2008 KIA Sportage service

531
Driving tips
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
After off-road driving
Remove any brush or debris that has
collected on the underbody, chassis
or under the hood. These accumula-
tions can be a fire hazard.
After driving in mud or sand, clean
and check the brake linings.
Accumulation of mud or sand can
cause glazing and uneven braking.
Check the body structure, steering,
suspension, wheels, tires, and
exhaust system for damage. Also,
check the fuel lines and cooling sys-
tem for any leakage. Your vehicle will
also require more frequent service
due to off-road use.WARNING- Water
Driving through rushing water
can be dangerous.Deep water
can sweep your vehicle down-
stream and you and your pas-
sengers could drown.If it’s only
inches deep,it can still wash
away the ground from under
your tires, and you could lose
traction and roll the vehicle.
Never drive through rushing
water.

Driving tips
40 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Maintenance when trailer tow-
ing
Your vehicle will need service more
often when you regularly pull a trail-
er. Important items to pay particular
attention to include engine oil, auto-
matic transaxle fluid, axle lubricant
and cooling system fluid. Brake con-
dition is another important item to
frequently check. Each item is cov-
ered 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 mainte-
nance schedule that accompanied
your trailer and check it periodically.
Preferably, conduct the check at the
start of each day’s driving. Most
importantly, all hitch nuts and bolts
should be tight.
✽
NOTICE
• Due to higher load during trailer
usage, overheating might occur in
hot days or during uphill driving.
If the coolant gauge indicates
over-heating, switch off the A/C
and stop the vehicle in a safe area
to cool down the engine.
• When towing check transaxle
fluid more frequently.
• If your vehicle is not equipped
with the air conditioner, you
should install a condenser fan to
improve engine performance
when towing a trailer.
OVERLOADING
CAUTION - Vehicle weight
The gross axle weight rating
(GAWR) and the gross vehicle
weight rating (GVWR) for your
vehicle are on the manufactur-
er's label attached to the dri-
ver's door.Exceeding these rat-
ings can cause an accident or
vehicle damage.You can calcu-
late the weight of your load by
weighing the items (and people)
before putting them in the vehi-
cle.Be careful not to overload
your vehicle.

Driving tips
46 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Programming
Your vehicle may require the ignition
switch to be turned to the ACC posi-
tion for programming and/or opera-
tion of HomeLink. It is also recom-
mended that a new battery be
replaced in the hand-held transmitter
of the device being programmed to
HomeLink for quicker training and
accurate transmission of the radio-
frequency.
Follow these steps to train your
HomeLink mirror:1. When programming the buttons
for the first time, press and hold
the left and center buttons ( ,
) simultaniously until the
indicator light begins to flash after
approximately 20 seconds. (This
procedure erases the factory-set
default codes. Do Not perform this
step to program additional hand-
held transmitters.)
✽
NOTICE
For non rolling code garage door
openers, follow steps 2 - 3.
For rolling code garage door open-
ers, follow steps 2 - 6.
For Canadian Programming, please
follow the Canadian Programming
section.
For help with determining whether
your garage is non-rolling code or
rolling code, please refer to the
garage door openers owner’s manu-
al or contact HomeLink customer
service at 1-800-355-3515.
MMSA5005 Flashing

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 procedures listed on page
6-6. If in doubt, we strongly recom-
mend 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 batteries in series or a 24-
volt motor generator set).
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
WARNING- Battery
• Keep all flames or sparks
away from the battery.The bat-
tery produces 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 elec-
trolyte 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 seri-
ous injury.

In case of an emergency
14 6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
TOWING
If emergency towing is necessary,
we recommend having it done by an
authorized Kia dealer or a commer-
cial tow-truck service. Proper lifting
and towing procedures are neces-
sary to prevent damage to the vehi-
cle. The use of wheel dollies or
flatbed is recommended.
For trailer towing guidelines informa-
tion, 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 rear wheels
on the ground (without dollies) and
the front wheels off the ground.
When being towed by a commercial
tow truck and wheel dollies are not
used, the front of the vehicle should
always be lifted, not the rear.
1KMA40221KMA40241KMA4023

In case of an emergency
16 6
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
To wing with a vehicle other
than a tow truck
If towing is necessary, we recom-
mend you to have it done by an
Authorized Kia dealer or a commer-
cial tow truck service.
If towing service is not available in an
emergency, your vehicle may be
temporarily towed using a cable or
chain secured to the emergency tow-
ing hook under the front or rear 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 distance 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
conditions from which the vehicle
cannot be driven out under its own
power.
• Avoid towing a vehicle heavier than
the vehicle doing the towing.
6KMA4026 • Front
1KMA4027 • Rear

617
In case of an emergency
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
✽
NOTICE
• 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 pro-
vided.
• Before emergency towing, check
that the hook is not broken or dam-
aged.
• 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 verti-
cal angle. Always pull straight
ahead.• 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 tow-
ing.
CAUTION
Use extreme caution when tow-
ing the vehicle.
• Avoid sudden starts or erratic
driving maneuvers which
would place excessive stress
on the emergency towing
hook and towing cable or
chain.The hook and towing
cable or chain may break and
cause serious injury or dam-
age.
• If the towing vehicle can hard-
ly move, do not forcibly con-
tinue the towing.Contact an
Authorized Kia dealer or a
commercial tow truck service
for assistance.
• Tow the vehicle a
s straight
ahead as possible.
• Keep away from the vehicle
during towing.
1KMA4028

621
In case of an emergency
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Changing tires
Jacking instructions
The jack is provided for emergency
tire changing only.
Follow jacking instructions to reduce
the possibility of personal injury.
WARNING- Changing
tires
• Never attempt vehicle repairs
in the traffic lanes of a public
road or highway.
•Always move the vehicle com-
pletely off the road and onto
the shoulder before trying to
change a tire.The jack should
be used on level firm ground.
If you cannot find a firm, level
place off the road, call a tow-
ing service company for
assistance.
• Be sure to use the correct
front and rear jacking posi-
tions on the vehicle; never use
the bumpers or any other part
of the vehicle for jack support.
(Continued)(Continued)
• The vehicle can easily roll off
the jack causing serious
injury or death.No person
should place any portion of
their body under a vehicle that
is supported only by a jack ;
use vehicle support stands.
• Do not start or run the engine
while the vehicle is on the
jack.
• Do not allow anyone to remain
in the vehicle while it is on the
jack.
• Make sure any children pre-
sent are in a secure place
away from the road and from
the vehicle to be raised with
the
jack.
1KMA4013