2008 KIA PICANTO engine coolant

Driving your vehicle
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5
E140407ASA
Parking on hills
Generally, you should not park your vehi-
cle with a trailer attached on a hill. People
can be seriously or fatally injured, and
both your vehicle and trailer can be dam-
aged if they begin a downhill trajectory.
However, if you ever have to park your
trailer on a hill, here’s how to do it:
1. Apply your brakes, but don’t shift into
gear.
2. Have someone place chocks under the trailer wheels.
3. When the wheel chocks are in place, release the brakes until the chocks absorb the load.
4. Reapply the brakes. Apply your park- ing brake, and then shift to R
(Reverse) for a manual transaxle or P
(Park) for an automatic transaxle.
5. Release the brakes. When you are ready to leave after park-ing on a hill
1. With the manual transaxle in Neutral
or automatic transaxle in P (Park),
apply your brakes and hold the brake
pedal down while you:

and

2. Slowly remove your foot from the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
WARNING - Parking brake
It can be dangerous to get out of
your vehicle if the parking brake is
not firmly set.
If you have left the engine running,
the vehicle can move suddenly. You
or others could be seriously or
fatally injured.CAUTION
When towing a trailer on steep grades (in excess of 6%) payclose attention to the engine coolant temperature gauge to
ensure the engine does not over-heat. If the needle of the coolanttemperature gauge moves across the dial towards “H (or 130°C /
260°F)” (HOT), pull over and stopas soon as it is safe to do so, andallow the engine to idle until it cools down. You may proceed
once the engine has cooled suffi- ciently.
You must decide the driving speed depending on trailer
weight and uphill grade to reducethe possibility of engine and transaxle overheating.
WARNING - Parking on a
hill
Parking your vehicle on a hill with a
trailer attached could cause seri-
ous injury or death because the
trailer could break loose.

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Driving your vehicle
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Maintenance when trailer towing
Your vehicle will need service more often
when you regularly pull a trailer.
Important items to pay particular atten-tion to include engine oil, automatic
transaxle fluid, axle lubricant and cooling
system fluid. Brake condition is another
important item to frequently check. Each
item is covered in this manual, and the
Index will help you find them quickly. If
you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review
these sections before you start your trip.
Don’t forget to also maintain your trailer
and hitch. Follow the maintenance
schedule that accompanied your trailer
and check it periodically. Preferably, con-
duct the check at the start of each day’s
driving. Most importantly, all hitch nutsand bolts should be tight.
CAUTION
Due to higher load during trailerusage, overheating might occurin hot days or during uphill driv-ing. If the coolant gauge indicates
over-heating, switch off the A/Cand stop the vehicle in a safe area to cool down the engine.
When towing, check the transaxle fluid more frequently.
If your vehicle is not equipped with an air conditioner, youshould install a condenser fan to improve engine performance
when towing a trailer.

What to do in an emergency
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6
IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS
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If your temperature gauge indicates over-
heating, you experience a loss of power,
or hear loud pinging or knocking, the
engine is probably too hot. If this hap-
pens, you should:
1. Pull off the road and stop as soon as it is safe to do so.
2. Place the gear selector lever in P (auto- matic transaxle) or Neutral (manual
transaxle) and set the parking brake. If
the air conditioning is on, turn it off.
3. If the engine coolant is running out under the car or steam is coming out
from the hood, stop the engine. Do notopen the hood until the coolant has
stopped running or the steaming has
stopped. If there is no visible loss of
engine coolant and no steam, leave
the engine running and check to be
sure the engine cooling fan is operat-
ing. If the fan is not running, turn the
engine off. 4. Check to see if the water pump drive
belt is missing. If it is not missing,
check to see that it is tight. If the drive
belt seems to be satisfactory, check for
coolant leaking from the radiator,
hoses or under the car. (If the air con-
ditioning had been in use, it is normal
for cold water to be draining from it
when you stop).
5. If the water pump drive belt is broken or engine coolant is leaking out, stop the engine immediately and call the
nearest authorized KIA dealer for
assistance. 6. If you cannot find the cause of over-
heating, wait until the engine tempera-
ture has returned to normal. Then,
check to see if the coolant has beenlost, carefully add coolant to the reser-
voir to bring the fluid level in the reser-
voir up to the halfway mark.
7. Proceed with caution, keeping alert for further signs of overheating. If over-heating happens again, call an author-
ized KIA dealer for assistance.
WARNING
While the engine is running, keep
hair, hands and clothing away from
moving parts such as the fan and
drive belts to prevent injury.
WARNING
Do not remove the radiator cap
when the engine is hot. This can
allow coolant to be blown out of the
opening and cause serious burns.
CAUTION
Serious loss of coolant indicates there is a leak in the cooling systemand this should be checked as soonas possible by an authorized KIA dealer.

7
Engine compartment / 7-2 Maintenance services / 7-4
Owner maintenance / 7-6Scheduled maintenance service / 7-8Explanation of scheduled maintenance items / 7-21Engine oil / 7-23Engine coolant / 7-25Brakes/clutch fluid / 7-27Automatic transaxle fluid / 7-29
Washer fluid / 7-31Parking brake / 7-31
Fuel filter / 7-32
Air cleaner / 7-34
Climate control air filter / 7-35
Wiper blades / 7-37Battery / 7-39
Tires and wheels / 7-41 Fuses / 7-51Light bulbs / 7-58
Appearance care / 7-64
Emission control system / 7-70
Maintenance

Maintenance
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ENGINE COMPARTMENT
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OSA017003
1. Engine coolant reservoir
2. Engine oil filler cap
3. Brake fluid reservoir
4. Air cleaner
5. Fuse box
6. Negative battery terminal
7. Positive battery terminal
8. Automatic transaxle fluid dipstick*
9. Radiator cap
10. Engine oil dipstick
11. Windshield washer fluid reservoir
* : if equipped
■■
Gasoline Engine

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Maintenance
OSA077002
■
■
Diesel Engine
1. Engine coolant reservoir
2. Engine oil filler cap
3. Brake fluid reservoir
4. Fuel filter
5. Air cleaner
6. Fuse box
7. Negative battery terminal
8. Positive battery terminal
9. Radiator cap
10. Engine oil dipstick
11. Windshield washer fluid reservoir

Maintenance
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OWNER MAINTENANCE
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The following lists are vehicle checks and
inspections that should be performed by
the owner or an authorized KIA dealer atthe 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. Owner maintenance schedule
G030101AUN
When you stop for fuel:
Check the engine oil level.
Check the coolant level in the coolant
reservoir.
Check the windshield washer fluid level.
Look for low or under-inflated tires. G030102AUN
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-aheadposition.
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 unusual 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 the automatic transaxle P (Park) function.
Check the parking brake.
Check for fluid leaks under your vehicle (water dripping from the air condition-
ing system during or after use is nor-mal).
WARNING
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.

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Maintenance
G030103AUN
At least monthly:
Check coolant level in the enginecoolant 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. G030104AUN
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 the wiper
blades with clean cloth dampened with
washer fluid.
Check the headlight alignment.
Check the muffler, exhaust pipes, shields and clamps.
Check the lap/shoulder belts for wear and function.
Check for worn tires and loose wheel lug nuts. G030105APA
At least once a year:
Clean body and door drain holes.
Lubricate door hinges and checks, and
hood hinges.
Lubricate door and hood locks and latches.
Lubricate door rubber weatherstrips.
Check the air conditioning system.
Inspect and lubricate automatic transaxle linkage and controls.
Clean battery and terminals.
Check the brake/clutch fluid level.