2009 KIA SOUL warning

75
Maintenance
G020200AUN Owner maintenance precautions
Improper or incomplete service may
result in problems. This section gives
instructions only for the maintenance
items that are easy to perform.
As explained earlier in this section, sev-
eral procedures can be done only by an
authorized KIA dealer with special tools.
✽✽NOTICE
Improper owner maintenance during the warranty period may affect warran-
ty coverage. For details, read the sepa-
rate Warranty & Maintenance book
provided with the vehicle. If you're
unsure about any servicing or mainte-
nance procedure, have it done by an
authorized KIA dealer.
WARNING - Maintenance
work
Performing maintenance work on a vehicle can be dangerous. You
can be seriously injured while
performing some maintenance
procedures. If you lack sufficient
knowledge and experience or the
proper tools and equipment to do
the work, have it done by an
authorized KIA dealer.
Working under the hood with the engine running is dangerous. It
becomes even more dangerous
when you wear jewelry or loose
clothing. These can become
entangled in moving parts and
result in injury. Therefore, if you
must run the engine while work-
ing under the hood, make certain
that you remove all jewelry (espe-
cially rings, bracelets, watches,
and necklaces) and all neckties,
scarves, and similar loose cloth-
ing before getting near theengine or cooling fans.WARNING - Diesel Engine
Never work on injection system with engine running or within 30
seconds after shutting off engine.
High-pressure pump, rail, injectorsand high-pressure pipes are sub-
ject to high pressure even after the
engine stopped. The fuel jet pro-
duced by fuel leaks may cause seri-
ous injury, if it touches the body.
People using pacemakers should
not move than 30cm closer to theECU or wiring harness within the
engine room while engine is run-
ning, since the high currents in the
electronic engine control system
produce considerable magneticfields.

Maintenance
6
7
OWNER MAINTENANCE
G030000AUN
The following lists are vehicle checks and
inspections that should be performed by
the owner or an authorized KIA dealer atthe 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. Owner maintenance schedule
G030101AUN-U1
When you stop for fuel:
Check the engine oil level.
Check the coolant level in coolant
reservoir.
Check the windshield washer fluid level.
Look for low or under-inflated tires. G030102AUN-U1
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-aheadposition.
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 the 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.

77
Maintenance
G030103AUN-U1
At least monthly:
Check the coolant level in the enginecoolant 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. G030104AUN-U1
At least twice a year
(i.e., every Spring and Fall):
Check the radiator, heater and air con- ditioning hoses for leaks or damage.
Check the windshield washer spray and wiper operation. Clean wiper
blades with clean cloth dampened with
washer fluid.
Check the headlight alignment.
Check the muffler, exhaust pipes, shields and clamps.
Check the lap/shoulder belts for wear and function.
Check for worn tires and loose wheel lug nuts. G030105APA-U1
At least once a year:
Clean the body and door drain holes.
Lubricate the door hinges and checks,
and hood hinges.
Lubricate the door and hood locks and latches.
Lubricate the door rubber weather- strips.
Check the air conditioning system.
Inspect and lubricate automatic transaxle linkage and controls.
Clean the battery and terminals.
Check the brake/clutch fluid level.

721
Maintenance
EXPLANATION OF SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ITEMS
G050100AUN Engine oil and filter The engine oil and filter should be
changed at the intervals specified in the
maintenance schedule. If the car is being
driven in severe conditions, more fre-quent oil and filter changes are required.
G050200AUN Drive belts
Inspect all drive belts for evidence of
cuts, cracks, excessive wear or oil satu-
ration and replace if necessary. Drive
belts should be checked periodically forproper tension and adjusted as neces-
sary. G050300AUN
Fuel filter (cartridge) A clogged filter can limit the speed at
which the vehicle may be driven, damage
the emission system and cause multiple
issues such as hard starting. If an exces-
sive amount of foreign matter accumu-
lates in the fuel tank, the filter may
require replacement more frequently.
After installing a new filter, run the engine
for several minutes, and check for leaks
at the connections. Fuel filters should be
installed by an authorized KIA dealer.
G050400AUN
Fuel lines, fuel hoses and con- nections
Check the fuel lines, fuel hoses and con-
nections for leakage and damage. Have
an authorized KIA dealer replace any
damaged or leaking parts immediately.
WARNING -
Diesel only
Never work on injection system with engine running or within 30
seconds after shutting off engine.
High pressure pump, rail, injectorsand high pressure pipes are sub-
ject to high pressure even after the
engine stopped. The fuel jet pro-
duced by fuel leaks may cause seri-
ous injury, if it touch the body.
People using pacemakers should
not move than 30cm closer to theECU or wiring harness within the
engine room while engine is run-
ning, since the high currents in the
Common Rail system produce con-
siderable magnetic fields.

725
Maintenance
ENGINE OIL
G060100AUN-HM
Checking 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 reinsert it fully.
5. Pull the dipstick out again and check the level. The level should be betweenF 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 help prevent oil frombeing spilled on engine components.
Use only the specified engine oil. (Refer to “Recommended lubricants and capaci-ties” in section 8.)
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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CAUTION
Do not overfill the engine oil. It may damage the engine.
CAUTION - Diesel engine
Overfilling the engine oil may cause
severe dieseling due to churningeffect. It may lead to engine damage
accompanied with abrupt engine speed increment, combustion noiseand white smoke emission.

Maintenance
26
7
G060200ASA Changing the engine oil and filter
Have the engine oil and filter changed by
an authorized KIA dealer according tothe Maintenance Schedule at the begin-ning of this section. G070000AUN The high-pressure cooling system has a
reservoir filled with year-round antifreeze
coolant. The reservoir is filled at the fac-
tory.
Check the antifreeze protection and
coolant level at least once a year, at thebeginning of the winter season, and
before traveling to a colder climate. G070100ASA-U1
Checking the coolant level
WARNING
Used engine oil may cause skin irri- tation or cancer if left in contact
with the skin for prolonged periods
of time. Used engine oil contains
chemicals that have caused cancer
in laboratory animals. Always pro-
tect your skin by washing your
hands thoroughly with soap and
warm water as soon as possibleafter handling used oil.
ENGINE COOLANT
WARNING - Removing
radiator cap
Never attempt to remove the radi- ator cap while the engine is oper-
ating or hot. Doing so might leadto cooling system and engine
damage. Also hot coolant orsteam could cause serious per-
sonal injury.
(Continued)
(Continued)
Turn the engine off and wait untilit cools down. Use extreme care
when removing the radiator cap.
Wrap a thick towel around it, and
turn it counterclockwise slowly to
the first stop. Step back while the
pressure is released from the
cooling system. When you aresure all the pressure has been
released, press down on the cap,
using a thick towel, and continue
turning counterclockwise to
remove it.
Even if the engine is not operat- ing, do not remove the radiatorcap or the drain plug while the
engine and radiator are hot. Hot
coolant and steam may still blow
out under pressure, causing seri-
ous injury.

Maintenance
28
7
G070200AUN-U1 Changing the coolant
Have the coolant changed by an author-
ized KIA dealer according to theMaintenance Schedule at the beginningof this section.
WARNING - Radiator cap
Do not remove the radiator cap when the engine and radiator are
hot. Scalding hot coolant and
steam may blow out under pres-
sure causing serious injury.
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CAUTION
Put a thick cloth or fabric around the radiator cap before refilling thecoolant in order to prevent the coolant from overflowing into
engine parts such as the alternator.
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.

729
Maintenance
BRAKE/CLUTCH FLUID (IF EQUIPPED)
G080100ASA-U1
Checking the brake/clutch 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/clutch fluid, clean the area
around the reservoir cap thoroughly to
prevent brake/clutch 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
and/or clutch disc (if equipped). If the
fluid level is excessively low, have the
brake system checked by an authorized
KIA dealer.
Use only the specified brake/clutch fluid.
(Refer to “Recommended lubricants orcapacities” in section 8.)
Never mix different types of fluid.
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.
WARNING - Brake/clutch fluid
When changing and adding
brake/clutch fluid, handle it careful-
ly. Do not let it come in contact with
your eyes. If brake/clutch fluid
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.
CAUTION
Do not allow brake/clutch fluid to contact the vehicle's body paint, aspaint damage will result.
Brake/clutch fluid, which has beenexposed to open air for an extended
time should never be used as its quality cannot be guaranteed. Itshould be properly disposed. Don'tput in the wrong kind of fluid. A few
drops of mineral-based oil, such asengine oil, in your brake/clutch sys- tem can damage brake/clutch sys-tem parts.
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