2021 KIA NIRO PHEV service

Driving your vehicle
18 5
DCT warning messages
This warning message is displayed
when the vehicle is driven slowly on
a grade and the vehicle detects that
the brake pedal is not applied.Steep grade
Driving up hills or on steep grades:
To hold the vehicle on an incline,
use the foot brake or the parking
brake.
When in stop-and-go traffic on an
incline, keep some distance ahead
before moving the vehicle forward.
Then hold the vehicle on the incline
with the foot brake.
If the vehicle is held on a hill by
applying the accelerator pedal or
by creeping with the brake pedal
dis-engaged, the clutch and trans-
mission may overheat which can
result in damage. In this situation, a
warning message will appear on
the LCD display.
If the LCD warning is active, the
foot brake must be applied.
Ignoring the warnings can lead to
damage to the transmission.
CAUTION
To avoid damage to your
transaxle, do not try to accel-
erate in R (Reverse) or any for-
ward gear position with the
brakes on.
When stopped on slope, do
not hold the vehicle with
accelerator pedal. Use the
service brake or the parking
brake.
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Driving your vehicle
32 5
Wet brakes may impair the vehicle’s
ability to safely slow down; the vehi-
cle may also pull to one side when
the brakes are applied. Applying the
brakes lightly will indicate whether
they have been affected in this way.
Always test your brakes in this fash-
ion after driving through deep water.
To dry the brakes, apply them lightly
while maintaining a safe forward
speed until brake performance
returns to normal.
✽ ✽
NOTICE
Do not depress the brake pedal con-
tinuously without the “ ” indica-
tor ON. The battery may be dis-
charged.
In the event of brake failure
If service brakes fail to operate while
the vehicle is in motion, you can
make an emergency stop with the
parking brake. The stopping dis-
tance, however, will be much greater
than normal.
Disc brakes wear indicator
When your brake pads are worn and
new pads are required, you will hear
a high-pitched warning sound from
your front brakes or rear brakes. You
may hear this sound come and go or
it may occur whenever you depress
the brake pedal.
Please remember that some driving
conditions or climates may cause a
brake squeal when you first apply (or
lightly apply) the brakes. This is nor-
mal and does not indicate a problem
with your brakes.
Always replace the front or rear
brake pads as pairs.
WARNING- Parking
brake
Avoid applying the parking
brake to stop the vehicle while it
is moving except in an emer-
gency situation. Applying the
parking brake while the vehicle
is moving at normal speeds can
cause a sudden loss of control
of the vehicle. If you must use
the parking brake to stop the
vehicle, use great caution in
applying the brake.
CAUTION- Replace brake
pads
Do not continue to drive with
worn brake pads. Continuing to
drive with worn brake pads can
damage the braking system and
result in costly brake repairs.

5145
Driving your vehicle
The navigation cannot detect the
current vehicle position (ex: elevat-
ed roads including overpass adja-
cent to general roads or nearby
roads exist in a parallel way)
The vehicle enters a service sta-
tion or rest area
The speed limit of some sections
changes depending on the road
situations
Android Auto or Car Play is operat-
ing
The navigation is being updated
while driving
The navigation is being restarted
while driving
There is bad weather, such as
heavy rain, heavy snow, etc.
Driving on a road under construc-
tion
Driving on a road that is controlled
Driving on a road that is sharply
curved
[3]: Driving route, [4]: Set route, [5]: Main road,
[6]: Branch line
When there is a difference
between the navigation set route
(branch line) and the driving route
(main road), Highway Auto Curve
Slowdown function may not oper-
ate until the driving route is recog-
nized as the main road. When the vehicle's driving route is
recognized as the main road by
maintaining the main road instead
of the navigation set route,
Highway Auto Curve Slowdown
function will operate. Depending on
the distance to the curve and the
current vehicle speed, vehicle
deceleration may not be sufficient
or may decelerate rapidly.
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Driving your vehicle
162 5
* Refer to “Smart Cruise Control
(SCC)” in this chapter. for cautions
and warnings about vehicle dis-
tance control and front radar.
* Refer to “Lane Following Assist
(LFA) “ in this chapter. for cautions
and warnings about steering con-
trol and front view camera.CAUTION
Highway Driving Assist may not
function properly in the follow-
ing situations:
The navigation is not working
properly.
The navigation is not updated.
The real-time GPS or map
information provided has
errors.
The navigation is overloaded
by performing functions such
as route search, video play-
back, voice recognition, etc.
are performing simultaneously.
The navigation is recalculat-
ing the route while driving.
GPS signals are blocked in
areas such as a tunnel.
The driver goes off course or
the route to the destination is
changed or canceled by reset-
ting the navigation.
The vehicle enters a service
station or rest area
(Continued)
(Continued)
The speed limit of selected
highway section is changed
due to road conditions.
Android Auto or Car Play is
operating.
The navigation cannot detect
the current vehicle position
(ex: elevated roads including
overpass adjacent to general
roads or nearby roads exist in
a parallel way).
The navigation is being updat-
ed while driving.
The navigation is being reset
while driving.
The road is slippery due to
bad weather such as rain or
snow.
If your vehicle tows a trailer or
another vehicle, you should
release Highway Driving
Assist system. Operating the
brake system or steering sys-
tem while towing may
adversely affect the safety.

Driving your vehicle
182 5
Your vehicle's fuel economy depends
mainly on your style of driving, where
you drive and when you drive.
Each of these factors affects how
many miles (kilometers) you can get
from a gallon (liter) of fuel. To operate
your vehicle as economically as pos-
sible, use the following driving sug-
gestions to help save money in both
fuel and repairs:
Drive smoothly. Accelerate at a
moderate rate. Don't make "jack-
rabbit" starts or full-throttle shifts
and maintain a steady cruising
speed. Don't race between stop-
lights. Try to adjust your speed to
the traffic so you don't have to
change speeds unnecessarily.
Avoid heavy traffic whenever pos-
sible. Always maintain a safe dis-
tance from other vehicles so you
can avoid unnecessary braking.
This also reduces brake wear.
Drive at a moderate speed. The
faster you drive, the more fuel your
vehicle uses. Driving at a moderate
speed, especially on the highway,
is one of the most effective ways to
reduce fuel consumption. Don't "ride" the brake pedal. This
can increase fuel consumption and
also increase wear on these com-
ponents. In addition, driving with
your foot resting on the brake pedal
may cause the brakes to overheat,
which reduces their effectiveness
and may lead to more serious con-
sequences.
Take care of your tires. Keep them
inflated to the recommended pres-
sure. Incorrect inflation, either too
much or too little, results in unnec-
essary tire wear. Check the tire
pressures at least once a month.
Be sure that the wheels are
aligned correctly. Improper align-
ment can result from hitting curbs
or driving too fast over irregular
surfaces. Poor alignment causes
faster tire wear and may also result
in other problems as well as
greater fuel consumption. Keep your vehicle in good condi-
tion. For better fuel economy and
reduced maintenance costs, main-
tain your vehicle in accordance
with the maintenance schedule in
chapter 8. If you drive your vehicle
in severe conditions, more frequent
maintenance is required (see
chapter 8 for details).
Keep your vehicle clean. For maxi-
mum service, your vehicle should
be kept clean and free of corrosive
materials. It is especially important
that mud, dirt, ice, etc. not be
allowed to accumulate on the
underside of the vehicle. This extra
weight can result in increased fuel
consumption and also contribute to
corrosion.
Travel lightly. Don't carry unneces-
sary weight in your vehicle. Weight
reduces fuel economy.
Don't let the engine idle longer
than necessary. If you are waiting
(and not in traffic), turn off your
engine and restart only when
you're ready to go.
ECONOMICAL OPERATION

5191
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 8. 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 8. 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 9 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 8 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
Road warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
• Hazard warning flasher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-2
In case of an emergency while driving . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
• If the engine stalls at a crossroad or crossing. . . . . . . 6-3
• If you have a flat tire while driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
• If the engine stalls while driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-3
If the engine will not start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
• If engine doesn't turn over or turns over slowly . . . . 6-4
• If engine turns over normally but does not start . . . . 6-4
Emergency starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
• Before Jump Starting (For Hybrid) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
• Method to disconnect the (-) cable for regular
maintenance (For Hybrid) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-7
• Jump starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-8
• Push-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-10
If the engine overheats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-11
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) . . . . . 6-13
• Check tire pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-13
• Low tire pressure telltale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-15
• Low tire pressure position telltale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-15
• Changing a tire with TPMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-17
If you have a flat tire (with spare tire) . . . . . . . . . 6-19
• Jack and tools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-19
• Removing and storing the spare tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-20
• Changing tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-20
If you have a flat tire (with Tire Mobility Kit) . . 6-28
• Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-29
• Notes on the safe use of the Tire Mobility Kit . . . . . 6-30
• Components of the Tire Mobility Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-32
• Using the Tire Mobility Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-33
• Distributing the sealant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-35
• Checking the tire inflation pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-36
• Technical Data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-38
Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-39
• Towing service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-39
• Removable towing hook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-40
• Emergency towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-41
If An Accident Occurs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-446

67
What to do in an emergency
External power source using 12V
battery
(Except the use of dash cameras)
The use of external power acces-
sories may reduce performance and
function of the vehicle. Especially,
the use of dash cameras may cause
a shut off the power of the vehicle
prior to the dash camera’s automatic
shut-down.
If the power of the car is shut off,
start the vehicle as explained above
(refer to “Over discharge of 12V bat-
tery”).
Method to disconnect the (-)
cable for regular maintenance
(For Hybrid)When the vehicle is under regular
maintenance, make sure to separate
the (-) cable inside the luggage room
before maintenance.
Procedures to separate the (-) cable
is as below :
Fold the rear left side seat.
Using the key or (-) screwdriver,
remove the service cover (A) on
the luggage trim.
Separate the (-) cable (B).
Reassemble in the reverse order of
disassembly.
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