3 121
Features of your vehicle
Safety belt warning light If the driver's safety belt is not fastened
when the key is turned ON or if it is
unfastened after the key is turned ON,
the safety belt warning light blinks until
the belt fastened.Safety belt warning chime
(if equipped)If the driver's safety belt is not fastened
when the ignition key is turned ON or if it
is unfastened after the key is ON, the
safety belt warning chime will sound for
approximately 6 seconds. At this time, if
the safety belt is fastened, the chime will
stop at once.High beam indicator This indicator illuminates when the head-
lights are on and in the high beam posi-
tion or when the turn signal lever is pulled
into the Flash-to-Pass position.
Engine oil pressure
warning This warning light indicates the engine oil
pressure is low.
If the warning light illuminates while dri-
ving:
1. Drive safely to the side of the road andstop.
2. With the engine off, check the engine oil level. If the level is low, add oil as
required.
If the warning light remains on after
adding oil or if oil is not available, call an
Authorized Kia Dealer.
Parking brake & brake
fluid warning Parking brake warning This light is illuminated when the parking
brake is applied with the ignition switch in
the START or ON position. The warning
light should go off when the parking
brake is released while engine is run-
ning.Low brake fluid level warningIf the warning light remains on, it may
indicate that the brake fluid level in the
reservoir is low.
If the warning light remains on:
1. Drive carefully to the nearest safe location and stop your vehicle.
2. With the engine stopped, check the brake fluid level immediately and add
fluid as required. Then check all brake
components for fluid leaks.
3. Do not drive the vehicle if leaks are found, the warning light remains on or
the brakes do not operate properly.
Have it towed to any Authorized Kia
Dealer for a brake system inspection
and necessary repairs.
CAUTION
If the engine is not stopped imme-diately after the engine oil pressurewarning light is illuminated, severedamage could result.
Driving your vehicle24Before 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 6, Maintenance.
Before starting Close and lock all doors.
Position the seat so that all controls areeasily 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.
BEFORE DRIVING
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.
55
What to do in an emergency
Do not allow the jumper cables to con-
tact anything except the correct bat-
tery terminals or the correct ground.
Do not lean over the battery when
making connections.
5. Start the engine of the vehicle with the booster battery and let it run at 2,000
rpm, then start the engine of the vehi-
cle with the discharged battery.
If the cause of your battery discharging isnot apparent, you should have your vehi-cle checked by an Authorized Kia Dealer.Push-starting Vehicles equipped with automatic
transaxle cannot be push-started.
Follow the directions in this section for
jump-starting. If your temperature gauge indicates over-
heating, if you experience a loss of
power, or if you hear a loud knocking or
pinging noise, the engine has probably
overheated. Should any of these symp-
toms occur, use the following procedure:
1. Turn on the hazard warning flasher,
then drive to the nearest safe location
and stop your vehicle; set the auto-
matic transaxle in P (Park) and apply
the parking brake.
2. Make sure the air conditioner is off.
3. If coolant or steam is boiling out of the radiator, stop the engine and call an
Authorized Kia Dealer for assistance.
If coolant is not boiling out, allow the engine to idle and open the hood to
permit the engine to cool gradually.
If the temperature does not go down with the engine idling, stop the engine
and allow sufficient time for it to cool. 4. The coolant level should then be
checked. If the level in the reservoir is
low, look for leaks at the radiator
hoses and connections, heater hoses
and connections, radiator, and water
pump. If you find a major leak or
another problem that may have
caused the engine to overheat, do not
operate the engine until it has been
corrected. Call an Authorized Kia
Dealer for assistance. If you do not
find a leak or other problem, carefully
add coolant to the reservoir.
If the engine frequently overheats, have
the cooling system checked and repairedby an Authorized Kia Dealer.
CAUTION
Never tow a vehicle to start it because the sudden surge forwardwhen the engine starts could cause a collision with the tow vehicle.
WARNING
- Removing
radiator cap
Do not remove the radiator cap
when the engine and radiator are
hot. Scalding hot coolant and steam
may blow out under pressure. This
could cause serious injury.
IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS
Maintenance66Chart symbols:
I- Inspect these items and their related parts. If necessary, correct, clean, refill, adjust of replace.
R- Replace or change
L- Lubricate.(1) Refer to the lubricant and coolant specifications in the Owner’s Manual
(2) More frequent maintenance is required if driving under dusty conditions.
(3) Inspect excessive valve noise and/or engine vibration and adjust if necessary. A qualified technician should perform the ope r-
ation.
(4) More frequent maintenance is required if the vehicle is operated under any of the following conditions: a. Short-distance driving
b. Driving on dusty roads.
c. Extensive idling or slow-speed driving in stop-and-go traffic.
(5) If necessary, rotate and balance the wheels.
* Note: Check the engine oil and coolant levels every week.
67
Maintenance
OWNER MAINTENANCE Owner maintenance schedule The following lists are vehicle checks and
inspections that should be performed by
the owner or an Authorized Kia Dealer at
the frequencies indicated to help ensure
safe, dependable operation of your vehi-
cle.
Any adverse conditions should be
brought to the attention of your dealer as
soon as possible.
These Owner Maintenance Checks are
generally not covered by warranties and
you may be charged for labor, parts and
lubricants used.When you stop for fuel: Check the engine oil level.
Check coolant level in coolant reser-voir.
Check the windshield washer fluid level.
Look for low or under-inflated tires.
While operating your vehicle: Note any changes in the sound of the exhaust or any smell of exhaust fumes
in the vehicle.
Check for vibrations in the steering wheel. Notice any increased steering
effort or looseness in the steering
wheel, or change in its straight-ahead
position.
Notice if your vehicle constantly turns slightly or “pulls” to one side when trav-
eling on smooth, level road.
When stopping, listen and check for unusual sounds, pulling to one side,
increased brake pedal travel or “hard-
to-push” brake pedal.
If any slipping or changes in the oper- ation of your transaxle occurs, check
the transaxle fluid level.
Check automatic transaxle P (Park) function.
Check parking brake.
Check for fluid leaks under your vehicle (water dripping from the air condition-
ing system during or after use is nor-
mal).
At least monthly: Check coolant level in the coolantrecovery reservoir.
Check the operation of all exterior lights, including the stoplights, turn sig-
nals and hazard warning flashers.
Check the inflation pressures of all tires including the spare.At least twice a year (i.e., every Spring and Fall): Check radiator, heater and air condi- tioning hoses for leaks or damage.
Check windshield washer spray and wiper operation. Clean wiper blades
with clean cloth dampened with wash-
er fluid.
Check headlight alignment.
Check muffler, exhaust pipes, shields and clamps.
Check the lap/shoulder belts for wear and function.
Check for worn tires and loose wheel lug nuts.
WARNING
Be careful when checking your
engine coolant level when the
engine is hot. Scalding hot coolant
and steam may blow out under
pressure. This could cause burns or
other serious injury.
Maintenance10
6ENGINE OILChecking the engine oil level 1. Be sure the vehicle is on level ground.
2. Start the engine and allow it to reach
normal operating temperature.
3. Turn the engine off and wait for a few minutes (about 5 minutes) for the oil to
return to the oil pan.
4. Pull the dipstick out, wipe it clean, and re-insert it fully.
5. Pull the dipstick out again and check the level. The level should be between
F and L. If it is near or at L, add enough oil to bring
the level to F.
Do not overfill.
Use a funnel to refill the new oil com-
fortably.
Use only the specified engine oil. (Refer to “Recommended Lubricants” later inthis section.)Have engine oil and filter changed by an
Authorized Kia Dealer according to the
Maintenance Schedule at the beginning
of this section.
WARNING
Used engine oil may cause irritation
or cancer of the skin if left in con-
tact with the skin for prolonged
periods of time. Used engine oil
contains chemicals that have
caused cancer in laboratory ani-
mals. Always protect your skin by
washing your hands thoroughly
with soap and warm water as soon
as possible after handling used oil.
WARNING -
Radiator hose
Be very careful not to touch the
radiator hose when checking or
adding the engine oil as it may be
hot enough to burn you.
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Maintenance14
6
“COLD” scale is for reference only
and should NOT be used to determine
transaxle fluid level.
New automatic transaxle fluid should
be red. The red dye is added so the
assembly plant can identify it as auto-
matic transaxle fluid and distinguish it
from engine oil or antifreeze. The red
dye, which is not an indicator of fluid
quality, is not permanent. As the vehi-
cle is driven, the automatic transaxle
fluid will begin to look darker. The
color may eventually appear light
brown.
✽ ✽
NOTICEHave an Authorized Kia dealer change
the automatic transaxle fluid according
to the Scheduled Maintenance at the
beginning of this section.Use only the specified automatic
transaxle fluid. (Refer to "Recommended
Lubricants" later in this section.)
WARNING
- Parking brake
To avoid sudden movement of the
vehicle, apply parking brake and
depress the brake pedal before
moving the shift lever.
CAUTION
Low fluid level causes transaxle
slippage. Overfilling can causefoaming, loss of fluid andtransaxle malfunction.
The use of a non-specified fluid could result in transaxle malfunc-tion and failure.
WARNING -
Transaxle fluid
The transaxle fluid level should be
checked when the engine is at nor-
mal operating temperature. This
means that the engine, radiator,
radiator hose and exhaust system
etc., are very hot. Exercise great
care not to burn yourself during this
procedure.
615
Maintenance
BRAKESChecking brake fluid level Check the fluid level in the reservoir peri-
odically. The fluid level should be
between MAX and MIN marks on the
side of the reservoir.
Before removing the reservoir cap and
adding brake fluid, clean the area around
the reservoir cap thoroughly to prevent
brake fluid contamination.
If the level is low, add fluid to the MAX
level. The level will fall with accumulated
mileage. This is a normal condition asso-
ciated with the wear of the brake linings.
If the fluid level is excessively low, have
the brake system checked by an
Authorized Kia Dealer.
Use only the specified brake fluid. (Referto “Recommended Lubricants” later inthis section.)
Never mix different types of fluid.
WARNING -
Brake fluid
When changing and adding brake
fluid, handle it carefully. Do not let it
come in contact with your eyes. If
brake fluid should come in contact
with your eyes, immediately flush
them with a large quantity of fresh
tap water. Have your eyes examined
by a doctor as soon as possible.
WARNING -
Loss of brake
fluid
In the event the brake system
requires frequent additions of fluid,
the vehicle should be inspected by
an Authorized Kia Dealer.
CAUTION
Do not allow brake fluid to contactthe vehicle's body paint, as paintdamage will result. Brake fluid, which has been exposed to open airfor an extended time should never be used as its quality cannot beguaranteed. It should be thrown out. Don't put in the wrong kind offluid. A few drops of mineral-basedoil, such as engine oil, in your brake system can damage brake systemparts.
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