2021 KIA NIRO brake fluid

Your vehicle at a glance
6 2
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
ODEP079115
■
■(Gasoline) 1.6 GDi
❈The actual engine room in the vehicle may differ from the illustration.1. Engine coolant reservoir ...................7-22
2. Engine oil filler cap ...........................7-19
3. Engine oil dipstick .............................7-19
4. Brake fluid reservoir ..........................7-26
5. Inverter coolant reservoir ..................7-22
6. Fuse box ...........................................7-61
7. Engine clutch actuator reservoir tank.7-28
8. Air cleaner.........................................7-32
9. Windshield washer fluid reservoir .....7-30

499
Features of your vehicle
Press START button again
(for smart key system)
This warning message illuminates
if you can not operate the ENGINE
START/STOP button when there is
a problem with the ENGINE
START/STOP button system.
It means that you could start the
engine by pressing the ENGINE
START/STOP button once more.
If the warning illuminates each
time you press the ENGINE
START/STOP button, have your
vehicle inspected by an authorized
Kia dealer.
Press START button with key (for
smart key system)
This warning message illuminates
if you press the ENGINE
START/STOP button while the
warning message “Key not detect-
ed” is illuminating.
At this time, the immobilizer indica-
tor light blinks.
Check BRAKE SWITH fuse
(for smart key system)
This warning message illuminates
if the brake switch fuse is discon-
nected.
It means that you should replace
the fuse with a new one. If that is
not possible, you can start the
engine by pressing the ENGINE
START/STOP button for 10 sec-
onds in the ACC position.
Shift to P or N to start engine
(for smart key system)
This warning message illuminates
if you try to start the engine with
the shift lever not in the P (Park) or
N (Neutral) position.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
You can start the engine with the
shift lever in the N (Neutral) posi-
tion. But, for your safety, we recom-
mend that you start the engine with
the shift lever in the P (Park) posi-
tion.
Low washer fluid
This warning message illuminates
on the service reminder mode if
the washer fluid level in the reser-
voir is nearly empty.
It means that you should refill the
washer fluid.
Low fuel
This warning message illuminates
if the fuel tank is nearly empty.
- When the low fuel level warning
light is illuminates.
Add fuel as soon as possible.

4107
Features of your vehicle
Parking Brake & Brake
Fluid Warning Light
This warning light illuminates:
Once you set the ignition switch or
ENGINE START/STOP button to
the ON position.
- It illuminates for approximately 3
seconds
- It remains on if the parking brake
is applied.
When the parking brake is applied.
When the brake fluid level in the
reservoir is low.
- If the warning light illuminates
with the parking brake released, it
indicates the brake fluid level in
reservoir is low.If the brake fluid level in the reservoir
is low:
1. Drive carefully to the nearest safe
location and stop your vehicle.
2. With the engine stopped, check
the brake fluid level immediately
and add fluid as required (For
more details, refer to “Brake Fluid”
in chapter 7).
Then check all brake components
for fluid leaks. If any leaks in the
brake system are still found, the
warning light remains on, or the
brakes do not operate properly, do
not drive the vehicle.
In this case, have your vehicle
towed to an authorized Kia dealer
and inspected.Dual-diagonal braking system
Your vehicle is equipped with dual-
diagonal braking systems. This
means you still have braking on two
wheels even if one of the dual sys-
tems should fail.
With only one of the dual systems
working, greater pedal pressure is
required to stop the vehicle.
Also, the vehicle will require
increased stopping distance with
only a portion of the brake system
working.
If the brakes fail while you are driv-
ing, shift to a lower gear for addition-
al engine braking and stop the vehi-
cle as soon as it is safe to do so.
Driving the vehicle with a warning
light ON is dangerous. If the Parking
Brake & Brake Fluid Warning Light
illuminate with the parking brake
released, it indicates that the brake
fluid level is low.
In this case, have your vehicle
inspected by an authorized Kia deal-
er.

Features of your vehicle
108 4
Anti-lock Brake System
(ABS) Warning Light
This warning light illuminates:
Once you set the ignition switch or
ENGINE START/STOP button to
the ON position.
- It illuminates for approximately 3
seconds and then goes off.
When there is a malfunction with
the ABS (The normal braking sys-
tem will still be operational without
the assistance of the anti-lock
brake system).
In this case, have your vehicle
inspected by an authorized Kia
dealer.
Electronic
Brake force
Distribution
(EBD) System
Warning Light
These two warning lights illuminate at
the same time while driving:
When the ABS and regular brake
system may not work normally.
In this case, have your vehicle
inspected by an authorized Kia
dealer.
WARNING - Electronic
Brake force Distribution
(EBD) System Warning Light
When both ABS and Parking
Brake & Brake Fluid Warning
Lights are on, the brake system
will not work normally and you
may experience an unexpected
and dangerous situation during
sudden braking thereby
increasing the risk of a crash
and injury. In this case, avoid
high speed driving and abrupt
braking. Have your vehicle
inspected by an authorized Kia
dealer as soon as possible.

4109
Features of your vehicle
✽ ✽
NOTICE- Electronic Brake
force Distribution (EBD)
System Warning Light
When the ABS Warning Light is on
or both ABS and Parking Brake &
Brake Fluid Warning Lights are on,
the speedometer, odometer, or trip-
meter may not work. Also, the EPS
Warning Light may illuminate and
the steering effort may increase or
decrease.
In this case, have your vehicle inspect-
ed by an authorized Kia dealer as
soon as possible.
Regenerative Brake
Warning Light
This warning light illuminates :
When the regenerative brake does
not operate and the brake does not
perform well. This causes the Brake
Warning light (red) and Regenerative
Brake Warning Light (yellow) to illu-
minate simultaneously.
In this case, drive safely and have
your vehicle inspected by an author-
ized Kia dealer.
Electric Power Steering
(EPS) Warning Light
This warning light illuminates:
Once you set the ignition switch or
ENGINE START/STOP button to
the ON position.
- It remains on until the engine is
started.
When there is a malfunction with
the EPS.
In this case, have your vehicle
inspected by an authorized Kia
dealer.
(yellow color)
(red color)

55
Driving your vehicle
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 ignition switch or
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. Any
handled devices, other equip-
ment or vehicle systems that
distract the driver should not be
used during vehicle operation.

Driving your vehicle
192 5
To keep locks from freezing
To keep the locks from freezing,
squirt an approved de-icer fluid or
glycerine into the key opening. If a
lock is covered with ice, squirt it with
an approved de-icing fluid to remove
the ice. If the lock is frozen internally,
you may be able to thaw it out by
using a heated key. Handle the heat-
ed key with care to avoid injury.
Use approved window washer
anti-freeze in system
To keep the water in the window
washer system from freezing, add an
approved window washer anti-freeze
solution in accordance with instruc-
tions on the container. Window wash-
er anti-freeze is available from an
authorized Kia dealer and most auto
parts outlets. Do not use engine
coolant or other types of anti-freeze
as these may damage the paint fin-
ish.
Don’t let your parking brake
freeze
Under some conditions your parking
brake can freeze in the engaged
position. This is most likely 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 the parking brake may
freeze, apply it only temporarily while
you put the gear shift lever in P (Park,
Dual clutch transmission) and block
the rear wheels so the vehicle cannot
roll. Then release the parking brake.
Don't let ice and snow accu-
mulate underneath
Under some conditions, snow and
ice can build up under the fenders
and interfere with the steering. When
driving in severe winter conditions
where this may happen, you should
periodically check underneath the
vehicle to be sure the movement of
the front wheels and the steering
components are not obstructed.
Carry emergency equipment
Depending on the severity of the
weather, you should carry appropri-
ate emergency equipment. Some of
the items you may want to carry
include tow straps or chains, flash-
light, emergency flares, sand, shov-
el, jumper cables, window scraper,
gloves, ground cloth, coveralls, blan-
ket, etc.
TRAILER TOWING
We do not recommend using this
vehicle for trailer towing.

Emergency towing precautions
• Turn the ignition switch to ACC sothe steering wheel isn’t locked.
Place the transmission 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.
To avoid serious damage to the dual clutch transmission, limit the
vehicle speed to 10 mph (15 km/h)
and drive less than 1 mile (1.5 km)
when towing. (for Dual clutch trans-
mission vehicle.) 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 transmission is in N
(Neutral). Be sure the steering is
unlocked by placing the ignition
switch in the ACC position. A driver
must be in the towed vehicle to
operate the steering and brakes.
CAUTION - Dual clutchtransmission
Before towing, check the dual
clutch transmission for fluidleaks under your vehicle. If thedual clutch transmission fluid isleaking, flatbed equipment or atowing dolly must be used.
What to do in an emergency
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