717
Maintenance
BRAKE FLUID (IF EQUIPPED)Checking 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.
OBL056008N
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 thrownout. Don't put in the wrong kind of fluid. A few drops of mineral-basedoil, such as engine oil, in your brake system can damage brake systemparts.
Maintenance18
7POWER STEERING Checking the power steering fluid
level With the vehicle on level ground, check
the fluid level in the power steering reser-
voir periodically. The fluid should be
between MAX and MIN marks on the
side of the reservoir at the normal tem-
perature.
Before adding power steering fluid, thor-
oughly clean the area around the reser-
voir cap to prevent power steering fluid
contamination.
If the level is low, add fluid to the MAX
level. In the event the power steering system
requires frequent addition of fluid, the
vehicle should be inspected by an
Authorized Kia Dealer.
Use only the specified power steering
fluid. (Refer to "Recommended Lubricants" later in this section.)
Power steering hoseCheck the connections for oil leaks,
severe damage and the twists in the
power steering hose before driving.
OBL056007
CAUTION
To avoid damage to the power steering pump, do not operate thevehicle for prolonged periodswith a low power steering fluid level.
Never start the engine when the reservoir tank is empty.
When adding fluid, be careful that dirt does not get into the tank.
Too little fluid can make the steer- ing wheel heavier or strangenoise can be generated.
The use of the non-specified fluid could reduce the effectiveness ofthe power steering wheel andcause damage to it.
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.
721
Maintenance
LUBRICANTS AND FLUIDS Checking the washer fluid level The reservoir is translucent so that you
can check the level with a quick visual
inspection.
Check the fluid level in the washer fluid
reservoir and add fluid if necessary. Plain
water may be used if washer fluid is not
available. However, use washer solvent
with antifreeze characteristics in cold cli-
mates to prevent freezing.This warning light indicatesthe washer fluid reservoir is
near empty. Refill the washer
fluid as soon as possible.
Body lubrication All moving points of the body, such as
door hinges, hood hinges, and locks,
should be lubricated each time the
engine oil is changed. Use a non-freez-
ing lubricant on locks during cold weath-
er.
Make sure the engine hood secondary
latch keeps the hood from opening when
the primary latch is released.
WARNING -
Coolant
Do not use radiator coolant or antifreeze in the washer fluid
reservoir.
Radiator coolant can severely obscure visibility when sprayed
on the windshield and may cause
loss of vehicle control or damage
to paint and body trim.
Windshield Washer fluid agents contain some amounts of alcohol
and can be flammable under cer-
tain circumstances. Do not allow
sparks or flame to contact the
washer fluid or the washer fluid
reservoir. Damage to the vehicle
or it's occupants could occur.
Windshield washer fluid is poi- sonous to humans and animals.
Do not drink and avoid contacting
windshield washer fluid. Serious
injury or death could occur.
6BLA713
Maintenance22
7AIR CLEANER Element replacementHave the air cleaner element checked
and replaced in accordance with the
maintenance schedule.
✽ ✽
NOTICEDo not drive with the air cleaner
removed; this will result in excessive
engine wear.
OBL076006N
CAUTION
- Engine
Driving without an air cleaner
encourages backfiring, which couldcause a fire in the engine compart- ment.
727
Maintenance
Battery recharging Your vehicle has a maintenance-free,
calcium-based battery.
If the battery becomes discharged in ashort time (because, for example, the
headlights or interior lights were left on
while the vehicle was not in use),
recharge it by slow charging (trickle)
for 10 hours.
If the battery gradually discharges because of high electric load while the
vehicle is being used, recharge it at 20-
30A for two hours.Items to be reset after the battery hasbeen discharged or the battery has been disconnected. Clock (See Chapter 3)
Trip computer (See Chapter 4)
Compass (See Chapter 4)
Climate control system (See Chapter 4)
Audio (See Chapter 3)
WARNING
- Recharging battery
When recharging the battery,
observe the following precautions:
The battery must be removed
from the vehicle and placed in an
area with good ventilation.
Do not allow cigarettes, sparks, or flame near the battery.
Watch the battery during charg- ing, and stop or reduce the charg-
ing rate if the battery cells begin
gassing (boiling) violently or if
the temperature of the electrolyte
of any cell exceeds 49°C (120°F).
Wear eye protection when check- ing the battery during charging.
Disconnect the battery charger in the following order.
1. Turn off the battery charger main switch.
2. Unhook the negative clamp from the negative battery terminal.
3. Unhook the positive clamp from the positive battery terminal.
CAUTION
Before performing maintenance or recharging the battery, turn offall accessories and stop the engine.
The negative battery cable must be removed first and installed lastwhen the battery is disconnected.
Maintenance42
7Recommended SAE viscosity
number
Engine oil viscosity (thickness) has an
effect on fuel economy and cold weather
operating (starting and oil flow). Lower
viscosity engine oils can provide better
fuel economy and cold weather perform-
ance, however, higher viscosity engine
oils are required for satisfactory lubrica-
tion in hot weather. Using oils of any vis-
cosity other than those recommended
could result in engine damage. When choosing an oil, consider the
range of temperature your vehicle will be
operated in before the next oil change.
Proceed to select the recommended oil
viscosity from the chart.
Temperature Range for SAE Viscosity Numbers
Temperature
Gasoline
Engine Oil *
1°C
(°F)
-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 -10 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
1. For better fuel economy, it is recommended to use the engine oil of a viscosity grade SAE 5W-
20, 5W-30 (API SL, SM / ILSAC GF-3). However, if the engine oil is not available in your coun-
try, select the proper engine oil using the engine oil viscosity chart.
10W-30
5W-20, 5W-30
CAUTION
Always be sure to clean the areaaround any filler plug, drain plug, ordipstick before checking or drain-ing any lubricant. This is especially important in dusty or sandy areasand when the vehicle is used onunpaved roads. Cleaning the plug and dipstick areas will prevent dirtand grit from entering the engineand other mechanisms that could be damaged.