
55
Driving your vehicle
Before entering vehicle
• Be sure that all windows, outsidemirror(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, with 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
turned to the ON position.
Release the parking brake and make sure the brake warning light
goes off.
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. Use of
any hand held devices, other
equipment or vehicle systems
that distract the driver should
not be used during vehicle
operation.
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5113
Driving your vehicle
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
section 8 for recommendations. If
you aren't sure what weight oil you
should use, consult an authorized
Kia dealer.
Check spark plugs and igni-
tion system
Inspect your spark plugs as
described in section 7 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.
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 finish.
Don't let your parking brake
freeze
Under some conditions, your parking
brake can freeze in the engaged
position. This is most likely to hap-
pen 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 shift lever in P
(Intelligent Variable Transmission)
and chock 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
car to be sure the movement of the
front wheels and the steering com-
ponents is not obstructed.
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Maintenance
Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4
Maintenance services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
• Owner’s responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
• Owner maintenance precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Owner maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
• Owner maintenance schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Scheduled maintenance service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
• Scheduled maintenance service precaution . . . . . . . . 7-9
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items . . . 7-15
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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-24
• Checking the coolant level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-24
• Changing the coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-26
Brake fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-27
• Checking the brake fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-27
Washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-29
• Checking the washer fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-29
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-30
• Checking the parking brake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-30
Air cleaner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-31
• Filter replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-31
Climate control air filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-33
• Filter inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-33
Wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35
• Blade inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35
• Blade replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-35
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-\
39
• For best battery service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-39
• Recharging the battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-40
• Reset items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-41\
Tires and wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-42
• Tire care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-\
42
• Recommended cold tire inflation pressures . . . . . . 7-42
• Tire pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-43
• Checking tire inflation pressure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-43
• Tire rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-44
• Wheel alignment and tire balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-45
• Tire replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-46
• Wheel replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-47
• Tire traction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-47
• Tire maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-47
• Tire sidewall labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-47
• All season tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-54
• Summer tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-54
• Snow tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-\
54
• Tire chains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-55\
7
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Maintenance
47
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
OSC078047N
■ ■Smartstream G1.6❈ The actual engine compartment in the vehicle may differ from the illustration. 1. Engine coolant reservoir
2. Engine oil filler cap
3. Brake fluid reservoir
4. Air cleaner
5. Fuse box
6. Negative battery terminal
7. Positive battery terminal
8. Engine oil dipstick
9. Radiator cap
10. Windshield washer fluid reservoir
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77
Maintenance
OWNER MAINTENANCE
The following lists are vehicle checks
and inspections that should be per-
formed by the owner or an author-
ized Kia dealer at the frequencies
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 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, take your vehicle to an
authorized Kia dealer.
Check the intelligent variable trans- mission P (Park) function.
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.
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Maintenance
87
Check the parking brake.
Check for fluid leaks under yourvehicle (water dripping from the air
conditioning system during or after
use is normal).
At least monthly:
Check the coolant level in theengine coolant reservoir.
Check the operation of all exterior lights, including the stoplights, turn
signals and hazard warning flash-
ers.
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.
At least twice a year (i.e., every Spring and Fall) :
Check the radiator, heater and air conditioning hoses for leaks or
damage.
Check the windshield washer spray and wiper operation. Clean
the wiper blades with a clean cloth
dampened with washer fluid.
Check the headlight alignment.
Check the muffler, exhaust pipes, shields and clamps.
Check the lap/shoulder belts for wear and function.
At least once a year :
Clean the body and door drainholes.
Lubricate the door hinges and check the hood hinges.
Lubricate the door and hood locks and latches.
Lubricate the door rubber weather- strips.
Check the air conditioning system.
Inspect and lubricate intelligent variable transmission linkage and
controls.
Clean the battery and terminals.
Check the brake fluid level.
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Maintenance
20
7
CHECKING FLUID LEVELS
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.
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729
Maintenance
WASHER FLUID
Checking the washer fluid
level
The reservoir is translucent so that
you can check the level with a quick
visual inspection.
Check the fluid level in the washer
fluid reservoir and add fluid if neces-
sary. In warm climates, plain water
may be used if washer fluid is not
available. However, use washer sol-
vent with antifreeze characteristics in
cold climates to prevent freezing.
WARNING- Flammablefluid
Do not allow the washer fluid to
come in contact with open
flames or sparks. The windshield
washer fluid reservoir is flamma-
ble under certain circumstances.
This can result in a fire.WARNING- Windshield fluid
Do not drink the windshield
washer fluid. The windshield
washer fluid is poisonous to
humans and animals.
WARNING- Coolant
Do not use radiator coolant or antifreeze in the washer fluid
reservoir.
Radiator coolant can severely obscure visibility when sprayed
on the windshield and may
cause loss of vehicle control.
OSC077019N
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