2012 KIA Optima warning light

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Low brake fluid level warning
If the warning light remains on, it may
indicate that the brake fluid level in the
reservoir is low.
If the warning light remains on:
1. Drive carefully to the nearest safe
location and stop your vehicle.
2. With the engine stopped, check the brake fluid level immediately and add
fluid as required. Then check all brake
components for fluid leaks.
3. Do not drive the vehicle if leaks are found, the warning light remains on or
the brakes do not operate properly.
Have the vehicle towed to any author-
ized Kia dealer for a brake system
inspection and necessary repairs.
Your vehicle is equipped with dual-diago-
nal braking systems. This means you still
have braking on two wheels even if one
of the dual systems should fail. With only
one of the dual systems working, more
than normal pedal travel and greater
pedal pressure are required to stop the
vehicle. Also, the vehicle will not stop in
as short a distance with only a portion of
the brake system working. If the brakes
fail while you are driving, shift to a lower
gear for additional engine braking and
stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe to do
so. To check bulb operation, check whether
the parking brake and brake fluid warning
light illuminates when the ignition switch
is in the ON position.Front fog light indicator
(if equipped)
This indicator comes on when the front
fog lights are ON.
Shift pattern indicator (if equipped)
The indicator displays which automatic
transaxle shift position is selected.
WARNING
Driving the vehicle with a warning
light on is dangerous. If the brake
warning light remains on, have the
brakes checked and repaired imme-
diately by an authorized Kia dealer.

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Features of your vehicle
Charging system warninglight
This warning light indicates a malfunction
of either the generator or electrical
charging system.
If the warning light illuminates while the
vehicle is in motion:
1. Drive to the nearest safe location.
2. With the engine off, check the genera- tor drive belt for looseness or break-
age.
3. If the belt is adjusted properly, a prob- lem exists somewhere in the electrical
charging system. Have an authorized
Kia dealer correct the problem as soon
as possible.
Trunk lid open warninglight
This warning light illuminates when the
trunk lid is not closed securely with the
ignition switch in any position.
Door ajar warning light
This warning light illuminates when a
door is not closed securely with the igni-
tion switch in any position.
Tail light indicator*
This indicator illuminates when the tail
lights are on.
Immobilizer indicator (if equipped)
Without smart key system
This light illuminates when the immobiliz-
er key is inserted and turned to the ON
position to start the engine.
At this time, you can start the engine. The
light goes out after the engine is running.
If this light blinks when the ignition switch
is in the ON position before starting the
engine, have the system checked by an
authorized Kia dealer.
With smart key system (if equipped)
If any of the following occurs in a vehicle
equipped with the smart key, the immobi-
lizer indicator illuminates, blinks or the
light goes off.
When the smart key is in the vehicle, if the engine start/stop button is turned
to the ON position, the indicator will
illuminate until the engine is started.
However, when the smart key is not in
the vehicle, if the engine start/stop but-
ton is depressed, the indicator will blink
for a few minutes to indicate that you
will not be able to start the engine.

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When the ignition switch is turned to
the ON position and the indicator turns
off after 2 seconds, the system may
need repair. Have the vehicle checked
by an authorized Kia dealer.
When the battery is weak, if the engine start/stop button is depressed, the indi-
cator will blink and you will not be able
to start the engine. However, you may
still be able to start the engine by
inserting the smart key in the smart
key holder. If smart key system related
parts need repair, the indicator blinks.Low fuel level warning light
This warning light indicates the fuel tank
is nearly empty. When it comes on, you
should add fuel as soon as possible.
Driving with the fuel level warning light on
or with the fuel level below “E” can cause
the engine to misfire and damage the
catalytic converter (if equipped).
Malfunction indicator lamp(MIL) (check engine light)
This indicator is part of the Engine
Control System which monitors various
emission control system components. If
this indicator illuminates while driving, it
indicates that a potential malfunction has
been detected somewhere in the emis-
sion control system.
This indicator will also illuminates when
the ignition switch is turned to the ON
position, and will go off in a few seconds
after the engine is started. If it illuminates
while driving, or does not illuminate when
the ignition switch is turned to the ON
position, take your vehicle to the nearest
authorized Kia dealer and have the sys-
tem checked.
Generally, your vehicle will continue to be
drivable, but have the system checked by
an authorized Kia dealer promptly.

467
Features of your vehicle
Electric power steering(EPS) system warning light(if equipped)
This warning light illuminates after the
ignition key is turned to the ON position
and then it will go off when the engine
starts.
This light also comes on when the EPS
has malfunctioned. If it comes on while
driving, have your vehicle inspected by
an authorized Kia dealer.
Active ECO system
When the active ECO is operating, the
ECO indicator is green.
For more detailed information, refer to
“Active ECO” in chapter 5.
LCD display warning (if equipped)
Key is not in vehicle
If the smart key is not in the vehicle and
if any door is opened or closed with the
ENGINE START/STOP button in the ACC,
ON, or START position, the warning illu-
minates on the LCD display. Also, the
chime sounds for 5 seconds when the
smart key is not in the vehicle and the
door is closed.
Always have the smart key with you. Key is not detected
If the smart key is not in the vehicle or is
not detected and you press the ENGINE
START/STOP button, the warning illumi-
nates on the LCD display for 10 seconds.
Also, the immobilizer indicator and the
key holder light blinks for 10 seconds.EPS
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Features of your vehicle
Remove key
When you turn off the engine with the
smart key in the smart key holder, the
warning illuminates on the LCD display
for about 10 seconds. Also, the smart key
holder light blinks for about 10 seconds.
To remove the smart key push the smart
key once and pull it out from the smart
key holder.Insert key
If you press the ENGINE START/STOP
button while "Key is not detected" illumi-
nates on the LCD
display, the warning
“Insert key” illuminates for about 10 sec-
onds. Also, the immobilizer indicator and
the key holder light blinks for about 10
seconds. Press start button again
If you can not operate the ENGINE
START/STOP button when there is a
problem with the ENGINE START/STOP
button system, the warning illuminates
for 10 seconds and the chime sounds
continuously to
indicate that you could
start the engine by pressing the ENGINE
START/STOP button once more.
The chime will stop if the ENGINE
START/STOP button system works nor-
mally.
If the warning illuminates each time you
press the ENGINE START/STOP button,
take your vehicle to an authorized Kia
dealer and have the system checked.
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Features of your vehicle
Parking assist warning
Displays the area an obstacle is detected
while moving rearward.Low washer liquid
This warning light illuminates for 12 sec-
onds when the washer fluid reservoir is
nearly empty. To turn off the warning light
immediately, press the RESET button for
more than 1 second. Refill the washer
fluid as soon as possible.
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HAZARD WARNING FLASHER
The hazard warning flasher should be
used whenever you find it necessary to
stop the car in a hazardous location.
When you must make such an emer-
gency stop, always pull off the road as far
as possible. The hazard warning lights are turned on
by pushing in the hazard switch. Both
turn signal lights will blink. The hazard
warning lights will operate even though
the key is not in the ignition switch.
To turn the hazard warning lights off,
push the switch again.
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REARVIEW CAMERA (IF EQUIPPED)
The rearview camera will activate when
the back-up light is ON with the ignition
switch ON and the shift lever in the R
position.
This system is a supplemental system
that shows behind the vehicle through
the AV monitor while backing-up.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
The rearview camera may not operate
normally, when you drive in the
extremely high or low temperature
area.
(operating temperature: -20°C~65°C
(-13°F ~ 149°F))
WARNING
This system is a supplementary
function only. It is the responsi-
bility of the driver to always
check the inside/outside rearview
mirror and the area behind the
vehicle before and while backing
up because there is a dead zone
that can't be seen through the
camera.
Always keep the camera lens clean. If the lens is covered with
foreign matter, the camera may
not operate normally.
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