2008 KIA Sorento wheel

Driving tips
32 5
Remember that trailering is different than
just driving your vehicle by itself.
Trailering causes major changes in han-
dling, durability, and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering requires cor-
rect equipment, and cautious driving.
This section contains many time-tested,
important trailering tips and safety rules.
Many of these are important for your
safety and that of your passengers.
Please read this section carefully before
you pull a trailer.
Load-pulling components such as the
engine, transmission, wheel assemblies,
and tires are forced to work harder
against the load of the added weight. The
engine is required to operate at relatively
higher speeds and under greater loads.
This additional burden generates extra
heat. The trailer also adds considerably
to wind resistance, increasing the pulling
requirements.If you do decide to pull a trailer
Here are some important points if you
decide to pull a trailer:
• State, provincial, county and municipal
government have varying trailering
laws. Make sure your hitch, mirrors,
lights and wiring arrangements are
legal, not only where you live, but also
where you’ll be driving. A good source
for this information is state or local law
enforcement agencies.
• Consider using a sway control. You can
ask a hitch dealer about sway control.
• After your odometer indicates 800 km
(500 miles) or more, you can tow a
trailer. For the first 800 km (500 miles)
that you tow a trailer, don’t drive over
80 km/h (50 mph) and don’t make
starts at full throttle. This helps your
engine and other parts of your vehicle
“wear” in at the heavier loads.
• Always drive your vehicle at a moder-
ate speed (less than 100 km/h (60
mph)).
• On a long uphill grade, do not exceed
70 km/h (45 mph) or the posted towing
speed limit, whichever is lower.
• The important considerations have to
do with weight:
Weight of the trailer
How heavy can a trailer safely be? It
should never weigh more than the maxi-
mum trailer weight with trailer brakes. But
even that can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use your
trailer. For example, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature and how
much your vehicle is used to pull a trailer
are all important. The ideal trailer weight
can also depend on any special equip-
ment that you have on your vehicle.

535
Driving tips
Following distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the vehi-
cle ahead as you would when driving
your vehicle without a trailer. This can
help you avoid situations that require
heavy braking and sudden turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance up
ahead when you’re towing a trailer. And,
because you’re a good deal longer, you’ll
need to go much farther beyond the
passed vehicle before you can return to
your lane.
Backing up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel
with one hand. Then, to move the trailer
to the left, just move your hand to the left.
To move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly
and, if possible, have someone guide
you.
Making turns
When you’re turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so your
trailer won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs,
road signs, trees, or other objects. Avoid
jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well
in advance.
Turn signals when towing a trailer
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has
to have a different turn signal flasher and
extra wiring. The green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash whenever you
signal a turn or lane change. Properly
connected, the trailer lights will also flash
to alert other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes, or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows
on your instrument panel will flash for
turns even if the bulbs on the trailer are
burned out. Thus, you may think drivers
behind you are seeing your signals
when, in fact, they are not. It’s important
to check occasionally to be sure the trail-
er bulbs are still working. You must also
check the lights every time you discon-
nect and then reconnect the wires.

537
Driving tips
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 the trailer can
be damaged if they begin a downhill tra-
jectory.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 transmission or
P (Park) for an automatic transmis-
sion.
5. Release the brakes.
When you are ready to leave after
parking on a hill
1. With the manual transmission in
Neutral or automatic transmission in P
(Park), apply your brakes and hold the
brake pedal down while you:
• Start your engine;
• Shift into gear; and
• Release the parking brake.
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.
WARNING- Parking on a
hill
Parking your vehicle on a hill with a
trailer attached could cause serious
injury or death, should the trailer
break lose.

In case of an emergency
14 6
TOWING
If emergency towing is necessary, we
recommend having it done by an author-
ized Kia dealer or a commercial tow-truck
service. Proper lifting and towing proce-
dures are necessary to prevent damage
to the vehicle. The use of wheel dollies or
flatbed is recommended.
For trailer towing guidelines information,
refer to section 5 “Driving Tips”.
On 4WD vehicles, your vehicle must
be towed with a wheel lift and dollies
or flatbed equipment with all the
wheels off the ground.On 2WD vehicles, it is acceptable to tow
the vehicle with the front wheels on the
ground (without dollies) and the rear
wheels off the ground.
When being towed by a commercial tow
truck and wheel dollies are not used, the
rear of the vehicle should always be lift-
ed, not the front.
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615
In case of an emergency
When towing your vehicle in an emer-
gency without wheel dollies (2WD
Vehicles or Part-time 4WD Vehicles):
1. Set the ignition switch in the ACC posi-
tion.
2. Place the transmission shift lever in N
(Neutral).
3. Place the transfer shift knob for part-
time 4WD operation in the 2HI posi-
tion.
4. Release the parking brake.
Towing with a vehicle other than
a tow truck
If towing is necessary, we recommend
you to have it done by an Authorized Kia
dealer or a commercial tow truck service.
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CAUTION
• Do not tow the vehicle forwards
with the rear wheels on the
ground as this may cause dam-
age to the vehicle.
• Do not tow with sling-type equip-
ment. Use wheel lift or flatbed
equipment.
CAUTION
Failure to place the transmission
shift lever in N (Neutral) and the
transfer shift knob for part-time
4WD operation to 2HI may cause
internal damage to the transmis-
sion.
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In case of an emergency
16 6
If towing service is not available in an
emergency, your vehicle may be tem-
porarily towed using a cable or chain
secured to the emergency towing hook
under the front of the vehicle. Use
extreme caution when towing the vehicle.
A driver must be in the vehicle to steer it
and operate the brakes.
Towing in this manner may be done only
on hard-surfaced roads for a short dis-
tance and at low speeds. Also, the
wheels, axles, power train, steering and
brakes must all be in good condition.
• Do not use the tow hooks to pull a
vehicle out of mud, sand or other con-
ditions from which the vehicle cannot
be driven out under its own power.
• Avoid towing a vehicle heavier than the
vehicle doing the towing.
• The drivers of both vehicles should
communicate with each other frequent-
ly.• Before emergency towing, check that
the hook is not broken or damaged.
• Fasten the towing cable or chain
securely to the hook.
• Do not jerk the hook. Apply steady and
even force.
• To avoid damaging the hook, do not
pull from the side or at a vertical angle.
Always pull straight ahead.CAUTION
• Attach a towing strap to the tow
hook.
•Using a portion of the vehicle
other than the tow hooks for tow-
ing may damage the body of your
vehicle.
•Use only a cable or chain specifi-
cally intended for use in towing
vehicles. Securely fasten the
cable or chain to the towing hook
provided.
WARNING
Use extreme caution when towing
the vehicle.
• Avoid sudden starts or erratic
driving maneuvers which would
place excessive stress on the
emergency towing hook and tow-
ing cable or chain. The hook and
towing cable or chain may break
and cause serious injury or dam-
age.
• If the towing vehicle can hardly
move, do not forcibly continue
the towing. Contact an Authorized
Kia dealer or a commercial tow
truck service for assistance.
• Tow the vehicle as straight ahead
as possible.
• Keep away from the vehicle dur-
ing towing.

617
In case of an emergency
• Use a towing strap less than 5 m (16
feet) long. Attach a white or red cloth
(about 30 cm (12 inches) wide) in the
middle of the strap for easy visibility.
• Drive carefully so that the towing strap
is not loosened during towing.
When your vehicle is being towed
by another vehicle other than a tow
truck (in case of an emergency)
(2WD vehicles or part-time 4WD
vehicles)
• Turn the ignition switch to ACC so the
steering wheel isn’t locked.
• Place the transmission shift lever in N
(Neutral).
• Place the transfer shift knob for part-
time 4WD operation in the 2HI posi-
tion.
• Release the parking bake.
• Vehicle equipped with automatic trans-
missions should not exceed 45 km/h
(28 mph) and should not be towed
more than 80 km (50 miles).
✽
NOTICE
Remove the rear drive shaft if it is nec-
essary to exceed 45 km/h (28 mph)
and/or 80 km (50 miles). If the drive
shaft cannot be removed, stop every 80
km (50 miles) and start the engine.
Allow the engine to idle for a few min-
utes. This will ensure that the transmis-
sion is sufficiently lubricated.
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619
In case of an emergency
IF YOU HAVE A FLAT TIRE
Storing the jack and tools
Jack is stored in the compartment of
the cargo area.
Jack handle and wheel lug nut
wrench are located in the cargo area
floor.
Removing the spare tire
Your spare tire is stored underneath
your vehicle, directly below the cargo
area.
1. Open the rear hatch.
2. Assemble the wheel lug nut
wrench to the jack handle.3. Insert the jack handle into the hole
just above the rear bumper. The
resistance to turning will be felt
when properly engaged.
4. Turn the jack handle counter-
clockwise until the spare tire
reaches the ground. Turn the jack
handle 10~13 revolutions counter-
clockwise more after the spare tire
reaches the ground, and draw the
spare tire towards rear of vehicle.
Never rotate the jack handle more
than 17 revolutions, otherwise the
spare tire carrier may be dam-
aged.
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