KIA Rio / Rio Hatchback (2018 year). Manual — part 17

Driving your vehicle

20

6

- Parking in N (Neutral) gear
Follow below steps when parking
and you want the vehicle to move
when pushed.
1.After parking your vehicle, step on

the brake pedal and move the shift
lever to [P] with the ignition button in
[ON] or while the engine is running.

2.If the parking brake is applied

unlock the parking brake.

3.While pressing the brake pedal,

turn the ignition button [OFF].
- For smart key equipped vehicles,

the ignition switch can be moved
to [OFF] only when the shift lever
is in [P].

4.Change the gear shift lever to [N]

(Neutral) while pressing the brake
pedal and pushing [SHIFT LOCK
RELEASE] button or inserting,
pressing down a tool (e.g. flathead
screw-driver) into the [SHIFT LOCK
RELEASE] access hole at the same
time. Then, the vehicle will move
when external force is applied.

D (Drive)

This is the normal forward driving
position. The transaxle will automati-
cally shift through a 6-gear
sequence, providing the best fuel
economy and power.

For extra power when passing anoth-
er vehicle or climbing grades,
depress the accelerator fully, at
which time the transaxle will auto-
matically downshift to the next lower
gear.

WARNING

• With the exception of parking

in neutral gear, always park
the vehicle in [P] (Park) for
safety and engage the parking
brake.

• Before parking in N (Neutral)

gear, first make sure the park-
ing ground is level and flat. Do
not park in [N] gear on any
slopes or gradients.
If parked and left in [N], the
vehicle may move and cause
serious damage and injury.

6 21

Driving your vehicle

Manual mode

Whether the vehicle is stopped or in
motion, manual mode is selected by
pushing the shift lever from the D
(Drive) position into the manual gate.
To return to D (Drive) range opera-
tion, push the shift lever back into the
main gate.

In manual mode, moving the shift
lever backwards and forwards will
allow you to make gearshifts rapidly.
In contrast to a manual transaxle, the
manual mode allows gearshifts with
the accelerator pedal depressed.

Up

(+) : Push the lever forward

once to shift up one gear.

Down (-) : Pull the lever backwards

once to shift down one
gear.

• In manual mode, the driver must

execute upshifts in accordance
with road conditions, taking care to
keep the engine speed below the
red zone.

• In manual mode, only the 6 forward

gears can be selected. To reverse
or park the vehicle, move the shift
lever to the R (Reverse) or P (Park)
position as required.

• In manual mode, downshifts are

made automatically when the vehi-
cle slows down. When the vehicle
stops, 1st gear is automatically
selected.

• In manual mode, when the engine

rpm approaches the red zone shift
points are varied to upshift auto-
matically.

• To maintain the required levels of

vehicle performance and safety,
the system may not execute cer-
tain gearshifts when the shift lever
is operated.

• When driving on a slippery road,

push the shift lever forward into the
+(up) position. This causes the
transaxle to shift into the 2nd gear
which is better for smooth driving
on a slippery road. Push the shift
lever to the -(down) side to shift
back to the 1st gear.

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manual

mode

Driving your vehicle

22

6

Shift-lock override
(with smart key system)

If the shift lever cannot be moved
from the P (Park) position into the R
(Reverse) position with the brake
pedal depressed, continue depress-
ing the brake, then do the following:
1. Carefully remove the cap covering

the shift-lock access hole (1).

2. Insert screwdriver into the access

hold and press down on the
screwdriver.

3. Move the shift lever.
4. Have your vehicle inspected by an

authorized Kia dealer immediately.

Ignition key interlock system
(if equipped)

The ignition key cannot be removed
unless the shift lever is in the P
(Park) position.

Good driving practices

• Never move the shift lever from P

(Park) or N (Neutral) to any other
position with the accelerator pedal
depressed.

• Never move the shift lever into P

(Park) when the vehicle is in
motion.

• Slow down before shifting to a

lower gear. Otherwise, the lower
gear may not be engaged.

• Always use the parking brake. Do

not depend on placing the
transaxle in P (Park) to keep the
vehicle from moving.

• Optimum vehicle performance and

economy is obtained by smoothly
depressing and releasing the
accelerator pedal.

Moving up a steep grade from a
standing start

To move up a steep grade from a
standing start, depress the brake
pedal, shift the shift lever to D
(Drive). Select the appropriate gear
depending on load weight and steep-
ness of the grade, and release the
parking brake. Depress the accelera-
tor gradually while releasing the
service brakes.

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6 23

Driving your vehicle

Power brakes

Your vehicle has power-assisted
brakes that adjust automatically
through normal usage.
In the event that the power-assisted
brakes lose power because of a
stalled engine or some other reason,
you can still stop your vehicle by
applying greater force to the brake
pedal than you normally would. The
stopping distance, however, will be
longer.
When the engine is not running, the
reserve brake power is partially
depleted each time the brake pedal
is applied. Do not pump the brake
pedal when the power assist has
been interrupted.
Pump the brake pedal only when
necessary to maintain steering con-
trol on slippery surfaces.

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.

To dry the brakes, apply them lightly
while maintaining a safe forward
speed until brake performance
returns to normal.

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.

BRAKE SYSTEM

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.

WARNING

- Steep hill

braking

Avoid continuous application of
the brakes when descending a
long or steep hill by shifting to a
lower gear. Continuous brake
application will cause the
brakes to overheat and could
result in a temporary loss of
braking performance.

CAUTION

- Brake pedal

Do not drive with your foot rest-
ing on the brake pedal. This will
create abnormally high brake
temperatures which can cause
excessive brake lining and pad
wear.

Driving your vehicle

24

6

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 (if
equipped). You may hear this sound
come and go or it may occur when-
ever 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.

Rear drum brakes (if equipped)

Your rear drum brakes do not have
wear indicators. Therefore, have the
rear brake linings inspected if you
hear a rear brake rubbing noise. Also
have your rear brakes inspected
each time you change or rotate your
tires and when you have the front
brakes replaced.

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.

WARNING

- Brake wear

Do not ignore high pitched wear
sounds from your brakes. If you
ignore this audible warning, you
will eventually lose braking per-
formance, which could lead to a
serious accident.

6 25

Driving your vehicle

Parking brake

Applying the parking brake

To engage the parking brake, first
apply the foot brake and then without
pressing the release button in, pull
the parking brake lever up as far as
possible. In addition it is recommend-
ed that when parking the vehicle on
a gradient, the shift lever should be
positioned in the appropriate low
gear for manual transaxle vehicles or
in the P (Park) position for automatic
transaxle vehicles.

Releasing the parking brake

To release the parking brake, first
apply the foot brake and pull up the
parking brake lever slightly.
Secondly, press the release button
(1) and lower the parking brake lever
(2) while holding the button.

CAUTION

- Parking brake

Driving with the parking brake
applied will cause excessive
brake pad (or lining) and brake
rotor wear.

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Driving your vehicle

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6

• If your vehicle is equipped with an

automatic transaxle, don't let your
vehicle creep forward. To avoid
cleeping forward, keep your foot
firmly on the brake pedal when the
vehicle is stopped.

• Be cautious when parking on a hill.

Firmly engage the parking brake
and place the shift lever in P (auto-
matic transaxle) or in first or revers
gear (manual transaxle). If your
vehicle is facing downhill, turn the
front wheels into the curb to help
keep the vehicle from rolling. If
your vehicle is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the
curb to help keep the vehicle from
rolling. If there is no curb or if it is
required by other conditions to
keep the vehicle from rolling, block
the wheels.

• Under some conditions your park-

ing brake can freeze in the
engaged position. This is most like-
ly to happen when there is an
accumulation of snow or ice aroud
or near the rear brakes or if the
brakes are wet. If there is a risk
that the parking brake may freeze,
apply it only temporarily while you
put the shift lever in P (automatic
transaxle) or in first or reverse gear
(manual transaxle) and block the
rear wheels so the vehicle cannot
roll. Then release the parking
brake.

• Do not hold the vehicle on the

upgrade with the accelerator
pedal. This can cause the transaxle
to overheat. Always use the brake
pedal or parking brake.

WARNING

- Parking brake

use

• Never allow a passenger to

touch the parking brake. If the
parking brake is released
unintentionally, serious injury
may occur.

• All vehicles should always

have the parking brake fully
engaged when parking to
avoid inadvertent movement
of the vehicle which can injure
occupants or pedestrians.

6 27

Driving your vehicle

Check the brake warning light by
turning the ignition switch ON (do not
start the engine). This light will illumi-
nate when the parking brake is
applied with the ignition switch in the
START or ON position.
Before driving, be sure the parking
brake is fully released and the brake
warning light is off.
If the brake warning light remains on
after the parking brake is released
while the engine is running, there
may be a malfunction in the brake
system. Immediate attention is nec-
essary.

If at all possible, stop driving the
vehicle immediately. If that is not pos-
sible, use extreme caution while
operating the vehicle and only con-
tinue to drive the vehicle until you
can reach a safe location or repair
shop.

Anti-lock brake system (ABS)

ABS (or ESC) will not prevent acci-
dents due to improper or dangerous
driving maneuvers. Even though
vehicle control is improved during
emergency braking, always maintain
a safe distance between you and
objects ahead.

Vehicle speeds

should always be reduced during
extreme road conditions.
The vehicle should be driven at
reduced speeds in the following cir-
cumstances:
• When driving on rough, gravel or

snow-covered roads

• When driving with tire chains

installed

• When driving on roads where the

road surface is pitted or has differ-
ent surface heights.

Driving in these conditions increases
the stopping distance for your vehi-
cle.

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Driving your vehicle

28

6

The ABS continuously senses the
speed of the wheels. If the wheels
are going to lock, the ABS system
repeatedly modulates the hydraulic
brake pressure to the wheels.
When you apply your brakes under
conditions which may lock the
wheels, you may hear a “tik-tik’’
sound from the brakes, or feel a cor-
responding sensation in the brake
pedal. This is normal and it means
your ABS is active.
In order to obtain the maximum ben-
efit from your ABS in an emergency
situation, do not attempt to modulate
your brake pressure and do not try to
pump your brakes. Press your brake
pedal as hard as possible or as hard
as the situation allows the ABS to
control the force being delivered to
the brakes.

✽

✽

NOTICE

A click sound may be heard in the
engine compartment when the vehi-
cle begins to move after the engine is
started. These conditions are normal
and indicate that the anti-lock brake
system is functioning properly.

• Even with the anti-lock brake sys-

tem, your vehicle still requires suf-
ficient stopping distance. Always
maintain a safe distance from the
vehicle in front of you.

• Always slow down when cornering.

The anti-lock brake system cannot
prevent accidents resulting from
excessive speeds.

• On loose or uneven road surfaces,

operation of the anti-lock brake
system may result in a longer stop-
ping distance than for vehicles
equipped with a conventional
brake system.

The ABS warning light will stay on for
approximately 3 seconds after the
ignition switch is ON. During that
time, the ABS will go through self-
diagnosis and the light will go off if
everything is normal. If the light stays
on, you may have a problem with
your ABS but your regular brakes will
work normally. Contact an authorized
Kia dealer as soon as possible.

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6 29

Driving your vehicle

• When you drive on a road with

poor traction, such as an icy road,
and operated your brakes continu-
ously, the ABS will be active con-
tinuously and the ABS warning
light may illuminate. Pull your vehi-
cle over to a safe place and stop
the engine.

• Restart the engine. If the ABS

warning light is off, then your ABS
is normal. Otherwise, you may
have a problem with the ABS.
Contact an authorized Kia dealer
as soon as possible.

✽

✽

NOTICE

When you jump start your vehicle
because of a drained battery, the
engine may not run as smoothly and
the ABS warning light may turn on
at the same time. This happens
because of the low battery voltage. It
does not mean your ABS has mal-
functioned.
• Do not pump your brakes!
• Have the battery recharged before

driving the vehicle.

Electronic stability control
(ESC)

The Electronic Stability control
(ESC) system is designed to stabi-
lize the vehicle during cornering
maneuvers. ESC checks where you
are steering and where the vehicle is
actually going. ESC applies the
brakes on individual wheels and
intervenes with the engine manage-
ment system to stabilize the vehicle.

Electronic stability control (ESC) will
not prevent accidents. Excessive
speed in turns, abrupt maneuvers
and hydroplaning on wet surfaces
can still result in serious accidents.
Only a safe and attentive driver can
prevent accidents by avoiding
maneuvers that cause the vehicle to
lose traction.

Even with ESC

installed, always follow all the normal
precautions for driving - including
driving at safe speeds for the condi-
tions.
The Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) system is an electronic sys-
tem designed to help the driver main-
tain vehicle control under adverse
conditions. It is not a substitute for
safe driving practices. Factors includ-
ing speed, road conditions and driv-
er steering input can all affect
whether ESC will be effective in pre-
venting a loss of control. It is still your
responsibility to drive and corner at
reasonable speeds and to leave a
sufficient margin of safety.

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Driving your vehicle

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6

When you apply your brakes under
conditions which may lock the
wheels, you may hear a “tik-tik’’
sound from the brakes, or feel a cor-
responding sensation in the brake
pedal. This is normal and it means
your ESC is active.

✽

✽

NOTICE

For maximum protection, always
wear your seat belt. No system, no
matter how advanced, can compen-
sate for all driver error and/or driv-
ing conditions. Always drive respon-
sibly.

ESC operation

ESC ON condition

• When the ignition is turned

ON, ESC and ESC OFF
indicator lights illuminate
for approximately 3 sec-
onds, then ESC is turned
on.

• Press the ESC OFF but-

ton for at least half a sec-
ond after turning the igni-
tion ON to turn ESC off.
(ESC OFF indicator will
illuminate). To turn the
ESC on, press the ESC
OFF button (ESC OFF
indicator light will go off).

• When starting the engine,

you may hear a slight tick-
ing sound. This is the ESC
performing an automatic
system self-check and
does not indicate a prob-
lem.

When operating

When the ESC is in opera-
tion, ESC indicator light
blinks.
•

When the Electronic

Stability Control is operat-
ing properly, you can feel a
slight pulsation in the vehi-
cle. This is only the effect
of brake control and indi-
cates nothing unusual.

• When moving out of the

mud or slippery road,
pressing the accelerator
pedal may not cause the
engine rpm (revolutions
per minute) to increase.

-

6 31

Driving your vehicle

ESC operation off

ESC OFF state

This car has 2 kinds of ESC
off states.
If the engine stops when
ESC is off, ESC remains off.
Upon restarting the engine,
the ESC will automatically
turn on again.

• ESC off state 1
To cancel ESC operation, press the
ESC OFF button (ESC OFF

)

shortly (ESC OFF indicator light
(ESC OFF

) illuminates). At this

state, the engine control function
does not operate. It means the trac-
tion control function does not oper-
ate. Brake control function only oper-
ates.

• ESC off state 2
To cancel ESC operation, press the
ESC OFF button (ESC OFF

) for

more than 3 seconds. ESC OFF indi-
cator light (ESC OFF

) illuminates

and ESC OFF warning chime will
sound. At this state, the engine con-
trol function and brake control func-
tion do not operate. It means the car
stability control function does not
operate any more.

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Driving your vehicle

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6

Indicator light

When the ignition switch is turned
ON, the indicator light illuminates,
then goes off if ESC system is oper-
ating normally.
The ESC indicator light blinks when-
ever ESC is operating.
The ESC indicator light blinks when-
ever ESC is operating or illuminates
when ESC fails to operate.
The ESC OFF indicator light comes
on when the ESC is turned off with
the button.

Driving with varying tire or wheel
sizes may cause the ESC system to
malfunction. When replacing tires,
make sure they are the same size as
your original tires.

ESC OFF usage

When driving

• It’s a good idea to keep the ESC

turned on for daily driving whenev-
er possible.

• To turn ESC off while driving, press

the ESC OFF button while driving
on a flat road surface.

Never press the ESC OFF button
while ESC is operating (ESC indica-
tor light blinks).
If ESC is turned off while ESC is
operating, the vehicle may slip out of
control.

WARNING

- Electronic sta-

bility control

Drive carefully even though
your vehicle has Electronic
Stability Control. It can only
assist you in maintaining con-
trol under certain circum-
stances.

■

ESC indicator light

■

ESC OFF indicator light

6 33

Driving your vehicle

Hill-start assist control (HAC)

Hill start Assist Control is a comfort
function. The main intent is to pre-
vent the vehicle from rolling back-
wards while driving uphill on an
inclined surface. HAC holds the brak-
ing pressure builtup by driver during
stopping procedure for 2 seconds
after releasing brake pedal.
During the pressure-hold period, the
driver has enough time to press the
accelerator pedal to drive off.
The braking pressure is reduced as
soon as the system detects the dri-
ver’s intention to drive off.

• The HAC does not operate when

the transaxle shift lever is in the P
(Park) or N (Neutral) position.

• The HAC activates even though

the ESC is off but it does not acti-
vate when the ESC has malfunc-
tioned.

WARNING

- Maintaining

Brake Pressure on Incline

HAC does not replace the need
to apply brakes while stopped on
an incline. While stopped, make
sure you maintain brake pres-
sure sufficient to prevent your
vehicle from rolling backward
and causing an accident. Don’t
release the brake pedal until you
are ready to accelerate forward.

WARNING

- Operating

ESC

Never press the ESC OFF but-
ton while ESC is operating.
If the ESC is turned off while
ESC is operating, the vehicle
may go out of control.

Driving your vehicle

34

6

Vehicle stability management
(VSM)

This system provides further
enhancements to vehicle stability
and steering responses when a vehi-
cle is driving on a slippery road or a
vehicle detected changes in coeffi-
cient of friction between right wheels
and left wheels when braking.

VSM operation

When the VSM is in operation, ESC
indicator light (

) blinks.

When the vehicle stability manage-
ment is operating properly, you can
feel a slight pulsation in the vehicle
and/or abnormal steering responses
(EPS). This is only the effect of brake
and EPS control and indicates noth-
ing unusual.

The VSM does not operate when:

• Driving on bank roads such as gra-

dient or incline

• Driving rearward
• ESC OFF indicator light (

)

remains on the instrument cluster

• EPS indicator light remains on the

instrument cluster

VSM operation off

If you press the ESC OFF button to
turn off the ESC, the VSM will also
cancel and the ESC OFF indicator
light (

) illuminates.

To turn on the VSM, press the button
again. The ESC OFF indicator light
goes out.

Malfunction indicator

The VSM can be deactivated even if
you don’t cancel the VSM operation
by pressing the ESC OFF button. It
indicates that a malfunction has
been detected somewhere in the
Electric Power Steering system or
VSM system. If the ESC indicator
light (

) or EPS warning light

remains on, take your vehicle to an
authorized Kia dealer and have the
system checked.
• The VSM is designed to function

above approximately 9 mph (15
km/h) on curves.

6 35

Driving your vehicle

• The VSM is designed to function

above approximately 18 mph (30
km/h) when a vehicle is braking on
a split-mu road. The split-mu road
is made of surfaces which have dif-
ferent friction forces.

• The Vehicle Stability Management

system is not a substitute for safe
driving practices but a supplemen-
tary function only. It is the respon-
sibility of the driver to always check
the speed and the distance to the
vehicle ahead. Always hold the
steering wheel firmly while driving.

• Your vehicle is designed to activate

according to the driver’s intention,
even with installed VSM. Always
follow all the normal precautions
for driving at safe speeds for the
conditions – including driving in
inclement weather and on a slip-
pery road.

Good braking practices

• Check to be sure the parking brake

is not engaged and that the park-
ing brake indicator light is out
before driving away.

• Driving through water may get the

brakes wet. They can also get wet
when the vehicle is washed. Wet
brakes can be dangerous! Your
vehicle will not stop as quickly if the
brakes are wet. Wet brakes may
cause the vehicle to pull to one
side.
To dry the brakes, apply the brakes
lightly until the braking action
returns to normal, taking care to
keep the vehicle under control at
all times. If the braking action does
not return to normal, stop as soon
as it is safe to do so and call an
authorized Kia dealer for assis-
tance.

• Don't coast down hills with the

vehicle out of gear. This is extreme-
ly hazardous. Keep the vehicle in
gear at all times, use the brakes to
slow down, then shift to a lower
gear so that engine braking will
help you maintain a safe speed.

WARNING

- Tire/Wheel

size

When replacing tires and
wheels, make sure they are the
same size as the original tires
and wheels installed. Driving
with varying tire or wheel sizes
may affect the vehicle's han-
dling.