Driving your vehicle
4
5
Before entering vehicle
• Be sure that all windows, outside
mirror(s), and outside lights are clean.
Check the condition of the tires.
Check under the vehicle for any sign of leaks.
Be sure there are no obstacles behind you if you intend to back up. Necessary inspections
Fluid levels, such as engine oil,
engine coolant, brake fluid, and
washer fluid should be checked on a
regular basis, with the exact interval
depending on the fluid. Further
details are provided in section 7,“Maintenance”.
Before starting
Close and lock all doors.
Position the seat so that all con-
trols are easily reached.
Adjust the inside and outside rearview mirrors.
Be sure that all lights work.
Check all gauges.
Check the operation of warning lights when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position.
Release the parking brake and make sure the brake warning lightgoes out.
For safe operation, be sure you are
familiar with your vehicle and itsequipment.
BEFORE DRIVING
WARNING
All passengers must be proper-
ly belted whenever the vehicle
is moving. Refer to “Seat belts”
in section 3 for more informa-
tion on their proper use.
WARNING
Driving while distracted can
result in a loss of vehicle con-
trol, that may lead to an acci-
dent, severe personal injury,
and death. The driver’s primary
responsibility is in the safe and
legal operation of a vehicle, and
use of any handheld devices,
other equipment, or vehicle sys-
tems which take the driver’s
eyes, attention and focus away
from the safe operation of a
vehicle or which are not permis-
sible by law should never beused during operation of the
vehicle.
5103
Driving your vehicle
Use high quality ethylene gly- col coolant
Your vehicle is delivered with high
quality ethylene glycol coolant in the
cooling system. It is the only type ofcoolant that should be used because
it helps prevent corrosion in the cool-
ing system, lubricates the water
pump and prevents freezing. Be sure
to replace or replenish your coolantin accordance with the maintenance
schedule in section 7. Before winter,
have your coolant tested to assure
that its freezing point is sufficient for
the temperatures anticipated during
the winter.
Check battery and cables
Winter puts additional burdens on
the battery system. Visually inspect
the battery and cables as described
in section 7. We recommend that the
level of charge in your battery be
checked by an authorized Kia dealer.Change to "winter weight" oil
if necessary In some climates it is recommended
that a lower viscosity "winter weight"
oil be used during cold weather. See
section 8 for recommendations. If
you aren't sure what weight oil you
should use, we recommend that you
consult an authorized Kia dealer.
Check spark plugs and igni- tion system
Inspect your spark plugs as
described in section 7 and replace
them if necessary. Also check all
ignition wiring and components to be
sure they are not cracked, worn or
damaged in any way.
CAUTION
The AutoSock (fabric snow
chain) that are the wrong sizeor improperly installed can damage your vehicle's brakelines, suspension, body andwheels.
Stop driving and retighten the AutoSock (fabric snow chain)any time you hear them hittingthe vehicle.
WARNING - Tire chains
The use of the AutoSock (fab- ric snow chain) may adversely
affect vehicle handling.
Do not exceed 30 km/h (20 mph) or the AutoSock (fabric
snow chain) manufacturer’srecommended speed limit,
whichever is lower.
Drive carefully and avoid bumps, holes, sharp turns, and
other road hazards, which may
cause the vehicle to bounce.
Avoid sharp turns or locked- wheel braking.
What to do in an emergency
8
6
IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS
If your temperature gauge indicates
overheating, you will experience a
loss of power, or hear loud pinging or
knocking, the engine is probably too
hot. If this happens, you should:
1.Pull off the road and stop as soon as it is safe to do so.
2.Place the shift lever in P (Park) and set the parking brake. If the air con-
ditioning is on, turn it off.
3.If engine coolant is running out under the car or steam is coming
out from the hood, stop the engine.Do not open the hood until the
coolant has stopped running or the
steaming has stopped. If there is no
visible loss of engine coolant and
no steam, leave the engine running
and check to be sure the engine
cooling fan is operating. If the fan is
not running, turn the engine off. 4.Check to see if the water pump
drive belt is missing. If it is not miss-
ing, check to see that it is tight. If
the drive belt seems to be satisfac-
tory, check for coolant leaking from
the radiator, hoses or under the car.(If the air conditioning had been in
use, it is normal for cold water to be
draining from it when you stop).
5.If the water pump drive belt is bro- ken or engine coolant is leakingout, stop the engine immediately
and we recommend that you call
an authorized Kia dealer. 6.If you cannot find the cause of the
overheating, wait until the engine
temperature has returned to nor-
mal. Then, if coolant has been lost,carefully add coolant to the reser-
voir to bring the fluid level in the
reservoir up to the halfway mark.
7.Proceed with caution, keeping alert for further signs of overheat-
ing. If overheating happens again,
we recommend that you call an
authorized Kia dealer.
WARNING
While the engine is running,
keep hair, hands and clothing
away from moving parts suchas the fan and drive belts to pre-
vent injury.
WARNING
Do not remove the radiator cap
when the engine is hot. This can
allow coolant to blow out of theopening and cause serious
burns.
CAUTION
Serious loss of coolant indi- cates there is a leak in thecooling system and we recom- mend that the system bechecked by an authorized Kiadealer.
When the engine overheats from low engine coolant, sud-denly adding engine coolantmay cause cracks in theengine. To prevent damage, add engine coolant slowly insmall quantities.
Maintenance
6
7
OWNER MAINTENANCE
The following lists are vehicle checks and inspections that should be per-
formed at the frequencies indicated
to help ensure safe, dependable
operation of your vehicle.
If you have any question, we recom-
mend that you consult an authorized
Kia dealer.
These Owner Maintenance Checks
are generally not covered by war-
ranties and you may be charged for
labor, parts and lubricants used. Owner maintenance schedule
When you stop for fuel:
• Check the engine oil level.
Check coolant level in coolant
reservoir.
Check the windshield washer fluid level.
Look for low or under-inflated tires.
While operating your vehicle:
Note any changes in the sound of the exhaust or any smell of
exhaust fumes in the vehicle.
Check for vibrations in the steering wheel. Notice any increased steer-
ing effort or looseness in the steer-
ing wheel, or change in its straight-ahead position.
Notice if your vehicle constantly turns slightly or “pulls” to one side
when traveling on smooth, levelroad.
When stopping, listen and check for unusual sounds, pulling to one
side, increased brake pedal travel
or “hard-to-push” brake pedal.
If any slipping or changes in the operation of your transaxle occurs,
check the transaxle fluid level.
Check automatic transaxle P (Park) function.
Check parking brake.
Check for fluid leaks under your vehicle (water dripping from the air
conditioning system during or after
use is normal).
WARNING
Be careful when checking your
engine coolant level when the
engine is hot. Scalding hot
coolant and steam may blow
out under pressure. This could
cause burns or other serious
injury.
77
Maintenance
At least monthly:
Check coolant level in the enginecoolant reservoir.
Check the operation of all exterior lights, including the stoplights, turn
signals and hazard warning flash-
ers.
Check the inflation pressures of all tires including the spare.
At least twice a year
(i.e., every Spring and Fall):
Check radiator, heater and air con- ditioning hoses for leaks or dam-
age.
Check windshield washer spray and wiper operation. Clean wiper
blades with clean cloth dampened
with washer fluid.
Check headlight alignment.
Check muffler, exhaust pipes, shields and clamps.
Check the lap/shoulder belts for wear and function.
Check for worn tires and loose wheel lug nuts.
At least once a year:
Clean body and door drain holes.
Lubricate door hinges and checks,and hood hinges.
Lubricate door and hood locks and latches.
Lubricate door rubber weather- strips.
Check the air conditioning system.
Check the power steering fluid level.
Inspect and lubricate automatic transaxle linkage and controls.
Clean battery and terminals.
Check the brake fluid level.
79
Maintenance
NORMAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE - EXCEPT EUROPE, FOR RUSSIA
The following maintenance services must be performed to ensure good emission control and performance. Keep
receipts for all vehicle emission services to protect your warranty. Where both mileage and time are shown, the fre-
quency of service is determined by whichever occurs first. *1
: Inspect drive belt tensioner, idler and alternator pulley and
if necessary correct or replace.
* 2
: Check the engine oil level and leak every 500 km (350
miles) or before starting a long trip.
* 3
: The engine oil level should be checked regularly and main-
tained properly. Operating with an insufficient amount of oil
can damage the engine, and such damage is not covered
by warranty.
* 4
: This maintenance schedule depends on fuel quality. It is
applicable only when using a qualified fuel <"EN590 or
equivalent">. If the diesel fuel specifications don't meet the
EN590, it must be replaced more frequently. Kia recom-
mends "every 7,500km inspection, every 15,000km replace-ment".
If there are some important safety matters like fuel flow
restriction, surging, loss of power, hard starting problem etc.,replace the fuel filter immediately regardless of maintenance
schedule and we recommand that you consult an authorized
Kia dealer for details
* 5
: For your convenience, it can be replaced prior to it's interval
when you do maintenance of other items.
* 6
: Inspect for excessive valve noise and/or engine vibration
and adjust if necessary. We recommended that the system
should be checked by an authorized Kia dealer. *
7
: The fuel filter is considered to be maintenance free but peri-
odic inspection is recommended for this maintenance
schedule depends on fuel quality. If there are some impor-
tant matters like fuel flow restriction, surging, loss of power,
hard starting problem etc, replace the fuel filter immediate-
ly regardless of maintenance schedule and we recommand
that you consult an authorized Kia dealer for details.
* 8
: When adding coolant, use only deionized water or soft
water for your vehicle and never mix hard water in the
coolant filled at the factory. An improper coolant mixture can
result in serious malfunction or engine damage.
* 9
: Inspect and if necessary correct or replace. Inspect drive
belt tensioner, idler and alternator pulley and if necessary
correct or replace.
* 10
: If good quality gasolines that meet Europe Fuel standards
(EN228) or equivalents including fuel additives is not avail-
able, one bottle of additive is recommended. Additives are
available from your authorized Kia dealer along with infor-
mation on how to use them. Do not mix other additives.
* 11
: Manual transaxle fluid, and differential oil should be
changed anytime they have been submerged in water.
Maintenance
26
7
ENGINE COOLANT
The high-pressure cooling system
has a reservoir filled with year-round
antifreeze coolant. The reservoir is
filled at the factory.
Check the antifreeze protection and
coolant level at least once a year, atthe beginning of the winter season,
and before traveling to a colder cli-
mate. Checking the coolant level
WARNING
Removing radiator cap
Never attempt to remove the radiator cap while the engine
is operating or hot. Doing somight lead to cooling system
and engine damage and could
result in serious personal
injury from escaping hotcoolant or steam.
Turn the engine off and wait until it cools down. Use
extreme care when removing
the radiator cap. Wrap a thick
towel around it, and turn it
counterclockwise slowly to
the first stop. Step back while
the pressure is released fromthe cooling system.
(Continued)
(Continued)When you are sure all the pressure has been released,
press down on the cap, using
a thick towel, and continue
turning counterclockwise to
remove it.
Even if the engine is not oper- ating, do not remove the radi-ator cap or the drain plugwhile the engine and radiator
are hot. Hot coolant and
steam may still blow out
under pressure, causing seri-
ous injury.
CAUTION
When the engine overheats
from low engine coolant, sud-denly adding engine coolantmay cause cracks in theengine. To prevent damage, add engine coolant slowly insmall quantities.
Do not drive with no engine coolant. It may cause waterpump failure and engine seizure, etc.
727
Maintenance
Check the condition and connections of all cooling system hoses and
heater hoses. Replace any swollen
or deteriorated hoses.
The coolant level should be filled
between F and L marks on the side
of the coolant reservoir when theengine is cool.
If the coolant level is low, add enough
distilled (deionized) water. Bring the
level to F (Full) , but do not overfill.
If frequent additions are required, we recommend that the system be
inspected by an authorized Kia deal-
er.
Recommended engine coolant
When adding coolant, use onlydeionized water or soft water for
your vehicle and never mix hard
water in the coolant filled at the fac-
tory. An improper coolant mixture
can result in serious malfunction or
engine damage.
The engine in your vehicle has alu- minum engine parts and must be
protected by an ethylene-glycol-
based coolant to prevent corrosionand freezing.
DO NOT USE alcohol or methanol coolant or mix them with the spec-ified coolant.
Do not use a solution that contains more than 60% antifreeze or less
than 35% antifreeze, which would
reduce the effectiveness of thesolution.WARNING
The electric motor
(cooling fan) is con-
trolled by engine
coolant temperature,
refrigerant pressure
and vehicle speed. It may some-
times operate even when the
engine is not running. Use
extreme caution when working
near the blades of the cooling
fan so that you are not injured
by a rotating fan blades. As theengine coolant temperature
decreases, the electric motor
will automatically shut off. Thisis a normal condition.
OBH078004