2012 KIA Optima tow

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 ··················\
···············7-35
Wheel replacement ··················\
··················\
··················\
··7-36
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 ··················\
··················\
··················\
············7-25
Wipers and washers ··················\
··················\
··················\
·4-85
V
W

Introduction
41
Use of MTBE
Kia recommends avoiding fuels contain-
ing MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether)
over 15.0% vol. (Oxygen Content 2.7%
weight) in your vehicle.
Fuel containing MTBE over 15.0% vol.
(Oxygen Content 2.7% weight) may
reduce vehicle performance and produce
vapor lock or hard starting.
Do not use methanol
Fuels containing methanol (wood alco-
hol) should not be used in your vehicle.
This type of fuel can reduce vehicle per-
formance and damage components of
the fuel system.
Fuel Additives
Kia recommends that you use good qual-
ity gasolines treated with detergent addi-
tives such as TOP TIER Detergent
Gasoline, which help prevent deposit for-
mation in the engine. These gasolines
will help the engine run cleaner and
enhance performance of the Emission
Control System. For more information on
TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline, please
go to the website (www
.toptiergas.com).
For customers who do not use TOP Tier
Detergent Gasoline regularly, and have
problems starting or the engine does not
run smoothly, additives that you can buy
separately may be added to the gasoline.
If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is not
available, one bottle of additive added to
the fuel tank at every 12,000 km or every
engine oil change is recommended.
Additives are available from your author-
ized Kia dealer along with information on
how to use them. Do not mix other addi-
tives.
Operation in foreign countries
If you are going to drive your vehicle in
another country, be sure to:
Observe all regulations regarding reg- istration and insurance.
Determine that acceptable fuel is avail- able. No special break-in period is needed. By
following a few simple precautions for the
first 1,000 km (600 miles) you may add to
the performance, economy and life of
your vehicle.
Do not race the engine.
While driving, keep your engine speed
(rpm, or revolutions per minute)
between 2,000 rpm and 4,000 rpm.
Do not maintain a single speed for long periods of time, either fast or slow.
Varying engine speed is needed to
properly break-in the engine.
Avoid hard stops, except in emergen- cies, to allow the brakes to seat prop-
erly.
Don't let the engine idle longer than 3 minutes at one time.
Don't tow a trailer during the first 2,000 km (1,200 miles) of operation.
CAUTION
Your New Vehicle Limited Warrantymay not cover damage to the fuelsystem and any performance prob- lems that are caused by the use offuels containing methanol or fuelscontaining MTBE (Methyl TertiaryButyl Ether) over 15.0% vol.(Oxygen Content 2.7% weight.)
VEHICLE BREAK-IN PROCESS

335
Safety features of your vehicle
4. Slowly allow the shoulder portion ofthe seat belt to retract and listen for an
audible “clicking” or “ratcheting” sound.
This indicates that the retractor is in
the “Auto Lock” mode. If no distinct
sound is heard, repeat steps 3 and 4. 5. Remove as much slack from the belt
as possible by pushing down on the
child restraint system while feeding the
shoulder belt back into the retractor.
6. Push and pull on the child restraint system to confirm that the seat belt is
holding it firmly in place. If it is not,
release the seat belt and repeat steps
2 through 6.
7. Double check that the retractor is in the “Auto Lock” mode by attempting to
pull more of the seat belt out of the
retractor. If you cannot, the retractor is
in the “Auto Lock” mode.
To remove the child restraint, press the
release button on the buckle and then
pull the lap/shoulder belt out of the
restraint and allow the seat belt to retract
fully. When the seat belt is allowed to
retract to its fully stowed position, the
retractor will automatically switch
from the “Auto Lock” mode to the
emergency lock mode for normal
adult usage.
OEN036104OEN036103
WARNING- Auto lock
mode
The lap/shoulder belt automatically
returns to the “emergency lock
mode” whenever the belt is allowed
to retract fully. Therefore, the pre-
ceding seven steps must be fol-
lowed each time a child restraint is
installed.
If the retractor is not in the Auto
lock mode, the child restraint can
move when your vehicle turns or
stops suddenly. A child can be seri-
ously injured or killed if the child
restraint is not properly anchored to
the car, including setting the retrac-
tor to the Auto lock mode.

347
Safety features of your vehicle
The ODS is designed to detect the pres-
ence of a properly-seated front passen-
ger and determine if the passenger's
front air bag should be enabled (may
inflate) or not. The driver's front air bag is
not affected or controlled by the ODS.Main components of ODS
A detection device located within thefront passenger seat track.
Electronic system to determine whether passenger air bag systems
should be activated or deactivated.
A indicator light located on the instru- ment panel which illuminates the
words PASSENGER AIR BAG “OFF”
indicating the front passenger air bag
system is deactivated.
The instrument panel air bag warning light is interconnected with the occu-
pant detection system.
If the front passenger seat is occupied by
a person that the system determines to
be of adult size, and he/she sits properly
(sitting upright with the seatback in an
upright position, centered on the seat
cushion with their seat belt on, legs com-
fortably extended and their feet on the
floor), the PASSENGER AIR BAG “OFF”
indicator will turn off and the front pas-
senger's air bag will be able to inflate, if
necessary, in frontal crashes.
You will find the PASSENGER AIR BAG
“OFF” indicator on the center facia panel.
This system detects the conditions 1~4
in the following table and activates or
deactivates the front passenger air bag
based on these conditions. Always be sure that you and all vehicle
occupants are seated and restrained
properly (sitting upright with the seat in
an upright position, centered on the seat
cushion, with the person’s legs comfort-
ably extended, feet on the floor, and
wearing the safety belt properly) for the
most effective protection by the air bag
and the safety belt.
The ODS (Occupant Detection System)
may not function properly if the passen-
ger takes actions which can defeat the
detection system. These include:
(1) Failing to sit in an upright position.
(2) Leaning against the door or center console.
(3) Sitting towards the sides or the front of the seat.
(4) Putting legs on the dashboard or rest- ing them on other locations which
reduce the passenger weight on the
front seat.
(5) Improperly wearing the safety belt.
(6) Reclining the seat back.

349
Safety features of your vehicle
1KMN3663
1KMN3664
1KMN3665
- Never sit with the hips shiftedtowards the front of the seat.
- Never lean on the door or centerconsole.
- Never sit on one side of the front passenger seat.
- Never place the feet on the dash-
board.
B990A08O
1KMN3662
- Never put a heavy load in thefront passenger seat.
- Never excessively recline thefront passenger seatback.
OVQ036014N
- Never place the feet on the frontpassenger seatback.
(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.

Features of your vehicle
64
Smart key precautions
✽
✽NOTICE
• If, for some reason, you happen to lose
your smart key, you will not be able to
start the engine. Tow the vehicle, if
necessary, and contact an authorized
Kia dealer.
• A maximum of 2 smart keys can be registered to a single vehicle. If you
lose a smart key, you should immedi-
ately take the vehicle and key to your
authorized Kia dealer to protect it
from potential theft.
• The smart key will not work if any of following occurs:
- The smart key is close to a radiotransmitter such as a radio station or
an airport which can interfere with
normal operation of the smart key.
- The smart key near a mobile two- way radio system or a cellular
phone.
- Another vehicle’s smart key is being operated close to your vehicle.
When the smart key does not work
correctly, open and close the door with
the mechanical key. If you have a
problem with the smart key, contact
an authorized Kia dealer.
This device complies with Industry
Canada Standard RSS-210.
Operation is subject to the following two
conditions:
1. This device may not cause harmful
interference, and
2. This device must accept any interfer- ence received, including interference
that may cause undesired operation.
CAUTION
Keep the smart key away fromwater or any liquid. If the keylessentry system is inoperative due toexposure to water or liquids, it willnot be covered by your manufactur- er’s vehicle warranty.WARNING
Changes or modifications not
expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could
void the user’s authority to operate
the equipment. If the keyless entry
system is inoperative due to
changes or modifications not
expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance, it will
not be covered by your manufactur-
er’s vehicle warranty.

413
Features of your vehicle
DOOR LOCKS
Operating door locks from out-
side the vehicle
Turn the key toward the rear of thevehicle to unlock and toward the front
of the vehicle to lock.
If you lock/unlock the door with a key, all vehicle doors will lock/unlock auto-
matically.
From the driver’s door, turn the key to the left once to unlock the driver’s door
and once more within 4 seconds to
unlock all doors. Doors can also be locked and
unlocked with the transmitter key (or
smart key). (if equipped)
Once the doors are unlocked, they may be opened by pulling the door handle.
When closing the door, push the door by hand. Make sure the doors are
closed securely.
✽ ✽ NOTICE
• In cold and wet climates, door lock
and door mechanisms may not work
properly due to freezing conditions.
• If the door is locked/unlocked multi- ple times in rapid succession with
either the vehicle key or door lock
switch, the system may stop operating
temporarily in order to protect the
circuit and prevent damage to system
components.
WARNING
If you don't close the door
securely, the door may open
again.
Be careful that someone's body and hands are not trapped when
closing the door.
OHD046001
LockUnlock