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Maintenance
Steering gear box, linkage &
boots/lower arm ball jointWith the vehicle stopped and engine
off, check for excessive free-play in
the steering wheel.
Check the linkage for bends or dam-
age. Check the dust boots and ball
joints for deterioration, cracks, or
damage. Replace any damaged
parts.Power steering pump, belt and
hosesCheck the power steering pump and
hoses for leakage and damage.
Replace any damaged or leaking
parts immediately. Inspect the power
steering belt for evidence of cuts,
cracks, excessive wear, oiliness and
proper tension. Replace or adjust it if
necessary.
Drive shafts and bootsCheck the drive shafts, boots and
clamps for cracks, deterioration, or
damage. Replace any damaged
parts and, if necessary, repack the
grease.Air conditioning refrigerant
(if equipped)Check the air conditioning lines and
connections for leakage and dam-
age.
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OWNER MAINTENANCE Owner maintenance schedule The following lists are vehicle checks
and inspections that should be per-
formed by the owner or an
Authorized Kia Dealer at the fre-
quencies indicated to help ensure
safe, dependable operation of your
vehicle.
Any adverse conditions should be
brought to the attention of your deal-
er as soon as possible.
These Owner Maintenance Checks
are generally not covered by war-
ranties 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
reservoir.
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 steer-
ing effort or looseness in the steer-
ing wheel, or change in its straight-
ahead position.
Notice if your vehicle constantly turns slightly or “pulls” to one side
when traveling 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 operation 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
conditioning system during or after
use is normal).
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.
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Maintenance
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ENGINE COMPARTMENT
7KMS5001
1. Power steering fluid reservoir
2. Engine oil filler cap
3. Brake fluid reservoir
4. Air cleaner
5. Fuse box
6. Negative battery terminal
7. Radiator cap
8. Positive battery terminal
9. Auto transaxle oil dipstick (if equipped)
10. Engine oil dipstick
11. Engine coolant reservoir
12. Windshield washer fluid reser- voir
■ ■
2.0L Gasoline Engine
* The actual engine room in the vehicle may differ from the illustration.
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7KMB7015
1. Power steering fluid reservoir
2. Engine oil filler cap
3. Brake fluid reservoir
4. Air cleaner
5. Fuse box
6. Negative battery terminal
7. Radiator cap
8. Positive battery terminal
9. Auto transaxle oil dipstick
(if equipped)
10. Engine coolant reservoir
11. Engine oil dipstick
12. Windshield washer fluid reser- voir
■ ■
2.7L Gasoline Engine
* The actual engine room in the vehicle may differ from the illustration.
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ENGINE OIL AND OIL FILTER
Checking the engine oil level 1. Be sure the vehicle is on levelground.
2. Start the engine and allow it to reach normal operating tempera-
ture.
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.
7KMB70177KMS5003
2.0L Gasoline Engine2.7L Gasoline Engine
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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If it is near or at L, add enough oil to
bring the level to F. Do not overfill. For 2.7L gasoline engine, use a
funnel to refill the new oil comfort-
ably.
Use only the specified engine oil.
(Refer to "Recommended lubricantsor capacities" in section 8.)
Changing the engine oil and
filterHave engine oil and filter changed by
an Authorized Kia Dealer according
to the Maintenance Schedule at the
beginning of this section.
7KMB70187KMS5050
2.0L Gasoline Engine2.7L Gasoline Engine
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✽ ✽NOTICEDo not allow brake/clutch fluid to
contact the vehicle's body paint, as
paint damage will result.
Brake/clutch fluid, which has been
exposed to open air for an extended
time should never be used as its
quality cannot be guaranteed. It
should be thrown out. Don't put in
the wrong kind of fluid. A few drops
of mineral-based oil, such as engine
oil, in your brake clutch system can
damage brake clutch system parts.
Checking the parking brake Check the stroke of the parking
brake by counting the number of
“clicks’’ heard while fully applying it
from the released position. Also, the
parking brake alone should securely
hold the vehicle on a fairly steep
grade. If the stroke is more or less
than specified, have the parking
brake adjusted by an Authorized Kia
Dealer.
Stroke : 7~8 “clicks’’ at a force of
20 kg (44 lbs, 196 N).
OKM049050
PARKING BRAKE
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POWER STEERING Checking the power steering
fluid level With the vehicle on level ground,
check the fluid level in the power
steering reservoir periodically. The
fluid should be between MAX and
MIN marks on the side of the reser-
voir at the normal temperature.
Before adding power steering fluid,
thoroughly clean the area around the
reservoir cap to prevent power steer-
ing fluid contamination.
If the level is low, add fluid to the
MAX level. In the event the power steering sys-
tem requires frequent addition of
fluid, the vehicle should be inspected
by an Authorized Kia Dealer.
✽ ✽
NOTICE• To avoid damage to the power
steering pump, do not operate the
vehicle for prolonged periods with
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 strange noise
can be generated.
• The use of the non-specified fluid could reduce the effectiveness of
the power steering wheel and
cause damage to it.Use only the specified power steering
fluid. (Refer to "Recommended lubri-cants and capacities" in section 8.)
Power steering hoseCheck the connections for oil leaks,
severe damage and the twists in the
power steering hose before driving.
7KMS5018