2012 KIA Optima Service

Kia, THE COMPANY
Thank you for becoming the owner of a new Kia vehicle.
As a global car manufacturer focused on building high-quality, value
for money prices, Kia Motors is dedicated to providing you with a
customer service experience that exceeds your expectations.
All information contained in this Owner’s Manual is accurate at the
time of publication. However, Kia reserves the right to make changes
at any time so that our policy of continual product improvement can
be carried out.
This manual applies to all Kia models and includes descriptions and
explanations of optional as well as standard equipment. As a result,
you may encounter material in this manual that is not applicable to
your specific Kia vehicle.Drive safely and enjoy your Kia!

i
Thank you for choosing a Kia vehicle.
When you require service, remember that your Kia Dealer
knows your vehicle best. Your dealer has factory-trained tech-
nicians, recommended special tools, genuine Kia replacement
parts and is dedicated to your complete satisfaction.
Because subsequent owners require this important information
as well, this publication should remain with the vehicle if it is
sold.
This manual will familiarize you with operational, mainte-
nance and safety information about your new vehicle. It is sup-
plemented by a Warranty and Consumer Information manual
that provides important information on all warranties regarding
your vehicle.
We urge you to read these publications carefully and follow the
recommendations to help assure enjoyable and safe operation
of your new vehicle.
Kia offers a great variety of options, components and features
for its various models. Therefore, some of the equipment
described in this manual, along with the various illustrations,
may not be applicable to your particular vehicle.
The information and specifications provided in this manual
were accurate at the time of printing. Kia reserves the right to
discontinue or change specifications or design at any time
without notice and without incurring any obligation. If you
have questions, always check with your Kia dealer.
We assure you of our continuing interest in your motoring
pleasure and satisfaction in your Kia vehicle.
© 2011 Kia Canada Inc.
All rights reserved. Reproduction by any means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any
information storage and retrieval system or translation in
whole or part is not permitted without written authorization
from Kia Canada Inc..
Printed in Korea
Foreword

I3
Index
Capacities (Lubricants) ··················\
··················\
················8-4
CareExterior care ··················\
··················\
··················\
··········7-56
Interior care ··················\
··················\
··················\
···········7-61
Tire care ··················\
··················\
··················\
·················7-31\
Cargo weight ··················\
··················\
··················\
············5-55
Center console storage ··················\
··················\
·············4-113
Central door lock switch··················\
··················\
············4-15
Certification label ··················\
··················\
··················\
······8-6
Changing tires ··················\
··················\
··················\
············6-8
Checking tire inflation pressure··················\
··················\
·7-33
Child restraint system ··················\
··················\
················3-31 Passenger seat belt ··················\
··················\
··················\
·3-34
Tether anchor system ··················\
··················\
···············3-36
Lower anchor system··················\
··················\
···············3-37
Child-protector rear door lock ··················\
··················\
···4-17
Climate control air filter ··················\
··················\
·4-100, 7-24
Clock (Digital) ··················\
··················\
··················\
·······4-118
Clothes hanger ··················\
··················\
··················\
·······4-119
Combined instrument, see instrument cluster ···············4-48
Compact spare tire ··················\
··················\
··················\
···6-13
Compact spare tire replacement ··················\
··················\
7-36
Compass mirror, see the Electric chromic mirror (ECM) with homeLink system and compass··················\
·········4-39
Cool box··················\
··················\
··················\
·················4-11\
4 Coolant ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
···7-17
Cooling fluid, see engine coolant ··················\
················7-17
Crankcase emission control system ··················\
·············7-62
Cruise control system ··················\
··················\
················5-37
Cup holder ··················\
··················\
··················\
·············4-116
Curtain air bag ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········3-58
Dashboard illumination, see instrument panel
illumination··················\
··················\
··················\
············4-49
Dashboard, see instrument cluster ··················\
···············4-48
Defogging (Windshield) ··················\
··················\
··········4-109
Defogging logic (Windshield) ··················\
··················\
·4-111
Defroster (Rear window) ··················\
··················\
···········4-91
Defrosting (Windshield) ··················\
··················\
··········4-109
Digital clock··················\
··················\
··················\
···········4-118
Dimensions ··················\
··················\
··················\
················8-2
Display illumination, see instrument panel illumination··················\
··················\
··················\
············4-49
Displays, see instrument cluster ··················\
··················\
4-48
Distance to service ··················\
··················\
··················\
···4-55
Door locks··················\
··················\
··················\
················4-13 Central door lock switch ··················\
··················\
·········4-15
Child-protector rear door lock ··················\
··················\
·4-17
Drinks holders, see cup holders··················\
·················4-11\
6
Driver's 3-point system with evergency locking retractor··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
3-21
C
D

I5
Index
Fuses ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
······7-45Fuse/relay panel description ··················\
··················\
····7-50
Instrument panel fuse ··················\
··················\
··············7-46
Multi fuse ··················\
··················\
··················\
··············7-48
Memory fuse··················\
··················\
··················\
··········7-47
Gauge Engine temperature gauge ··················\
··················\
·······4-51
Fuel gauge ··················\
··················\
··················\
·············4-50
Glass antenna ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········4-120
Glassroof, see Panorama sunroof ··················\
················4-30
Glove box··················\
··················\
··················\
···············4-113
Hazard warning flasher ··················\
··················\
··············4-74
Hazardous driving conditions ··················\
··················\
····5-43
Headlight escort function··················\
··················\
···········4-80
Headlight leveling device ··················\
··················\
··········4-80
Headrest ··················\
··················\
··················\
············3-8, 3-15
Highway driving ··················\
··················\
··················\
······5-46
Hill-start assist control (HAC) ··················\
··················\
···5-32
Homelink mirror, see the electric chromic mirror (ECM) with homelink system and compass ··················\
··········4-39
Hood··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
·······4-25
Horn ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
·······4-37
How to use this manual ··················\
··················\
···············1-2 Ignition key interlock system ··················\
··················\
····5-20
Immobilizer system ··················\
··················\
··················\
···4-3
Indicator symbols on the instrument cluster ··················\
·1-5
Indicators and warnings ··················\
··················\
·············4-58
Inside rearview mirror ··················\
··················\
···············4-39
Instrument cluster ··················\
··················\
··················\
····4-48
Engine temperature gauge ··················\
··················\
·······4-51
Fuel gauge ··················\
··················\
··················\
·············4-50
Instrument panel illumination ··················\
··················\
·4-49
Odometer ··················\
··················\
··················\
···············4-52
Speedometer ··················\
··················\
··················\
··········4-49
Tachometer ··················\
··················\
··················\
············4-49
Trip computer ··················\
··················\
··················\
········4-51
Distance to service··············\
··················\
··················\
·····4-55
Vehicle option ··················\
··················\
··················\
········4-57
Warning and indicators ··················\
··················\
············4-58
Instrument panel illumination··················\
··················\
····4-49
Instrument panel overview··················\
··················\
···········2-3
Interior care··················\
··················\
··················\
··············7-61
Interior features··················\
··················\
··················\
······4-116 Clothes hanger ··················\
··················\
··················\
·····4-119
Cup holder ··················\
··················\
··················\
···········4-116
Digital clock ··················\
··················\
··················\
········4-118
Floor mat anchor(s) ··················\
··················\
···············4-118
Power outlet ··················\
··················\
··················\
·········4-117
Sunvisor ··················\
··················\
··················\
···············4-116I
G
H

Index
6I
Interior light ··················\
··················\
··················\
·············4-88
Interior overview··················\
··················\
··················\
········2-2
Interlock system ··················\
··················\
··················\
·······5-20
Jack and tools··················\
··················\
··················\
·············6-7
Jump starting··················\
··················\
··················\
··············6-4
Key positions ··················\
··················\
··················\
·············5-4
Keys ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
·········4-2
LabelAir bag warning label ··················\
··················\
··············3-66
Tire sidewall labeling ··················\
··················\
··············7-37
Tire specification and pressure label ··················\
···········8-7
Vehicle certification label ··················\
··················\
··········8-6
Latch system, see lower anchor system··················\
·······3-37
Lighting··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
··4-80 Battery saver function··················\
··················\
··············4-80
Headlight escort function ··················\
··················\
········4-80
Headlight leveling device ··················\
··················\
········4-80
Lower anchor system ··················\
··················\
·················3-37\
Lubricants and capacities··················\
··················\
·············8-4
Lumbar support ··················\
··················\
··················\
··3-5, 3-7 Maintenance
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items ·············7-12
Maintenance services·············\
··················\
··················\
····7-3
Maintenance under severe usage conditions ···············7-11
Owner maintenance ··················\
··················\
··················\
·7-5
Tire maintenance ··················\
··················\
··················\
···7-44
Maintenance services ··················\
··················\
··················\
·7-3
Manual climate control system··················\
··················\
··4-92 Air conditioning ··················\
··················\
··················\
····4-97
Climate control air filter ··················\
··················\
········4-100
Heating and air conditioning ··················\
··················\
···4-93
Manual transaxle··················\
··················\
··················\
······5-12
Memory fuse ··················\
··················\
··················\
············7-47
Mirrors ··················\
··················\
··················\
··················\
···4-39 Day/night rearview mirror ··················\
··················\
·······4-39
Electric chromic mirror (ECM) with homelink system
and compass ··················\
··················\
··················\
··········4-39
Inside rearview mirror ··················\
··················\
·············4-39
Outside rearview mirror ··················\
··················\
··········4-46
Moonroof, see panorama sunroof ··················\
················4-30
Multi fuse ··················\
··················\
··················\
·················7-48\
Neck restraints, see headrest ··················\
················3-8, 3-15
J
K
L
M
N

327
Safety features of your vehicle
Seat belt precautions(Continued)
Do not attempt to service orrepair the pre-tensioner seat belt
system in any manner.
Improper handling of the pre-ten- sioner seat belt assemblies, and
failure to heed the warnings not
to strike, modify, inspect, replace,
service or repair the pre-tension-
er seat belt assemblies may lead
to improper operation or inadver-
tent activation and serious injury.
Always wear the seat belts when driving or riding in a motor vehi-
cle.
If the vehicle or pre-tensioner seat belt must be discarded, con-
tact an authorized Kia dealer.
WARNING
All occupants of the vehicle must
wear their seat belts at all times.
Seat belts and child restraints
reduce the risk of serious or fatal
injuries for all occupants in the
event of a collision or sudden stop.
Without a seat belt, occupants
could be shifted too close to a
deploying air bag, strike the interior
structure or be thrown from the
vehicle. Properly worn seat belts
greatly reduce these hazards.
Even with advanced air bags,
unbelted occupants can be severe-
ly injured by a deploying air bag.
Always follow the precautions
about seat belts, air bags and occu-
pant seating contained in this man-
ual.
WARNING
Pre-tensioners are designed tooperate only one time. After acti-
vation, pre-tensioner seat belts
must be replaced. All seat belts,
of any type, should always be
replaced after they have been
worn during a collision.
The pre-tensioner seat belt assembly mechanisms become
hot during activation. Do not
touch the pre-tensioner seat belt
assemblies for several minutes
after they have been activated.
Do not attempt to inspect or replace the pre-tensioner seat
belts yourself. This must be done
by an authorized Kia dealer.
Do not strike the pre-tensioner seat belt assemblies.
(Continued)

Safety features of your vehicle
64
3
SRS Care
The SRS is virtually maintenance-free
and so there are no parts you can safely
service by yourself. If the SRS air bag
warning light does not illuminate, or con-
tinuously remains on, have your vehicle
immediately inspected by an authorized
Kia dealer.
Any work on the SRS system, such as
removing, installing, repairing, or any
work on the steering wheel must be per-
formed by an authorized Kia dealer.
Improper handling of the SRS system
may result in serious personal injury.WARNING
Modification to SRS components
or wiring, including the addition
of any kind of badges to the pad
covers or modifications to the
body structure, can adversely
affect SRS performance and lead
to possible injury.
For cleaning the air bag pad cov- ers, use only a soft, dry cloth or
one which has been moistened
with plain water. Solvents or
cleaners could adversely affect
the air bag covers and proper
deployment of the system.
No objects should be placed over or near the air bag modules on
the steering wheel, instrument
panel, and the front passenger's
panel above the glove box,
because any such object could
cause harm if the vehicle is in a
crash severe enough to cause
the air bags to inflate.
(Continued)
(Continued)
If the air bags inflate, they mustbe replaced by an authorized Kia
dealer.
Do not tamper with or disconnect SRS wiring, or other components
of the SRS system. Doing so
could result in injury, due to acci-
dental inflation of the air bags or
by rendering the SRS inopera-
tive.
If components of the air bag sys- tem must be discarded, or if the
vehicle must be scrapped, certain
safety precautions must be
observed. An authorized Kia
dealer knows these precautions
and can give you the necessary
information. Failure to follow
these precautions and proce-
dures could increase the risk of
personal injury.
If your vehicle was flooded and has soaked carpeting or water on
the floor, you shouldn't try to
start the engine; have the vehicle
towed to an authorized Kia deal-
er.

43
Features of your vehicle
Immobilizer system (if equipped)
Your vehicle may be equipped with an
electronic engine immobilizer system to
reduce the risk of unauthorized vehicle
use.
Your immobilizer system is comprised of
a small transponder in the ignition key
and electronic devices inside the vehicle.
With the immobilizer system, whenever
you insert your ignition key into the igni-
tion switch and turn it to ON, it checks
and determines and verifies if the ignition
key is valid or not.
If the key is determined to be valid, the
engine will start.
If the key is determined to be invalid, the
engine will not start.
To activate the immobilizer system:
Turn the ignition key to the OFF position.
The immobilizer system activates auto-
matically. Without a valid ignition key for
your vehicle, the engine will not start.
To deactivate the immobilizer sys-tem:
Insert the ignition key into the key cylin-
der and turn it to the ON position.
✽ ✽ NOTICE
When starting the engine, do not use the
key with other immobilizer keys around.
Otherwise the engine may not start or
may stop soon after it starts. Keep each
key separate in order to avoid a starting
malfunction.
✽ ✽NOTICE
If you need additional keys or lose your
keys, consult an authorized Kia dealer.
WARNING
Use only Kia original parts for the
ignition key in your vehicle. If an
aftermarket key is used, the ignition
switch may not return to ON after
START. If this happens, the starter
will continue to operate causing
damage to the starter motor and
possible fire due to excessive cur-
rent in the wiring.
WARNING
In order to prevent theft of your
vehicle, do not leave spare keys
anywhere in your vehicle. Your
immobilizer password is a cus-
tomer unique password and should
be kept confidential. Do not leave
this number anywhere in your vehi-
cle.
CAUTION
Do not put metal accessories near
the ignition switch. Metal acces- sories may interrupt the transpon-der signal and may prevent the engine from being started.
CAUTION
The transponder in your ignitionkey is an important part of theimmobilizer system. It is designedto give years of trouble-free service, however you should avoid expo-sure to moisture, static electricity and rough handling. Immobilizersystem malfunction could occur.