
Driving your vehicle
52
5
Don't "ride" the brake pedal.
Resting your foot on the brake
pedal while driving can be danger-
ous because the brakes might
overheat and lose their effective-
ness. It also increases the wear of
the brake components.
If a tire goes flat while you are driv- ing, apply the brakes gently and
keep the vehicle pointed straight
ahead while you slow down. When
you are moving slowly enough for it
to be safe to do so, pull off the road
and stop in a safe place.
If your vehicle is equipped with an Automatic Transmission, don't let
your vehicle creep forward. To
avoid creeping forward, keep your
foot firmly on the brake pedal when
the vehicle is stopped.
Be cautious when parking on a hill. Firmly engage the parking brake
and place the shift lever in P (auto-
matic transmission). If your vehicle
is facing downhill, turn the front
wheels into the curb to help keep
the vehicle from rolling. If your vehicle is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb to help keep the vehicle from
rolling. If there is no curb or if it is
required by other conditions to
keep the vehicle from rolling, chock
the wheels.
Under some conditions, your park- ing brake can freeze in the
engaged position. This is most like-
ly 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
that the parking brake may freeze,
apply it only temporarily while you
put the shift lever in P (automatic
transmission) and chock the rear
wheels so the vehicle cannot roll.
Then release the parking brake.
Do not hold the vehicle on an incline with the accelerator pedal.
This can cause the transmission to
overheat. Always use the brake
pedal or parking brake.Electronic Control Suspension
(ECS) (if equipped)
The Electronic Control Suspension
(ECS) controls the vehicle suspen-
sion automatically to maximize driv-
ing comfort by taking into account
the driving conditions such as speed,
surface of the road, cornering, stop-
ping requirements and acceleration.
If the ECS warning message “Check
ECS” comes on, you may have a
problem with the ECS system. If this
occurs, have the vehicle inspected
by an authorized K900 Kia dealer
immediately.

Driving your vehicle
118
5
✽ ✽
NOTICE
The Smart Cruise Control system
may not operate temporarily due to:
• Electrical interference
• Modified suspension
• Differences of tire abrasion or tire
pressure
• Installation of different type of tires
This device complies with Part 15
of the FCC rules.
Operation is subject to the following
three conditions:
1. This device may not cause harm-
ful interference, and
2. This device must accept any inter- ference received, including inter-
ference that may cause undesired
operation.
3. Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party
responsible for compliance could
void the user’s authority to operate
the device. Radio frequency radiation expo-
sure information:
This equipment complies with FCC
radiation exposure limits set forth for
an uncontrolled environment.
This equipment should be installed
and operated with a minimum dis-
tance of 8 in. (20 cm) between the
radio (antenna) and your body.
This transmitter must not be co-locat-
ed or operating in conjunction with
any other antenna or transmitter.

5131
Driving your vehicle
SMART mode selects the
proper driving mode
among ECO, COMFORT
and SPORT by judging
the driver's driving habits
(i.e. mild or dynamic) from
the brake pedal depres-
sion or the steering wheel
operation.
Press the DRIVE MODE button to activate SMART mode. When
SMART mode is activated, the
indicator illuminates on the instru-
ment cluster.
The indicator illuminates in blue when the driver's driving is catego-
rized to be mild. It illuminates in
white when the driver's driving is
categorized to be normal. It illumi-
nates in red when the driver's driv-
ing is categorized to be dynamic
during abrupt braking or sharp
curving. The vehicle starts in COMFORT
mode when the engine was turned
OFF in SMART mode.
SMART mode automatically con- trols driving characteristics, such
as gear shifting patterns, engine
torque, ride quality (if equipped
with the electronic suspension sys-
tem), and power distribution (if
equipped with the All-Wheel Drive
(AWD) system), in accordance with
the driver's driving habits.✽ ✽ NOTICE
• When you drive the vehicle mildly
in SMART mode, the driving
mode changes to ECO mode to
improve fuel efficiency. However,
the actual fuel efficiency may dif-
fer in accordance with your driv-
ing situations (i.e. upward/down-
ward slope, vehicle
deceleration/acceleration).
• When you drive the vehicle dynamically in SMART mode by
abruptly decelerating or sharply
curving, the driving mode changes
to SPORT mode. However, it may
adversely affect fuel economy.SMART

Driving your vehicle
134
5
When ECO mode is activated:
The acceleration response may be
slightly reduced if the accelerator
pedal is depressed moderately.
The air conditioner performance may be limited.
The shift pattern of the automatic transmission may change.
The engine noise may get louder.
The above situations are normal
conditions when ECO mode is acti-
vated to improve fuel efficiency. Limitation of ECO mode operation:
If the following conditions occur while
ECO mode is operating, the system
operation is limited even though
there is no change in the ECO indi-
cator.
When the coolant temperature is
low:
The system will be limited until
engine performance becomes nor-
mal.
When driving up a hill: The system will be limited to gain
power when driving uphill because
engine torque is restricted.
When driving the vehicle with the automatic transmission gear shift
lever in manual mode.
The system will be limited accord-
ing to the shift location.CUSTOM mode
In CUSTOM mode, the
driver can select sepa-
rate modes and com-
bine them on the AVN
System screen.
Engine/Transmission: ECO/COM- FORT/ SPORT/SNOW
Steering wheel: COMFORT/ SPORT
Suspension: COMFORT+/COM- FORT/SPORT
All-Wheel Drive (AWD) system: ECO/COMFORT/SPORT
For more information, refer to the
separately supplied AVN System
manual.
When CUSTOM mode is selected by pressing the DRIVE MODE but-
ton, the CUSTOM mode indicator
will illuminate.
CUSTOM

Driving your vehicle
168
5
Tire chains
Since the sidewalls on some radial
tires are thinner than other types of
tires, they may be damaged by
mounting certain types of tire chains
on them. Therefore, the use of snow
tires is recommended instead of tire
chains. Do not mount tire chains on
vehicles equipped with aluminum
wheels; if unavoidable, use an
AutoSock (fabric snow chain). Install
the tire chain after reviewing the
instructions provided with the tire
chains.
Damage to your vehicle caused by
improper tire chain use is not cov-
ered by your vehicle manufacturer’s
warranty.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
• Install AutoSock (fabric snow
chain) on the rear tires for 2WD
vehicles or for AWD vehicles. It
should be noted that installing
AutoSock (fabric snow chain) on the
tires will provide a greater driving
force, but will not prevent side skids.
• Do not install studded tires with- out first checking local and munic-
ipal regulations for possible
restrictions against their use.
✽ ✽ NOTICE
If you hear noise caused by chains
contacting the body, retighten the
chain to prevent contact with the
vehicle body.
ORJ058047
CAUTION
When using AutoSock (fabric
snow chain):
Wrong size chains or improp- erly installed chains can dam-age your vehicle's brake lines,suspension, body and wheels.
To prevent body damage, retighten the chains after driv-ing 0.3 ~ 0.6 miles (0.5 ~ 1.0 km).

5169
Driving your vehicle
CAUTION- Snow chains
Chains that are the wrong sizeor improperly installed candamage your vehicle's brakelines, suspension, body andwheels.
Stop driving and retighten the chains any time you hear themhitting the vehicle.
Chain installation
When installing AutoSock (fabric
snow chain), follow the manufactur-
er's instructions and mount them as
tightly as possible. Drive slowly (less
than 20 mph (30 km/h)) with chains
installed. If you hear the chains con-
tacting the body or chassis, stop and
tighten them. If they still make con-
tact, slow down until the noise stops.
Remove the AutoSock (fabric snow
chain) as soon as you begin driving
on cleared roads.
When mounting snow chains, park
the vehicle on level ground away
from traffic. Turn on the vehicle
Hazard Warning flashers and place a
triangular emergency warning device
behind the vehicle if available.
Always place the vehicle in P (Park),
apply the parking brake and turn off
the engine before installing snow
chains. 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 K900 Kia dealer or a
service station.

What to do in an emergency
24
6
Ensure any metal parts on the
tiedown straps do not contact
painted surfaces or the face of the
wheels.
Do not place straps over the body panels or through the wheels.
WARNING - Side and
curtain Air bag
If your vehicle is equipped with
side and curtain air bags, set
the the Engine Start/Stop but-
ton to ACC position when the
vehicle is being towed.
The side and curtain air bag
may deploy when the ignition is
in the ON position and the
rollover sensor detects a
rollover situation.
ORJ068020
CAUTION
Attaching straps to the chassis, suspension or other parts of thebody can cause damage.
ORJ068021
ORJ068022
CAUTION - Towing
Do not tow the vehicle back- wards with the rear wheels onthe ground as this may causedamage to the vehicle.
Do not tow with sling-type equipment. Use wheel lift orflatbed equipment.

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