2012 KIA Soul check engine

Features of your vehicle
34
4
Electric power steering (EPS)
The power steering uses a motor to
assist you in steering the vehicle. If
the engine is off or if the power steer-
ing system becomes inoperative, the
vehicle may still be steered, but it will
require increased steering effort.
The motor driven power steering is
controlled by a power steering con-
trol unit which senses the steering
wheel torque and vehicle speed to
command the motor.
The steering becomes heavier as
the vehicle’s speed increases and
becomes lighter as the vehicle’s
speed decreases for optimum steer-
ing control.
Should you notice any change in the
effort required to steer during normal
vehicle operation, have the power
steering checked by an authorized
Kia dealer.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
The following symptoms may occur
during normal vehicle operation:
• The steering effort is high immedi-
ately after turning the ignition
switch on. This happens as the sys-
tem performs the EPS system
diagnostics. When the diagnostics
is completed, the steering wheel
will return to its normal condition.
• A click noise may be heard from the EPS relay after the ignition
switch is turned to the ON or
LOCK position.
• Motor noise may be heard when the vehicle is at a stop or at a low
driving speed.
• The steering effort increases if the steering wheel is rotated continu-
ously when the vehicle is not in
motion. However, after a few min-
utes, it will return to its normal
conditions.
• When you operate the steering wheel in low temperature, abnor-
mal noise could occur. If tempera-
ture rises, the noise will disappear.
This is a normal condition. (Continued)(Continued)
• When the vehicle is stationary, if
you turn the steering wheel all the
way to the left or right continuous-
ly, the steering wheel becomes
heavier from the end. But this is
for your safety, not system mal-
function. As time passes, the steer-
ing wheel return to its normal con-
dition.
If the Electric Power Steering System
does not operate normally, the warn-
ing light will illuminate on the instru-
ment cluster. The steering wheel may
become difficult to control or operate
abnormally. Take your vehicle to an
authorized Kia dealer and have the
vehicle checked as soon as possible.
STEERING WHEEL

Features of your vehicle
50
4
Warnings and indicators
All warning lights are checked by
turning the ignition switch ON (do not
start the engine). Any light that does
not illuminate should be checked by
an authorized Kia dealer.
After starting the engine, check to
make sure that all warning lights are
off. If any warning lights are still on,
this indicates a situation that needs
attention. When releasing the park-
ing brake, the brake system warning
light should go off. The fuel warning
light will stay on if the fuel level is low. ECOMINDER
®indicator
(if equipped)
When the active ECO is operating
the ECOMINDER®indicator is
green.
For more detailed information, refer
to “Active ECO” in chapter 5.
ECOWARNING
- ECOMINDER®indicator
Don't keep watching the “ECO”
ECOMINDER®indicator while
driving. It may distract you
while driving and cause an acci-
dent.

451
Features of your vehicle
Air bag warning light
This warning light will illuminate for
approximately 6 seconds each time
you turn the ignition switch to the ON
position.
This light also comes on when the
Supplemental Restraint System
(SRS) is not working properly. If the
AIR BAG warning light does not
come on, or continuously remains on
after operating for about 6 seconds
when you turned the ignition switch
to the ON position or started the
engine, or if it comes on while driv-
ing, have the SRS inspected by an
authorized Kia dealer.
Anti-lock brake system(ABS) warning light
This warning light illuminates if the
ignition switch is turned ON and goes
off in approximately 3 seconds if the
system is operating normally.
If the ABS warning light remains on,
comes on while driving, or does not
come on when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position, this indi-
cates that the ABS may have mal-
functioned.
If this occurs, have your vehicle
checked by an authorized Kia dealer
as soon as possible. The normal
braking system will still be opera-
tional, but without the assistance of
the anti-lock brake system. Electronic brake
force distribu-
tion (EBD) sys-
tem warning
light
If these two warning lights shown illu-
minate at the same time while driv-
ing, the ABS and EBD system may
have malfunctioned.
In this case, your ABS and regular
brake system may not work normally.
Have the vehicle checked by an
authorized Kia dealer as soon as
possible.
If the ABS warning light or EBD
warning light is on and stays on, the
speedometer or odometer/tripmeter
may not work. In this case, have your
vehicle checked by an authorized Kia
dealer as soon as possible.

453
Features of your vehicle
High beam indicator
This indicator illuminates when the
headlights are on and in the high
beam position or when the turn sig-
nal lever is pulled into the Flash-to-
Pass position.
Front fog light indicator (if equipped)
The indicator illuminates when the
front fog lights ON.
Tail light indicator
(if equipped)
This indicator illuminates when the
tail lights are on.
Engine oil pressurewarning light
This warning light indicates the
engine oil pressure is low.
If the warning light illuminates while
driving:
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. The oil pressure warning light comes
on whenever there is insufficient oil
pressure. In normal operation, it
should come on when the ignition
switch is turned on, then go out when
the engine is started. If the oil pres-
sure warning light stays on while the
engine is running, there is a serious
malfunction.
CAUTION - Engine
damage
If the engine is not stopped
immediately after the engine oilpressure warning light is illumi-nated and stays on while theengine is running, seriousengine damage may result.

Features of your vehicle
54
4
Parking brake & brake
fluid warning light
Parking brake warning
This light is illuminated when the
parking brake is applied with the igni-
tion switch in the START or ON posi-
tion. The warning light should go off
after a few seconds when the park-
ing brake is released. 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 authorized Kia deal-
er for a brake system inspection
and necessary repairs. Your vehicle is equipped with dual-
diagonal braking systems. This
means you still have braking on two
wheels even if one of the brake cir-
cuits is damaged or malfunctions.
With only one of the circuits 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 sys-
tem 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 posi-
tion.

455
Features of your vehicle
Low tire pressure indi-cator / TPMS malfunc-tion indicator
The low tire pressure telltale comes
on for 3 seconds after the ignition
switch is turned to the "ON" position.
The low tire pressure telltale illumi-
nates when one or more of your tires
is significantly underinflated.
The low tire pressure telltale will illu-
minate after it blinks for approximate-
ly one minute when there is a prob-
lem with the Tire Pressure
Monitoring System.
If this occurs, have the system
checked by an authorized Kia dealer
as soon as possible.
If the warning light illuminates while
driving, reduce vehicle speed imme-
diately and stop the vehicle. Avoid
hard braking and overcorrecting the
steering wheel. Inflate the tires to the
proper pressure as indicated on the
vehicle’s tire information placard. The TPMS cannot alert you to
severe and sudden tire damage
caused by external factors.
If you feel any vehicle instability, immediately take your foot off the
accelerator, apply the brakes grad-
ually and with light force, and slow-
ly move to a safe position off the
road.
Charging system warn-
ing light
This warning light indicates a mal-
function 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 gen- erator drive belt for looseness or
breakage.
3. If the belt is adjusted properly, a problem exists somewhere in the
electrical charging system. Have
an authorized Kia dealer correct
the problem as soon as possible.
Tire Pressure Monitoring System indicator (if equipped)
WARNING - Low tirepressure
Significantly low tire pressure
makes the vehicle unstable and
can contribute to loss of vehicle
control and increased braking
distances.
Continued driving on low pres-
sure tires will cause the tires to
overheat and fail.

Features of your vehicle
56
4
Tailgate open warning
light
This warning light illuminates when
the tailgate is not closed securely
with the ignition switch in any posi-
tion.
Door ajar warning light
This warning light illuminates when a
door is not closed securely with the
ignition switch in any position.
Immobilizer indicator (if equipped)
Without smart key system
This light illuminates when the immo-
bilizer 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 any of the following occurs in a
vehicle equipped with the smart key,
the immobilizer indicator illuminates,
blinks or goes off. When the smart key is in the vehi-
cle, if the ENGINE START/STOP
button is in the ACC or ON posi-
tion, the indicator will illuminate for
approximately 30 seconds to indi-
cate that you are able to start the
engine. However, when the smart
key is not in the vehicle, if the
ENGINE START/STOP button is
pressed, the indicator will blink for
a few seconds to indicate that you
are not be able to start the engine.
If the indicator illuminates only for 2 seconds and goes out when the
ENGINE START/STOP button is
turned to ON position with the
smart key in the vehicle, have the
system checked by an authorized
Kia dealer.
When the battery is weak, if the ENGINE START/STOP button is
pressed, the indicator will blink and
you are not able to start the
engine. However, you are able to
start the engine by inserting the
smart key in the smart key holder.
Also, if the smart key system relat-
ed parts have a problem, the indi-
cator will blink.

Features of your vehicle
58
4
Malfunction indicator
(MIL) (check enginelight)
This indicator light is part of the
Engine Control System which moni-
tors various emission control system
components. If this light illuminates
while driving, it indicates that a
potential malfunction has been
detected somewhere in the emission
control system.
This light will also illuminate when
the ignition switch is turned to the
ON position, and will go out 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
system checked.
Generally, your vehicle will continue
to be drivable, but have the system
checked by an authorized Kia dealer
promptly.
ESC (Electronic StabilityControl) indicator (if equipped)
The ESC indicator will illuminate
when the ignition switch is turned
ON, but should go off after approxi-
mately 3 seconds. When the ESC is
on, it monitors the driving conditions
and under normal driving conditions,
the ESC indicator will remain off.
When a slippery or low traction con-
dition is encountered, the ESC will
operate, and the ESC indicator will
blink to indicate the ESC is operat-
ing.
If this indicator illuminates and stays
on, the ESC may have malfunc-
tioned. Take your vehicle to an
authorized Kia dealer and have the
system checked.
CAUTION - MIL illumination
Prolonged driving with the
Emission Control SystemMalfunction Indicator Lightilluminated may cause dam-age to the emission controlsystems which could effectdrivability and/or fuel econo-my.
If the Emission Control System Malfunction IndicatorLight illuminates, potentialcatalytic converter damage ispossible. This could result inloss of engine power. Have theEngine Control Systeminspected as soon as possibleby an authorized Kia dealer.