
691
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 of
coolant 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 coolant
in accordance with the maintenance
schedule in chapter 8. 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 chapter 8. The level of charge in
your battery can be checked by an
authorized Kia dealer or a service
station.
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
chapter 9 for recommendations. If
you aren't sure what weight oil you
should use, consult an authorized
Kia dealer.
Check spark plugs and ignition
system
Inspect your spark plugs as
described in chapter 8 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.
To keep locks from freezing
To keep the locks from freezing,
squirt an approved de-icer fluid or
glycerine into the key opening. If a
lock is covered with ice, squirt it with
an approved de-icing fluid to remove
the ice. If the lock is frozen internally,
you may be able to thaw it out by
using a heated key. Handle the heat-
ed key with care to avoid injury.
Use approved window washer
anti-freeze in system
To keep the water in the window
washer system from freezing, add an
approved window washer anti-freeze
solution in accordance with instruc-
tions on the container. Window wash-
er anti-freeze is available from an
authorized Kia dealer and most auto
parts outlets. Do not use engine
coolant or other types of anti-freeze
as these may damage the paint finish.

Driving your vehicle
98
6
When you are ready to leave after
parking on a hill
1. With the automatic transaxle in P
(Park), apply your brakes and hold
the brake pedal down while you:
and
2. Slowly remove your foot from the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.Maintenance when trailer tow-
ing
Your vehicle will need service more
often when you regularly pull a trail-
er. Important items to pay particular
attention to include engine oil, auto-
matic transaxle fluid, axle lubricant
and cooling system fluid. Brake con-
dition is another important item to
frequently check. Each item is cov-
ered in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly. If
you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to
review these sections before you
start your trip.
Don’t forget to also maintain your
trailer and hitch. Follow the mainte-
nance schedule that accompanied
your trailer and check it periodically.
Preferably, conduct the check at the
start of each day’s driving. Most
importantly, all hitch nuts and bolts
should be tight. When towing check transaxle fluid
more frequently.
CAUTION - Air condition
Do not use the A/C while usingyour vehicle to tow uphill. Dueto higher load during trailerusage, overheating might occuron hot days or during uphilldriving.

What to do in an emergency
47
IF THE ENGINE WILL NOT START
If engine doesn't turn over or
turns over slowly
1. Be sure the shift lever is in N(Neutral) or P (Park) and the
emergency brake is set.
2. Check the battery connections to be sure they are clean and tight.
3. Turn on the interior light. If the light dims or goes out when you oper-
ate the starter, the battery is dis-
charged.
4. Check the starter connections to be sure they are securely tight-
ened.
5. Do not push or pull the vehicle to start it. See instructions for "Jump
starting".
If engine turns over normally
but does not start
1. Check the fuel level.
2. With the ignition switch in theLOCK position, check all connec-
tors at the ignition coils and spark
plugs. Reconnect any that may be
disconnected or loose.
3. Check the fuel line in the engine compartment.
4. If the engine still does not start, call an authorized Kia dealer or
seek other qualified assistance.
WARNING - Push/
pull start
Do not push or pull the vehicle
to start it. Push or pull starting
may cause the catalytic con-
verter to overload and create a
fire hazard.

Maintenance
Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-3
Maintenance services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
• Owner’s responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-4
• Owner maintenance precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-5
Owner maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
• Owner maintenance schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-6
Scheduled maintenance service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items . . . 8-24
Engine oil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-28
• Checking the engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-28
• Changing the engine oil and filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-29
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-30
• Checking the coolant level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-30
• Changing the coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-33
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-34
• Checking the brake fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-34
Washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-35
• Checking the washer fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-35
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-36
• Checking the parking brake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-36
Air cleaner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-37
• Filter replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-37
Climate control air filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-39
• Filter inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-39
Wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-41
• Blade inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-41
• Blade replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-41
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-\
44
• For best battery service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-44
• Recharging the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-45
• Reset items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-46\
Tires and wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-47
• Tire care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
8-47
• Recommended cold tire inflation pressures . . . . . . . 8-47
• Tire pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-48
• Checking tire inflation pressure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-48
• Tire rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-49
• Wheel alignment and tire balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-50
• Tire replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-51
• Wheel replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-52
• Tire traction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-52
• Tire maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-52
• Tire sidewall labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-52
• All season tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-59
• Summer tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-59
• Snow tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-\
59
• Radial-ply tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-59
• Low aspect ratio tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-60
8

83
Maintenance
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
OQLE075095/OQLA075109
■ ■THETA 2.4L - GDI
❈ The actual engine compartment in the vehicle may differ from the illustration.
■ ■THETA 2.0L T-GDI 1. Engine coolant reservoir
2. Engine oil filler cap
3. Brake fluid reservoir
4. Air cleaner
5. Fuse box
6. Negative battery terminal
7. Positive battery terminal
8. Engine oil dipstick
9.Windshield washer fluid reservoir

Maintenance
68
OWNER MAINTENANCE
The following lists are vehicle checks
and inspections that should be per-
formed by the owner or an author-
ized Kia dealer at the frequencies
indicated to help ensure safe,
dependable operation of your vehi-
cle.
Any adverse conditions should be
brought to the attention of your deal-
er as soon as possible.
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 the coolant level in coolantreservoir.
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, level
road.
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 the automatic transaxle P (Park) function.
Check the parking brake.
Check for fluid leaks under your vehicle (water dripping from the air
conditioning system during or after
use is normal).
WARNING - Hot coolant
Be careful when checking your
engine coolant level when the
engine is hot. Scalding hot
coolant and steam may blow
out under pressure.

89
Maintenance
Normal Maintenance Schedule
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
frequency of service is determined by whichever occurs first.
12,000 km (7,500 miles) or 6 months
❑Inspect air cleaner filter
❑Inspect battery condition
❑Inspect cooling system hoses and connections
❑Inspect clutch (if equipped) and brake pedal free play
❑Inspect vacuum hose
❑Inspect intercooler, in/out hose, air intake hose
- Turbo GDI (Every 12,000 km (7,500 miles) or 12 months)
❑Replace engine oil and filter (2.4 GDI) *3
(12,000 km (7,500 miles) or 12 months)
❑ Add fuel additive *4 (12,000 km (7,500 miles) or 12 months)
❑Rotate tire position (Every 12,000 km (7,500 miles))
24,000 km (15,000 miles) or 12 months
❑Inspect air cleaner filter
❑Inspect all latch, hinges and locks
❑Inspect battery condition
❑Inspect cooling system hoses and connections
❑Inspect clutch (if equipped) and brake pedal free play
❑Inspect vacuum hose
❑Inspect air conditioning refrigerant
❑Inspect brake hoses and lines
❑Inspect drive shafts and boots
❑Inspect exhaust pipe and muffler
❑Inspect front brake disc/pads, calipers
❑Inspect propeller shaft (AWD)
❑Inspect rear brake disc/pads
❑Inspect steering gear box, linkage & boots/lower arm ball joint,
upper arm ball joint
❑ Inspect suspension mounting bolts
(Continued)
*3Engine oil (2.0 T-GDI) Replace every 10,000 km (6,500 miles) or 6 months

Maintenance
10
8
36,000 km (22,500 miles) or 18 months
❑ Inspect air cleaner filter
❑Inspect battery condition
❑Inspect cooling system hoses and connections
❑Inspect clutch (if equipped) and brake pedal free play
❑Inspect vacuum hose
❑Inspect intercooler, in/out hose, air intake hose
- Turbo GDI (Every 12,000 km (7,500 miles) or 12 months)
❑Replace engine oil and filter (2.4 GDI) *3
(36,000 km (22,500 miles) or 36 months)
❑ Add fuel additive *4 (36,000 km (22,500 miles) or 36 months)
❑Rotate tire position (Every 12,000 km (7,500 miles))
*3Engine oil (2.0 T-GDI) Replace every 10,000 km (6,500 miles) or 6 months
*4If TOP TIER Detergent Gasoline is not available, one bottle of additive is rec-
ommended. Additives are available from your authorized Kia dealer along with
information on how to use them. Do not mix other additives.
❈ Inspect : Inspect and if necessary, adjust, correct, clean or replace.
(Continued)
❑Inspect intercooler, in/out hose, air intake hose
- Turbo GDI (Every 12,000 km (7,500 miles) or 12 months)
❑ Replace climate control air filter (for evaporator and blower unit)
❑Replace engine oil and filter (2.4 GDI) *3
(24,000 km (15,000 miles) or 24 months)
❑ Add fuel additive *4 (24,000 km (15,000 miles) or 24 months)
❑Rotate tire position (Every 12,000 km (7,500 miles))
Normal Maintenance Schedule (CONT.)