KIA Optima Hybrid (2018 year). Manual — part 23

Driving your vehicle

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6

Detecting sensor

The sensors are located inside of the
rear bumper.
Always keep the rear bumper clean
for the system to work properly.

Warning message

“Blind Spot Detection disabled. Radar
blocked”

The message will appear to notify
the driver with one of followings. The
light on the switch and the system
will turn off automatically.
- There are foreign substances on the

surface or inside the rear bumper or
it is hot near the rear bumper.

- When a trailer or carrier is installed.
- When driving wide area like desert

around few vehicles.

- When driving in the bad weather

such as heavy rain or snow

When you install a trailer or carrier,
turn off BSD system. When you use
the BSD system, remove a trailer or
carrier.
Remove the foreign substance on
the rear bumper.
After the foreign substance is
removed, if you drive for approxi-
mately 10 minutes, the system will
work normally.

If the system does not work normally
even though the foreign substance is
removed, take your vehicle to an
authorized Kia dealer and have the
system checked.

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Driving your vehicle

If the system does not work properly,
a warning message will appear and
the light on the switch will turn off. The
system will turn off automatically.

Have your vehicle inspected by an
authorized Kia dealer.

RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic Alert)

When your vehicle moves backwards
from a parking position, the sensor
detects approaching vehicles to the
left or right side direction and gives
information to the driver.

Operating conditions

• Select RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic

Alert) in "User Settings" under
"Driving Assist" on the instrument
cluster. The system will turn on and
standby to activate.

• Select RCTA again, to turn the sys-

tem off.

• If the vehicle is turned off, the

RCTA system will remember the
last settings upon restart. Always
turn the RCTA system off when not
in use.

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• The system operates when the

vehicle speed is below 6.2 mph (10
km/h) with the shift lever in R
(Reverse).

• The RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic

Alert) detecting range is 1.6 feet ~
65 feet based on the side direction.
If the approaching vehicle speed is
2.5 mph (4 km/h) ~ 22 mph (36
km/h) within sensing range, it is
detected. However, the system
sensing range can vary based on
conditions. Always pay attention to
your surroundings.

Warning type

• If the vehicle detected by sensors

approaches your vehicle, the warn-
ing chime will sound and the warn-
ing light will blink on the outside
rearview mirror.

• If the detected object is not in your

way, move the vehicle away from
the detected object slowly; and the
warning will cancel once the object
has been safely cleared.

• The system may not operate prop-

erly due to other factors or circum-
stances. Always pay attention to
your surroundings.

❈

If your vehicle's left or right side
bumper is blinded by a barrier or
vehicles, the system sensing abili-
ty may be deteriorated.

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✽

✽

NOTICE

• The system may not work proper-

ly if the bumper has been replaced
or if repair work has been done
near the sensor.

• The detection area differs accord-

ing to the road's width. If the road
is narrow the system may detect
other vehicles in the next lane.

• If the road is very wide the system

may not detect other vehicles.

• The system may turn off due to

strong electromagnetic interfer-
ence.

Limitations condition

Driver's Attention

The driver must be cautious in the
below situations for the system may
not assist the driver and may not
work properly.

- Curved roads, tollgates, etc.
- The surrounding of the sensor cover

is dirty with rain, snow, mud, etc.

- The rear bumper near the sensor is

covered or obstructed with foreign
matter such as a sticker, bumper
guard, bicycle racks, etc.

- The rear bumper is damaged or the

sensor is out of place.

- The height of the vehicle has signif-

icantly changed such as when the
trunk is loaded with heavy objects,
abnormal tire pressure etc.

- Due to bad weather such as heavy

rain or snow.

- When driving on wet surface.

- A fixed object is near such as a

guardrail, etc.

- A substantial amount of metallic

objects such as a construction
area.

- A large vehicle is nearby such as a

bus or truck.

- A motorcycle or bicycle is near.
- A flat trailer is near.
- If two vehicles near each other

accelerate together.

- When another vehicle passes by at

a high rate of speed.

- When changing lanes.
- When going down or up a steep

road where the height of the lane is
different.

- When another vehicle drives very

close the back bumper/trunk.

- When a trailer or carrier is installed.

WARNING

The Blind Spot Detection
System with Lane Change
Assist and Rear Cross Traffic
Alert is not a substitute for
proper and safe lane changing
procedures. Always drive safely
and use caution when changing
lanes. The Blind Spot Detection
System may not detect every
object alongside the vehicle.

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6

- When the temperature of the rear

bumper is high or low.

- When the temperature near the

rear bumper is high or low.

- When bike racks, etc. cover the

sensor.

- When reversing from a parking

space with pillars or metal struc-
tures.

- When you are reversing and if the

detected vehicle is simultaneously
reversing.

- If there are small objects like shop-

ping carts and baby carriages.

- If there is a vehicle with decreased

ride height (lowered).

- When the vehicle is close to anoth-

er vehicle.

- When driving through a narrow

road with many plants

- When going down or up a steep,

uneven road

- When the sensors are blocked by

other vehicles or pillars and walls in
a parking area

Outside rearview mirror may not
alert the driver when:

- The outside rearview mirror hous-

ing is very dirty.

- The window is very dirty.
- The windows are tinted very dark.
- When driving through a narrow

road with many trees or bushes.

This device complies with Part 15
of the FCC rules.
Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harm-

ful interference, and

2. This device must accept any inter-

ference received, including inter-
ference that may cause undesired
operation.

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Driving your vehicle

LANE DEPARTURE WARNING SYSTEM (LDWS) (IF EQUIPPED)

This system detects the lane with a
sensor at the front windshield and
notifies you if it detects that your
vehicle leaves the lane.

• The LDWS does not make the

vehicle change lanes. It is the dri-
ver's responsibility to always check
the road conditions.

• If the sensor cannot detect the lane

or if the vehicle speed does not
exceed 40 mph (64 km/h), the
LDWS will not be able to notify you
if the vehicle leaves the lane.

• If your vehicle has window tint or

other types of coating on the front
windshield, the LDWS may not
work properly.

• Prevent damage to the LDWS sen-

sor from water or any liquid.

• Do not remove the LDWS parts

and avoid damaging the sensor by
avoiding a strong impacts.

• Do not put objects that reflect light

on the dash board.

• The operation of the LDWS can be

affected by several factors (includ-
ing environmental conditions). It is
the responsibility of the driver to
pay attention to the roadway and to
maintain the vehicle in it's lane at
all times.

WARNING

- LDWS Alert

The LDWS is only intended to
provide you with information
regarding your vehicle's posi-
tion on the roadway. Upon
receiving an LDWS alert, you
must take the necessary steps
to maintain control of your vehi-
cle. The LDWS does not provide
any steering inputs into the
vehicle for you. It can be dan-
gerous to make a large sudden
steering input in response to an
alert, since that could result in
loss of control.

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• Do not turn the steering wheel sud-

denly, when the LDWS warns you
that your vehicle is leaving the
lane.

To operate the LDWS, press the but-
ton with the engine start/stop button in
the ON position. The indicator illumi-
nates white on the cluster. To cancel
the LDWS, press LDWS button again.
The indicator on the cluster will go
off.

If you select this symbol, the LDWS
mode on the LCD display will appear.
If the system detects that your vehi-
cle is leaving the lane when the
LDWS is operating and vehicle
speed exceeds 40 mph (64 km/h),
the warning operates as follows:

1. Visual warning
If you leave a lane, the lane you
cross will blink (yellow) and LDWS
indicator will blink green on LCD dur-
ing max 3 seconds.

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Left lane departure warning

■

Right lane departure warning

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Driving your vehicle

2. Auditory warning
If you leave the lane, the warning
sound operates for maximum 3 sec-
onds.
The color of symbol will change
depend on the condition of LDWS
system.
- White color : When you activate the

lane departure warn-
ing system by press-
ing the LDWS button,
system operating con-
ditions are not satis-
fied or the sensor does
not detect the lane line

- Green color : When you activate the

lane departure warn-
ing system by press-
ing the LDWS button,
system operating con-
ditions are satisfied
and the sensor detect
the lane line

- Yellow color : when there is a mal-

function with the lane
departure warning
system.

Warning indicator

When the LDWS is not working prop-
erly, the warning light will illuminate
and the warning message will come
on for a few second. After the mes-
sage disappears, the master warning
light will illuminate.

Take your vehicle to an authorized
Kia dealer and have the system
checked.

Conditions that cause the
LDWS not to operate:

• The driver turns on the turn signal

or the hazard warning flasher to
change lanes.

• Driving on the lane line.

✽

✽

NOTICE

To change lanes, operate the turn
signal switch then change the lane.

WARNING

- LDWS

Limitations

The Lane Departure Warning
System is a supplemental sys-
tem. Do not solely rely on the
system but always pay attention
and drive safely.

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Conditions that cause missed
warnings and false warnings:

• The lane is not visible due to snow,

rain, debris, puddles or other envi-
ronmental conditions.

• The brightness outside changes

suddenly such as when
entering/exiting a tunnel.

• The headlights are off at night or in

a tunnel.

• The color of the lane marking from

the road is difficult to distinguish.

• Driving on a steep grade or a

curve.

• Light such as street lights, sunlight

or oncoming vehicle lights reflect
off of water on the road.

• The lens or windshield is stained

with foreign matters.

• The sensor cannot detect the lane

because of fog, heavy rain or
heavy snow.

• The surrounding of the inside rear

view mirror temperature is high
due to a direct ray of light.

• The lane is very wide or narrow.

• The lane line is damaged or indis-

tinct.

• The windshield is fogged up by

humidity.

• Objects in the median or along the

side of the road cast shadows over
the lane markings

• The sensor cannot distinguish the

lane from the road due to the
dust/dirt.

• There are other markings similar to

lane lines.

• There are lane boundaries instead

of markings.

• The vehicle ahead is very close,

obscuring the view of the lane
markings, or the vehicle ahead is
driving over the lane markings.

• The vehicle vibrates heavily due to

poor road conditions.

• The lane number increases or

decreases or the lane line are
crossing.

• Putting something on the dash-

board.

• Driving with the sun in front of you.
• Driving in areas under construc-

tion.

• Lanes are marked by more than

two sets of lines.

• The windshield is fogged by humid

air in the vehicle.

• Do not turn the steering wheel sud-

denly, when the LDWS warns you
that your vehicle is leaving the lane.

This device complies with Part 15
of the FCC rules.
Operation is subject to the following
two conditions:
1. This device may not cause harm-

ful interference, and

2. This device must accept any inter-

ference received, including inter-
ference that may cause undesired
operation.

6 89

Driving your vehicle

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

Driving your vehicle

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6

• Remember, your vehicle does not

require extended warm-up. After
the engine has started, allow the
engine to run for 10 to 20 seconds
prior to placing the vehicle in gear.
In very cold weather, however, give
your engine a slightly longer warm-
up period.

• Don't "lug" or "over-rev" the engine.

Lugging is driving too slowly in a
very high gear resulting in engine
bucking. If this happens, shift to a
lower gear. Over-revving is racing
the engine beyond its safe limit.
This can be avoided by shifting at
the recommended speed.

• Use your air conditioning sparingly.

The air conditioning system is
operated by engine power so your
fuel economy is reduced when you
use it.

• Open windows at high speeds can

reduce fuel economy.

• Fuel economy is less in crosswinds

and headwinds. To help offset
some of this loss, slow down when
driving in these conditions.

Keeping a vehicle in good operating
condition is important both for econ-
omy and safety. Therefore, have an
authorized Kia dealer perform
scheduled inspections and mainte-
nance.

WARNING

- Engine off

during motion

Never turn the engine off to
coast down hills or anytime the
vehicle is in motion. The power
steering and power brakes will
not function properly without the
engine running. In addition, turn-
ing off the engine start/stop but-
ton while driving could engage
the steering wheel lock resulting
in loss of vehicle steering. Keep
the engine on and downshift to
an appropriate gear for an
engine braking effect.

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Driving your vehicle

Hazardous driving conditions

When hazardous driving conditions
are encountered such as water,
snow, ice, mud, sand, or similar haz-
ards, follow these suggestions:
• Drive cautiously and allow extra

distance for braking.

• Avoid sudden braking or steering.
• When braking with non-ABS

brakes pump the brake pedal with
a light up-and-down motion until
the vehicle is stopped.

Do not pump the brake pedal on a
vehicle equipped with ABS.

• If stalled in snow, mud, or sand,

use the second gear. Accelerate
slowly to avoid spinning the drive
wheels.

• Use sand, rock salt, or other non-

slip material under the drive
wheels to provide traction when
stalled in ice, snow, or mud.

Rocking the vehicle

If it is necessary to rock the vehicle
to free it from snow, sand, or mud,
first turn the steering wheel right and
left to clear the area around your
front wheels. Then, shift back and
forth between R (Reverse) and any
forward gear in vehicles equipped
with an Automatic Transaxle. Do not
race the engine, and spin the wheels
as little as possible. If you are still
stuck after a few tries, have the vehi-
cle pulled out by a tow vehicle to
avoid engine overheating and possi-
ble damage to the transaxle.

SPECIAL DRIVING CONDITIONS

WARNING

- Downshifting

Do not downshift with an auto-
matic transaxle while driving on
slippery surfaces. The sudden
change in tire speed could
cause the tires to skid and
result in an accident.

WARNING

- Sudden

Vehicle Movement

Do not attempt to rock the vehi-
cle if people or objects are near-
by. The vehicle may suddenly
move forward or backwards as it
becomes unstuck.

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6

The ESC system should be turned
OFF prior to rocking the vehicle.

Smooth cornering

Avoid braking or gear changing in
corners, especially when roads are
wet. Ideally, corners should always
be taken under gentle acceleration. If
you follow these suggestions, tire
wear will be held to a minimum.

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.

CAUTION

- Vehicle rocking

Prolonged rocking may cause
engine overheating, transaxle
damage or failure, and tire dam-
age.

CAUTION

- Spinning tires

Do not spin the wheels, espe-
cially at speeds more than 35
mph (56 km/h). Spinning the
wheels at high speeds when the
vehicle is stationary could
cause a tire to overheat which
could result in tire damage that
may injure bystanders.

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• 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 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.

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Driving your vehicle

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.