Page 319 of 371

Maintenance
10
7
Cooling system
Check cooling system components,
such as radiator, coolant reservoir,
hoses and connections for leakage
and damage. Replace any damaged
parts.
Coolant
The coolant should be changed at
the intervals specified in the mainte-
nance schedule.
Automatic transaxle fluid
The fluid level should be in the "HOT"
range of the dipstick, after the engine
and transaxle are at normal operat-
ing temperature. Check the automat-
ic transaxle fluid level with the engine
running and the transaxle in neutral,
with the parking brake properly
applied.
Brake hoses and lines
Visually check for proper installation,
chafing, cracks, deterioration and
any leakage. Replace any deteriorat-
ed or damaged parts immediately.
Brake fluid
Check 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.
Parking brake
Inspect the parking brake system
including the parking brake pedal
and cables.
Rear brake drums and linings
(if equipped)
Check the rear brake drums and lin-
ings for scoring, burning, leaking
fluid, broken parts, and excessive
wear.
Brake discs, pads, calipers
and rotors
Check the pads for excessive wear,
discs for run out and wear, and
calipers for fluid leakage.
Exhaust pipe and muffler
Visually inspect the exhaust pipes,
muffler and hangers for cracks, dete-
rioration, or damage. Start the
engine and listen carefully for any
exhaust gas leakage. Tighten con-
nections or replace parts as neces-
sary.
Suspension mounting bolts
Check the suspension connections
for looseness or damage. Retighten
to the specified torque.
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Page 320 of 371
711
Maintenance
Steering gear box, linkage &
boots/lower arm ball joint
With 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
hoses
Check 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 boots
Check 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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Page 321 of 371

Maintenance
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7
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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.
Page 326 of 371
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Maintenance
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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.
7KMB7017
7KMS5003
2.0L Gasoline Engine
2.7L 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.
Page 328 of 371

719
Maintenance
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2
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4
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8
9
ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM
The high-pressure cooling system
has a reservoir filled with year-round
antifreeze coolant. The reservoir is
filled at the factory.
Check the antifreeze protection and
coolant level at least once a year, at
the beginning of the winter season,
and before traveling to a colder cli-
mate.Checking the coolant level
WARNING- Removingradiator cap
Never attempt to remove the radiator cap while the engine
is operating or hot. Doing so
might lead to cooling system
and engine damage and could
result in serious personal
injury from escaping hot
coolant or steam.
Turn the engine off and wait until it 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
are sure all the pressure has
been released, press down on
the cap, using a thick towel,
and continue turning counter-
clockwise to remove it.
(Continued)
(Continued)
Even if the engine is not oper-ating, do not remove the radi-
ator cap or the drain plug
while the engine and radiator
are hot. Hot coolant and steam
may still blow out under pres-
sure, causing serious injury.
Page 329 of 371

Maintenance
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9
Check the condition and connections
of all cooling system hoses and
heater hoses. Replace any swollen
or deteriorated hoses. The coolant level should be filled
between F and L marks on the side
of the coolant reservoir when the
engine is cool.
If the coolant level is low, add enough
specified coolant to provide protec-
tion against freezing and corrosion.
Bring the level to F, but do not over-
fill. If frequent additions are required,
see an Authorized Kia Dealer for a
cooling system inspection.
Recommended engine coolant
Use only soft (de-mineralized)
water in the coolant mixture.
The engine in your vehicle has alu- minum engine parts and must be
protected by an ethylene-glycol-
based coolant to prevent corrosion
and freezing.
DO NOT USE alcohol or methanol coolant or mix them with the spec-
ified coolant.
Do not use a solution that contains more than 60% antifreeze or less
than 35% antifreeze, which would
reduce the effectiveness of the
solution.
7KMS50057KMS5007
Page 332 of 371
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Maintenance
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✽ ✽NOTICE
Do 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
Page 333 of 371

Maintenance
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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 hose
Check the connections for oil leaks,
severe damage and the twists in the
power steering hose before driving.
7KMS5018