Driving your vehicle
4 5
Before entering vehicle
• Be sure that all windows, outside
mirror(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 ENGINE
START/STOP button is in 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.
5157
Driving your vehicle
The use of chains may adversely
affect vehicle handling.
Do not exceed 20 mph (30 km/h)
or the chain manufacturer’s recom-
mended speed limit, whichever is
lower.
Drive carefully and avoid bumps,
holes, sharp turns, and other road
hazards, which may cause the
vehicle to bounce.
Avoid sharp turns or locked-wheel
braking.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 7. 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 7. 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 8 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 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.CAUTION- Snow chains
Chains that are the wrong size
or improperly installed can
damage your vehicle's brake
lines, suspension, body and
wheels.
Stop driving and retighten the
chains any time you hear them
hitting the vehicle.
What to do in an emergency
8 6
IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS
If your temperature gauge indicates
overheating, you experience a loss
of power, or hear loud pinging or
knocking, the engine will probably be
too hot. If this happens, you should:
1.Pull off the road and stop as soon
as it is safe to do so.
2.Place the shift lever in P and set
the parking brake. If the air condi-
tioning is on, turn it off.
3.If engine coolant is running out
under the vehicle or steam is com-
ing out from underneath the hood,
stop the engine. Do not open the
hood until the coolant has stopped
running or the steaming has
stopped. If there is no visible loss
of engine coolant and no steam,
leave the engine running and
check to be sure the engine cool-
ing fan is operating. If the fan is not
running, turn the engine off.4.Check to see if the water pump
drive belt is missing. If it is not
missing, check to see that it is
tight. If the drive belt seems to be
satisfactory, check for coolant leak-
ing from the radiator, hoses or
under the vehicle. (If the air condi-
tioning had been in use, it is nor-
mal for cold water to be draining
from it when you stop).
5.If the water pump drive belt is bro-
ken or engine coolant is leaking
out, stop the engine immediately
and call the nearest authorized Kia
dealer for assistance.6.If you cannot find the cause of the
overheating, wait until the engine
temperature has returned to nor-
mal. If coolant has been lost, care-
fully add coolant to the reservoir to
bring the fluid level in the reservoir
up to the halfway mark.
7.Proceed with caution, keeping
alert for further signs of overheat-
ing. If overheating happens again,
call an authorized Kia dealer for
assistance.
Serious loss of coolant indicates
there is a leak in the cooling system
and this should be checked as soon
as possible by an authorized Kia
dealer.
WARNING - Under the
hood
While the engine is
running, keep hair,
hands and clothing
away from moving
parts such as the fan
and drive belts to pre-
vent injury.
WARNING - Radiator cap
Do not remove the
radiator cap when the
engine is hot. This may
result in coolant being
blown out of the open-
ing and cause serious
burns.
Maintenance
Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Maintenance services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
• Owner’s responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
• Owner maintenance precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
Owner maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
• Owner maintenance schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Scheduled maintenance service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-8
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items . . . 7-14
Checking fluid levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
Engine oil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
• Checking the engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
• Changing the engine oil and filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-19
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
• Checking the coolant level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-20
• Changing the coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-23
• Checking the brake fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-23
Washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-24
• Checking the washer fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-24
Air cleaner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-25
• Filter replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-25
Climate control air filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-27
• Filter inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-27
Wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-29
• Blade inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-29
• Blade replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-29
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-32
• For best battery service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-32
• Recharging the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-33
• Reset items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-34
Tires and wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35
• Tire care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35
• Recommended cold tire inflation pressures . . . . . . . 7-35
• Tire pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-36
• Checking tire inflation pressure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-36
• Tire rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-37
• Wheel alignment and tire balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-38
• Tire replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-39
• Wheel replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-40
• Tire traction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-40
• Tire maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-40
• Tire sidewall labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-40
• All season tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-47
• Summer tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-47
• Snow tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-47
• Tire chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-47
• Radial-ply tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-48
• Low aspect ratio tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-48
7
Maintenance
6 7
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 coolant
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 transmission
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.
77
Maintenance
At least monthly:
Check the coolant level in the
engine 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 drain
holes.
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
transmission linkage and controls.
Clean the battery and terminals.
Check the brake fluid level.
Maintenance
18 7
CHECKING FLUID LEVELS
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 the engine oil level
1. Be sure the vehicle is on level
ground.
2. Start the engine and allow it to
reach normal operating tempera-
ture.
3. Turn the engine off and wait for a
few minutes (about 5 minutes) for
the oil to return to the oil pan.
4. Pull the dipstick out, wipe it clean,
and reinsert it fully.5. Pull the dipstick out again and
check the level. The level should
be between F and L.
CAUTION - Replacing
engine oil
Do not overfill the engine oil. It
may damage the engine.
WARNING- Radiator hose
Be very careful not to touch the
radiator hose when checking or
adding the engine oil as it may
be hot enough to burn you.
OYG070007N
■Lambda II 3.3L GDI (Gasoline engine)
ENGINE OIL
Maintenance
20 7
ENGINE COOLANT
The high-pressure cooling system
has a reservoir filled with year round
antifreeze coolant. The reservoir is
filled at the factory.
Check the antifreeze protection and
coolant level at least once a year: at
the beginning of the winter season,
and before traveling to a colder cli-
mate.Checking the coolant level Turn the engine off and wait until it
cools down. Use extreme care
when removing the radiator cap.
Wrap a thick towel around it, and
turn it counterclockwise slowly to
the first stop. Step back while the
pressure is released from the cool-
ing system.
When you are sure all the pressure
has been released, press down on
the cap, using a thick towel, and
continue turning counterclockwise
to remove it.
Even if the engine is not operating,
do not remove the radiator cap or
the drain plug while the engine and
radiator are hot. Hot coolant and
steam may still blow out under
pressure, causing serious injury.
WARNING
Removing radiator
cap
Never attempt to remove the
radiator cap while the engine is
operating or hot. Doing so
might lead to cooling system
and engine damage and could
result in serious personal injury
from escaping hot coolant or
steam.
CAUTION - Radiator cap
Never attempt to remove the
radiator cap while the engine is
operating or hot. Doing so
might lead to cooling system
and engine damage.