2008 KIA Sorento Owner's Manual

59
Driving tips
Winter driving
• We recommend that you carry emer-
gency equipment, including tire chains,
a window scraper, windshield deicer, a
bag of sand or salt, flares, a small
shovel and jumper cables.
• Make sure you have sufficient ethylene
glycol coolant in the radiator.
• Check the battery condition and
cables. Cold temperatures reduce the
capacity of any battery, so it must be in
excellent condition to provide 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 trans-
mission or P (Park) with an automatic
transmission and block the rear
wheels.
Snow tires
If you mount snow tires on your Kia,
make sure they are radial tires of the
same size and load range as the original
tires. Mount snow tires on all four wheels
to balance your vehicle’s handling in all
weather conditions. Keep in mind that the
traction provided by snow tires on dry
roads may not be as high as your vehi-
cle's original equipment tires. You should
drive cautiously even when the roads are
clear. Check with the tire dealer for max-
imum speed recommendations.
Do not install studded tires without first
checking local, state and municipal regu-
lations for possible restrictions against
their use.
Driving in flooded areas
Avoid driving through flooded areas
unless you are sure the water is no high-
er than the bottom of the wheel hub.
Drive through any water slowly. Allow
adequate stopping distance because
brake performance may be affected.
After driving through water, dry the
brakes by gently applying them several
times while the vehicle is moving slowly.
WARNING - Snow tire size
Snow tires should be equivalent in
size and type to the vehicle's stan-
dard tires. Otherwise, the safety and
handling of your vehicle may be
adversely affected.

Driving tips
10 5
Reducing the risk of a rollover
This multi-purpose passenger vehicle is
defined as a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).
SUV’s have higher ground clearance and
a narrower track to make them capable
of performing in a wide variety of off-road
applications. Specific design characteris-
tics give them a higher center of gravity
than ordinary cars. An advantage of the
higher ground clearance is a better view
of the road, which allows you to antici-
pate problems. They are not designed for
cornering at the same speeds as con-
ventional passenger drive vehicles, any
more than low-slung sports cars are
designed to perform satisfactorily in off-
road conditions. Due to this risk, driver
and passengers are strongly recom-
mended to buckle their seatbelts. In a
rollover crash, an unbelted person is
more likely to die than a person wearing
a seatbelt. There are steps that a driver
can make to reduce the risk of a rollover.
If at all possible, avoid sharp turns or
abrupt maneuvers, do not load your roof
rack with heavy cargo, and never modify
your vehicle in any way.
Rollover warning label
To remind you of the danger of the
rollover, a rollover warning label which is
now required by the Federal safety regu-
lations is adhered to the driver’s sunvisor.
To remind you of the danger of the
rollover, the rollover warning label is
adhered to the driver’s sunvisor. If you
close the driver’s sunvisor, you can see
the rollover warning label which is locat-
ed at the side of the air bag warning
label.
WARNING- Rollover
As with other Sports Utility Vehicle
(SUV), failure to operate this vehicle
correctly may result in loss of con-
trol, an accident or vehicle rollover.
• Utility vehicles have a significant-
ly higher rollover rate than other
types of vehicles.
• Specific design characteristics
(higher ground clearance, nar-
rower track, etc.) give this vehicle
a higher center of gravity than
ordinary cars.
• A SUV is not designed for corner-
ing at the same speeds as con-
ventional vehicles.
• Avoid sharp turns or abrupt
maneuvers.
• In a rollover crash, an unbelted
person is significantly more likely
to die than a person wearing a
safety belt. Make sure everyone in
the vehicle is properly buckled
up.
Avoid Abrupt Maneuvers
and Excessive Speed.
Always Buckle Up.
See Owner's Manual
For Further Information.

511
Driving tips
USING FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE
Driving on snow- or ice-covered
roads ("4HI, 4LO" for part-time
4WD operation or "AUTO" for full-
time 4WD operation)
• Use snow tires. See “Tires” in this sec-
tion for more information.
• Keep an adequate distance between
yourself and other vehicles.
• Avoid sudden braking, acceleration or
steering. These actions can cause your
vehicle to lose traction.
Driving in sand or mud ("4HI,
4LO" for part-time 4WD operation
or "AUTO" for full-time 4WD oper-
ation)
• Avoid sudden braking, acceleration or
steering. These actions can cause your
vehicle to get stuck in the sand or mud.
• Drive at low speeds whenever possi-
ble.
• You may need to get out of your vehi-
cle at times to check road conditions.
• If you get stuck in the sand or mud, try
placing stones, wood or other similar
materials under the tires to get traction,
or move forward and backward repeat-
edly to get unstuck.
WARNING- Traction
Make sure that no one stands in
front of or behind the tires when
materials are placed under the tires
to get more traction. The tires may
cause loose materials to fly out
from under the vehicle, potentially
causing serious bodily injury or
death.
CAUTION
Prolonged rocking may cause
engine damage, overheating, trans-
mission differential or transfer case
damage or failure and tire damage.

Driving tips
12 5
Driving on a hill ("4LO" for part-
time 4WD operation or "LOW" for
full-time 4WD operation)
• Use low gear when going uphill or
downhill and avoid sudden braking.
• Do not shift gears or use your clutch
when going downhill. Do not coast
downhill in Neutral.
Crossing a ditch ("4LO" for part-
time 4WD operation or "LOW" for
full-time 4WD operation)
• Avoid driving through ditches if possi-
ble, especially if there is water in the
ditch. Your vehicle may stall if the elec-
trical system gets wet. If you must
cross a ditch, select 4LO or LOW
mode.
• Avoid driving where the water level is
higher than the bottom of the wheel
hub. If the water level rises above this
mark, your vehicle will need to be serv-
iced.
• Tap lightly on the brake pedal during
and after driving through water. This
will help keep the brakes dry and in
proper working order.
• Do not shift gears while crossing a
ditch.
Tight corner brake effect
This is called tight corner brake effect.
Tight corner brake effect is a unique
characteristic of four-wheel drive vehicles
caused by the difference in tire rotation at
the four wheels and the zero-degree
alignment of the front wheels and sus-
pension.
Sharp turns at low speeds should be car-
ried out with caution.
WARNING -4WD
When turning sharply on a paved
road at low speed while in four-
wheel drive, steering control will be
difficult.

513
Driving tips
Off-road driving with your four-
wheel drive vehicle
Off-road driving can be great fun. But it
has definite hazards. The greatest of
these is the terrain itself.
“Off-roading” means you’ve left the paved
road system behind. Traffic lanes are not
marked. Curves are not banked.
There are no carefully engineered road
signs to warn you of dangerous condi-
tions or to advise you of a safe speed.
You have to assess the environment
yourself. Surfaces can be slippery, rough,
uphill or downhill.
Off-road driving involves learning new
skills. That’s why it’s important that you
read and understand this section. You’ll
find useful driving information and sug-
gestions. These will help make your off-
road driving safer and more enjoyable.
Before you go off-roading
There are some things to do before you
leave the paved roads. Be sure to have
all necessary maintenance and service
work done beforehand. Be sure to read
all the information about your four-wheel
drive vehicle in this manual. Is there
enough fuel? Is the spare tire fully inflat-
ed? Are the fluid levels at the proper lev-
els? What are the local laws that apply to
off-roading where you’ll be driving? If you
don’t know, you should check with law
enforcement people in the area. Will you
be on someone’s private land? If so, be
sure to get the necessary permission.
Loading your vehicle for off-road
driving
There are some important items to
remember about how to properly load
your vehicle.
• The heaviest things should be in the
cargo area and forward of your rear
axle. Place heavier items as far forward
as you can.
• Be sure the load is properly secured,
so driving over off-road terrain doesn’t
shift your load or throw items toward
the driver or passengers.

Driving tips
14 5
Traveling to remote areas
It makes sense to plan your trip, espe-
cially when going to a remote area. Know
the terrain and plan your route. You are
much less likely to encounter unwanted
surprises. Get accurate maps of trails.
It’s also a good idea to travel with at least
one other vehicle. If something happens
to one of them, the other can quickly
help.WARNING- Cargo
• Cargo piled close to the height of
(or higher than) the seat backs
can be thrown forward during a
sudden stop or on downhill
slopes. You or your passengers
could be severely injured. Keep
cargo below the top of the seat
backs and, if possible, do not pile
separate items.
• Unsecured cargo in the cargo
area can be tossed about when
driving on the highways or over
rough terrain. You or your passen-
gers can be struck by flying
objects and severely injured.
Secure the cargo properly.
(Continued)
(Continued)
• Cargo should not be carried on
the roof without a proper roof
rack installed. The roof rack will
hold a maximum of 45 kg (100
lbs.). Heavy loads in a roof rack
raise the vehicle’s center of grav-
ity, making it more likely to roll
over. You can be seriously or
fatally injured if the vehicle rolls
over. Do not load cargo on the
roof while driving off-road, if at all
possible. Put heavy loads inside
the cargo area, not on the roof or
in a roof rack. Keep cargo in the
cargo area as far forward and low
as possible.

515
Driving tips
Getting familiar with off-road driving
It’s necessary for you to practice in an
area that’s safe and close to home before
you begin serious off-road driving. Off-
road driving requires new and different
driving skills.
You need to tune your senses to different
kinds of signals. For example, constantly
sweep the terrain with your eyes looking
for unexpected obstacles. Listen for
unusual tire, gear, or engine sounds. Feel
and respond to the vibrations of the vehi-
cle with your hands, feet, and body while
still carefully controlling your vehicle.
You’ll also need to adjust your expecta-
tions and greatly lower the number of
miles you expect to cover in an hour or a
day.
Controlling your vehicle is the key to suc-
cessful off-road driving. One of the best
ways to control your vehicle is to control
your speed. Here are some things to
keep in mind when traveling at higher
speeds:
• You approach things faster and you
have less time to scan the terrain for
obstacles.• You have less time to react.
• You have much more vehicle bounce
when you drive over obstacles, giving
you less vehicle control.
• You’ll need more distance for braking,
especially since you’re on an unpaved
surface. Such terrain will always be
more “slippery” than a paved road.Scanning the terrain
Off-road driving can take you over many
different kinds of terrain. You need to be
familiar with the terrain and its many dif-
ferent features. Here are some things to
consider.
Surface conditions
Off-roading can take you over hard-
packed dirt, gravel, rocks, grass, sand,
mud, snow or ice. Each of these surfaces
affects the steering, acceleration, and
braking of your vehicle in different ways.
Depending upon the kind of surface you
are on, you may experience slipping,
sliding, wheel spinning, delayed acceler-
ation, poor traction, and longer braking
distances.
WARNING - Off road driv-
ing
When you’re driving off-road,
bouncing and quick changes in
direction can easily throw you out
of position in your seat. This could
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle and crash. Whether you are
driving on or off the road, you and
your passengers should always
wear safety belts.

Driving tips
16 5
WARNING - Drinking &
driving
Drinking and driving, or drug use
and driving can be very dangerous
on any road. This certainly remains
true for off-road driving. At the very
time you need special alertness and
driving skills, your reflexes, percep-
tions and judgement can be affect-
ed by even a small amount of alco-
hol or drugs. You could have a seri-
ous - or even fatal - accident if you
drink or take drugs and drive or ride
with a driver who has been drinking
or taking drugs.
Surface obstacles
Unseen or hidden obstacles can be haz-
ardous. A rock, log, hole, rut, or bump
can startle you if you’re not prepared.
Often these obstacles are hidden by
grass, bushes, snow or even the rise and
fall of the terrain itself. Here are some
things to constantly evaluate:
• Is the path ahead clear?
• Will the surface texture change ahead?
• Does the path take you uphill or down-
hill?
• Might you have to stop suddenly or
change direction quickly?
When you drive over obstacles or rough
terrain, it is critical that you keep a firm
grip on the steering wheel. Ruts, troughs,
or other surface features can force the
wheel out of your hands if you’re not pre-
pared.When you drive over bumps, rocks, or
other obstacles, your wheels can leave
the ground. If this happens, even with
one or two wheels, you can’t control the
vehicle as well or perhaps at all. Because
you will be on an unpaved surface, it’s
especially important to avoid sudden
acceleration, sudden turns, or sudden
braking. Any of these actions could
cause the center of gravity of the vehicle
to shift and destabilize the vehicle, lead-
ing to a collision or rollover accident.
Off-road driving requires a different kind
of alertness from driving on paved roads
and highways. There are no road signs,
posted speed limits or signal lights. You
have to use your own judgment about
what is safe and what isn’t. Bad judgment
in this uncontrolled environment can be
fatal.