
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 

Maintenance
87
OWNER MAINTENANCE 
The following lists are vehicle checks
and inspections that should be per-
formed by the owner or an author-
ized K900 Kia dealer at the frequen-
cies 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 transmission
occurs, check the transmission
fluid level.
 Check the automatic transmission 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. 

713
Maintenance
Normal Maintenance Schedule - Turbo Models (CONT.)
Number of months or driving distance, whichever comes first
Months1224364860728496108120132144156168180
Miles×1,00061218243036424854606672788490
Km×1,000102030405060708090100110120130140150
Intercooler, in/out hose,
air intake hoseLambda II 3.3L T-GDIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Cooling system---I-I-I-I-I-I-
Automatic transmission fluidNo check, No service required
Differential oil (rear) *5-----I-----I---
Differential oil (front) (AWD) *5-----I-----I---
Transfer case oil (AWD)No check, No service required
Vapor hose, fuel filler cap and fuel tank-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-
Fuel tank air filter *4-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-
MAINTENANCEINTERVALS
MAINTENANCE
ITEM
I : Inspect and if necessary, adjust, correct, clean or replace.
R : Replace or change.
*
4: Fuel tank air filter are considered to be maintenance free but periodic inspection is recommended for this maintenance sched- ule depends on fuel quality.
*
5: Front/rear differential oil should be changed anytime they have been submerged in water. 

717
Maintenance
EXPLANATION OF SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE ITEMS
Engine oil and filter
The engine oil and filter should be
changed at the intervals specified in
the maintenance schedule. If the
vehicle is being driven in severe con-
ditions, more frequent oil and filter
changes are required.
Drive belts
Inspect all drive belts for evidence of
cuts, cracks, excessive wear or oil
saturation, and replace if necessary.
Drive belts should be checked peri-
odically for proper tension and
adjusted as necessary.
Fuel filter (for gasoline)
This gasoline powered vehicle is
equipped with a lifetime fuel filter that
is integrated with the fuel tank.
Regular maintenance or replace-
ment is not needed; however, the
quality of fuel used may impact the
frequency of maintenance needed. If
there are any fuel related problems
like fuel flow restriction, surging, loss
of power, hard starting problem, etc.,
fuel filter inspection or replacement
may be needed.
The fuel filter can be inspected or
replaced by an authorized K900 Kia
dealer.
Fuel lines, fuel hoses and con-
nections
Check the fuel lines, fuel hoses and
connections for leakage and dam-
age. Have an authorized K900 Kia
dealer replace any damaged or leak-
ing parts immediately.
Vapor hose and fuel filler cap
The vapor hose and fuel filler cap
should be inspected at the intervals
specified in the maintenance sched-
ule. Make sure that a new vapor hose
or fuel filler cap is installed correctly. 

Maintenance
20
7
Parking brake
Inspect the parking brake system
including the parking brake pedal
and cables.
Brake discs, pads, calipers
and rotors
Check the pads and discs for exces-
sive wear and calipers for fluid leak-
age.
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 

721
Maintenance
ENGINE OIL
Checking the engine oil level
1. Be sure the vehicle is on levelground.
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. Itmay 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.
ORJ078004
■Lambda II 3.3L T-GDI Engine (Gasoline) 

Maintenance
26
7
BRAKE FLUID 
Checking the brake fluid level  
Check the fluid level in the reservoir
periodically. The fluid level should be
between the MAX (Maximum) and
MIN  (Minimum) marks on the side of
the reservoir.
Before removing the reservoir cap
and adding brake fluid, clean the
area around the reservoir cap thor-
oughly to prevent brake fluid contam-
ination. If the level is low, add fluid until you
reach the MAX (Maximum) level. The
level will fall with accumulated
mileage. This is a normal condition
associated with the wear of brake lin-
ings. If the fluid level is excessively
low, have the brake system checked
by an authorized K900 Kia dealer.
Use only the specified brake fluid.
(Refer to “Recommended lubricantsand capacities” in chapter 8.)
Never mix different types of fluid.
In the event the brake system
requires frequent additions of fluid,
the vehicle should be inspected by
an authorized K900 Kia dealer.
When changing and adding brake
fluid, handle it carefully. Do not let it
come in contact with your eyes. If
brake fluid should come in contact
with your eyes, immediately flush
them with a large quantity of fresh
tap water. Have your eyes examined
by a doctor as soon as possible.
Brake fluid which has been exposed
to open air for an extended time
should never be used as its quality
cannot be guaranteed. It should be
disposed of properly.
ORJ078008CAUTION - Brake fluid
Do not allow brake fluid to con-tact the vehicle's body paint, aspaint damage will result.
CAUTION - Proper fluid
Only use brake fluid in brakesystem. Small amounts ofimproper fluids (such as engineoil) can cause damage to thebrake system. 

Maintenance
36
7
Recharging the battery
Your vehicle has a maintenance-free,
calcium-based battery.
 If the battery becomes discharged
in a short time (because, for exam-
ple, the headlamps or interior
lamps were left on while the vehi-
cle was not in use), recharge it by
slow charging (trickle) for 10 hours.
 If the battery gradually discharges because of high electric load while
the vehicle is being used, recharge
it at 20-30A for two hours. When recharging the battery,
observe the following precautions:
 The battery must be removed from
the vehicle and placed in an area
with good ventilation.
 Do not allow cigarettes, sparks, or flame near the battery.
 Watch the battery during charging, and stop or reduce the charging
rate if the battery cells begin
gassing (boiling) violently or if the
temperature of the electrolyte of
any cell exceeds 120°F (49°C).
 Wear eye protection when check- ing the battery during charging.
 Disconnect the battery charger in the following order.
1. Turn off the battery charger main switch.
2. Unhook the negative clamp from the negative battery terminal.
3. Unhook the positive clamp from the positive battery terminal.  Before performing maintenance or
recharging the battery, turn off all
accessories and stop the engine.
 The negative battery cable must be removed first and installed last
when the battery is disconnected.