3155
Features of your vehicle
Air conditioning system opera-
tion tips
If the vehicle has been parked in directsunlight during hot weather, open the
windows for a short time to let the hot
air inside the vehicle escape.
To help reduce moisture inside of win- dows on rainy humid days, decrease
the humidity inside the vehicle by oper-
ating the air conditioning system.
During air conditioning system opera- tion, you may occasionally notice a
slight change in engine speed as the
air conditioning compressor cycles on.
This is a normal system operation
characteristic.
Use the air conditioning system every month if only for a few minutes to
ensure maximum system perform-
ance.
When using the air conditioning sys- tem, you may notice clear water drip-
ping (or even puddling) on the ground
under the passenger side of the vehi-
cle. This is a normal system operation
characteristic. Operating the air conditioning system
in the recirculated air position does
provide maximum cooling, however,
continual operation in this mode may
cause the air inside the vehicle to
become stale.
Checking the amount of air con-
ditioner refrigerant and compres-
sor lubricant
When the amount of refrigerant is low,
the performance of the air conditioning is
reduced. Overfilling also has a bad influ-
ence on the air conditioning system.
Therefore, if abnormal operation is
found, have the system inspected by an
authorized Kia dealer.
CAUTION
When the performance of the airconditioning system is reduced it is important that the correct type andamount of oil and refrigerant isused. Otherwise, damage to thecompressor and abnormal system operation may occur.
CAUTION
The air conditioning system shouldbe serviced by an authorized Kiadealer. Improper service may cause serious injury.
3169
Features of your vehicle
Air conditioning system opera-
tion tips
If the vehicle has been parked in directsunlight during hot weather, open the
windows for a short time to let the hot
air inside the vehicle escape.
To help reduce moisture inside of win- dows on rainy humid days, decrease
the humidity inside the vehicle by oper-
ating the air conditioning system.
During air conditioning system opera- tion, you may occasionally notice a
slight change in engine speed as the
air conditioning compressor cycles on.
This is a normal system operation
characteristic.
Use the air conditioning system every month if only for a few minutes to
ensure maximum system perform-
ance.
When using the air conditioning sys- tem, you may notice clear water drip-
ping (or even puddling) on the ground
under the passenger side of the vehi-
cle. This is a normal system operation
characteristic. Operating the air conditioning system
in the recirculated air position does
provide maximum cooling, however,
continual operation in this mode may
cause the air inside the vehicle to
become stale.
Checking the amount of air con-
ditioner refrigerant and compres-
sor lubricant
When the amount of refrigerant is low,
the performance of the air conditioning is
reduced. Overfilling also has a bad influ-
ence on the air conditioning system.
Therefore, if abnormal operation is
found, have the system inspected by an
authorized Kia dealer.
CAUTION
The air conditioning system shouldbe serviced by an authorized Kiadealer. Improper service may cause serious injury.
CAUTION
When the performance of the airconditioning system is reduced it isimportant that the correct type andamount of oil and refrigerant is used. Otherwise, damage to thecompressor and abnormal system operation may occur.
Driving your vehicle
28
4
We recommend that you carry emer-
gency equipment, including a window
scraper, windshield de-icer, a bag of
sand or salt, flares, a small shovel and
jumper cables.
Make sure you have sufficient ethyl- ene-glycol coolant in the radiator.
Check the battery condition and cables. Cold temperatures reduce the
capacity of any battery, so it must be in
excellent condition to provide enough
winter starting power.
Make sure the engine oil viscosity is suitable for cold weather.
Check the ignition system for loose connections and damage.
Use antifreeze-formulated windshield washer fluid. (Do not use engine
coolant antifreeze.)
Do not use the parking brake if it might freeze. When parking, shift to P (Park)
with an automatic transaxle and block
the rear wheels.Snow tires
If you mount snow tires on your Kia,
make sure they are radial tires of the
same size and load range as the original
tires. Mount snow tires on all four wheels
to balance your vehicle’s handling in all
weather conditions. Keep in mind that the
traction provided by snow tires on dry
roads may not be as high as your vehi-
cle's original equipment tires. You should
drive cautiously even when the roads are
clear. Check with the tire dealer for max-
imum speed recommendations.
Do not install studded tires without firstchecking local, state and municipal regu-lations for possible restrictions againsttheir use.
WINTER DRIVING
WARNING- Snow tire size
Snow tires should be equivalent in
size and type to the vehicle's stan-
dard tires. Otherwise, the safety and
handling of your vehicle may be
adversely affected.
TRAILER TOWING
WARNING- Towing a trail- er
If you don't use the correct equip-
ment and drive improperly, you can
lose control when you pull a trailer.
For example, if the trailer is too
heavy, the brakes may not work well
- or even at all. You and your pas-
sengers could be seriously or fatal-
ly injured. Pull a trailer only if you
have followed all the steps in this
section.
WARNING- Weight limits
Before towing, make sure the total
trailer weight, gross combination
weight, gross vehicle weight, gross
axle weight and trailer tongue load
are all within the limits.
617
Maintenance
BRAKES
Checking brake fluid level
Check the fluid level in the reservoir peri-
odically. The fluid level should be
between MAX and MIN marks on the
side of the reservoir.
Before removing the reservoir cap and
adding brake fluid, clean the area around
the reservoir cap thoroughly to prevent
brake fluid contamination.
If the level is low, add fluid to the MAX
level. The level will fall with accumulated
mileage. This is a normal condition asso-
ciated with the wear of the brake linings.
If the fluid level is excessively low, have
the brake system checked by an
Authorized Kia Dealer.
Use only the specified brake fluid. (Referto “Recommended Lubricants” later inthis section.)
Never mix different types of fluid.
WARNING - Brake fluid
When changing and adding brake
fluid, handle it carefully. Do not let it
come in contact with your eyes. If
brake fluid should come in contact
with your eyes, immediately flush
them with a large quantity of fresh
tap water. Have your eyes examined
by a doctor as soon as possible.
WARNING - Loss of brake
fluid
In the event the brake system
requires frequent additions of fluid,
the vehicle should be inspected by
an Authorized Kia Dealer.
CAUTION
Do not allow brake fluid to contactthe vehicle's body paint, as paint damage will result. Brake fluid,which has been exposed to open airfor an extended time should never be used as its quality cannot beguaranteed. It should be thrown out. Don't put in the wrong kind offluid. A few drops of mineral-based oil, such as engine oil, in your brakesystem can damage brake systemparts.
OVQ067024N
Maintenance
22
6
FUSES
A vehicle’s electrical system is protected
from electrical overload damage by
fuses. This vehicle has three fuse panels, one
located in the driver’s side panel bolster,
another in the cargo area, the other in
the engine compartment near the bat-
tery.
If any of your vehicle’s lights, acces-
sories, or controls do not work, check the
appropriate circuit fuse. If a fuse has
blown, the element inside the fuse will be
melted.
If the electrical system does not work,
first check the driver’s side fuse panel.
Always replace a blown fuse with one of
the same rating.
If the replacement fuse blows, this indi-
cates an electrical problem. Avoid using
the system involved and immediately
consult an Authorized Kia Dealer.
Three kinds of fuses are used: blade type
for lower amperage rating and cartridgetype, fusible link for higher amperage rat-ings.
Fuse replacement
1VQA4037
Normal
Normal
Blade type
Cartridge type
Fusible link Blown
Blown
Normal Blown
WARNING - Fuse replace-
ment
Never replace a fuse with any-
thing but another fuse of the
same rating.
A higher capacity fuse could cause damage possibly a fire.
Never install a wire or aluminum foil instead of the proper fuse -
even as a temporary repair. It may
cause extensive wiring damage
and a possible fire.
CAUTION
Do not use a screwdriver or anyother metal object to remove fuses because it may cause a short circuitand damage the system.