2012 KIA Sorento check engine

Driving your vehicle16
5For smooth operation, depress the brake
pedal when shifting from N (Neutral) to aforward or reverse gear.
E060101AAMTransaxle rangesThe indicator in the instrument cluster
displays the shift lever position when the
ignition switch is in the ON position.
P (Park)
Always come to a complete stop before
shifting into P (Park). This position locks
the transaxle and prevents the drive
wheels from rotating.
WARNING
- Automatic transaxle
 Always check the surrounding
areas near your vehicle for peo-
ple, especially children, before
shifting the shift lever into D
(Drive) or R (Reverse).
 Before leaving the driver’s seat, always make sure the shift lever
is in the P (Park) position; then
set the parking brake fully and
shut the engine off. Unexpected
and sudden vehicle movement
can occur if these precautions
are not followed in the order iden-
tified.
CAUTION
 To avoid damage to your transaxle, do not accelerate theengine in R (Reverse) or any for-ward gear position with thebrakes on.
 When stopped on an incline, do not hold the vehicle with theengine power. Use the service brake or the parking brake.
 Do not shift from N (Neutral) or P (Park) into D (Drive), or R(Reverse) when the engine isabove idle speed.
WARNING
 Shifting into P (Park) while the vehicle is in motion will cause the
drive wheels to lock which will
cause you to lose control of the
vehicle.
 Do not use the P (Park) position in place of the parking brake.
Always make sure the shift lever
is latched in the P (Park) position
and set the parking brake fully.
 Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle.
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521
Driving your vehicle
Engine power can be delivered to all front
and rear wheels for maximum traction.
4WD is useful when extra traction is
required on road, such as, when driving
on slippery, muddy, wet, or snow-covered
roads. These vehicles are not designed
for challenging off-road use. Occasional
off-road use such as established
unpaved roads and trails are OK. It is
always important when traveling off-high-
way that the driver carefully reduces the
speed to a level that does not exceed the
safe operating speed for those condi-
tions. In general, off-road conditions pro-
vide less traction and braking effective-
ness than normal road conditions. The
driver must be especially alert to avoid
driving on slopes which tilt the vehicle to
either side.
These factors must be carefully consid-
ered when driving off-road. Keeping the
vehicle in contact with the driving surface
and under control in these conditions is
always the driver's responsibility for the
safety of him/herself and his or her pas-
sengers.
Tight corner brake effectTight corner brake effect is a unique
characteristic of four-wheel drive vehicles
caused by the difference in tire rotation at
the four wheels and the zero-degree
alignment of the front wheels and sus-
pension.
Sharp turns at low speeds should be car-
ried out with caution.
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) (IF EQUIPPED)
WARNING
- Off road driving
This vehicle is designed primarily
for on road use although it can oper-
ate effectively off road. However, it
was not designed to drive in chal-
lenging off-road conditions. Driving
in conditions that exceed the vehi-
cle's intended design or the driver's
experience level may result in
severe injury or death.
WARNING
If the 4WD system warning light
( ) illuminates, this indicates that
there is a malfunction in the 4WD
system.
If this occurs, have your vehicle
checked by an authorized KIA deal-
er as soon as possible.
CAUTION -
4WD
When turning sharply on a pavedroad at low speed while in four- wheel drive, steering control will bedifficult.
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525
Driving your vehicle
✽
✽NOTICE• Do not drive in water if the level is
higher than the bottom of the vehicle.
• Check your brake condition once you are out of mud or water. Press the
brake pedal several times as you move
slowly until you feel normal braking
forces return.
• Shorten your scheduled maintenance interval if you drive in off-road condi-
tions such as sand, mud or water.
Always wash your vehicle thoroughly
after off-road use, especially cleaning
the bottom of the vehicle.
• Since the driving torque is always applied to the 4 wheels the perform-
ance of the 4WD vehicle is greatly
affected by the condition of the tires.
Be sure to equip the vehicle with four
tires of the same size and type.
• A full time four wheel drive vehicle cannot be towed by an ordinary tow
truck. Make sure that the vehicle is
placed on a flat bed truck for moving.
CAUTION -
Mud or snow
If one of the front or rear wheels
begins to spin in mud, snow, etc.the vehicle can sometimes be driv-en out by depressing the accelera-tor pedal further; however avoidrunning the engine continuously athigh rpm because doing so coulddamage the 4WD system.
WARNING -
4WD driving
 Avoid high cornering speed.
 Do not make quick steering wheel movements, such as sharp
lane changes or fast, sharp turns.
 The risk of rollover is greatly increased if you lose control of
your vehicle at high speed.
 In a collision, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die
compared to a person wearing a
seat belt.
 Loss of control often occurs if two or more wheels drop off the
roadway and the driver over-
steers to re-enter the roadway. In
the event your vehicle leaves the
roadway, do not steer sharply.
Instead, slow down before pulling
back into the travel lanes.
WARNING -
Jacked vehicle
While the full-time 4WD vehicle is
being raised on a jack, never start
the engine or cause the tires to
rotate.
There is the danger that rotating
tires touching the ground could
cause the vehicle to go off the jack
and to jump forward.
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527
Driving your vehicle
E070100AHMPower brakesYour vehicle has power-assisted brakes
that adjust automatically through normal
usage.
In the event that the power-assisted
brakes lose power because of a stalled
engine or some other reason, you can
still stop your vehicle by applying greater
force to the brake pedal than you nor-
mally would. The stopping distance, how-
ever, will be longer.
When the engine is not running, the
reserve brake power is partially depleted
each time the brake pedal is applied. Do
not pump the brake pedal when the
power assist has been interrupted.
Pump the brake pedal only when neces-
sary to maintain steering control on slip-
pery surfaces.
E070101AUNIn the event of brake failure If service brakes fail to operate while the
vehicle is in motion, you can make an
emergency stop with the parking brake.
The stopping distance, however, will be
much greater than normal.
BRAKE SYSTEM
(Continued)
 When descending a long or steephill, shift to a lower gear and
avoid continuous application of
the brakes. Continuous brake
application will cause the brakes
to overheat and could result in a
temporary loss of braking per-
formance.
 Wet brakes may impair the vehi- cle’s ability to safely slow down;
the vehicle may also pull to one
side when the brakes are applied.
Applying the brakes lightly will
indicate whether they have been
affected in this way. Always test
your brakes in this fashion after
driving through deep water. To
dry the brakes, apply them lightly
while maintaining a safe forward
speed until brake performance
returns to normal.
 Always, confirm the position of the brake and accelerator pedal
before driving. If you don’t check
the position of the accelerator
and brake pedal before driving,
you may depress the accelerator
instead of the brake pedal. It may
cause a serious accident.
WARNING
- Parking brake
Applying the parking brake while
the vehicle is moving at normal
speeds can cause a sudden loss of
control of the vehicle. If you must
use the parking brake to stop the
vehicle, use great caution in apply-
ing the brake.
WARNING
Do not operate the parking brake
while the vehicle is moving except
in an emergency situation. It could
damage the vehicle system and
make endanger driving safety.
WARNING
- Brakes
 Do not drive with your foot rest-ing on the brake pedal. This will
create abnormal high brake tem-
peratures, excessive brake lining
and pad wear, and increased
stopping distances.
(Continued)
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Driving your vehicle30
5Check the brake warning light by turning
the ignition switch ON (do not start the
engine). This light will be illuminated when
the parking brake is applied with the igni-
tion switch in the START or ON position.
Before driving, be sure the parking brake
is fully released and the brake warning
light is off.
If the brake warning light remains on after
the parking brake is released while the
engine is running, there may be a mal-
function in the brake system. Immediate
attention is necessary.
If at all possible, cease driving the vehi-
cle immediately. If that is not possible,
use extreme caution while operating the
vehicle and only continue to drive the
vehicle until you can reach a safe loca-
tion or repair shop.
E070300AHM-ECAnti-lock brake system (ABS)
W-75
WARNING
ABS (or ESC) will not prevent acci-
dents due to improper or danger-
ous driving maneuvers. Even
though vehicle control is improved
during emergency braking, always
maintain a safe distance between
you and objects ahead. Vehicle
speeds should always be reduced
during extreme road conditions.
The braking distance for vehicles
equipped with an anti-lock braking
system (or Electronic Stability
Control System) may be longer
than for those without it in the fol-
lowing road conditions.
During these conditions the vehicle
should be driven at reduced
speeds:
 Rough, gravel or snow-covered
roads.
(Continued)
(Continued)
 On roads where the road surfaceis pitted or has different surface
height.
The safety features of an ABS (or
ESC) equipped vehicle should not
be tested by high speed driving or
cornering. This could endanger the
safety of yourself or others.
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Driving your vehicle32
5✽
✽
NOTICEWhen you jump start your vehicle
because of a drained battery, the engine
may not run as smoothly and the ABS
warning light may turn on at the same
time. This happens because of low bat-
tery voltage. It does not mean your ABS
has malfunctioned.
• Do not pump your brakes!
• Have the battery recharged before
driving the vehicle.
E070500AHM-EUElectronic stability control (ESC)The Electronic Stability control (ESC)
system is designed to stabilize the vehi-
cle during cornering maneuvers. ESC
checks where you are steering and
where the vehicle is actually going. ESC
applies the brakes on individual wheels
and intervenes with the engine manage-
ment system to stabilize the vehicle.
CAUTION
 When you drive on a road having
poor traction, such as an icy road,and have operated your brakescontinuously, the ABS will beactive continuously and the ABS warning light may illuminate. Pullyour car over to a safe place andstop the engine.
 Restart the engine. If the ABS warning light goes off, then yourABS system is normal.Otherwise, you may have a prob-lem with the ABS. Contact anauthorized KIA dealer as soon as possible.
OXM059017
WARNING
Never drive too fast according to
the road conditions or too quickly
when cornering. Electronic stability
control (ESC) will not prevent acci-
dents. Excessive speed in turns,
abrupt maneuvers and hydroplan-
ing on wet surfaces can still result
in serious accidents. Only a safe
and attentive driver can prevent
accidents by avoiding maneuvers
that cause the vehicle to lose trac-
tion. Even with ESC installed,
always follow all the normal precau-
tions for driving - including driving
at safe speeds for the conditions.
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533
Driving your vehicle
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
system is an electronic system designed
to help the driver maintain vehicle control
under adverse conditions. It is not a
substitute for safe driving practices.
Factors including speed, road conditions
and driver steering input can all affect
whether ESC will be effective in
preventing a loss of control. It is still your
responsibility to drive and corner at
reasonable speeds and to leave a
sufficient margin of safety.
When you apply your brakes under con-
ditions which may lock the wheels, you
may hear a “tik-tik’’ sound from the
brakes, or feel a corresponding sensation
in the brake pedal. This is normal and it
means your ESC is active.✽ ✽NOTICEA click sound may be heard in the
engine compartment when the vehicle
begins to move after the engine is start-
ed. These conditions are normal and
indicate that the Electronic Stability
Control System is functioning properly.
E070501AUN-EUESC operationESC ON condition
 When the ignition is turned ON, ESC
and ESC OFF indicator lights illuminate
for approximately 3 seconds, then ESC
is turned on.
 Press the ESC OFF button for at least half a second after turning the ignition
ON to turn ESC off. (ESC OFF indica-
tor will illuminate). To turn the ESC on,
press the ESC OFF button (ESC OFF
indicator light will go off).
 When starting the engine, you may hear a slight ticking sound. This is the
ESC performing an automatic system
self-check and does not indicate a
problem. When operating
When the ESC is in operation,
ESC indicator light blinks.
 When the Electronic StabilityControl is operating properly,
you can feel a slight pulsation
in the vehicle. This is only the
effect of brake control and
indicates nothing unusual.
 When moving out of the mud or slippery road, pressing the
accelerator pedal may not
cause the engine rpm (revo-
lutions per minute) to
increase.
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Driving your vehicle36
5
✽
✽
NOTICE• The DBC does not turn ON in the P
(Park) position.
• The DBC may not activate if the ESC (or BAS) is activated.
• Noise or vibration may occur from the brakes when the DBC is activated.
• The rear stop light comes on when the DBC is activated.
• In a very steep hill even though the brake pedal or accelerator pedal is
depressed the DBC may not deacti-
vate.
• Always turn OFF the DBC on normal roads. The DBC might activate from
the standby mode when abrupt corn-
ing or driving through speed bumps.
• DBC may activate and cause the engine to stop in vehicles with manual
transaxle if you drive in 3rd gear (or
above) with DBC on. Do not turn on
DBC when driving in 3rd gear (or
above).
Standby
Press the DBC button when the vehicle speed is under
40 km/h (25 mph). The DBC system will turn ON and
enter the standby mode.
The system does not turn ON if the vehicle speed is
over 40 km/h (25 mph).
In the standby mode, if the vehicle speed is under 35
km/h (22 mph) while driving down a steep hill, the DBC
will activate automatically.
In the activated mode, the DBC will temporarily deacti-
vate under the following conditions:
 The hill is not steep enough.
 The brake pedal or accelerator pedal is depressed.
If the above conditions are gone, the DBC will automat-
ically activate again.
The DBC will turn OFF under the following conditions:
 The DBC button is pressed again.
 The vehicle speed is over 60 km/h (38 mph).
Activated
Temporarily deactivated
OFF
Mode Indicator light Description
blinksilluminated
not
illuminated
illuminated
WARNING
If the DBC red indicator light illuminates, the system has overheated or some-
thing is wrong. The DBC will not activate. If the DBC red indicator light illu-
minates even though the DBC system has been cooled enough have the sys-
tem checked by an authorized KIA dealer.
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