2008 KIA Sorento ignition

Driving your vehicle
72 4
Instrument panel vents
If air flow control is not satisfactory, check
the instrument panel vents. The outlet
port ( , ) can be opened or closed sep-
arately using the thumbwheel.
Also, you can adjust the direction of air
delivery from these vents using the vent
control lever as shown.
The air from outlet port ( ) flows at any
mode. Close the ventilation outlets using
the knob to block the air flow if you do not
want the air.
Air conditioning button
Push the A/C button to turn the air condi-
tioning system on (indicator light will illu-
minate).
Push the button again to turn the air con-
ditioning system off.
OFF button
Push the OFF button to turn off the air cli-
mate control system. However you can
still operate the mode and air intake but-
tons as long as the ignition switch is ON.
Outside tempmeter
The current outer temperature is dis-
played in 1°C (2°F) where the tempera-
ture range is between -40°C ~ 60°C (-
40°F~140°F).
Press and hold the OFF and AUTO but-
tons simultaneously for about 3~5 sec-
onds to change the display from Celsius
to Fahrenheit. Repeat the procedure to
switch the outside temperature display
back to the previous state.
OBL026026A
D
D
BB
BD
D
A/C
OFF
MODEOBL026015A

477
Driving your vehicle
Defogging logic
Manual climate control system
To reduce the probability of fogging up
the inside of the windshield, the air intake
control is set to the outside (fresh) air
position automatically if any of following
occur.
• The mode is selected to the or
while the system is activated.
• The ignition switch is turned on while
the mode is selected to the
*,
or .
• The ignition switch is turned off.
• The fan is off.
• The fan begins to be operated.
Press the air intake control button to
select the recirculated air position while
the ignition switch is on.
* : if equippedHow to cancel or return defogging logic
of manual climate control system
1. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON”
position.
2. Turn the mode selection knob to the
defrost position ( ).
3. Push the air intake control button
( ) at least 5 times within 3 sec-
onds.The indicator light in the air intake control
button will blink 3 times at 0.5 second
intervals. This indicates that the defog-
ging logic is canceled or has returned to
the programmed condition.
If the battery has been discharged or dis-
connected, the defog logic is reset to the
original condition.OBL026033N
➀➁
➂

Driving your vehicle
78 4
Automatic climate control system
To reduce the probability of fogging up
inside of the windshield, the air intake
control is set to outside (fresh) air posi-
tion automatically if any of following
occur.
• The ignition switch is turned on while
the mode is selected to the
*,or
.
• The OFF button is pushed.
• The mode is selected to the
*,
or position.
In the or mode, it is impossible to
select the recirculated air position while
the ignition switch is on.
* : only if manually selectedHow to cancel or return defogging logic
of automatic climate control system
1. Turn the ignition switch to the “ON”
position.
2. Select the defrost position pressing
defrost button ( ).
3. While holding the air conditioning but-
ton (A/C) pressed, press the air intake
control button ( ) at least 5 times
within 3 seconds.The A/C display will blink 3 times at 0.5
second intervals. This indicates that the
defogging logic is canceled or has
returned to the programmed condition.
If the battery has been discharged or dis-
connected, the defog logic is reset to the
original condition.OBL026036A
➀➁
➂

Driving tips
4 5
Operating precautions for catalyt-
ic converters
Your vehicle is equipped with a catalytic
converter emission control device.
Therefore, the following precautions
must be observed:
• Use only UNLEADED FUEL for gaso-
line engine (unleaded).
• Do not operate the vehicle when there
are signs of engine malfunction, such
as misfire or a noticeable loss of per-
formance.
• Do not misuse or abuse the engine.
Examples of misuse are coasting with
the ignition off and descending steep
grades in gear with the ignition off.• Do not operate the engine at high idle
speed for extended periods (5 minutes
or more).
• Do not modify or tamper with any part
of the engine or emission control sys-
tem. All inspections and adjustments
must be made by an authorized Kia
dealer.
Failure to observe these precautions
could result in damage to the catalytic
converter and to your vehicle.
Additionally, such actions could void your
warranties.
WARNING- Fire
A hot exhaust system can ignite
flammable items under your vehi-
cle. Do not park the vehicle over or
near flammable objects, such as
grass, vegetation, paper, leaves,
etc.

55
Driving tips
BEFORE DRIVING
Before entering vehicle:
• Be sure that all windows, outside mir-
ror(s), and outside lights are clean.
• Check the condition of the tires.
• Check under the vehicle for any sign of
leaks.
• Be sure there are no obstacles behind
you if you intend to back up.
Necessary inspections
Fluid levels, such as engine oil, engine
coolant, brake fluid, and washer fluid
should be checked on a regular basis,
with the exact interval depending on the
fluid. Further details are provided in
Section 7, Maintenance.
Before starting
• Close and lock all doors.
• Position the seat so that all controls are
easily reached.
• Adjust the inside and outside rearview
mirrors.
• Be sure that all lights work.
• Check all gauges.
• Check the operation of warning lights
when the ignition switch is turned to
the ON position.
• Release the parking brake and make
sure the brake warning light goes out.
For safe operation, be sure you are famil-
iar with your vehicle and its equipment.WARNING- Driving under
the influence of alcohol or
drugs
Drinking and driving is dangerous.
Drunk driving is the number one
contributor to the highway death
toll each year. Even a small amount
of alcohol will affect your reflexes,
perceptions and judgement. Driving
while under the influence of drugs
is as dangerous or more dangerous
than driving drunk.
You are much more likely to have a
serious accident if you drink or take
drugs and drive.
If you are drinking or taking drugs,
don’t drive. Do not ride with a driv-
er who has been drinking or taking
drugs. Choose a designated driver
or call a cab.

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.

523
Driving tips
Hard-packed snow and ice offer the
worst tire traction. On these surfaces, it’s
very easy to lose control. On wet ice, for
example, the traction is so poor that you
will even have difficulty accelerating. And
if you do get moving, poor steering and
difficult braking can easily cause you to
slide out of control.Driving in water
Light rain causes no special off-road driv-
ing problems. However, heavy rain can
cause flash flooding, and flood waters
demand extreme caution.
Find out how deep the water is before
you drive through it. If it’s deep enough to
cover your wheel bearing hubs, axles, or
exhaust pipe, don’t try it, You probably
won’t get through. Also, water that deep
can damage your axle and other vehicle
parts.
If the water isn’t too deep, then drive
through slowly. At fast speeds, water can
splash on your ignition system and your
vehicle can stall. Stalling can also occur
if your tailpipe goes underwater. As long
as your tailpipe is underwater, you will
not be able to start your engine. When
you go through water, remember that it
may take you longer to stop when your
brakes are wet.
If you have driven through water that was
deep enough to cover your wheel bear-
ing hubs, it may be a good idea to have
an Authorized Kia dealer or other com-
petent service center repack your front
wheel bearings and examine your rear-
end fluid for evidence of water.CAUTION
• In case of loss of traction in mud,
loose soil, or sand, turn the steer-
ing wheel rapidly from side-to-
side. This can help generate addi-
tional traction.
• Do not gun the engine. This will
cause the tires to spin and dig
down, not forward, and could
bury the vehicle to the frame.
Smooth, easy power is better
than too much power.
WARNING- Frozen sur-
faces
Driving on frozen lakes, ponds or
rivers can be dangerous.
Underwater springs, currents under
the ice, or sudden thaws can weak-
en the ice. Your vehicle could fall
through the ice and you and your
passengers could drown. Drive
your vehicle on safe surfaces only.

In case of an emergency
4 6
EMERGENCY STARTING
Jump starting
Jump starting can be dangerous if done
incorrectly. Therefore, to avoid harm to
yourself or damage to your vehicle or
battery, follow the jump starting proce-
dures listed on page 6-6. If in doubt, we
strongly recommend that you have a
competent technician or towing service
jump start your vehicle.
✽
NOTICE
Use only a 12-volt jumper system. You
can damage a 12-volt starting motor,
ignition system, and other electrical
parts beyond repair by use of a 24-volt
power supply (either two 12-volt batter-
ies in series or a 24-volt motor generator
set). WARNING- Battery
• Keep all flames or sparks away
from the battery. The battery pro-
duces hydrogen gas which may
explode if exposed to flame or
sparks.
• Do not attempt to jump start the
vehicle if the discharged battery
is frozen or if the electrolyte level
is low; the battery may rupture or
explode.
WARNING- Battery
Never attempt to check the elec-
trolyte level of the battery as this
may cause the battery to rupture or
explode causing serious injury.