55
Driving your vehicle
Before entering vehicle
• Be sure that all windows, outsidemirror(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, at the exact interval
depending on the fluid. Further
details are provided in chapter 7,
“Maintenance”.
Before starting
Close and lock all doors.
Position the seat so that all con-trols are easily reached.
Buckle your seat belt.
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 light
goes out.
For safe operation, be sure you are
familiar with your vehicle and its
equipment.
BEFORE DRIVING
WARNING - Distracted driving
Focus on the road while driving.
The driver's primary responsi-
bility is in the safe and legal
operation of the vehicle. Use of
any handled devices, other
equipment or vehicle systems
that distract the driver should
not be used during vehicle
operation.
Driving your vehicle
96
5
Various driving situations, which you
may encounter in SMART mode
The driving mode automatically
changes to ECO mode after a cer-
tain period of time, when you gen-
tly depress the accelerator pedal
(Your driving is categorized to be
mild.).
The driving mode automatically changes from SMART ECO mode
to SMART COMFORT mode after
a certain period of time, when you
sharply or repetitively depress the
accelerator pedal.
The driving mode automatically changes to SMART COMFORT
mode with the same driving pat-
terns, when the vehicle starts to
drive on an upward slope of a cer-
tain angle. The driving mode auto-
matically returns to SMART ECO
mode, when the vehicle enters a
leveled road. The driving mode automatically
changes to SMART SPORT, when
you abruptly accelerate the vehicle
or repetitively operate the steering
wheel (Your driving is categorized
to be sporty.). In this mode, your
vehicle drives in a lower gear for
abrupt accelerating/decelerating
and increases the engine brake
performance.
You may still sense the engine brake performance, even when you
release the accelerator pedal in
SMART SPORT mode. It is
because your vehicle remains to
be in a lower gear over a certain
period of time for next acceleration.
Thus, it is a normal driving situa-
tion, not indicating any malfunc-
tion.
The driving mode automatically changes to SMART SPORT mode
only in harsh driving situations. In
most of the normal driving situa-
tions, the driving mode sets to be
either in SMART ECO mode or in
SMART COMFORT mode. Limitation of SMART mode
The SMART mode may be limited in
following situations. (The OFF indica-
tor illuminates in those situations.)
The driver manually moves the
shift lever : It deactivates SMART
mode. The vehicle drives, as the
driver manually moves the shift
lever.
The cruise control is activated : The cruise system may deactivate
the SMART mode. When a higher
system is set by the cruise system,
it starts to control vehicle speed
and deactivates SMART mode.
(SMART mode is not deactivated
just by activing the cruise system.)
The transmission oil temperature is either extremely low or extremely
high : The SMART mode can be
active in most of the normal driving
situations. However, an extremely
high/ low transmission oil tempera-
ture may temporarily deactivate the
SMART mode, because the trans-
mission condition is out of normal
operation condition.
5103
Driving your vehicle
Limitation of the system
If the driver turns on the turn signallight or the emergency warning
light to change the lane
Operate the turn signal light switch before changing the lane.
If you change the lane without operating the turn signal lights,
steering reaction force of the wheel
may occur.
Once the LFA system is turned on or the lane is changed, the vehicle
should be in the center of the road
to switch to the steering assist
mode. If the driver keeps driving
along the lane, the LFA system will
not assist the steering.
When the ESC or VSM is activat- ed, the system does not assist
steering.
When driving on a curved road at a high speed, steering assist mode
may not work.
When driving at a speed faster than 95 mph (150 km/h), steering
assist mode may not work. When sudden steering is made,
the system could be temporarily
deactivated.
If you change the lane in a hurry, the system does not assist the
steering.
If the vehicle suddenly stops, it does not assist the steering.
If the lane is too narrow or too wide, steering is not assisted.
If either of the lanes is not recog- nized, the steering is not assisted
If the radius is too small for the curve
Cautions for the driver
If the lane recognition is difficult or
limited for the LFA system as shown
below, the driver may need to be
careful because it may not operate or
may cause unnecessary operation.
• Roads or lane markings in bad con-
dition
- When The lane is tainted or invisible
- When the driver cannot see the lane due to rain, snow, dust,
sand, oil, puddles, etc
- When roads are set or the colors of the lane and road are not dis-
tinctive
- If there is a sign other than the lane near the lane or a mark sim-
ilar to the lane
- When the lane is not clear or damaged
- If the road is covered in the shad- ows of objects around the road,
such as medians, guard rails,
noise walls, and trees
5111
Driving your vehicle
The steering will not be assistedwhen vehicle speed is below 40
mph (64 km/h) and over 110 mph
(177 km/h).
The steering will not be assisted when you change lanes fast.
The steering will not be assisted when you brake suddenly.
The steering will not be assisted when the lane is very wide or nar-
row.
There are more than two lane markers such as a construction
area.
Radius of a curve is too small.
When you turn steering wheel sud- denly, the LKA system will be dis-
abled temporarily.
Driving on a steep slope or hill.DRIVER’S ATTENTION
The driver must be cautious in the
below situations may not work
properly when recognition of the
lane marker is poor or limited :
When lane and road condition is
poor
• It is difficult to distinguish the lane marker from road when the lane
marker is covered with dust or
sand.
• It is difficult to distinguish the color of the lane marker from
road.
• There is something looks like a lane marker.
• The lane marker is indistinct or damaged.
• The number of lanes increases/ decreases or the lane lines are
crossing (Driving through a toll
plaza/toll gate, merged/divided
lane).
• There are more than two lane markers.
• The lane marker is very thick or thin. (Continued)(Continued)
• The lane marker is not visible due
to snow, rain, stain, a puddle or
other factors.
• A shadow is on the lane marker because of a median strip,
guardrail, noise barriers and others.
• When the lane markers are com- plicated or a structure substitutes
for the lines such as a construc-
tion area.
• There are crosswalk signs or other symbols on the road.
• The lane suddenly disappears such as at the intersection.
• The lane marker in a tunnel is cov- ered with dirt or oil and etc.
• The lane is very wide or narrow.
When external condition is inter-
vened
• The brightness of outside changes suddenly when entering/existing a
tunnel or passing under a bridge.
• The headlamps are not on at night or in a tunnel, or light level is low. (Continued)
5151
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 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 chapter 7.
5155
Driving your vehicle
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 8 for recommendations. If
you aren't sure what weight oil you
should use, consult an authorized
K900 Kia dealer.
Check spark plugs and ignition
system
Inspect your spark plugs as
described in chapter 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.
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 K900 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.
Don’t let your parking brake
freeze
Under some conditions your parking
brake can freeze in the engaged
position. This is most likely to happen
when there is an accumulation of
snow or ice around or near the rear
brakes or if the brakes are wet. If
there is a risk the parking brake may
freeze, apply it only temporarily while
you put the gear shift lever in P
(Park, Automatic Transmission) and
block the rear wheels so the vehicle
cannot roll. Then release the parking
brake.
What to do in an emergency
46
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 Engine Start/Stop Buttonin the OFF position, check all con-
nectors 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 K900 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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Maintenance services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
• Owner’s responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
• Owner maintenance precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Owner maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
• Owner maintenance schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Scheduled maintenance service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items . . . 7-17
• Engine oil and filter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-17
• Drive belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-17\
• Fuel filter (for gasoline) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-17
• Fuel lines, fuel hoses and connections . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-17
• Vapor hose and fuel filler cap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-17
• Vacuum crankcase ventilation hoses . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
• Air cleaner filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
• Spark plugs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
• Valve clearance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
• Cooling system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
• Coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
. 7-18
• Automatic transmission fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
• Brake hoses and lines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-19
• Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-19\
• Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
• Brake discs, pads, calipers and rotors. . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20• Exhaust pipe and muffler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
• Suspension mounting bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
• Steering gear box, linkage &
boots/lower arm ball joint . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
• Drive shafts and boots. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
• Air conditioning refrigerant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
Checking fluid levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
Engine oil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-21
• Checking the engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-21
• Changing the engine oil and filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-23
• Checking the coolant level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-23
• Changing the coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-25
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-26
• Checking the brake fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-26
Washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-27
• Checking the washer fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-27
Air cleaner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-28
• Replace the filter according to the Maintenance Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-\
28
Climate control air filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-29
• Filter inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-29
Wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-31
• Blade inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-31
• Blade replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-31
7