2008 KIA Sorento manual transmission

4
Ignition switch / 4-2
Starting the engine / 4-4
Automatic transmission / 4-5
Four wheel drive (4WD) / 4-10
Limited slip differential / 4-19
Brake system / 4-20
Steering wheel / 4-25
Cruise control system / 4-27
Electronic stability control / 4-30
Rear parking assist system / 4-33
Instrument cluster / 4-36
Gauges / 4-37
Warnings and indicators / 4-39
Multi-meter / 4-45
Lighting / 4-51
Wipers and washers / 4-54
Defroster / 4-57
Hazard warning flasher / 4-58
Manual climate control system / 4-59
Automatic climate control system / 4-66
Windshield defrosting and defogging / 4-75
Driving your vehicle

43
Driving your vehicle
START
Turn the ignition key to the START posi-
tion to start the engine. The engine will
crank until you release the key; then it
returns to the ON position. The brake
warning lamp can be checked in this
position.
✽
NOTICE
If difficulty is experienced in turning the
ignition key, turn the steering wheel
right and left to release the tension and
then turn the key.
Automatic transmission
When turning the ignition switch to the
LOCK position, the shift lever must be in
the P (Park) position.
WARNING-Ignition key
• Never turn the ignition switch to
LOCK or ACC while the vehicle is
moving. This would result in loss
of directional control and braking
function, which could cause an
immediate accident.
• Before leaving the driver’s seat,
always make sure the shift lever
is engaged in 1
stgear for manual
transmission or P (Park) for auto-
matic transmission,set the park-
ing brake fully and shut the
engine off. Unexpected and sud-
den vehicle movement may occur
if these precautions are not
taken.
(Continued)
(Continued)
• Never reach for the ignition
switch, or any other controls
through the steering wheel while
the vehicle is in motion. The pres-
ence of your hand or arm in this
area could cause a loss of vehicle
control, an accident and serious
bodily injury or death.
• Do not place any movable objects
around the driver’s seat as they
may move while driving, interfere
with the driver and lead to an
accident.

Driving your vehicle
8 4
Sports mode
Whether the vehicle is stationary or in
motion, sports mode is selected by push-
ing the shift lever from the “D” position
into the manual gate. To return to “D”
range operation, push the shift lever back
into the main gate.
In sports mode, moving the shift lever
backwards and forwards will allow you to
make gearshifts rapidly. The sports mode
allows gearshifts with the accelerator
pedal depressed.Up (+) : Push the lever forward once to
shift up one gear.
Down (-) : Pull the lever backwards once
to shift down one gear.
Snow mode
When taking off from a standstill on a
slippery road, push the shift lever forward
into the +(up) position. This causes the
transmission to shift into the 2nd gear
which is better for smooth driving on a
slippery road.
Push the shift lever to the -(down) side to
shift back to the 1st gear.
✽
NOTICE
 Upshifts take place automatically in
sports mode. However, the driver
must execute upshifts in accordance
with road conditions, taking care to
keep the engine speed below the red
zone because upshifts take place at the
higher engine rpm.
 In sports mode, only the four forward
gears can be selected. To reverse or
park the vehicle, move the shift lever
to the “R” or “P” position as required.
 In sports mode, downshifts are made
automatically when the vehicle slows
down. When the vehicle stops, 1st gear
is automatically selected.
 In sports mode, when the engine rpm
approaches the red zone shift points
are varied to upshift automatically.
✽
NOTICE
In the sport mode, if you push the lever
to shift and no shift occurs, the system is
acting to protect your safety and the
vehicle.
E4BLA402C + (UP)
- (DOWN) Automatic
mode
Sports mode

Driving your vehicle
12 4
✽
NOTICE
When the vehicle shifts into 4WD mode,
a slight mechanical sound and vibration
may be felt and does not indicate a prob-
lem with the system.
To avoid shift shock, when the vehicle is
stopped and you make a transfer case
shift using the transfer shift knob, wait
until the corresponding indicator light in
the instrument cluster illuminates before
driving.
Knob position
This is used to set different positions.
AUTO
Full power delivered to front and rear
axle for increased traction. Use this mode
for normal on-road driving.
The 4WD LOW indicator light ( ) will
be turned off after blinking for a few sec-
onds to remind you that you are in the
AUTO mode.
LOW
Full power to both axles, including a
lower gear ratio for low speed applica-
tions that require extra power such as
wet pavement, snow-covered roads
and/or off-road.
LOW Mode is not recommended on dry
pavement.
The 4WD LOW indicator light
( )will
be turned on after blinking for a few sec-
onds to remind you that you are in the
LOW mode.
Transfer shift knob operation
AUTO ↔
LOW
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Depress the clutch pedal (Manual
transmission) or put the shift lever into
N (Neutral) position (Automatic trans-
mission).
3.AUTO ➝
LOW
: Turn the transfer shift knob to LOW
mode.
LOW ➝
AUTO
: Turn the transfer shift knob to AUTO
mode.
4. Before releasing the clutch pedal
(Manual transmission) or shifting to
other ranges from N (Automatic trans-
mission), wait for the corresponding
indicator light in the instrument cluster
to go ON or OFF.
4WD
LOW
4WD
LOW
CAUTION
If the vehicle moves while the trans-
fer shift is in process, the gearbox
may be damaged.

Driving your vehicle
14 4
Knob position
This is used to set different positions.
2HI (Rear-wheel drive)
This mode is used, when driving on nor-
mal roads and highway.
4HI (High-range 4-wheel drive)
This mode is used, when driving off-
roads, wet or snow covered roads with
normal speed.
The 4WD indicator light
()will be
turned on to remind you that you are in
the 4HI mode.
4LO (Low-range 4-wheel drive)
Use 4LO for climbing or descending hills,
off-roads driving and towing the vehicle,
especially when increased power is
required.
The 4WD LOW indicator light
( )will
be turned on to remind you that you are
in the 4LO mode.
Transfer shift knob operation
By turning the transfer knob (4HI, 4LO),
both front and rear axles are engaged.
This improves the traction characteristic.
2HI➝
4HI
Turn the transfer knob from the 2HI mode
to 4HI mode at speed below 80 km/h (50
mph).
It is not necessary to depress the clutch
pedal or put the shift lever into N
(Neutral) position (Manual transmission)
or put the shift lever into N (Neutral) posi-
tion (Automatic transmission).
Perform this operation when driving
straight. There will be a few seconds of
time delay before come into 4HI mode
when you shift the knob to 4 HI from 2HI.4HI➝
2HI
Turn the transfer knob from the 4HI mode
to the 2HI mode at speed below 80 km/h
(50 mph). It is not necessary to depress
the clutch pedal (Manual transmission) or
put the shift lever into N (Neutral)
(Automatic transmission). Perform this
operation when driving straight.
If the transfer mode does not shift into
2HI mode when you turn the transfer
knob to 2HI, drive straight ahead with
accelerating or decelerating, or drive in
reverse.
4WD
LOW

415
Driving your vehicle
4HI↔
4LO
1. Stop the vehicle.
2. Depress the clutch pedal for the man-
ual transmission or put the shift lever
into N (Neutral) for the automatic
transmission.
3.4HI➝
4LO
: Select the 4LO mode.
4LO➝
4HI
: Select the 4HI mode.
4. Before releasing the clutch pedal
(Manual transmission) or shifting to
other ranges from N range (Automatic
transmission), wait for corresponding
indicator light turns on or off in the
cluster.For safe four-wheel drive opera-
tion
• Your vehicle allows you to drive in on-
road and off-road conditions.
• However, do not try to drive in deep
standing water, mud, or over steep
hills.
• When you are driving up or down hills,
drive as close to straight up and down
the hills as possible. Use extreme cau-
tion in going up or down steep hills,
since you can flip your vehicle over
depending on the grade, terrain and
water/mud conditions.
• Drive off-road carefully because your
vehicle may be damaged by rocks or
roots of trees. Become familiar with the
off-road conditions you are going to
drive before you start.
CAUTION
If the vehicle moves while the trans-
fer shift is in process, the gearbox
may be damaged.
WARNING - Four-wheel
driving
The conditions on-road or off-road
that demand four-wheel drive mean
all functions of your vehicle are
exposed to more extreme stress
than under highway conditions.
Slow down, look ahead, and be
ready for sudden changes in the
composition and traction of the sur-
face under your tires. If you have
any doubt about the safety of the
conditions you are facing,stop and
consider the best way to proceed.
Do not exceed the ability of yourself
or your vehicle to operate safely.
HILL1/HILL2
Approach Hill Straight
Up/DownDo not Approach at
Angle

Driving your vehicle
22 4
To release the parking brake, pull the
handle up slightly and push the release
button, then lower the handle to the
released position while holding the but-
ton in.Check the brake warning light by turning
the ignition switch ON (do not start the
engine). This light will be illuminated
when the parking brake is applied with
the ignition switch in the START or ON
position.
Before driving, be sure the parking brake
is fully released and the brake warning
light is off.
If the brake warning light remains on
after the parking brake is released, there
may be a malfunction in the brake sys-
tem. Immediate attention is necessary.
If at all possible, cease driving the vehi-
cle immediately. If that is not possible,
use extreme caution while operating the
vehicle and only continue to drive the
vehicle until you can reach a safe loca-
tion or repair shop.
WARNING- Parking brake
• To prevent unintentional move-
ment when stopped, do not use
just the gear shift lever to hold
the vehicle in position. Set the
parking brake AND make sure the
gearshift lever is securely posi-
tioned in 1st (First) gear or R
(Reverse) for manual transmis-
sion equipped vehicles and in P
(Park) for automatic transmission
equipped vehicles.
• Never allow a person who is unfa-
miliar with the vehicle or children
to touch the parking brake. If the
parking brake is released unin-
tentionally,serious injury may
occur.
E2BLA417W-75

Driving your vehicle
28 4
To cancel cruise control, do one
of the following:
• Press the brake pedal.
• Press the clutch pedal with a manual
transmission or shift into N (Neutral)
with an automatic transmission.
• Press the CANCEL switch located on
the steering wheel.
• Press the COAST/SET and RES/
ACCEL switches at the same time.
Each of these actions will cancel cruise
control operation (the SET indicator light
in the instrument cluster will go OFF), but
it will not turn the system off. If you wish
to resume cruise control operation, push
the RES/ACCEL switch located on your
steering wheel. You will return to your
previously preset speed.
To turn cruise control off, do one
of the following:
• Push the CRUISE ON-OFF button (the
CRUISE indicator light in the instru-
ment cluster will go OFF).
• Turn the ignition off.
Both of these actions cancel cruise con-
trol operation. If you want to resume
cruise control operation, repeat the steps
provided in “To Set Cruise Control
Speed” on the previous page.
To increase cruise control set
speed:
Follow either of these procedures:
• Push the RES/ACCEL switch and hold
it. Your vehicle will accelerate. Release
the switch at the speed you want.
• Push the RES/ACCEL switch and
release it immediately. The cruising
speed will increase by 1.6 km/h (1
mph) each time the RES/ACCEL
switch is operated in this manner.
E2BLA422A