2011 KIA Optima wiper blades

Features of your vehicle
86
4
Auto control (if equipped)
The rain sensor located on the upper end
of the windshield glass senses the
amount of rainfall and controls the wiping
cycle for the proper interval. The more it
rains, the faster the wiper operates.
When the rain stops, the wiper stops.
To vary the speed setting, turn the speed
control knob (1).
If the wiper switch is set in AUTO mode
when the ignition switch is ON, the wiper
will operate once to perform a self-check
of the system. Set the wiper to OFF posi-
tion when the wiper is not in use.
OYF049103
Rain sensor
CAUTION
When the ignition switch is ON and
the windshield wiper switch isplaced in the AUTO mode, use cau-tion in the following situations toavoid any injury to the hands or other parts of the body:
Do not touch the upper end of the windshield glass facing the rainsensor.
Do not wipe the upper end of the windshield glass with a damp orwet cloth.
Do not put pressure on the wind- shield glass.
CAUTION
When washing the vehicle, set thewiper switch in the OFF position tostop the auto wiper operation.
The wiper may operate and be dam-aged if the switch is set in the AUTOmode while washing the vehicle.
Do not remove the sensor coverlocated on the upper end of the pas- senger side windshield glass.Damage to system parts couldoccur and may not be covered by your vehicle warranty.
When starting the vehicle in winter,set the wiper switch in the OFF position. Otherwise, wipers mayoperate and ice may damage the windshield wiper blades. Alwaysremove all snow and ice and defrost the windshield properly prior tooperating the windshield wipers.

487
Features of your vehicle
Windshield washers
In the OFF position, pull the lever gently
toward you to spray washer fluid on the
windshield and to run the wipers 1-3
cycles.
Use this function when the windshield is
dirty.
The spray and wiper operation will con-
tinue until you release the lever.
If the washer does not work, check the
washer fluid level. If the fluid level is not
sufficient, you will need to add appropri-
ate non-abrasive windshield washer fluid
to the washer reservoir.
The reservoir filler neck is located in the
front of the engine compartment on the
passenger side.
OYF049101
CAUTION
To prevent possible damage to thewasher pump, do not operate thewasher when the fluid reservoir isempty.
WARNING
Do not use the washer in freezing
temperatures without first warming
the windshield with the defrosters;
the washer solution could freeze on
contact with the windshield and
obscure your vision.
CAUTION
To prevent possible damage to the wipers or windshield, do notoperate the wipers when thewindshield is dry.
To prevent damage to the wiper blades, do not use gasoline,kerosene, paint thinner, or othersolvents on or near them.
To prevent damage to the wiper arms and other components, donot attempt to move the wipersmanually.

545
Driving your vehicle
Adjust your mirrors to reduce the glarefrom other driver's headlights.
Keep your headlights clean and prop- erly aimed on vehicles not equipped
with the automatic headlight aiming
feature. Dirty or improperly aimed
headlights will make it much more diffi-
cult to see at night.
Avoid staring directly at the headlights of oncoming vehicles. You could be
temporarily blinded, and it will take
several seconds for your eyes to read-
just to the darkness.
Driving in the rain
Rain and wet roads can make driving
dangerous, especially if you’re not pre-
pared for the slick pavement. Here are a
few things to consider when driving in the
rain:
A heavy rainfall will make it harder tosee and will increase the distance
needed to stop your vehicle, so slow
down.
Keep your windshield wiping equip- ment 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 condition,
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 eas- ier for others to see you.
Driving too fast through large puddles 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 oper-
ation returns.
Driving in flooded areas
Avoid driving through flooded areas
unless you are sure the water is no high-
er than the bottom of the wheel hub.
Drive through any water slowly. Allow
adequate stopping distance because
brake performance may be affected.
After driving through water, dry the
brakes by gently applying them several
times while the vehicle is moving slowly.
1JBB3303

7
Engine compartment / 7-2
Maintenance services / 7-3
Owner maintenance / 7-5
Maintenance schedule / 7-7
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items / 7-12
Engine oil / 7-15
Engine coolant / 7-17
Brake/clutch fluid / 7-20
Washer fluid / 7-21
Parking brake / 7-22
Air cleaner / 7-23
Climate control air filter / 7-25
Wiper blades / 7-27
Battery / 7-31
Tires and wheels / 7-34
Fuses / 7-48
Appearance care / 7-59
Emission control system / 7-65
Maintenance

Maintenance
67
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.
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 the 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.
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.
Check the power steering fluid level.
Inspect and lubricate automatic transaxle linkage and controls.
Clean the battery and terminals.
Check the brake/clutch fluid level.

727
Maintenance
WIPER BLADES
Blade inspection
✽
✽NOTICE
Commercial hot waxes applied by auto-
matic car washes have been known to
make the windshield difficult to clean.
Contamination of either the windshield or
the wiper blades with foreign matter can
reduce the effectiveness of the wind-
shield wipers. Common sources of con-
tamination are insects, tree sap, and hot
wax treatments used by some commer-
cial car washes. If the blades are not wip-
ing properly, clean both the window and
the blades with a good cleaner or mild
detergent, and rinse thoroughly with
clean water.Blade replacement
When the wipers no longer clean ade-
quately, the blades may be worn or
cracked, and require replacement.
1JBA5122CAUTION
To prevent damage to the wiper
blades, do not use gasoline,kerosene, paint thinner, or othersolvents on or near them.
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the wiperarms or other components, do not attempt to move the wipers manual-ly.
CAUTION
The use of a non-specified wiper blade could result in wiper malfunc-tion and failure.

I9
Index
Tires and wheels ··················\
··················\
··················\
········8-3
Towing ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
···6-15
Trailer towing··················\
··················\
··················\
···········5-55
TransaxleAutomatic transaxle ··················\
··················\
·················5-15\
Manual transaxle ··················\
··················\
··················\
···5-12
Trip computer ··················\
··················\
··················\
··········4-51
Trunk ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
······4-18
Vehicle break-in process ··················\
··················\
··············1-4
Vehicle certification label ··················\
··················\
············8-6
Vehicle identification number (VIN) ··················\
·············8-6
Vehicle load limit ··················\
··················\
··················\
·····5-50 Certification label ··················\
··················\
··················\
··5-53
Vehicle option ··················\
··················\
··················\
··········4-57
Vehicle stability management ··················\
··················\
····5-33
Vehicle weight ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········5-55 Base curb weight ··················\
··················\
··················\
···5-55
Cargo weight ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········5-55
GAW (Gross axle weight) ··················\
··················\
·······5-55
GAWR (Gross axle weight rating) ··················\
············5-55
GVW (Gross vehicle weight) ··················\
··················\
··5-55
GVWR (Gross vehicle weight rating) ··················\
·······5-55 Warnings and indicators ··················\
··················\
············4-58
Washer fluid ··················\
··················\
··················\
·············7-21
Weight ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
····5-55
Base curb weight ··················\
··················\
··················\
···5-55
Cargo weight ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········5-55
GAW (Gross axle weight) ··················\
··················\
·······5-55
GAWR (Gross axle weight rating) ··················\
············5-55
GVW (Gross vehicle weight) ··················\
··················\
··5-55
GVWR (Gross vehicle weight rating) ··················\
·······5-55
Welcome system ··················\
··················\
··················\
······4-79
Wheel alignment and tire balance ··················\
···············7-38
Wheel replacement ··················\
··················\
··················\
··7-39
Windows ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
4-21 Auto down window ··················\
··················\
·················4-22\
Auto up/down window ··················\
··················\
············4-23
Power window lock button ··················\
··················\
······4-24
Windshield defrosting and defogging··················\
········4-109 Defogging logic ··················\
··················\
··················\
···4-111
Auto defogging system··················\
··················\
··········4-112
Winter driving ··················\
··················\
··················\
··········5-47 Snow tires ··················\
··················\
··················\
··············5-47
Wiper blades ··················\
··················\
··················\
············7-27
Wipers and washers ··················\
··················\
··················\
·4-85
V
W