7
7. Maintenance
Engine Compartment ....................7-3
Maintenance Services ..................7-5
Owner's Responsibility ....................7-5
Owner Maintenance Precautions ....7-5
Owner Maintenance......................7-6
Owner Maintenance Schedule ........7-7
Scheduled Maintenance Service ..7-8
Normal Maintenance Schedule
(5.0 GDI) ..........................................7-9
Maintenance Under Severe Usage
Conditions (5.0 GDI) ......................7-12
Normal Maintenance Schedule
(3.3 Turbo-GDI) ..............................7-14
Maintenance Under Severe Usage
Conditions (3.3 Turbo-GDI) ..........7-17
Explanation of Scheduled
Maintenance Items ......................7-19
Engine Oil ....................................7-22
Checking the Engine Oil Level ......7-22
Checking the Engine Oil and Filter ..7-23
Engine Coolant ............................7-24
Checking the Engine Coolant
Level................................................7-24
Changing Engine Coolant ..............7-26
Brake Fluid....................................7-27
Checking the Brake Fluid Level......7-27
Washer Fluid ................................7-28
Checking the Washer Fluid Level ..7-28
Air Cleaner ..................................7-29
Filter Replacement ........................7-29
Cabin Air Filter ............................7-30
Filter Inspection..............................7-30
Wiper Blades ................................7-31
Blade Inspection ..............................7-31
Blade Replacement ........................7-31
Battery ..........................................7-33
Battery Usage Recommendations..7-34
Battery Replacement ....................7-34
Battery Recharging ........................7-35
Reset features ................................7-36
Tires and Wheels ........................7-37
Tire Care ..........................................7-37
Recommended Cold Tire Inflation
Pressures ........................................7-38
Check Tire Inflation Pressure ........7-39
Tire Rotation ..................................7-39
Wheel Alignment and Tire
Balance ..........................................7-40
Tire Replacement ............................7-41
Wheel Replacement ......................7-42
Tire Traction ....................................7-42
Tire Maintenance............................7-42
Tire Sidewall Labeling ....................7-42
Tire Terminology and Definitions ..7-46
All Season Tires ..............................7-50
Summer Tires ................................7-50
Snow Tires ......................................7-50
Radial-Ply Tires ..............................7-50
Low Aspect Ratio Tires ..................7-51
7-7
07
Owner Maintenance Schedule
When you stop for fuel:
• Check the engine oil level.
• Check the coolant level in the
engine coolant reservoir.
• Check the windshield washer fluid
level.
• Check the tire 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 if there is any
increased steering effort or loose-
ness in the steering wheel, or
change in its straight-ahead posi-
tion.
• 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).
At least monthly:
• Check coolant level in the engine
coolant reservoir.
• Check the operation of all exterior
lights, including the brake lights,
turn signals and hazard warning
flashers.
• 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. Be careful when checking your
engine coolant level when the
engine is hot. This may result in
coolant being blown out of the
opening and cause serious
burns and other injuries.
WARNING
7-37
07
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.
All specifications (sizes and pres-
sures) can be found on a label
attached to the driver’s side center
pillar.
TIRES AND WHEELS
Tire failure may cause loss of
vehicle control resulting in an
accident. To reduce risk of
SERIOUS INJURY or DEATH,
take the following precautions:
• Inspect your tires monthly for
proper inflation as well as
wear and damage.
• The recommended cold tire
pressure for your vehicle can
be found in this manual and
on the tire label located on the
driver’s side center pillar.
Always use a tire pressure
gauge to measure tire pres-
sure. Tires with too much or
too little pressure wear
unevenly causing poor han-
dling.
• Check the pressure of the
spare every time you check
the pressure of the other tires
on your vehicle.
• Replace tires that are worn,
show uneven wear, or are
damaged. Worn tires can
cause loss of braking effec-
tiveness, steering) control, or
traction.
• ALWAYS replace tires with the
same size as each tire that
was originally supplied with
this vehicle. Using tires and
wheels other than the recom-
mended sizes could cause
unusual handling characteris-
tics, poor vehicle control, or
negatively affect your vehi-
cle's Anti-Lock Brake System
(ABS) resulting in a serious
accident.
WARNING
OHI088006L
7-38
Maintenance
Recommended Cold Tire
Inflation 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
one mile (1.6 km).
Warm tires normally exceed recom-
mended cold tire pressures by 4 to 6
psi (28 to 41 kPa). Do not release air
from warm tires to adjust the pres-
sure or the tires will be under-inflat-
ed. For recommended inflation pres-
sure, refer to "Tire and Wheels" in
chapter 8.• Under-inflation results in exces-
sive wear, poor handling and
reduced fuel economy. Wheel
deformation is also possible.
Keep your tire pressures at the
proper levels. If a tire frequently
needs refilling, have it checked by
an authorized retailer of Genesis
Branded products.
• Over-inflation produces a harsh
ride, excessive wear at the cen-
ter of the tire tread, and a greater
possibility of damage from road
hazards.
NOTICE
Recommended pressures must
be maintained for the best ride,
vehicle handling, and minimum
tire wear.
Over-inflation or under-inflation
can reduce tire life, adversely
affect vehicle handling, and
lead to sudden tire failure that
could result in loss of vehicle
control resulting in an accident.
Severe under-inflation can lead
to severe heat build-up, causing
blowouts, tread separation and
other tire failures that can result
in the loss of vehicle control
resulting in an accident. This
risk is much higher on hot days
and when driving for long peri-
ods at high speeds.
WARNING
7-39
07
Check Tire Inflation Pressure
Check your tires, including the spare
tire, once a month or more.
How to check
Use a good quality tire pressure
gauge to check tire pressure. You
can not tell if your tires are properly
inflated simply by looking at them.
Radial tires may look properly inflat-
ed when they are under-inflated.
Remove the valve cap from the tire
valve stem. Press the tire gauge firm-
ly onto the valve to get a pressure
measurement. If the cold tire inflation
pressure matches the recommended
pressure on the tire and loading
information label, no further adjust-
ment is necessary. If the pressure is
low, add air until you reach the rec-
ommended pressure. Make sure to
put the valve caps back on the valve
stems. Without the valve cap, dirt or
moisture could get into the valve
core and cause air leakage. If a valve
cap is missing, install a new one as
soon as possible.
If you overfill the tire, release air by
pushing on the metal stem in the
center of the tire valve. Recheck the
tire pressure with the tire gauge. Be
sure to put the valve caps back on
the valve stems. Without the valve
cap, dirt or moisture could get into
the valve core and cause air leakage.
If a valve cap is missing, install a new
one as soon as possible.
Tire Rotation
To equalize tread wear, Genesis
Branded Vehicle recommends that
the tires be rotated according to the
maintenance schedule or sooner if
irregular wear develops.
During rotation, check the tires for
correct balance.
When rotating tires, check for uneven
wear and damage. Abnormal wear is
usually caused by incorrect tire pres-
sure, improper wheel alignment, out-
of-balance wheels, severe braking or
severe cornering. Look for bumps or
bulges in the tread or side of tire.
Replace the tire if you find either of
these conditions. Replace the tire if
fabric or cord is visible. After rotation,
be sure to bring the front and rear tire
pressures to specification and check
lug nut tightness (proper torque is
79~94 lbf·ft [11~13 kgf·m]).
7-50
Maintenance
All Season Tires
Genesis Branded Vehicle specifies
all season tires on some models to
provide good performance for use all
year round, including snowy and icy
road conditions. All season tires are
identified by ALL SEASON and/or
M+S (Mud and Snow) on the tire
sidewall. Snow tires have better
snow traction than all season tires
and may be more appropriate in
some areas.
Summer Tires
Genesis Branded Vehicle specifies
summer tires on some models to
provide superior performance on dry
roads. Summer tire performance is
substantially reduced in snow and
ice. Summer tires do not have the tire
traction rating M+S (Mud and Snow)
on the tire side wall. If you plan to
operate your vehicle in snowy or icy
conditions, Genesis Branded Vehicle
recommends the use of snow tires or
all season tires on all four wheels.
Snow Tires
If you equip your car with snow tires,
they should be the same size and
have the same load capacity as the
original tires. Snow tires should be
installed on all four wheels; other-
wise, poor handling may result. Snow
tires should carry 4 psi (28 kPa)
more air pressure than the pressure
recommended for the standard tires
on the tire label on the driver’s side of
the center pillar, or up to the maxi-
mum pressure shown on the tire
sidewall, whichever is less. Do not
drive faster than 75 mph (120 km/h)
when your vehicle is equipped with
snow tires.
Radial-Ply Tires
Radial-ply tires provide improved
tread life, road hazard resistance and
smoother high speed ride. The radi-
al-ply tires used on this vehicle are of
belted construction, and are selected
to complement the ride and handling
characteristics of your vehicle.
Radial-ply tires have the same load
carrying capacity, as bias-ply or bias
belted tires of the same size, and use
the same recommended inflation
pressure. Mixing of radial-ply tires
with bias-ply or bias belted tires is
not recommended. Any combina-
tions of radial-ply and bias-ply or bias
belted tires when used on the same
vehicle will seriously deteriorate
vehicle handling. The best rule to fol-
low is: Identical pairs of radial-ply
tires should always be used as a set
for the front tires and a set for the
rear tires.
Longer wearing tires can be more
susceptible to irregular tread wear. It
is very important to follow the tire
rotation interval in this chapter to
achieve the tread life potential of
these tires. Cuts and punctures in
radial-ply tires are repairable only in
the tread area, because of sidewall
flexing. Consult your tire dealer for
radial-ply tire repairs.
Do not mix bias ply and radial
ply tires under any circum-
stances. This may cause unusu-
al handling characteristics that
may cause loss of vehicle con-
trol resulting in an accident.
WARNING
7-51
07
Low Aspect Ratio Tires
Low aspect ratio tires, the aspect
ratio is lower than 50, are provided
for sporty looks.
Because low aspect ratio tires are
optimized for handling and braking,
their sidewall is a little stiffer than a
standard tire. Also low aspect ratio
tires tend to be wider and conse-
quently have a greater contact patch
with the road surface. In some
instances they may generate more
road noise compared with standard
tires.
Because the sidewall of a low
aspect ratio tire is shorter than a
standard tire, the rim of the wheel
and the tire itself is more easily
susceptible to damage. Use cau-
tion when driving and follow the
guidelines below to help minimize
damage to the wheel and tire:
- When driving on a rough road or
off road, drive cautiously
because tires and wheels may be
damaged. And after driving,
inspect tires and wheels.
- When passing over a pothole,
speed bump, manhole, or curb
stone, drive slowly so that the
tires and wheels are not dam-
aged.
- If the tire is subjected to a severe
impact, have the tire and wheel
inspected by an authorized
retailer of Genesis Branded
products.
- Inspect the tire condition and
pressure every 1,800 miles
(3,000km).• It is not easy to recognize tire
damage with your own eyes. But
if there is the slightest hint of
tire damage, have the tire
checked or replaced because
the tire damage may cause air
leakage from the tire.
• If the tire is damaged by driving
on a rough road, off road, pot-
hole, manhole, or curb stone, it
will not be covered by the war-
ranty.
NOTICE
NOTICE