2009 KIA SOUL Owners Manual

Maintenance
48
7
Tire speed ratings
The chart below lists many of the dif-
ferent speed ratings currently being
used for passenger car tires. The
speed rating is part of the tire size
designation on the sidewall of the
tire. This symbol corresponds to that
tire's designed maximum safe oper-ating speed. G201003APA
3. Checking tire life (TIN : Tire
Identification Number)
Any tires that are over 6 years old,
based on the manufacturing date,(including the spare tire) should be
replaced by new ones. You can find
the manufacturing date on the tire
sidewall (possibly on the inside of the
wheel), displaying the DOT Code.
The DOT Code is a series of num-
bers on a tire consisting of numbers
and English letters. The manufactur-
ing date is designated by the last four
digits (characters) of the DOT code.
DOT : XXXX XXXX OOOO
The front part of the DOT means a
plant code number, tire size and
tread pattern and the last four num-
bers indicate week and year manu-
factured.
For example:
DOT XXXX XXXX 1608 represents
that the tire was produced in the 16th
week of 2008. G201004AUN-U1
4. Tire ply composition and material
The number of layers or plies of rub-
ber-coated fabric in the tire. Tire
manufacturers also must indicate the
materials in the tire, which include
steel, nylon, polyester, and others.
The letter "R" means radial ply con-
struction; the letter "D" means diago-
nal or bias ply construction; and theletter "B" means belted-bias ply con-
struction.
S 180 km/h (112 mph)
T 190 km/h (118 mph)
H 210 km/h (130 mph)
V 240 km/h (149 mph) Z Above 240 km/h (149 mph)
Maximum Speed
Speed
Rating
Symbol
WARNING - Tire age
Tires degrade over time, even
when they are not being used.
Regardless of the remaining
tread, it is recommended that
tires generally be replaced after
six (6) years of normal service.
Heat caused by hot climates orfrequent high loading condi-
tions can accelerate the aging
process. Failure to follow this
warning could cause sudden
tire failure, which could lead to
a loss of control and an acci-
dent involving serious injury ordeath.

749
Maintenance
G201005AUN
5. Maximum permissible inflationpressure
This number is the greatest amount of air pressure that should be put in
the tire. Do not exceed the maximum
permissible inflation pressure. Refer
to the Tire and Loading Information
label for recommended inflation
pressure.
G201006AUN
6. Maximum load rating
This number indicates the maximum
load in kilograms and pounds that
can be carried by the tire. When
replacing the tires on the vehicle,
always use a tire that has the same
load rating as the factory installed
tire. G2010007AEN
7. Uniform tire quality grading
Quality grades can be found where
applicable on the tire sidewall
between tread shoulder and maxi-
mum section width.
For example:
TREAD wear 200
TRACTION AA
TEMPERATUE A
Tread wear
The tread wear grade is a compara-
tive rating based on the wear rate ofthe tire when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified govern-
ment test course. For example, a tire
graded 150 would wear one-and-a-
half times (1½) as well on the gov-
ernment course as a tire graded 100.
The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions
of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm
due to variations in driving habits,
service practices and differences in
road characteristics and climate.These grades are molded on the
side-walls of passenger vehicle tires.
The tires available as standard or
optional equipment on your vehicle
may vary with respect to grade.
Traction - AA, A, B & C
The traction grades, from highest to
lowest, are AA, A, B and C. Those
grades represent the tire’s ability to
stop on wet pavement measuredunder controlled conditions on spec-
ified government test surfaces of
asphalt and concrete. A tire marked
C may have poor traction perform-
ance.
WARNING
The traction grade assigned to this tire is based on straight-ahead braking traction tests,
and does not include accelera-
tion, cornering, hydroplaning,
or peak traction characteristics.

Maintenance
50
7
Temperature -A, B & C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B, and C, representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation ofheat and its ability to dissipate heatwhen tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratorytest wheel.
Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of perform-
ance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.
WARNING - Tire
temperature
The temperature grade for this
tire is established for a tire that
is properly inflated and not
overloaded. Excessive speed,
underinflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in
combination, can cause heat
build-up and sudden tire failure.
This can cause loss of vehicle
control and serious injury ordeath.

751
Maintenance
FUSES
G210000AUN-TD
A vehicle’s electrical system is protected
from electrical overload damage by
fuses. This vehicle has 2 (or 3) fuse panels, one
located in the driver’s side panel bolster,
the other in the engine compartment
near the battery.
If any of your vehicle’s lights, acces-
sories, or controls do not work, check the
appropriate circuit fuse. If a fuse has
blown, the element inside the fuse will bemelted.
If the electrical system does not work,
first check the driver’s side fuse panel.
Always replace a blown fuse with one of
the same rating.
If the replacement fuse blows, this indi-
cates an electrical problem. Avoid using
the system involved and immediately
consult an authorized KIA dealer.
Three kinds of fuses are used: blade type
for lower amperage rating, cartridge type
and multi fuse for higher amperage rat-ings.
OBK079042
Normal
Normal
Blade type
Cartridge type
Multi fuse Blown
Blown
Normal Blown
WARNING - Fuse replace-
ment
Never replace a fuse with any- thing but another fuse of the same rating.
A higher capacity fuse could cause damage and possibly a
fire.
Never install a wire instead of the proper fuse - even as a temporary
repair. It may cause extensive
wiring damage and a possible fire.
CAUTION
Do not use a screwdriver or any
other metal object to remove fusesbecause it may cause a short circuit and damage the system.

Maintenance
52
7
G210100ASA-AM Instrument panel fuse replace- ment
1. Turn the ignition switch and all other
switches off.
2. Open the fuse panel cover. 3. Pull the suspected fuse straight out.
Use the removal tool provided on the
fuse panel cover.
4. Check the removed fuse; replace it if it is blown.
5. Push in a new fuse of the same rating, and make sure it fits tightly in the clips.
If it fits loosely, consult an authorized KIA
dealer.
If you do not have a spare, use a fuse of the same rating from a circuit you may not need for operating the vehicle, suchas the cigarette lighter fuse.
If the headlights or other electrical com-
ponents do not work and the fuses are
OK, check the fuse panel in the engine
compartment. If a fuse is blown, it mustbe replaced.
OAM079047OAM079020

753
Maintenance
G210101AUN
Memory fuse
Your vehicle is equipped with a memory
fuse to prevent battery discharge if your
vehicle is parked without being operated
for prolonged periods. Use the following
procedures before parking the vehicle for
prolonged periods.
1. Turn off the engine.
2. Turn off the headlights and tail lights.
3. Open the driver’s side panel cover andpull up the memory fuse.
✽✽ NOTICE

Maintenance
54
7
3. Check the removed fuse; replace it if it
is blown. To remove or insert the fuse,
use the fuse puller in the driver’s side
panel in the vehicle.
4. Push in a new fuse of the same rating, and make sure it fits tightly in the clips.
If it fits loosely, consult an authorized
KIA dealer.
G210201AUN
Main fuse
If the main fuse is blown, it must be
removed as follows:
1. Disconnect the negative battery cable.
2. Remove the nuts shown in the pictureabove.
3. Replace the fuse with a new one of the same rating.
4. Reinstall in the reverse order of removal.
✽✽ NOTICE
If the main fuse is blown, consult an
Authorized KIA dealer.
CAUTION
After checking the fuse panel in the engine compartment, securelyinstall the fuse panel cover. If not,electrical failures may occur fromwater leaking in.OAM079025

755
Maintenance
✽✽NOTICE
Not all fuse panel descriptions in this
manual may be applicable to your vehi-cle. It is accurate at the time of printing.When you inspect the fuse panel in your
vehicle, refer to the fuse panel label.Inner fuse panel Engine compartment fuse panel
OAM079026/OAM079027/OAM079028
Diesel only
G210300AUN-EE
Fuse/relay panel description
Inside the fuse/relay panel covers, you can find the fuse/relay label describing fuse/relay name and capacity.