581
Driving your vehicle
Your vehicle's fuel economy depends
mainly on your style of driving, where
you drive and when you drive.
Each of these factors affects how
many miles (kilometers) you can get
from a gallon (liter) of fuel. To operate
your vehicle as economically as pos-
sible, use the following driving sug-
gestions to help save money in both
fuel and repairs:
Drive smoothly. Accelerate at amoderate rate. Don't make "jack-
rabbit" starts or full-throttle shifts
and maintain a steady cruising
speed. Don't race between stop-
lights. Try to adjust your speed to
the traffic so you don't have to
change speeds unnecessarily.
Avoid heavy traffic whenever pos-
sible. Always maintain a safe dis-
tance from other vehicles so you
can avoid unnecessary braking.
This also reduces brake wear.
Drive at a moderate speed. The faster you drive, the more fuel your
vehicle uses. Driving at a moderate
speed, especially on the highway,
is one of the most effective ways to
reduce fuel consumption. Don't "ride" the brake pedal. This
can increase fuel consumption and
also increase wear on these com-
ponents. In addition, driving with
your foot resting on the brake pedal
may cause the brakes to overheat,
which reduces their effectiveness
and may lead to more serious con-
sequences.
Take care of your tires. Keep them inflated to the recommended pres-
sure. Incorrect inflation, either too
much or too little, results in unnec-
essary tire wear. Check the tire
pressures at least once a month.
Be sure that the wheels are aligned correctly. Improper align-
ment can result from hitting curbs
or driving too fast over irregular
surfaces. Poor alignment causes
faster tire wear and may also result
in other problems as well as
greater fuel consumption. Keep your vehicle in good condi-
tion. For better fuel economy and
reduced maintenance costs, main-
tain your vehicle in accordance
with the maintenance schedule in
section 7. If you drive your vehicle
in severe conditions, more frequent
maintenance is required (see sec-
tion 7 for details).
Keep your vehicle clean. For maxi- mum service, your vehicle should
be kept clean and free of corrosive
materials. It is especially important
that mud, dirt, ice, etc. not be
allowed to accumulate on the
underside of the vehicle. This extra
weight can result in increased fuel
consumption and also contribute to
corrosion.
Travel lightly. Don't carry unneces- sary weight in your vehicle. Weight
reduces fuel economy.
Don't let the engine idle longer than necessary. If you are waiting
(and not in traffic), turn off your
engine and restart only when
you're ready to go.
ECONOMICAL OPERATION
587
Driving your vehicle
Driving off-road
Drive carefully off-road because your
vehicle may be damaged by rocks or
roots of trees. Become familiar with
the off-road conditions where you
are going to drive before you begin
driving.
Highway driving
Tires
Adjust the tire inflation pressures to
specification. Low tire inflation pres-
sures will result in overheating and
possible failure of the tires.
Avoid using worn or damaged tires
which may result in reduced traction
or tire failure.
Never exceed the maximum tire
inflation pressure shown on the tires.
Fuel, engine coolant and engineoil
High speed travel consumes more
fuel than urban motoring. Do not for-
get to check both the engine coolant
and engine oil.
Drive belt
A loose or damaged drive belt may
result in overheating of the engine.
WARNING- Under/over inflated tires
Always check the tires for proper
inflation before driving.
Underinflated or overinflated
tires can cause poor handling,
loss of vehicle control, and sud-
den tire failure leading to acci-
dents, injuries, and even death.
For proper tire pressures, refer to
“Tires and wheels” in section 8.
WARNING- Tire tread
Always check the tire tread
before driving your vehicle.
Worn-out tires can result in loss
of vehicle control. Worn-out tires
should be replaced as soon as
possible. For further information
and tread limits, refer to "Tires
and wheels" in section 7.
Maintenance
67
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 thecoolant 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, 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.
749
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 infla-
tion 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, vehicle
handling, and minimum tire wear.
For recommended inflation pressure,
refer to “Tire and wheels” in chapter
8.All specifications (sizes and pres-
sures) can be found on a label
attached to the driver’s side center
pillar.OYP084005N
WARNING- Tire under
inflation
Inflate your tire consistent with
the instructions provided in this
manual. Severe under inflation
can lead to severe heat build-
up, causing blowouts, tread
separation and other tire fail-
ures 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.
Maintenance
50
7
Underinflation also results in
excessive wear, poor handling and
reduced fuel economy. Wheel
deformation also is possible. Keep
your tire pressures at the proper
levels. If a tire frequently needs
refilling, have it checked by an
authorized Kia dealer.
Overinflation produces a harsh ride, excessive wear at the center
of the tire tread, and a greater pos-
sibility of damage from road haz-
ards.
Warm tires normally exceed rec- ommended cold tire pressures by
28 to 41 kPa (4 to 6 psi). Do not
release air from warm tires to
adjust the pressure or the tires will
be underinflated.
Be sure to reinstall the tire inflation valve caps. Without the valve cap,
dirt or moisture could get into the
valve core and cause air leakage. If
a valve cap is missing, install a
new one as soon as possible.Tire pressure
Always observe the following:
Check tire pressure when the tiresare cold. (After vehicle has been
parked for at least three hours or
hasn't been driven more than 1.6
km (one mile) since startup.)
Check the pressure of your spare tire each time you check the pres-
sure of other tires.
Never overload your vehicle. Be careful not to overload a vehicle
luggage rack if your vehicle is
equipped with one.
Checking tire inflation pres-
sure
Check your tires once a month or
more.
Also, check the tire pressure of the
spare tire.
How to check
Use a good quality gauge to check
tire pressure. You cannot tell if your
tires are properly inflated simply by
looking at them. Radial tires may
look properly inflated even when
they're underinflated.
Check the tire's inflation pressure
when the tires are cold. - "Cold"
means your vehicle has been sitting
for at least three hours or driven no
more than 1.6 km (1 mile).
759
Maintenance
Cold Tire Pressure:The amount of
air pressure in a tire, measured in
pounds per square inch (psi) or kilo-
pascals (kPa) before a tire has built
up heat from driving.
Curb Weight: This means the weight
of a motor vehicle with standard and
optional equipment including the
maximum capacity of fuel, oil and
coolant, but without passengers and
cargo.
DOT Markings: The DOT code
includes the Tire Identification
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric des-
ignator which can also identify the
tire manufacturer, production plant,
brand and date of production.
GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
GAWR FRT: Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the Front Axle.
GAWR RR: Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the Rear axle. Intended Outboard Sidewall:
The
side of an asymmetrical tire, that
must always face outward when
mounted on a vehicle.
Kilopascal (kPa): The metric unit for
air pressure.
Light truck (LT) tire: A tire designat-
ed by its manufacturer as primarily
intended for use on lightweight trucks
or multipurpose passenger vehicles.
Load Index: An assigned number
ranging from 1 to 279 that corre-
sponds to the load carrying capacity
of a tire.
Load ratings: The maximum load
that a tire is rated to carry for a given
inflation pressure.
Maximum Inflation Pressure: The
maximum air pressure to which a
cold tire may be inflated. The maxi-
mum air pressure is molded onto the
sidewall.
Maximum Load Rating: The load
rating for a tire at the maximum per-
missible inflation pressure for that tire. Maximum Loaded Vehicle Weight:
The sum of curb weight; accessory
weight; vehicle capacity weight; and
production options weight.
Normal Occupant Weight:
The
number of occupants a vehicle is
designed to seat multiplied by 150
pounds (68 kg).
Occupant Distribution: Designated
seating positions.
Outward Facing Sidewall: The side
of a asymmetrical tire that has a par-
ticular side that faces outward when
mounted on a vehicle. The outward
facing sidewall bears white lettering
or bears manufacturer, brand, and/or
model name molding that is higher or
deeper than the same moldings on
the inner facing sidewall.
Passenger (P-Metric) Tire: A tire
used on passenger cars and some
light duty trucks and multipurpose
vehicles.
Ply: A layer of rubber-coated parallel
cords.
I9
Index
All season tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-61
Checking tire inflation pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-50
Low aspect ratio tire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-62
Radial-ply tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-61
Recommended cold tire inflation pressures . . . . . . . 7-49
Snow tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-61
Summer tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-61
Tire care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-49\
Tire maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-54
Tire pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-50
Tire replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-53
Tire rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-51
Tire sidewall labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-54
Tire traction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-54
Wheel alignment and tire balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-52
Wheel replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-54
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. 6-18 Emergency towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-20
Removable towing hook (front) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-19
Towing service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-18
Trailer Towing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-91 Driving with a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-93
Hitches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-\
92
If you do decide to pull a trailer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-97
Maintenance when trailer towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-96
Safety chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-92
Trailer brakes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-92 Trip computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-103
Digital speedometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-107
Fuel Economy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-105
One time driving information mode . . . . . . . . . . . 4-107
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-103
Trip A/B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-104
Vehicle break-in process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Vehicle certification label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
Vehicle data collection and event data recorders . . . . . . 1-7
Vehicle handling instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-6
Vehicle identification number (VIN) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-8
Vehicle load limit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-99 Certification label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-103
Tire and loading information label. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-99
Vehicle weight glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-105 Base curb weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-105
Cargo weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-105
GAW (Gross axle weight) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-105
GAWR (Gross axle weight rating) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-105
GVW (Gross vehicle weight). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-105
GVWR (Gross vehicle weight rating) . . . . . . . . . . 5-105
Vehicle curb weight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-105
V