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Maintenance
67
At least monthly:
Check the coolant level in the enginecoolant reservoir.
Check the operation of all exterior lights, including the stoplights, turn sig-
nals and hazard warning flashers.
Check the inflation pressures of all tires including the spare.
At least twice a year (i.e., every Spring and Fall) :
Check the radiator, heater and air con- ditioning hoses for leaks or damage.
Check the windshield washer spray and wiper operation. Clean the wiper
blades with clean cloth dampened with
washer fluid.
Check the headlight alignment.
Check the 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 the body and door drain holes.
Lubricate the door hinges and checks,and hood hinges.
Lubricate the door and hood locks and latches.
Lubricate the door rubber weather- strips.
Check the air conditioning system.
Check the power steering fluid level.
Inspect and lubricate automatic transaxle linkage and controls.
Clean the battery and terminals.
Check the brake/clutch fluid level.
Page 335 of 397
725
Maintenance
ENGINE OIL
Checking the engine oil level
1. Be sure the vehicle is on level ground.
2. Start the engine and allow it to reachnormal operating temperature.
3. Turn the engine off and wait for a few minutes (about 5 minutes) for the oil to
return to the oil pan.
4. Pull the dipstick out, wipe it clean, and reinsert it fully. 5. Pull the dipstick out again and check
the level. The level should be between
F and L.
If it is near or at L, add enough oil to bring
the level to F.Do not overfill.
Use a funnel to help prevent oil from
being spilled on engine components.
Use only the specified engine oil. (Refer to “Recommended lubricants and capaci-ties” in section 8.)
WARNING - Radiator hose
Be very careful not to touch the
radiator hose when checking or
adding the engine oil as it may be
hot enough to burn you.
CAUTION - Replace engine oil
Do not overfill with engine oil.
Engine damage may result.
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Maintenance
26
7
ENGINE COOLANT
Changing the engine oil and filter
Have engine oil and filter changed by an
authorized Kia dealer according to the
Maintenance Schedule at the beginning
of this section. The high-pressure cooling system has a
reservoir filled with year-round antifreeze
coolant. The reservoir is filled at the fac-
tory.
Check the antifreeze protection and
coolant level at least once a year, at the
beginning of the winter season, and
before traveling to a colder climate.
Checking the coolant level
Check the condition and connections of
all cooling system hoses and heater
hoses. Replace any swollen or deterio-
rated hoses.
The coolant level should be filled
between F (MAX) and L (MIN) marks on
the side of the coolant reservoir when the
engine is cool.
WARNING - Cooling fan
Use caution when work-
ing near the blade of the
cooling fan. The electric
motor (cooling fan) is
controlled by engine
coolant temperature, refrigerant
pressure and vehicle speed. It may
sometimes operate even when the
engine is not running.
OAM072005
WARNING
Used engine oil may cause irrita-
tion or cancer of the skin if left in
contact with the skin for prolonged
periods of time. Used engine oil
contains chemicals that have
caused cancer in laboratory ani-
mals. Always protect your skin by
washing your hands thoroughly
with soap and warm water as soon
as possible after handling used oil.
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727
Maintenance
If the coolant level is low, add enough
specified coolant to provide protection
against freezing and corrosion. Bring the
level to F (MAX), but do not overfill. If fre-
quent coolant addition is required, see an
authorized Kia dealer for a cooling sys-
tem inspection.
Recommended engine coolant
When adding coolant, use only deion-ized water or soft water for your vehicle
and never mix hard water in the
coolant filled at the factory. An improp-
er coolant mixture can result in serious
malfunction or engine damage.
The engine in your vehicle has alu- minum engine parts and must be pro-
tected by an ethylene-glycol-based
coolant to prevent corrosion and freez-
ing.
DO NOT USE alcohol or methanol coolant or mix them with the specified
coolant.
Do not use a solution that contains more than 60% antifreeze or less than
35% antifreeze, which would reduce
the effectiveness of the solution. For mixture percentage, refer to the fol-
lowing table.-15°C (5°F) 35
65
-25°C (-13°F) 40 60
-35°C (-31°F) 50 50
-45°C (-49°F) 60 40
Ambient
Temperature Mixture Percentage (volume)
Antifreeze Water
WARNING
Radiator cap
Do not remove the radiator cap
when the engine and radiator are
hot. Scalding hot coolant and
steam may blow out under pres-
sure.
OAM072006
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Maintenance
30
7
It is recommended that the automatic
transaxle fluid should be checked by an
authorized Kia dealer.
In severe conditions, the fluid should be
changed at an authorized Kia dealer in
accordance to the scheduled mainte-
nance at the beginning of this chapter.
Checking the washer fluid level
Check the fluid level in the washer fluid
reservoir and add fluid if necessary. Plain
water may be used if washer fluid is not
available. However, use washer solvent
with antifreeze characteristics in cold cli-
mates to prevent freezing.
WARNING - Windshield
fluid
Do not drink the windshield washer
fluid. The windshield washer fluid is
poisonous to humans and animals.
WARNING - Flammable
fluid
Do not allow the washer fluid to
come in contact with open flames
or sparks. The windshield washer
fluid is flammable under certain cir-
cumstances. This can result in a
fire.
WASHER FLUID
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE
FLUID
OUB071009
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735
Maintenance
Always read the following
instructions carefully when han-
dling a battery.
If any electrolyte gets into your eyes, flush your eyes with clean
water for at least 15 minutes and
get immediate medical attention.
If electrolyte gets on your skin,
thoroughly wash the contacted
area. If you feel pain or burning
sensation, get medical attention
immediately. An inappropriately disposed bat-tery can be harmful to the envi-
ronment and human health.
Dispose the battery according to
your local law(s) or regulation.
The battery contains lead. Do
not dispose of it after use.
Please return the battery to an
authorized Kia dealer to be recy-
cled. When you don’t use the vehicle for a long
time in the low temperature area, sepa-
rate the battery and keep it indoors.
WARNING - Risk of
explosion
Keep Lit cigarettes and all
other flames or sparks
away from the battery.
The battery contains hydro-
gen -- a highly combustible
gas, which will explode if it
comes in contact with a
flame or spark.
WARNING - Sulfuric acidin batteries
Keep batteries out of the
reach of children because
batteries contain highly
corrosive SULFURIC ACID
and electrolytes. Do not
allow battery acid to con-
tact your skin, eyes, cloth-
ing or paint finish.
Wear eye protection when charging or working near a
battery. Always provide
ventilation when working in
an enclosed space.
WARNING - Recharging
battery
Never attempt to recharge the bat-
tery when the battery cables are
connected.
WARNING - Risk of elec-
trocution
Never touch the electrical ignition
system while the vehicle is run-
ning. This system works with high
voltage which can "zap" you.
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737
Maintenance
TIRES AND WHEELS
Tire care
For proper maintenance, safety, and
maximum fuel economy, you must
always maintain recommended tire
inflation pressures and stay within
the load limits and weight distribution
recommended for your vehicle.
Recommended cold tire inflation
pressures
All tire pressures (including the
spare) should be checked when the
tires are cold. “Cold Tires” means the
vehicle has not been driven for at
least three hours or driven less than
1.6 km (one mile).
Recommended pressures must be
maintained for the best ride, top vehi-
cle handling, and minimum tire wear.
For recommended inflation pressure
refer to “Tire and wheels” in section
8.All specifications (sizes and pres-
sures) can be found on a label
attached to the driver’s side center
pillar.
WARNING - Tire underin-
flation
Inflate your tires consistent with
the instructions provided in this
manual. Severe underinflation
(70 kPa (10 psi) or more) can
lead to severe heat build-up,
causing blowouts, tread separa-
tion and other tire failures that
can result in the loss of vehicle
control. This risk is much higher
on hot days and when driving
for long periods at high speeds.
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Maintenance
40
7
Rotate radial tires that have an
asymmetric tread pattern only from
front to rear and not from right to left.
Do not use the compact spare tire for
tire rotation. Wheel alignment and tire balance
The wheels on your vehicle were
aligned and balanced carefully at the
factory to give you the longest tire life
and best overall performance.
In most cases, you will not need to
have your wheels aligned again.
However, if you notice unusual tire
wear or your vehicle pulling one way
or the other, the alignment may need
to be reset.
If you notice your vehicle vibrating
when driving on a smooth road, your
wheels may need to be rebalanced.
Tire replacement
If the tire is worn evenly, a tread wear
indicator will appear as a solid band
across the tread. This shows there is
less than 1.6 mm (1/16 inch) of tread
left on the tire. Replace the tire when
this happens.
Do not wait for the band to appear
across the entire tread before replac-
ing the tire.
WARNING- Mixing tire
types
Do not mix bias ply and radial
ply tires under any circum-
stances. This may cause unusu-
al handling characteristics.
CAUTION - Wheel weight
Improper wheel weights can damage your vehicle's alu-minum wheels. Use onlyapproved wheel weights.
OEN076053
Tread wear indicator