KIA Niro Plug-in Hybrid (2018 year). Manual — part 27

Driving your vehicle

92

6

Driving at night

Because night driving presents more
hazards than driving in the daylight,
here are some important tips to
remember:
• Slow down and keep more dis-

tance between you and other vehi-
cles, as it may be more difficult to
see at night, especially in areas
where there may not be any street
lights.

• Adjust your mirrors to reduce the

glare from other driver's head-
lights.

• Keep your headlights clean and

properly aimed. (On vehicles not
equipped with the automatic head-
light aiming feature.) Dirty or
improperly aimed headlights will
make it much more difficult to see
at night.

• Avoid staring directly at the head-

lights of oncoming vehicles. You
could be temporarily blinded, and it
will take several seconds for your
eyes to readjust to the darkness.

Driving in the rain

Rain and wet roads can make driving
dangerous, especially if you’re not
prepared for the slick pavement.
Here are a few things to consider
when driving in the rain:

• A heavy rainfall will make it harder

to see and will increase the dis-
tance needed to stop your vehicle,
so slow down.

• Keep your windshield wiping

equipment in good shape. Replace
your windshield wiper blades when
they show signs of streaking or
missing areas on the windshield.

• If your tires are not in good condi-

tion, making a quick stop on wet
pavement can cause a skid and
possibly lead to an accident. Be
sure your tires are in good shape.

• Turn on your headlights to make it

easier for others to see you.

• Driving too fast through large pud-

dles can affect your brakes. If you
must go through puddles, try to
drive through them slowly.

• If you believe you may have gotten

your brakes wet, apply them lightly
while driving until normal braking
operation returns.

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Driving your vehicle

Driving in flooded areas

Avoid driving through flooded areas
unless you are sure the water is no
higher than the bottom of the wheel
hub. Drive through any water slowly.
Allow adequate stopping distance
because brake performance may be
affected.
After driving through water, dry the
brakes by gently applying them sev-
eral times while the vehicle is moving
slowly.

Driving off-road

Drive carefully off-road because your
vehicle may be damaged by rocks or
roots of trees. Become familiar with
the off-road conditions where you
are going to drive before you begin
driving.

Highway driving

Tires

Adjust the tire inflation pressures to
specification. Low tire inflation pres-
sures will result in overheating and
possible failure of the tires.
Avoid using worn or damaged tires
which may result in reduced traction
or tire failure.
Never exceed the maximum tire
inflation pressure shown on the tires.

Fuel, engine coolant and engine oil

High speed travel consumes more
fuel than urban motoring. Do not for-
get to check both the engine coolant
and engine oil.

Drive belt

A loose or damaged drive belt may
result in overheating of the engine.

WARNING

- Under/over

inflated tires

Always check the tires for proper
inflation before driving.
Underinflated or overinflated
tires can cause poor handling,
loss of vehicle control, and sud-
den tire failure leading to acci-
dents, injuries, and even death.
For proper tire pressures, refer to
“Tires and wheels” in chapter 9.

WARNING

- Tire tread

Always check the tire tread
before driving your vehicle.
Worn-out tires can result in loss
of vehicle control. Worn-out tires
should be replaced as soon as
possible. For further information
and tread limits, refer to "Tires
and wheels" in chapter 8.

Driving your vehicle

94

6

Severe weather conditions in the
winter result in greater wear and
other problems. To minimize the
problems of winter driving, you
should follow these suggestions:

Snowy or icy conditions

To drive your vehicle in deep snow, it
may be necessary to use snow tires
or to install tire chains on your tires.
If snow tires are needed, it is neces-
sary to select tires equivalent in size
and type of the original equipment
tires. Failure to do so may adversely
affect the safety and handling of your
vehicle.

Furthermore, speeding,

rapid acceleration, sudden brake
applications, and sharp turns are
potentially very hazardous practices.
During deceleration, use engine
braking to the fullest extent. Sudden
brake applications on snowy or icy
roads may cause skids to occur. You
need to keep sufficient distance
between the vehicle in operation in
front of your vehicle. Also, apply the
brake gently. It should be noted that
installing tire chains on the tire will
provide a greater driving force, but
will not prevent side skids.
Tire chains are not legal in all states.
Check state laws before fitting tire
chains.

Snow tires

If you mount snow tires on your vehi-
cle, make sure they are radial tires of
the same size and load range as the
original tires. Mount snow tires on all
four wheels to balance your vehicle’s
handling in all weather conditions.
Keep in mind that the traction provid-
ed by snow tires on dry roads may
not be as high as your vehicle's orig-
inal equipment tires. You should drive
cautiously even when the roads are
clear. Check with the tire dealer for
maximum speed recommendations.
Do not install studded tires without
first checking local, state and munic-
ipal regulations for possible restric-
tions against their use.

WINTER DRIVING

WARNING

- Snow tire size

Snow tires should be equivalent
in size and type to the vehicle's
standard tires. Otherwise, the
safety and handling of your vehi-
cle may be adversely affected.

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Driving your vehicle

Tire chains

Since the sidewalls of radial tires are
thinner, they can be damaged by
mounting some types of snow chains
on them. Therefore, the use of snow
tires is recommended instead of
snow chains. Do not mount tire
chains on vehicles equipped with
aluminum wheels; snow chains may
cause damage to the wheels. If snow
chains must be used, use wire-type
chains with a thickness of less than
0.47 in (12 mm). Damage to your
vehicle caused by improper snow
chain use is not covered by your
vehicle manufacturers warranty.

When using tire chains, install tire
chains only on the front tires.

The snow chain connecting hooks
may be damaged from contacting
vehicle components causing the
snow chains to come loose from the
tire. Make sure the snow chains are
SAE class “S” certified.
Always check chain installation for
proper mounting after driving
approximately 0.3 to 0.6 miles (0.5 to
1 km) to ensure safe mounting.
Retighten or remount the chains if
they are loose.
If your vehicle has 18 inch tires, do
not use tire chains.
They can damage your vehicle
(wheel, suspension and body).

Chain installation
When installing chains, follow the
manufacturer's instructions and
mount them as tightly as you can.
Drive slowly with chains installed. If
you hear the chains contacting the
body or chassis, stop and tighten
them. If they still make contact, slow
down until it stops. Remove the
chains 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.

CAUTION

- Snow chains

Make sure the snow chains are
the correct size and type for
your tires.

Incorrect snow

chains can cause damage to the
vehicle body and suspension
and may not be covered by your
vehicle manufacturer warranty.

ODE056062

Driving your vehicle

96

6

• 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.

6 97

Driving your vehicle

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.

Driving your vehicle

98

6

Vehicle capacity weight:

849 lbs. (385 kg)

Vehicle capacity weight is the maxi-
mum combined weight of occupants
and cargo. If your vehicle is equipped
with a trailer, the combined weight
includes the tongue load.

Seating capacity:

Total : 5 persons

(Front seat : 2 persons,

Rear seat : 3 persons)

Seating capacity is the maximum
number of occupants including a
driver, your vehicle may carry.
However, the seating capacity may
be reduced based upon the weight of
all of the occupants, and the weight
of the cargo being carried or towed.
Do not overload the vehicle as there
is a limit to the total weight, or load
limit including occupants and cargo,
the vehicle can carry.

VEHICLE LOAD LIMIT

ODE067042N/ODE067043N/ODE067055N/ODE067056N

The label located on the driver's door sill gives the original tire size, cold tire
pressures recommended for your vehicle, the number of people that can be
in your vehicle and vehicle capacity weight.

Tire and loading information label

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Driving your vehicle

Towing capacity:

We do not recommend using this
vehicle for trailer towing.

Cargo capacity:

The cargo capacity of your vehicle
will increase or decrease depending
on the weight and the number of
occupants.

Steps For Determining Correct
Load Limit -

1. Locate the statement "The com-

bined weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX
kg or XXX lbs.'' on your vehicle's
placard.

2. Determine the combined weight of

the driver and passengers that will
be riding in your vehicle.

3. Subtract the combined weight of

the driver and passengers from
XXX kg or XXX lbs.

4. The resulting figure equals the

available amount of cargo and lug-
gage load capacity. For example, if
the "XXX" amount equals 1400
lbs. and there will be five 150 lbs.
passengers in your vehicle, the
amount of available cargo and lug-
gage load capacity is 650 lbs.

(1400-750 (5 x 150) = 650 lbs.)

5. Determine the combined weight of

luggage and cargo being loaded
on the vehicle. That weight may
not safely exceed the available
cargo and luggage load capacity
calculated in Step 4.

6. If your vehicle will be towing a trail-

er, load from your trailer will be
transferred to your vehicle. Consult
this manual to determine how this
reduces the available cargo and
luggage load capacity of your
vehicle.

WARNING

- Loose cargo

Do not travel with unsecured
blunt objects in the passenger
compartment of your vehicle
(e.g. suit cases or unsecured
child seats). These items may
strike occupant during a sud-
den stop or crash.

Driving your vehicle

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6

C190F03JM

Item

Description

Total

A

Vehicle Capacity

849 lbs

Weight

(385 kg)

Subtract Occupant

B

Weight

805 lbs

161 lbs (73 kg) × 5

(365 kg)

C

Available Cargo and

44 lbs

Luggage weight

(20 kg)

A

B

C

Example 3

C190F02JM

Item

Description

Total

A

Vehicle Capacity

849 lbs

Weight

(385 kg)

Subtract Occupant

B

Weight

750 lbs

150 lbs (68 kg) × 5

(340 kg)

C

Available Cargo and

99 lbs

Luggage weight

(45 kg)

A

B

C

Example 2

C190F01JM

Item

Description

Total

A

Vehicle Capacity

849 lbs

Weight

(385 kg)

Subtract Occupant

B

Weight

300 lbs

150 lbs (68 kg) × 2

(136 kg)

C

Available Cargo and

549 lbs

Luggage weight

(249 kg)

Example 1

A

B

C

Refer to your vehicle’s tire and loading information label for specific information about your vehicle's capacity weight
and seating positions. The combined weight of the driver, passengers and cargo should never exceed your vehicle's
capacity weight.

6 101

Driving your vehicle

Certification label

The certification label is located on
the driver's door sill at the center pillar.
This label shows the maximum allow-
able weight of the fully loaded vehi-
cle. This is called the GVWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR
includes the weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, fuel and cargo.
This label also tells you the maxi-
mum weight that can be supported
by the front and rear axles, called
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).

To find out the actual loads on your
front and rear axles, you need to go to
a weigh station and weigh your vehi-
cle. Your dealer can help you with this.
Be sure to spread out your load equal-
ly on both sides of the centerline.

The label will help you decide how
much cargo and installed equipment
your vehicle can carry.

If you carry items inside your vehicle
- like suitcases, tools, packages, or
anything else - they are moving as
fast as the vehicle. If you have to stop
or turn quickly, or if there is a crash,
the items will keep going and can
cause an injury if they strike the driv-
er or a passenger.

✽

✽

NOTICE

Overloading your vehicle may cause
damage. Repairs would not be cov-
ered by your warranty. Do not over-
load your vehicle.

OJFA055280

WARNING -

Over loading

Never exceed the GVWR for
your vehicle, the GAWR for
either the front or rear axle and
vehicle capacity weight.
Exceeding these ratings can
affect your vehicle’s handling
and braking ability.

WARNING

- Over loading

Do not overload your vehicle.
Overloading your vehicle can
cause heat buildup in your vehi-
cle's tires and possible tire fail-
ure, increased stopping dis-
tances and poor vehicle han-
dling--all of which may result in
a crash.

Driving your vehicle

102

6

VEHICLE WEIGHT

This chapter will guide you in the
proper loading of your vehicle and/or
trailer, to keep your loaded vehicle
weight within its design rating capa-
bility, with or without a trailer. Properly
loading your vehicle will provide max-
imum return of the vehicle design
performance. Before loading your
vehicle, familiarize yourself with the
following terms for determining your
vehicle's weight ratings, with or with-
out a trailer, from the vehicle's speci-
fications and the compliance label:

Base curb weight

This is the weight of the vehicle
including a full tank of fuel and all
standard equipment. It does not
include passengers, cargo, or option-
al equipment.

Vehicle curb weight

This is the weight of your new vehicle
when you picked it up from your deal-
er plus any aftermarket equipment.

Cargo weight

This figure includes all weight added
to the Base Curb Weight, including
cargo and optional equipment.

GAW (Gross axle weight)

This is the total weight placed on
each axle (front and rear) - including
vehicle curb weight and all payload.

GAWR
(Gross axle weight rating)

This is the maximum allowable
weight that can be carried by a single
axle (front or rear). These numbers
are shown on the compliance label.
The total load on each axle must
never exceed its GAWR.

GVW (Gross vehicle weight)

This is the Base Curb Weight plus
actual Cargo Weight plus passen-
gers.

GVWR
(Gross vehicle weight rating)

This is the maximum allowable
weight of the fully loaded vehicle
(including all options, equipment,
passengers and cargo). The GVWR
is shown on the certification label
located on the driver’s door sill.

What to do in an emergency

Road warning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2

• Hazard warning flasher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-2

In case of an emergency while driving. . . . . . . . . . 7-3

• If the engine stalls at a crossroad or crossing. . . . . . . 7-3
• If you have a flat tire while driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
• If the engine stalls while driving . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3

If the engine will not start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-4

• If engine doesn't turn over or turns over slowly . . . . 7-4
• If engine turns over normally but does not start . . . . 7-4

Emergency starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5

• Before jump starting (for Hybrid). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
• Method to disconnect the (-) cable for regular

maintenance (For Hybrid) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7

• Jump starting. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
• Push-starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9

If the engine overheats. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-10
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) . . . . . 7-12

• Check tire pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-12
• Low tire pressure telltale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
• Low tire pressure position telltale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-14
• Changing a tire with TPMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-16
• This device complies with part 15 of the FCC rules . 7-17

If you have a flat tire (with Tire Mobility Kit) . . 7-18

• Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-18
• Notes on the safe use of the Tire Mobility Kit . . . . . 7-19
• Components of the Tire Mobility Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-21
• Using the Tire Mobility Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-22
• Distributing the sealant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-24
• Checking the tire inflation pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-25
• Technical data . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-27

Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-28

• Towing service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-28
• Removable towing hook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-29
• Emergency towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-30

If an accident occurs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-33

7

What to do in an emergency

2

7

ROAD WARNING

Hazard warning flasher

The hazard warning flasher serves
as a warning to other drivers to exer-
cise extreme caution when
approaching, overtaking, or passing
your vehicle.
It should be used whenever emer-
gency repairs are being made or
when the vehicle is stopped near the
edge of a roadway.

Depress the flasher switch with the
ignition switch in any position. The
flasher switch is located in the center
facia panel. All turn signal lights will
flash simultaneously.
• The hazard warning flasher oper-

ates whether your vehicle is run-
ning or not.

• The turn signals do not work when

the hazard flasher is on.

• Care must be taken when using

the hazard warning flasher while
the vehicle is being towed.

ODE066001

7 3

What to do in an emergency

If the engine stalls at a cross-
road or crossing

If the engine stalls at a crossroad or
crossing, set the shift lever in the N
(Neutral) position and then push the
vehicle to a safe place.

If you have a flat tire while
driving

If a tire goes flat while you are driv-
ing:
1. Take your foot off the accelerator

pedal and let the vehicle slow
down while driving straight ahead.
Do not apply the brakes immedi-
ately or attempt to pull off the road
as this may cause a loss of con-
trol. When the vehicle has slowed
to such a speed that it is safe to do
so, brake carefully and pull off the
road. Drive off the road as far as
possible and park on firm level
ground. If you are on a divided
highway, do not park in the median
area between the two traffic lanes.

2. When the vehicle is stopped, turn

on your emergency hazard flash-
ers, set the parking brake and put
the transaxle in P.

3. Have all passengers get out of the

vehicle. Be sure they all get out on
the side of the vehicle that is away
from traffic.

4. When changing a flat tire, follow

the instruction provided later in
this section.

If the engine stalls while driv-
ing

1. Reduce your speed gradually,

keeping a straight line. Move cau-
tiously off the road to a safe place.

2. Turn on your emergency flashers.
3. Try to start the hybrid system

again. If your vehicle will not start,
contact an authorized Kia dealer
or seek other qualified assistance.

✽

✽

NOTICE

If there was a check engine light and
loss of power or stall and if safe to do
so, wait at least 10 seconds to restart
the vehicle after it stalls. This may
reset the car so it will no longer run
at low power (limp home) condition.

IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY WHILE DRIVING

What to do in an emergency

4

7

IF THE ENGINE WILL NOT START

If engine doesn't turn over or
turns over slowly

1. Be sure the shift lever is in N

(Neutral) or P (Park) and the
emergency brake is set.

2. Check the battery connections to

be sure they are clean and tight.

3. Turn on the interior light. If the light

dims or goes out when you oper-
ate the starter, the battery is dis-
charged.

4. Check the starter connections to

be sure they are securely tight-
ened.

5. Do not push or pull the vehicle to

start it. See instructions for "Jump
starting".

If engine turns over normally
but does not start

1. Check the fuel level.
2. With the ignition switch in the

LOCK position, check all connec-
tors at the ignition coils and spark
plugs. Reconnect any that may be
disconnected or loose.

3. Check the fuel line in the engine

compartment.

4. If the engine still does not start,

call an authorized Kia dealer or
seek other qualified assistance.

WARNING

- Push/

pull start

Do not push or pull the vehicle
to start it. Push or pull starting
may cause the catalytic con-
verter to overload and create a
fire hazard.

7 5

What to do in an emergency

EMERGENCY STARTING

Before Jump Starting
(For Hybrid)

Over discharge of 12V battery

- Press the reconnection

(“12V Batt Reset”) switch (1) :

This car has a reconnection switch
which can reset the over discharged
12V battery and enable getting the
car started without jump-start.
• Press the “12V Batt Reset” switch(1)

located on the lower left dash.

• Immediately start car by stepping

on the brake pedal and pressing
the Start switch within few seconds.

• To charge 12V battery, keep driving

or idling the car more than 30 min-
utes.

If you do not start the vehicle immedi-
ately after pressing the “12V Batt
Reset” switch (1), the power of 12V
battery is automatically disconnected
after few seconds to save the 12V
battery from additional discharge. If
the 12V battery is disconnected prior
to starting the vehicle, press “12V Batt
Reset” switch (1) again and then
immediately start the car as explained
above.
Repeated use of the “12V Batt Reset”
switch(1) without a sufficient engine
ON cycle (30 Min+) may cause over
discharge of the 12V battery, which will
prevent car starting. If the 12V battery
is over discharged to a point that the
reset does not work, try to jump-start
the vehicle. (refer to jump-starting)
After starting the vehicle (HEV
Ready), the 12V battery is being
charged whether the engine is run-
ning or not. Although there is no
engine-sound, it is not necessary to
step on the accelerator pedal.

Once the 12V battery is fully dis-
charged and reconnected, the 12V
battery is initialized.
Items should be reset after the battery
has been discharged or the battery
has been disconnected.
• Auto up/down window

(See chapter 4)

• Sunroof (See chapter 4)
• Trip computer (See chapter 4)
• Climate control system

(See chapter 4)

• Driver position Memory System

(See chapter 3)

• Audio (See chapter 5)

As explained above, if the vehicle
can not be started after pressing the
“12V Batt Reset” switch(1) due to
over discharge, try to jump-start
(refer to Jump-starting).

ODE047042N