2014 KIA Optima brakes

Driving your vehicle
56
5
Don't let your parking brake
freeze
Under some conditions your parking
brake can freeze in the engaged
position. This is most likely to hap-
pen when there is an accumulation
of snow or ice around or near the
rear brakes or if the brakes are wet.
If there is a risk the parking brake
may freeze, apply it only temporarily
while you put the shift lever in P
(automatic transaxle) and block the
rear wheels so the vehicle cannot
roll. Then release the parking brake.
Don't let ice and snow accu-
mulate underneath
Under some conditions, snow and
ice can build up under the fenders
and interfere with the steering. When
driving in severe winter conditions
where this may happen, you should
periodically check underneath the
car to be sure the movement of the
front wheels and the steering com-
ponents is not obstructed.
Carry emergency equipment
Depending on the severity of the
weather you should carry appropri-
ate emergency equipment. Some of
the items you may want to carry
include tow straps or chains, flash-
light, emergency flares, sand, a
shovel, jumper cables, a window
scraper, gloves, ground cloth, cover-
alls, a blanket, etc.
TRAILER TOWING
We do not recommend using this
vehicle for trailer towing.

63
What to do in an emergency
If the engine stalls at a cross-
road or crossing
If the engine stalls at a crossroad or
crossing, set the shift lever in the N
(Neutral) position and then push the
vehicle to a safe place.
If you have a flat tire while
driving
If a tire goes flat while you are driv-
ing:
1.Take your foot off the acceleratorpedal and let the vehicle slow
down while driving straight ahead.
Do not apply the brakes immedi-
ately or attempt to pull off the road
as this may cause a loss of control.
When the vehicle has slowed down
to such a speed that it is safe to do
so, brake carefully and pull off the
road. Drive off the road as far as
possible and park on a firm level
ground. If you are on a divided
highway, do not park in the median
area between the two traffic lanes. 2.When the vehicle is stopped, turn
on your emergency hazard flash-
ers, set the parking brake and put
the transaxle in P (automatic
transaxle).
3.Have all passengers get out of the vehicle. Be sure they all get out on
the side of the vehicle that is away
from traffic.
4.When changing a flat tire, follow the instruction provided later in this
chapter.
If engine stalls while driving
1.Reduce your speed gradually,keeping a straight line. Move cau-
tiously off the road to a safe place.
2.Turn on your emergency flashers.
3.Try to start the engine again. If your vehicle will not start, contact an
authorized Kia dealer or seek other
qualified assistance.
IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY WHILE DRIVING

What to do in an emergency
24
6
Removable towing hook
(if equipped)
1.Open the trunk, and remove the
towing hook from the tool case.
2.Remove the hole cover pressing the lower part of the cover on the
bumper.
3.Install the towing hook by turning it clockwise into the hole until it is
fully secured.
4.Remove the towing hook and install the cover after use.
Emergency towing
If towing is necessary, have it
done by an authorized Kia dealer
or a commercial tow truck service. If towing service is not available in an
emergency, your vehicle may be
temporarily towed using a cable or
chain secured to the emergency tow-
ing hook under the rear of the vehi-
cle. Use extreme caution when tow-
ing the vehicle. A driver must be in
the vehicle to steer it and operate the
brakes.
Towing in this manner may be done
only on hard-surfaced roads for a
short distance and at low speeds.
Also, the wheels, axles, power train,
steering and brakes must all be in
good condition.
Do not use the tow hooks to pull a
vehicle out of mud, sand or other
conditions from which the vehicle
cannot be driven out under its own
power.
Avoid towing a vehicle heavier than the vehicle doing the towing.
The drivers of both vehicles should communicate with each other fre-
quently.
OTF064009
OTF064010
OTF064011
■Front (if equipped)
■Rear

What to do in an emergency
26
6
Emergency towing precautions
Place the ignition switch in ACC so
the steering wheel isn’t locked.
Place the transaxle shift lever in N (Neutral).
Release the parking bake.
Press the brake pedal with more force than normal since you will
have reduced brake performance.
More steering effort will be required because the power steer-
ing system will be disabled.
If you are driving down a long hill, the brakes may overheat and brake
performance will be reduced. Stop
often and let the brakes cool off. When towing your vehicle in an
emergency without wheel dollies :
1.Set the ignition switch in the ACC
position.
2.Place the transaxle shift lever in N (Neutral).
3.Release the parking brake.CAUTION - Automatic transaxle
If the car is being towed with all four wheels on the ground,it can be towed only from thefront. Be sure that thetransaxle is in neutral. Be surethe steering is unlocked byplacing the ignition switch inthe ACC position. A drivermust be in the towed vehicleto operate the steering andbrakes.
To avoid serious damage to the automatic transaxle, limitthe vehicle speed to 15 km/h(10 mph) and drive less than1.5 km (1 mile) when towing.
Before towing, check the auto- matic transaxle for fluid leaksunder your vehicle. If the auto-matic transaxle fluid is leak-ing, a flatbed equipment ortowing dolly must be used.
CAUTION - Towing gear
position
Always place the transaxle shiftlever in Neutral (N) when towingyour vehicle. Failure to place thetransaxle shift lever in N(Neutral) may cause internaldamage to the transaxle.

Maintenance
87
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE SERVICE
Follow the Normal Maintenance
Schedule if the vehicle is usually
operated where none of the following
conditions apply. If any of the following
conditions apply, follow the
Maintenance Under Severe Usage
Conditions.
Repeated short distance driving.
Driving in dusty conditions orsandy areas.
Extensive use of brakes.
Driving in areas where salt or other corrosive materials are being used.
Driving on rough or muddy roads.
Driving in mountainous areas.
Extended periods of idling or low speed operation.
Driving for a prolonged period in cold temperatures and/or extreme-
ly humid climates.
More than 50% driving in heavy city traffic during hot weather
above 32°C (90°F).If your vehicle is operated under theabove conditions, you shouldinspect, replace or refill more fre-quently than the following NormalMaintenance Schedule. After 120months or 240,000 km (150,000miles) continue to follow the pre-scribed maintenance intervals.

Maintenance
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7
BRAKE FLUID
Checking the brake fluid level
Check the fluid level in the reservoir
periodically. 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 thor-
oughly to prevent brake fluid contam-
ination. If the level is low, add fluid to the
MAX level. The level will fall with
accumulated mileage. This is a nor-
mal condition associated with the
wear of the brake linings.
If the fluid level is excessively low,
have the brake/clutch* system
checked by an authorized Kia dealer.
Use only the specified brake fluid.
(Refer to “Recommended lubricantsand capacities” in chapter 8.)
Never mix different types of fluid.
In the event the brake system
requires frequent additions of fluid,
the vehicle should be inspected by
an authorized Kia dealer.
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.
Brake fluid, which has been exposed
to open air for an extended time
should never be used as its quality
cannot be guaranteed. It should be
disposed of properly.
CAUTION - Brake fluid
Do not allow brake fluid to con-tact the vehicle's body paint, aspaint damage will result.
CAUTION - Proper fluid
Only use brake fluid in brakesystem. Small amounts ofimproper fluids (such as engineoil) can cause damage to thebrake system.
OTF070008

Maintenance
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7
APPEARANCE CARE
Exterior care
Exterior general caution
It is very important to follow the label
directions when using any chemical
cleaner or polish. Read all warning
and caution statements that appear
on the label.
Finish maintenance
Washing
To help protect your vehicle’s finish
from rust and deterioration, wash it
thoroughly and frequently at least
once a month with lukewarm or cold
water.
If you use your vehicle for off-road
driving, you should wash it after each
off-road trip. Pay special attention to
the removal of any accumulation of
salt, dirt, mud, and other foreign
materials. Make sure the drain holes
in the lower edges of the doors and
rocker panels are kept clear and
clean.
Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial pollution and similar
deposits can damage your vehicle’s
finish if not removed immediately.
Even prompt washing with plain
water may not completely remove all
these deposits. A mild soap, safe for
use on painted surfaces, may be
used.
After washing, rinse the vehicle thor-
oughly with lukewarm or cold water.
Do not allow soap to dry on the fin-
ish. After washing the vehicle, test the
brakes while driving slowly to see if
they have been affected by water. If
braking performance is impaired, dry
the brakes by applying them lightly
while maintaining a slow forward
speed.
CAUTION - Headlight
Lens
To prevent damage, do not
clean headlight lens with chem-ical solvents or strong deter-gents.

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Index
Checking the brake fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-34
Brake system. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20 Anti-lock brake system (ABS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-24
Electronic stability control (ESC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-26
Good braking practices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-32
Hill-start assist control (HAC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-29
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-22
Power brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-20
Vehicle stability management (VSM) . . . . . . . . . . . 5-30
Bulb wattage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
Child restraint system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-28 Lower anchor system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32
Tether anchorage system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-32
Using a child restraint system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-29
Climate control air filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-39 Filter inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-39
Filter replacement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-39
Cruise control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33 To cancel cruise control, do one of the following . . 5-35
To decrease the cruising speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-34
To increase cruise control set speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-34
To set cruise control speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-33
To temporarily accelerate with the cruise control on. . 5-35
To turn cruise control off, do one of the following. . 5-36 Defroster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-10\
9
Rear window defroster . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-109
Dimensions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-\
2
Door locks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-\
18 Auto door lock/unlock feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-20
Child-protector rear door lock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-21
Impact sensing door unlock system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-20
Operating door locks from inside the vehicle . . . . . 4-18
Operating door locks from outside the vehicle . . . . 4-18
Drive mode integrated control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-38 Drive mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-38
Driver position memory system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39 Easy access function . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-40
Storing positions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-39
Economical operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-48
Emergency starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5 Jump starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Push-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
Emission control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-99
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. . . 8-2
Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6, 7-3
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-31 Changing the coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-33
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