2009 KIA Sorento automatic transmission

617
In case of an emergency
Use a towing strap less than 5 m (16feet) 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 thesteering 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).
✽ ✽ NOTICERemove 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.
E4BLA613

7
Maintenance services / 7-2
Maintenance schedule / 7-3
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items / 7-7
Owner maintenance / 7-10
Engine compartment / 7-13
Engine oil / 7-14
Engine cooling system / 7-15
Brake fluid / 7-17
Power steering / 7-18
Automatic transmission / 7-19
Lubricants and fluids / 7-21
Air cleaner / 7-22
Climate control air filter / 7-23
Wiper blades / 7-23
Battery / 7-25
Tires and wheels / 7-28
Lubricant specifications / 7-41
Exterior care / 7-43
Interior care / 7-46
Maintenance

75
Maintenance
MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE (CONTINUED)
MAINTENANCEINTERVALS
MAINTENANCE
ITEM
Inspect when abnormal condition noted
Rotate the tires every 12,000 km
Chassis and body (Continued)
Kilometers or time in months, whichever comes first
× 1,000 km 8 16 24 32 40 48 56 64 72 80 88 96 104 112 120 128
# Months 4 8 12 16 20 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64
Automatic transmission fluid (1) I I I R I I I R I I I R I I I R
Chassis & underbody bolts & nuts I I I I I I IIIIIII III
Tire condition & inflation pressure I I I I I I IIIIIII III
Wheel alignment (4)
Tire rotation
Steering operation & linkage I I I I I I IIIIIII III
Power steering fluid & lines I I I IIIII
Driveshaft u-joints (SUV) L L L L L L LLLLLLL LLL
Driveshaft dust boots I I I I I
Seat belts, buckles & anchors I I I I I I IIIIIII III
Lock, hinges & hood latch L L L L L L LLLLLLL LLL

Maintenance87Vacuum crankcase ventilation
hoses Inspect the surface of hoses for evidence
of heat and/or mechanical damage. Hard
and brittle rubber, cracking, tears, cuts,
abrasions, and excessive swelling indi-
cate deterioration. Particular attention
should be paid to examine those hose
surfaces nearest to high heat sources,
such as the exhaust manifold.
Inspect the hose routing to assure that
the hoses do not come in contact with
any heat source, sharp edges or moving
component which might cause heat dam-
age or mechanical wear. Inspect all hose
connections, such as clamps and cou-
plings, to make sure they are secure, and
that no leaks are present. Hoses should
be replaced immediately if there is any
evidence of deterioration or damage.
Air cleaner filterA Genuine KIA air cleaner filter is recom-
mended when the filter is replaced.Spark plugsMake sure to install new spark plugs of
the correct heat range.Valve clearanceInspect excessive valve noise and/or
engine vibration and adjust if necessary.
An authorized KIA dealer should perform
the operation.Cooling systemCheck cooling system components, such
as radiator, coolant reservoir, hoses and
connections for leakage and damage.
Replace any damaged parts.
CoolantThe coolant should be changed at the
intervals specified in the maintenance
schedule.Automatic transmission fluidThe fluid level should be in the "HOT"
range of the dipstick, after the engine
and transmission are at normal operating
temperature. Check the automatic trans-
mission fluid level with the engine run-
ning and the transmission in neutral, with
the parking brake properly applied.Brake hoses and linesVisually check for proper installation,
chafing, cracks, deterioration and any
leakage. Replace any deteriorated or
damaged parts immediately.Brake fluidCheck brake fluid level in the brake fluid
reservoir. The level should be between
“MIN” and “MAX” marks on the side of
the reservoir. Use only hydraulic brake
fluid conforming to DOT 3 or DOT 4
specification.

Maintenance10
7OWNER 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 strange 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 transmission occurs,
check the transmission fluid level.
Check automatic transmission 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).
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.

719
Maintenance
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (IF EQUIPPED)Checking the automatic transmis-
sion fluid level ✽ ✽NOTICEIf your vehicle is not equipped with the
automatic transmission level gauge,
have the automatic transmission fluid
inspected by an authorized Kia dealer
according to the maintenance schedule.
If your vehicle is equipped with the
automatic transmission level gauge,
inspect the fluid level as follows.
The automatic transmission fluid level
should be checked regularly.
Keep the vehicle on the level ground with
the parking brake applied and check the
fluid level according to the following pro-
cedure.
1. Place the selector lever in N (Neutral)
position and confirm the engine is run-
ning at idle speed.
2. After the transmission is warmed up sufficiently (fluid temperature 70~80°C
(158~176°F), for example by 10 min-
utes usual driving, shift the selector
lever through all positions then place
the selector lever in “N (Neutral) or P
(Park)” position. 3. Confirm that the fluid level is in “HOT”
range on the level gauge. If the fluid
level is lower, add the specified fluid
from the fill hole. If the fluid level is
higher, drain the fluid from the drain
hole.
4. If the fluid level is checked in cold con- dition (fluid temperature 20~30°C
(68~86°F) add the fluid to “COLD” line
and then recheck the fluid level
according to the above step 2.
OBL056002
Automatic transmission fluid dipstick
25 C
75 C
E2BLA712A
Low
HOT
COLD Full
Low
Cold fluid scale Hot fluid scale
Full

Maintenance20
7
✽
✽
NOTICE“COLD” scale is for reference only and
should NOT be used to determine trans-
mission fluid level.
✽ ✽NOTICENew automatic transmission fluid
should be red. The red dye is added so
the assembly plant can identify it as
automatic transmission fluid and distin-
guish it from engine oil or antifreeze.
The red dye, which is not an indicator of
fluid quality, is not permanent. As the
vehicle is driven, the automatic trans-
mission fluid will begin to look darker.
The color may eventually appear light
brown. Therefore, have an Authorized
Kia dealer change the automatic trans-
mission fluid according to the Scheduled
Maintenance at the beginning of this
section.
CAUTION
Low fluid level causes transmis-
sion slippage. Overfilling cancause foaming, loss of fluid andtransmission malfunction.
The use of a non-specified fluid could result in transmission mal-function and failure.
WARNING
- Parking brake
To avoid sudden movement of the
vehicle, apply parking brake and
depress the brake pedal before
moving the shift lever.
WARNING -
Transmission
fluid
The transmission fluid level should
be checked when the engine is at
normal 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.

741
Maintenance
LUBRICANT SPECIFICATIONSRecommended lubricants To help achieve proper engine and pow-
ertrain performance and durability, use
only lubricants of the proper quality. The
correct lubricants also help promote
engine efficiency that results in improved
fuel economy.
Engine oils labeled Energy Conserving
Oil are now available. Along with other
additional benefits, they contribute to fuel
economy by reducing the amount of fuel
necessary to overcome engine friction.
Often, these improvements are difficult to
measure in everyday driving, but in a
year’s time, they can offer significant cost
and energy savings.
*¹ Refer to the recommended SAE viscosity numbers on the next page.
*2LSD : Limited Slip DifferentialThese lubricants and fluids are recommended for use in your vehicle.
LubricantClassification
API Service SL or SM,
ILSAC GF-3 or above
Automatic transmission fluid APOLLOIL ATF RED-1K
4WD transfer case fluid DEXRON III (fill-for-life)
Front differential fluid API Service GL-5 (SAE 90)
Rear differential Without LSD *
2
API Service GL-5 (SAE 90)
fluid
With LSD
*2
API Service GL-5 (SAE 85W-90, INFILREX 33)
Power steering fluid PSF-III
Brake fluid FMVSS116 DOT-3 or DOT-4Engine oil
*¹