What to do in an emergency
26
6
If towing service is not available in an
emergency, your vehicle may be
temporarily towed using a cable or
chain secured to the emergency tow-
ing hook under the front (or rear) of
the vehicle. Use extreme caution
when towing the vehicle. A driver
must be in the vehicle to steer it and
operate the brakes.
Towing in this manner may be done
only on hard-surfaced roads for a
short distance and at low speed.
Also, the wheels, axles, power train,
steering and brakes must all be in
good condition.
Do not use the tow hooks to pull a
vehicle out of mud, sand or other
conditions from which the vehicle
cannot be driven out under its own
power.
Avoid towing a vehicle heavier than the vehicle doing the towing.
The drivers of both vehicles should communicate with each other fre-
quently. Attach a towing strap to the tow
hook.
Use only a cable or chain specifical- ly intended for use in towing vehi-
cles. Securely fasten the cable or
chain to the towing hook provided.
Before emergency towing, check if the hook is not broken or damaged.
Fasten the towing cable or chain securely to the hook.
Do not jerk the hook. Apply it steadily and with even force.
To avoid damaging the hook, do not pull from the side or at a vertical
angle. Always pull straight ahead.CAUTION
Using a portion of the vehicleother than the tow hooks fortowing may damage the body ofyour vehicle.
627
What to do in an emergency
Use a towing strap less than 5 m(16 feet) long. Attach a white or red
cloth (about 30 cm (12 inches)
wide) in the middle of the strap for
easy visibility.
Drive carefully so that the towing strap is not loosened during tow-
ing.
Emergency towing precautions
Turn the Engine Start/Stop buttonto ACC position so the steering
wheel isn’t locked.
Place the transaxle shift lever in N (Neutral).
Release the parking bake.
Press the brake pedal with more force than normal since you will
have reduced brake performance.
More steering effort will be required because the power steer-
ing system will be disabled.
If you are driving down a long hill, the brakes may overheat and brake
performance will be reduced. Stop
often and let the brakes cool off.WARNING- Emergency
Towing Precautions
Use extreme caution when tow-
ing the vehicle.
Avoid sudden starts or erratic driving maneuvers which
would place excessive stress
on the emergency towing hook
and towing cable or chain. The
hook and towing cable or
chain may break and cause
serious injury or damage.
If the disabled vehicle is unable to be moved, do not
forcibly continue the towing.
In this case, contact an
authorized Kia dealer or a
commercial tow truck service
for assistance.
Tow the vehicle as straight ahead as possible.
Keep away from the vehicle during towing.
OYG066034
What to do in an emergency
28
6
If the car is being towed with all
four wheels on the ground, it can
be towed only from the front. Be
sure that the transaxle is in neutral.
Be sure the steering is unlocked by
placing the Engine Start/Stop but-
ton to ACC position. A driver must
be in the towed vehicle to operate
the steering and brakes.
CAUTION- Automatic
transaxle
To avoid serious damage to the automatic transaxle, limitthe vehicle speed to 15 km/h(10 mph) and drive less than1.5 km (1 mile) when towing.
Before towing, check the auto- matic transaxle for fluid leaksunder your vehicle. If the auto-matic transaxle fluid is leak-ing, flatbed equipment or atowing dolly must be used.
Maintenance
Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Maintenance services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
• Owner’s responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
• Owner maintenance precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
Owner maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
• Owner maintenance schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Scheduled maintenance service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items . . . 7-16
Checking fluid levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-19
Engine oil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
• Checking the engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
• Changing the engine oil and filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-21
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22
• Checking the coolant level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22
• 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
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-28
• Checking the parking brake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-28
Air cleaner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-29
• Filter replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-29
Climate control air filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-30
• Filter inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-30
Wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-32
• Blade inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-32
• Blade replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-32
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-\
35
• Battery replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35
• For best battery service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35
• Recharging the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-37
• Reset items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-38\
Tires and wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-39
• Tire care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . \
7-39
• Recommended cold tire inflation pressures . . . . . . . 7-39
• Tire pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-40
• Checking tire inflation pressure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-40
• Tire rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-41
• Wheel alignment and tire balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-42
• Flat spots . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-\
43
• Tire replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-43
• Wheel replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-44
• Tire traction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-44
• Tire maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-44
• Tire sidewall labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-45
• All season tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-51
• Summer tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-51
7
77
Maintenance
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.
Maintenance
87
At least monthly:
Check the coolant level in theengine coolant reservoir.
Check the operation of all exterior lights, including the stoplights, turn
signals and hazard warning flash-
ers.
Check the inflation pressures of all tires including the spare for tires
that are worn, show uneven wear,
or are damaged.
Check for loose wheel lug nuts.
At least twice a year (i.e., every Spring and Fall) :
Check the radiator, heater and air conditioning 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.
At least once a year :
Clean the body and door drainholes.
Lubricate the door hinges and check the hood hinges.
Lubricate the door and hood locks and latches.
Lubricate the door rubber weather- strips.
Check the air conditioning system.
Inspect and lubricate automatic transaxle linkage and controls.
Clean the battery and terminals.
Check the brake fluid level.
719
Maintenance
Brake discs, pads, calipers
and rotors
Check the pads for excessive wear,
discs for run out and wear, and
calipers for fluid leakage.
Exhaust pipe and muffler
Visually inspect the exhaust pipes,
muffler and hangers for cracks, dete-
rioration, or damage. Start the
engine and listen carefully for any
exhaust gas leakage. Tighten con-
nections or replace parts as neces-
sary.
Suspension mounting bolts
Check the suspension connections
for looseness or damage. Retighten
to the specified torque.
Steering gear box, linkage &
boots/lower arm ball joint
With the vehicle stopped and engine
off, check for excessive free-play in
the steering wheel.
Check the linkage for bends or dam-
age. Check the dust boots and ball
joints for deterioration, cracks, or
damage. Replace any damaged
parts.
Drive shafts and boots
Check the drive shafts, boots and
clamps for cracks, deterioration, or
damage. Replace any damaged
parts and, if necessary, repack the
grease.
Air conditioning refrigerant
Check the air conditioning lines and
connections for leakage and damage.When checking engine oil, engine
coolant, brake fluid, and washer fluid,
always be sure to clean the area
around any filler plug, drain plug, or
dipstick before checking or draining
any lubricant or fluid. This is espe-
cially important in dusty or sandy
areas and when the vehicle is used
on unpaved roads. Cleaning the plug
and dipstick areas will prevent dirt
and grit from entering the engine and
other mechanisms that could be
damaged.
CHECKING FLUID LEVELS
739
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, top vehi-
cle 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.
WARNING
- Checking the tire inflation
pressure
Inflate your tires consistent with
the instructions provided in this
manual.
Regularly check the tire infla-
tion pressure, and correct it as
needed: at least twice a month
and before a long trip.
If you fail to observe this pre-
caution, you may be driving on
tires with incorrect tire pres-
sures, a condition that may not
only compromise your vehicle's
driving stability, but also lead to
tire damage and the risk of an
accident.
This risk is much higher on hot
days and when driving for long
periods at high speeds.
OYG086001