Driving your vehicle
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The air conditioning system
includes a function that automati-
cally turns the air conditioning
compressor off if engine coolant
temperature approaches an over
heating level. The air conditioning
compressor operation will resume
once engine coolant temperature
returns to the normal range. Also,
the air conditioning compressor is
automatically turned off for a few
seconds when the accelerator is
fully depressed (wide open throt-
tle).
When operating the air condition- ing system use the outside (fresh)
air position.
Operating the air conditioning sys- tem in the recirculated air position
does provide maximum cooling,
however, continual operation in this
mode may cause the air inside the
vehicle to become stale.Checking the amount of air
conditioner refrigerant and
compressor lubricant
When the amount of refrigerant is
low, the performance of the air con-
ditioning is reduced. Overfilling also
has a bad influence on the air condi-
tioning system.
Therefore, if abnormal operation is
found, have the system inspected by
an authorized Kia dealer.
✽ ✽ NOTICE
When the performance of the air
conditioning system is reduced it is
important that the correct type and
amount of oil and refrigerant is
used. Otherwise, damage to the
compressor and abnormal system
operation may occur.
CAUTION
The air conditioner refrigerant
container is highly pressurized.Therefore it should be servicedby an authorized Kia dealer.Improper service may causeserious injury.
Driving tips
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Driving in the rain
Rain and wet roads can make driving
dangerous, especially if you’re not
prepared for the slick pavement.
Here are a few things to consider
when driving in the rain:
A heavy rainfall will make it harder
to see and will increase the dis-
tance needed to stop your vehicle,
so slow down.
Keep your windshield wiping equipment in good shape. Replace
your windshield wiper blades when
they show signs of streaking or
missing areas on the windshield. If your tires are not in good condi-
tion, making a quick stop on wet
pavement can cause a skid and
possibly lead to an accident. Be
sure your tires are in good shape.
Turn on your headlights to make it easier for others to see you.
Driving too fast through large pud- dles can affect your brakes. If you
must go through puddles, try to
drive through them slowly.
If you believe you may have gotten your brakes wet, apply them lightly
while driving until normal braking
operation returns.
Winter driving
We recommend that you carryemergency equipment, including
tire chains, a window scraper,
windshield de-icer, a bag of sand
or salt, flares, a small shovel and
jumper cables.
Make sure you have sufficient eth- ylene-glycol coolant in the radiator.
Check the battery condition and cables. Cold temperatures reduce
the capacity of any battery, so it
must be in excellent condition to
provide enough winter starting
power.
Make sure the engine oil viscosity is suitable for cold weather.
Check the ignition system for loose connections and damage.
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In case of an emergency
2. When the car is stopped, turn onyour emergency hazard flashers,
set the parking brake and put the
transaxle in P (automatic transaxle)
or reverse (manual transaxle).
3. Have all passengers get out of the car. Be sure they all get out on the
side of the car that is away from traf-
fic.
4. When changing a flat tire, follow the instruction provided later in
this section.
If engine stalls while driving
1. Reduce your speed gradually,keeping a straight line. Move cau-
tiously off the road to a safe place.
2. Turn on your emergency flashers.
3. Try to start the engine again. If your vehicle will not start, contact
an authorised Kia dealer or seek
other qualified assistance. If your temperature gauge indicates
overheating, if you experience a loss
of power, or if you hear a loud knock-
ing or pinging noise, the engine has
probably overheated. Should any of
these symptoms occur, use the fol-
lowing procedure:
1. Turn on the hazard warning flash-
er, then drive to the nearest safe
location and stop your vehicle; set
the automatic transaxle in P
(Park), or shift the manual
transaxle to N (Neutral) and apply
the parking brake.
2. Make sure the air conditioner is off.
3. If coolant or steam is boiling out of the radiator, stop the engine and
call an Authorized Kia Dealer for
assistance.
If coolant is not boiling out, allow
the engine to idle and open the
hood to permit the engine to cool
gradually.
If the temperature does not go
down with the engine idling, stop
the engine and allow sufficient
time for it to cool. 4. The coolant level should then be
checked. If the level in the reser-
voir is low, look for leaks at the
radiator hoses and connections,
heater hoses and connections,
radiator, and water pump. If you
find a major leak or another prob-
lem that may have caused the
engine to overheat, do not operate
the engine until it has been cor-
rected. Call an Authorized Kia
Dealer for assistance. If you do not
find a leak or other problem, care-
fully add coolant to the reservoir.
If the engine frequently overheats,have the cooling system checkedand repaired by an Authorized KiaDealer.
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WARNING- Removing
radiator cap
Do not remove the radiator cap
when the engine and radiator
are hot. Scalding hot coolant
and steam may blow out under
pressure. This could cause seri-
ous injury.
OVERHEATING
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
Maintenance
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✽ ✽
NOTICE
“COLD” scale is for reference only
and should NOT be used to deter-
mine transaxle fluid level.
✽ ✽NOTICE
New automatic transaxle fluid
should be red. The red dye is added
so the assembly plant can identify it
as automatic transaxle fluid and dis-
tinguish 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 transaxle fluid will
begin to look darker. The color may
eventually appear light brown.
Therefore, have an Authorized Kia
dealer change the automatic
transaxle fluid according to the
Scheduled Maintenance at the
beginning of this section.
Changing the automatic
transaxle fluid
Have automatic transaxle fluid
changed by an Authorized Kia
Dealer according to the Maintenance
Schedule at the beginning of this
section.
CAUTION
Low fluid level causes
transaxle slippage. Overfillingcan cause foaming, loss of fluidand transaxle malfunction.
The use of a non-specified fluid could result in transaxle 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 - Transaxle
fluid
The transaxle fluid level should
be checked when the engine is at
normal operating temperature.
This means that the engine, radi-
ator, radiator hose and exhaust
system etc., are very hot.
Exercise great care not to burn
yourself during this procedure.
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Maintenance
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✽ ✽NOTICE
• Before performing maintenance
or recharging the battery, turn off
all accessories and stop the engine.
• The negative battery cable must be removed first and installed last
when the battery is disconnected. WARNING- Recharging
battery
When recharging the battery,
observe the following precau-
tions:
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 bat-
tery.
Watch the battery during charging, and stop or reduce
the charging 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 checking the battery during
charging.
(Continued)(Continued)
Disconnect the battery charg-er in the following order.
1. Turn off the battery charger main switch.
2. Unhook the negative clamp from the negative battery ter-
minal.
3. Unhook the positive clamp from the positive battery ter-
minal.
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Specifications
Recommended 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 performance, however,
higher viscosity engine oils are
required for satisfactory lubrication in
hot weather. Using oils of any viscos-
ity 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 rec-
ommended oil viscosity from the
chart.
Temperature Range for SAE Viscosity Numbers
Temperature
Gasoline
Engine Oil *
1 *2
°C
(°F)-30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 -10 0 20 40 60 80 100 120
10W-30
5W-20, 5W-30
1. Gasoline Engine 2.0L - For better fuel economy, it is recommended to use the engine oil of a
viscosity grade SAE 5W-20 (API SM / ILSAC GF-4). However, if the engine oil is not available
in your country, select the proper engine oil using the engine oil viscosity chart.
2. Gasoline Engine 2.7L - For better fuel economy, it is recommended to use the engine oil of a viscosity grade SAE 5W-20, 5W-30 (API SL or SM / ILSAC GF-3). However, if the engine oil
is not available in your country, select the proper engine oil using the engine oil viscosity chart.
CAUTION
Always be sure to clean the areaaround any filler plug, drainplug, or dipstick before check-ing or draining any lubricant.This is especially important industy or sandy areas and whenthe vehicle is used on unpavedroads. Cleaning the plug anddipstick areas will prevent dirtand grit from entering theengine and other mechanismsthat could be damaged.