
689
Driving your vehicle
Driving in flooded areas
Avoid driving through flooded areas
unless you are sure the water is no
higher than the bottom of the wheel
hub. Drive through any water slowly.
Allow adequate stopping distance
because brake performance may be
affected.
After driving through water, dry the
brakes by gently applying them sev-
eral times while the vehicle is moving
slowly.
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 engine oil
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/overinflated 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 chapter 9.
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 chapter 8.

699
Driving your vehicle
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 . . . 8-21
Checking fluid levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-25
Engine oil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-26
• Checking the engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-26
• Changing the engine oil and filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-27
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-28
• Checking the coolant level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-28
• Changing the coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-31
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-32
• Checking the brake fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-32
Washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-33
• Checking the washer fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-33
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-34
• Checking the parking brake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-34
Air cleaner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-35
• Filter replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-35
Climate control air filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-37
• Filter inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-37
Wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-39
• Blade inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-39
• Blade replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-39
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-\
42
• For best battery service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-42
• Recharging the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-43
• Reset items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-44\
Tires and wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-45
• Tire care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
8-45
• Recommended cold tire inflation pressures . . . . . . . 8-45
• Tire pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-46
• Checking tire inflation pressure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-46
• Tire rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-47
• Wheel alignment and tire balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-48
• Tire replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-49
• Wheel replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-50
• Tire traction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-50
• Tire maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-50
• Tire sidewall labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-50
• All season tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-57
• Summer tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-57
• Snow tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-\
57
• Tire chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-57\
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
22,500 miles (36,000 km) or 18 months
❑Inspect air cleaner filter
❑Inspect vacuum hose
❑Inspect intercooler, in/out hose, air intake hose
- Turbo GDI (Every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 12 months)
❑Replace engine oil and filter (2.4 GDI) *3
(22,500 miles (36,000 km) or 36 months)
❑ Add fuel additive *4 (22,500 miles (36,000 km) or 36 months)
❑Rotate tire position (Every 7,500 miles (12,000 km))
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.
7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 6 months
❑Inspect air cleaner filter
❑Inspect vacuum hose
❑Inspect intercooler, in/out hose, air intake hose
- Turbo GDI (Every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 12 months)
❑Replace engine oil and filter (2.4 GDI) *3
(7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 12 months)
❑ Add fuel additive *4 (7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 12 months)
❑Rotate tire position (Every 7,500 miles (12,000 km))
15,000 miles (24,000 km) or 12 months
❑Inspect air cleaner filter
❑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 TGDI) Replace every 6,500miles (10,000km) 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 7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 12 months)
❑ Replace climate control air filter (for evaporator and blower unit)
❑Replace engine oil and filter (2.4 GDI) *3
(15,000 miles (24,000 km) or 24 months)
❑ Add fuel additive *4 (15,000 miles (24,000 km) or 24 months)
❑Rotate tire position (Every 7,500 miles (12,000 km))

Maintenance
10
8
Normal Maintenance Schedule (CONT.)
37,500 miles (60,000 km) or 30 months
❑ Inspect air cleaner filter
❑Inspect vacuum hose
❑Inspect rear axle oil (AWD) *5
❑ Inspect transfer case oil (AWD) *5
❑Inspect intercooler, in/out hose, air intake hose
- Turbo GDI (Every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 12 months)
❑Replace engine oil and filter (2.4 GDI) *3
(37,500 miles (60,000 km) or 60 months)
❑ Add fuel additive *4 (37,500 miles (60,000 km) or 60 months)
❑Rotate tire position (Every 7,500 miles (12,000 km))
*1Fuel tank air filter are considered to be maintenance free but periodic inspec-
tion is recommended for this maintenance schedule depends on fuel quality.
*
3Engine oil (2.0 TGDI) Replace every 6,500miles (10,000km) 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.
*
5 : Transfer case oil and rear axle oil should be changed anytime they have been submerged in water.
❈ Inspect : Inspect and if necessary, adjust, correct, clean or replace.
30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 24 months
❑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
❑Inspect brake fluid
❑Inspect fuel cap, fuel lines, fuel hoses and connections
❑Inspect fuel tank air filter (if equipped) *1
❑Inspect parking brake
❑Inspect vapor hose and fuel filler cap
❑Inspect intercooler, in/out hose, air intake hose
- Turbo GDI (Every 7,500 miles (12,000 km) or 12 months)
❑ Replace climate control air filter (for evaporator and blower unit)
❑Replace air cleaner filter
❑Replace engine oil and filter (2.4 GDI) *3
(30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 48 months)
❑ Add fuel additive *4 (30,000 miles (48,000 km) or 48 months)
❑Rotate tire position (Every 7,500 miles (12,000 km))