2012 KIA Optima ignition

461
Features of your vehicle
Engine oil pressure warning light
This warning light indicates the engine oil
pressure is low.
If the warning light illuminates while driv-
ing:
1. Drive safely to the side of the road and stop.
2. With the engine off, check the engine oil level. If the level is low, add oil as
required.
If the warning light remains on after
adding oil or if oil is not available, call an
authorized Kia dealer.
Parking brake & brake fluid warning light
Parking brake warning
This warning light illuminates for 3 sec-
onds after the ignition switch is turned to
the ON position and then it will go out.
Also, this light illuminates when the park-
ing brake is applied with the ignition
switch in the START or ON position. The
warning light should go out when the
parking brake is released.
CAUTION
If the oil pressure warning light stays on while the engine is run-ning, serious engine damage mayresult. The oil pressure warninglight comes on whenever there is insufficient oil pressure. In normaloperation, it should come on whenthe ignition switch is turned on,then go out when the engine isstarted. If the oil pressure warninglight stays on while the engine isrunning, there is a serious malfunc-tion.
If this happens, stop the vehicle assoon as it is safe to do so, turn off the engine and check the oil level. Ifthe oil level is low, fill the engine oilto the proper level and start theengine again. If the light stays onwith the engine running, turn theengine off immediately. In anyinstance where the oil light stays onwhen the engine is running, theengine should be checked by anauthorized Kia dealer before the car is driven again.
CAUTION
If the engine is not stopped imme-diately after the engine oil pressurewarning light is illuminated, severedamage could result.

Features of your vehicle
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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.

463
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.

Features of your vehicle
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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.

465
Features of your vehicle
ESC indicator (ElectronicStability Control)
The ESC indicator will illuminate when
the ignition switch is turned ON, but
should go off after approximately 3 sec-
onds. When the ESC is on, it monitors
the driving conditions. Under normal driv-
ing conditions, the ESC indicator will
remain off. When a slippery or low trac-
tion condition is encountered, the ESC
will operate, and the ESC indicator will
blink to indicate the ESC is operating.
ESC OFF indicator
The ESC OFF indicator will illuminate
when the ignition switch is turned ON,
but should go off after approximately 3
seconds. To switch to ESC OFF mode,
press the ESC OFF button. The ESC
OFF indicator will illuminate indicating
the ESC is deactivated. If this indicator
stays on when ESC OFF is not selected,
the ESC may have malfunctioned. Take
your vehicle to an authorized Kia dealer
and have the system checked.
CAUTION
Prolonged driving with the Emission Control SystemMalfunction Indicator Light illumi-nated may cause damage to theemission control systems which could effect drivability and/or fueleconomy.

If the EmissionControl System
Malfunction Indicator Light illumi- nates, potential catalytic converterdamage. This could result in lossof engine power. Have the EngineControl System inspected as soonas possible by an authorized Kiadealer.

Features of your vehicle
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Cruise indicator (if equipped)
CRUISE indicator
The indicator illuminates when the cruise
control system is enabled.
The cruise indicator in the instrument
cluster is illuminated when the cruise
control ON/OFF button on the steering
wheel is pushed.
The indicator goes off when the cruise
control ON/OFF button is pushed again.
For more Information, refer to “Cruise
control system” in section 5. Cruise SET indicator
The indicator illuminates when the cruise
function switch (SET- or RES+) is ON.
The cruise SET indicator in the instru-
ment cluster illuminates when the cruise
control switch (SET- or RES+) is pushed.
The cruise SET indicator does not illumi-
nate when the cruise control switch
(CANCEL) is pushed or the system is
disengaged.
Key reminder warning chime
Without smart key
If the driver’s door is opened while the
ignition key is left in the ignition switch
(ACC or LOCK position), the key
reminder warning chime will sound. This
helps prevent you from locking your keys
in the vehicle. The chime sounds until the
key is removed from the ignition switch or
the driver’s door is closed.
With smart key
If the driver’s door is opened while the
smart key is in the vehicle with the
engine start/stop button in ACC or the
smart key is in the smart key holder with
the engine start/stop button in OFF, the
key reminder warning chime will sound.
The chime sounds until the smart key is
removed from the smart key holder or the
driver’s door is closed.SET
CRUISE

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
OTF040081N
■Type A■Type B
OTF040082N
■Type A■Type B

Features of your vehicle
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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.
OTF040104
OTF040105
■Type A
■Type B