or if it illuminates while the vehicle is being driven, please have anauthorized KIA dealer inspect the
pre-tensioner seat belt and SRS airbag system as soon as possible.
(Continued)
Improper handling of the pre-ten- sioner seat belt assemblies, and failure to heed the warnings not
to strike, modify, inspect, replace,
service or repair the pre-tension-
er seat belt assemblies may lead
to improper operation or inadver-
tent activation and serious injury.
Always wear the seat belts when driving or riding in a motor vehi-
cle.

355
Safety features of your vehicle
C041100AUN SRS Care
The SRS is virtually maintenance-free
and so there are no parts you can safely
service by yourself. If the SRS air bag
warning light does not illuminate, or con-
tinuously remains on, have your vehicle
immediately inspected by an authorized
KIA dealer.
Any work on the SRS system, such as
removing, installing, repairing, or any
work on the steering wheel must be per-
formed by an authorized KIA dealer.Improper handling of the SRS system
may result in serious personal injury.
WARNING
Modification to SRS components or wiring, including the addition
of any kind of badges to the pad
covers or modifications to the
body structure, can adversely
affect SRS performance and lead
to possible injury.
For cleaning the air bag pad cov- ers, use only a soft, dry cloth or
one which has been moistened
with plain water. Solvents or
cleaners could adversely affect
the air bag covers and proper
deployment of the system.

No objects should be placed over
or near the air bag modules on the
steering wheel, instrument panel,
and the front passenger's panel
above the glove box, because any
such object could cause harm if the
vehicle is in a crash severe enough
to cause the air bags to inflate.
(Continued)
(Continued)
If the air bags inflate, they must be replaced by an authorized KIA
dealer.
Do not tamper with or disconnect SRS wiring, or other components
of the SRS system. Doing so
could result in injury, due to acci-
dental inflation of the air bags or
by rendering the SRS inopera-
tive.
If components of the air bag sys- tem must be discarded, or if the
vehicle must be scrapped, certain
safety precautions must be
observed. An authorized KIA
dealer knows these precautions
and can give you the necessary
information. Failure to follow
these precautions and proce-dures could increase the risk of
personal injury.
If your car was flooded and has soaked carpeting or water on the
flooring, you shouldn't try to start
the engine; have the car towed to
an authorized KIA dealer.

43
Features of your vehicle
D010300CUN
Immobilizer system (if equipped)
Your vehicle may be equipped with an
electronic engine immobilizer system to
reduce the risk of unauthorized vehicle
use.
Your immobilizer system is comprised of
a small transponder in the ignition key
and electronic devices inside the vehicle.
With the immobilizer system, whenever
you insert your ignition key into the igni-
tion switch and turn it to ON, it checks
and determines and verifies if the ignition
key is valid or not.
If the key is determined to be valid, the
engine will start.
If the key is determined to be invalid, the
engine will not start.
To deactivate the immobilizer sys-tem:
Insert the ignition key into the key cylin-
der and turn it to the ON position.
To activate the immobilizer system:
Turn the ignition key to the OFF position.
The immobilizer system activates auto-
matically. Without a valid ignition key for
your vehicle, the engine will not start.
✽✽ NOTICE
When starting the engine, do not use the
key with other immobilizer keys around.Otherwise the engine may not start or
may stop soon after it starts. Keep each
key separate in order to avoid a startingmalfunction. ✽
✽
NOTICE
If you need additional keys or lose your
keys, consult an authorized KIA dealer.
CAUTION
The transponder in your ignition key is an important part of the
immobilizer system. It is designedto give years of trouble-free service, however you should avoid expo-sure to moisture, static electricity
and rough handling. Immobilizersystem malfunction could occur.
CAUTION
Do not change, alter or adjust theimmobilizer system because it could cause the immobilizer sys-tem to malfunction and should only
be serviced by an authorized KIAdealer.
Malfunctions caused by improperalterations, adjustments or modifi-cations to the immobilizer system
are not covered by your vehicle manufacturer warranty.
CAUTION
Do not put metal accessories nearthe ignition switch.
The engine may not start for themetal accessories may interrupt the transponder signal from normally
transmitting
WARNING
In order to prevent theft of your
vehicle, do not leave spare keys
anywhere in your vehicle. Your
Immobilizer password is a cus-
tomer unique password and should
be kept confidential. Do not leave
this number anywhere in your vehi-
cle.

459
Features of your vehicle
✽✽NOTICE
When the air flow rate suddenly
decreases, the system should be checked
at an authorized KIA dealer.D230400AUN
Checking the amount of air con-
ditioner refrigerant and compres-sor lubricant
When the amount of refrigerant is low,
the performance of the air conditioning is
reduced. Overfilling also has a negativeimpact on the air conditioning system.
Therefore, if abnormal operation is
found, have the system inspected by an
authorized KIA dealer.
✽✽ NOTICE
It is important when servicing the air
conditioning system that the correct
type and amount of oil and refrigerant isused. Otherwise, damage to the com-
pressor and abnormal system operation
may occur.
WARNING
The air conditioning system should
be serviced by an authorized KIA
dealer. Improper service may cause
serious injury to the person per-
forming the service.

Driving your vehicle
12
5
R (Reverse)
Use this position to drive the vehicle
backward. N (Neutral)
The wheels and transaxle are not
engaged. The vehicle will roll freely even
on the slightest incline unless the parking
brake or service brakes are applied. D (Drive)
This is the normal forward driving posi-
tion. The transaxle will automatically shift
through a 4-gear sequence, providing the
best fuel economy and power.
For extra power when passing another
vehicle or climbing grades, depress the
accelerator fully, at which time the
transaxle will automatically downshift to
the next lower gear.
✽✽
NOTICE
Always come to a complete stop before shifting into D (Drive).
2 (Second Gear)
Use 2 (Second Gear) for more power
when climbing hills and for increased
braking when going down hills. This posi-tion also helps reduce wheel spin on slip-
pery surfaces. When the shift lever is
placed in 2 (Second Gear), the transaxlewill automatically shift from first to sec-
ond gear. L (Low)
Move the shift lever to this position in
hard pulling situations and for climbing
steep grades.
CAUTION
Always come to a complete stop
before shifting into or out of R
(Reverse); you may damage the transaxle if you shift into R whilethe vehicle is in motion, exceptwhen "Rocking the vehicle"
explained in this section.CAUTION
Do not exceed the recommendedmaximum speed in 2 (Second Gear)
or L(Low). Operating the vehicleabove the maximum speed recom- mended for 2 (Second Gear) orL(Low) may cause excessive heat
which could damage the automatictransaxle.

515
Driving your vehicle
E060203ASA
Moving up a steep grade from a stand-ing start
To move up a steep grade from a stand-
ing start, depress the brake pedal and
shift the shift lever to D (Drive). Select the
appropriate gear depending on load
weight and steepness of the grade, and
release the parking brake. Depress the
accelerator gradually while releasing the
service brakes.
When accelerating from a stop on a
steep hill, the vehicle may have a ten-
dency to roll backwards. Shifting the
shift lever into 2 (Second Gear) will
help prevent the vehicle from rolling
backwards.
WARNING
If your vehicle becomes stuck in
snow, mud, sand, etc., then you
may attempt to rock the vehicle free
by moving it forward and backward.
Do not attempt this procedure if
people or objects are anywhere
near the vehicle. During the rocking
operation the vehicle may suddenly
move forward of backward as it
becomes unstuck, causing injury
or damage to nearby people orobjects.WARNING
Always buckle-up! In a collision, an unbelted occupant is signifi-
cantly more likely to be seriously
injured or killed than a properlybelted occupant.
Avoid high speeds when corner- ing or turning.
Do not make quick steering wheel movements, such as sharp
lane changes or fast, sharp turns.
The risk of a rollover is greatly increased if you lose control of
your vehicle at highway speed.
Loss of control often occurs if two or more wheels drop off the
roadway and the driver over-
steers to reenter the roadway.
In the event your vehicle leaves the roadway, do not steer sharply.
Instead, slow down before pulling
back into the travel lanes.
Never exceed posted speed lim- its.

Driving your vehicle
16
5
E070100AUN
Power brakes
Your vehicle has power-assisted brakes
that adjust automatically through normal
usage.
In the event the power-assisted brakes
lose power because of a stalled engine
or some other reason, you can still stop
your vehicle by applying greater force to
the brake pedal than you normally would.
The stopping distance, however, will be
longer.
When the engine is not running, the
reserve brake power is partially depleted
each time the brake pedal is applied. Do
not pump the brake pedal when the
power assist has been interrupted.
Pump the brake pedal only when neces-
sary to maintain steering control on slip-
pery surfaces. E070101AUN
In the event of brake failure
If service brakes fail to operate while the
vehicle is in motion, you can make an
emergency stop with the parking brake.
The stopping distance, however, will be
much greater than normal.
BRAKE SYSTEM
WARNING
- Brakes
Do not drive with your foot rest- ing on the brake pedal. This will create abnormal high brake tem-
peratures, excessive brake lining
and pad wear, and increasedstopping distances.
When descending a long or steep hill, shift to a lower gear and
avoid continuous application of
the brakes. Continuous brakeapplication will cause the brakes
to overheat and could result in a
temporary loss of braking per-
formance.
Wet brakes may impair the vehi- cle’s ability to sefely slow down;
the vehicle may also pull to oneside when the brakes are applied.
Applying the brakes lightly will
indicate whether they have been
affected in this way. Always test
your brakes in this fashion after
driving through deep water. To
dry the brakes, apply them lightly
while maintaining a safe forward
speed until brake performancereturns to normal.
WARNING - Parking brake
Applying the parking brake while
the vehicle is moving at normal
speed can cause a sudden loss of
control of the vehicle. If you mustuse the parking brake to stop the
vehicle, use great caution in apply-
ing the brake.