KIA Forte (2018 year). Instruction — part 26

ECONOMICAL OPERATION

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 kilometers (miles) you can get

from a liter (gallon) of fuel. To operate

your vehicle as economically as possi‐

ble, use the following driving sugges‐

tions to help save money in both fuel

and repairs:

• Drive smoothly. Accelerate at a mod‐

erate rate. Do not make "jackrabbit"

starts or full-throttle shifts and

maintain a steady cruising speed. Do

not race between stoplights. Try to

adjust your speed to the traffic so

you do not have to change speeds

unnecessarily. Avoid heavy traffic

whenever possible. Always maintain a

safe distance from other vehicles so

you can avoid unnecessary braking.

This also reduces brake wear.

• Drive at a moderate speed. The fast‐

er you drive, the more fuel your vehi‐

cle uses. Driving at a moderate

speed, especially on the highway, is

one of the most effective ways to re‐

duce fuel consumption.

• Do not "ride" the brake or clutch ped‐

al. 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 consequences.

• Take care of your tires. Keep them

inflated to the recommended pres‐

sure. Incorrect inflation, either too

much or too little, results in unneces‐

sary tire wear. Check the tire pres‐

sures at least once a month.

• Be sure that the wheels are aligned

correctly. Improper alignment can re‐

sult from hitting curbs or driving too

fast over irregular surfaces. Poor

alignment causes faster tire wear

and may also result in other prob‐

lems as well as greater fuel con‐

sumption.

• Keep your vehicle in good condition.

For better fuel economy and reduced

maintenance costs, maintain your ve‐

hicle in accordance with the mainte‐

nance schedule in Chapter 9, Mainte‐

nance. If you drive your vehicle in se‐

vere conditions, more frequent main‐

tenance is required (see Chapter 9,

Maintenance for details).

• Keep your vehicle clean. For maxi‐

mum service, your vehicle should be

kept clean and free of corrosive ma‐

terials. 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 al‐

so contribute to corrosion.

• Travel lightly. Do not carry unneces‐

sary weight in your vehicle. Weight

reduces fuel economy.

• Do not 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.

• Remember, your vehicle does not re‐

quire 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 warmup period.

• Do not "lug" or "over-rev" the engine.

Lugging is driving too slowly in too

high a gear resulting engine bucking.

If this happens, shift to a lower gear.

Over-revving is racing the engine be‐

yond its safe limit. This can be avoi‐

ded by shifting at the recommended

speeds.

Driving your vehicle

6-60

• Use your air conditioning sparingly.

The air conditioning system is oper‐

ated by engine power so your fuel

economy is reduced when you use it.

• Open windows at high speeds can re‐

duce 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 econo‐

my and safety. Therefore, have the

system serviced by a professional

workshop. Kia recommends to visit an

authorized Kia dealer/service partner.

WARNING

n 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 prop‐

erly without the engine running. In‐

stead, keep the engine on and down‐

shift to an appropriate gear for en‐
(Continued)

(Continued)

gine braking effect. In addition, turn‐

ing off the ignition while driving

could engage the steering wheel lock

(if equipped) resulting in loss of vehi‐

cle steering which could cause seri‐

ous injury or death.

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SPECIAL DRIVING CONDITIONS

Hazardous driving conditions

When hazardous driving conditions are

encountered such as water, snow, ice,

mud, sand, or similar hazards, follow

these suggestions:

• Drive cautiously and allow extra dis‐

tance 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.

WARNING

n ABS

Do not pump the brake pedal on a

vehicle equipped with ABS.

• If stalled in snow, mud, or sand, use

second gear. Accelerate slowly to

avoid spinning the drive wheels.

• Use sand, rock salt, tire chains, or

other non-slip material under the

drive wheels to provide traction when

stalled in ice, snow, or mud.

WARNING

n Downshifting

Downshifting with an automatic

transaxle / dual clutch transmission,

while driving on slippery surfaces

can cause an accident. The sudden

change in tire speed could cause the

tires to skid. Be careful when down‐

shifting on slippery surfaces.

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 be‐

tween 1 (First) and R (Reverse) in vehi‐

cles equipped with a manual transaxle

or R (Reverse) and any forward gear in

vehicles equipped with an automatic

transaxle / dual clutch transmission. Do

not race the engine, and spin the

wheels as little as possible. If you are

still stuck after a few tries, have the

vehicle pulled out by a tow vehicle to

avoid engine overheating and possible

damage to the transaxle.

CAUTION

Prolonged rocking may cause engine

over-heating, transaxle damage or

failure, and tire damage.

WARNING

n Spinning tires

Do not spin the wheels, especially at

speeds more than 56 km/h

(35 mph). Spinning the wheels at

high speeds when the vehicle is sta‐

tionary could cause a tire to over‐

heat which could result in tire dam‐

age that may injure bystanders.

NOTICE

The ESC system should be turned

OFF prior to rocking the vehicle.

Driving your vehicle

6-62

WARNING

If your vehicle becomes stuck in

snow, mud, sand, etc., then you may

attempt to rock the vehicle free by

moving it forward and backward. Do

not attempt this procedure if people

or objects are anywhere near the ve‐

hicle. During the rocking operation

the vehicle may suddenly move for‐

ward or backward as it becomes un‐

stuck, causing injury or damage to

nearby people or objects.

Smooth cornering

Avoid braking or gear changing in cor‐

ners, 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 re‐

member:

• Slow down and keep more distance

between you and other vehicles, 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 headlights.

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• Keep your headlights clean and prop‐

erly aimed on vehicles not equipped

with the automatic headlight 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 pre‐

pared 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 distance

needed to stop your vehicle, so slow

down.

• Keep your windshield wiping equip‐

ment 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 condition,

making a quick stop on wet pave‐

ment 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 op‐

eration returns.

Driving in flooded areas

Avoid driving through flooded areas un‐

less 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 several

times while the vehicle is moving slow‐

ly.

Driving your vehicle

6-64

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 pos‐

sible failure of the tires.

Avoid using worn or damaged tires

which may result in reduced traction or

tire failure.

NOTICE

Never exceed the maximum tire in‐

flation pressure shown on the tires.

WARNING

• Underinflated or overinflated tires

can cause poor handling, loss of

vehicle control, and sudden tire

failure leading to accidents, inju‐

ries, and even death. Always check

the tires for proper inflation be‐

fore driving. For proper tire pres‐

sures, refer to Tires and wheels

on page 9-08.

• Driving on tires with no or insuffi‐

cient tread is dangerous. Worn-out

tires can result in loss of vehicle

control, collisions, injury, and even

death. Worn-out tires should be

replaced as soon as possible and

should never be used for driving.

Always check the tire tread before

driving your vehicle. For further in‐

formation and tread limits, refer

to Tires and wheels on page

9-08.

Fuel, engine coolant and engine oil

High speed travel consumes more fuel

than urban motoring. Do not forget to

check both engine coolant and engine

oil.

Drive belt

A loose or damaged drive belt may re‐

sult in overheating of the engine.

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WINTER DRIVING

Severe weather conditions in the winter

result in greater wear and other prob‐

lems. To minimize the problems of win‐

ter 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 necessary

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 accelera‐

tion, sudden brake applications, and

sharp turns are potentially very haz‐

ardous practices.

During deceleration, use engine braking

to the fullest extent. Sudden brake ap‐

plications on snowy or icy roads may

cause skids to occur. You need to keep

sufficient distance between the vehicle

in operation in front and 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.

NOTICE

Tire chains are not legal in all coun‐

tries. Check the country 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 provided by

snow tires on dry roads may not be as

high as your vehicle's original equip‐

ment tires. You should drive cautiously

even when the roads are clear. Check

with the tire dealer for maximum

speed recommendations.

WARNING

n Snow tire size

Snow tires should be equivalent in

size and type to the vehicle's stand‐

ard tires. Otherwise, the safety and

handling of your vehicle may be ad‐

versely affected.

Do not install studded tires without

first checking local, state and municipal

regulations for possible restrictions

against their use.

Driving your vehicle

6-66

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 ve‐

hicles 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 12 mm (0.47 in). Damage

to your vehicle caused by improper

snow chain use is not covered by your

vehicle manufacturers warranty.

Install tire chains only on the front

tires.

CAUTION

• 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 manufac‐

turer warranty. Also, 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 ap‐

proximately

0.5

to

1

km

(0.3 to 0.6 miles) to ensure safe

mounting. Retighten or remount

the chains if they are loose.

• If your vehicle has 225/40R18 size

tires do not use tire chain; they

can damage your vehicle (wheel,

suspension and body).

Chain installation
When installing chains, follow the man‐

ufacturer'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 be‐

gin driving on cleared roads.

WARNING

n Mounting chains

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. Al‐

ways place the vehicle in P (Park),

apply the parking brake and turn off

the engine before installing snow

chains.

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WARNING

n Tire chains

• The use of chains may adversely

affect vehicle handling.

• Do not exceed 30 km/h (20 mph)

or the chain manufacturer’s rec‐

ommended speed limit, whichever

is lower.

• Drive carefully and avoid bumps,

holes, sharp turns, and other road

hazards, which may cause the ve‐

hicle to bounce.

• Avoid sharp turns or locked-wheel

braking.

CAUTION

• Chains that are the wrong size or

improperly installed can damage

your vehicle's brake lines, suspen‐

sion, body and wheels.

• Stop driving and retighten the

chains any time you hear them

hitting the vehicle.

Use high quality ethylene glycol

coolant

Your vehicle is delivered with high quali‐

ty 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 cooling sys‐

tem, lubricates the water pump and

prevents freezing. Be sure to replace or

replenish your coolant in accordance

with the maintenance schedule in

Cooling system on page 8-21. Be‐

fore winter, have your coolant tested

to assure that its freezing point is suf‐

ficient for the temperatures anticipa‐

ted during the winter.

Check battery and cables

Winter puts additional burdens on the

battery system. Visually inspect the

battery and cables as described in

8-40. Have the level of charge in your

battery checked by a professional

workshop. Kia recommends to visit an

authorized Kia dealer/service partner.

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, Kia recommends to consult an au‐

thorized Kia dealer/service partner.

Check spark plugs and ignition

system

Inspect your spark plugs as described in

8-21 and replace them if necessary.

Also check all ignition wiring and com‐

ponents 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. Han‐

dle the heated key with care to avoid

injury.

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6-68

Use approved window washer

anti-freeze in system

To keep the water in the window wash‐

er system from freezing, add an ap‐

proved window washer anti-freeze sol‐

ution in accordance with instructions on

the container. Window washer anti-

freeze is available from an authorized

Kia dealer/service partner and most au‐

to 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 posi‐

tion. 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 shift lev‐

er in P (automatic transaxle / dual

clutch transmission) or in first or re‐

verse gear (manual transaxle) and block

the rear wheels so the vehicle cannot

roll. Then release the parking brake.

Don't let ice and snow

accumulate underneath

Under some conditions, snow and ice

can build up under the fenders and in‐

terfere 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 is not ob‐

structed.

Carry emergency equipment

Depending on the severity of the

weather, you should carry appropriate

emergency equipment. Some of the

items you may want to carry include

tire chains, tow straps or chains, flash‐

light, emergency flares, sand, shovel,

jumper cables, window scraper, gloves,

ground cloth, coveralls, blanket, etc.

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TRAILER TOWING

If you are considering towing with your

vehicle, you should first check with

your country's Department of Motor

Vehicles to determine their legal re‐

quirements.

Since laws vary the requirements for

towing trailers, cars, or other types of

vehicles or apparatus may differ. Kia

recommends to ask an authorized Kia

dealer/service partner.

WARNING

n Towing a trailer

If you don't use the correct equip‐

ment and/or drive improperly, you

can lose control when you pull a

trailer. For example, if the trailer is

too heavy, the brakes may not work

well - or even at all. You and your

passengers could be seriously or fa‐

tally injured. Pull a trailer only if you

have followed all the steps in this

section.

WARNING

n Weight limits

Before towing, make sure the total

trailer weight, GCW (gross combina‐

tion weight), GVW (gross vehicle

weight), GAW (gross axle weight )

and trailer tongue load are all within

the limits.

NOTICE

n For Europe

(Continued)

(Continued)

• The technically permissible maxi‐

mum load on the rear axle(s) may

be exceeded by not more than

15 % and the technically permissi‐

ble maximum laden mass of the

vehicle may be exceeded by not

more than 10 % or 100 kg

(220.4 lbs), whichever value is low‐

er. In this case, do not exceed

100 km/h (62.1 mph) for vehicle of

category

M1

or

80

km/h

(49.7 mph) for vehicle of category

N1.

• When towing a trailer, the addi‐

tional load imposed at the trailer

coupling device may cause the

rear tire maximum load ratings to

be exceeded, but not by more

than 15%. In such a case, do not

exceed 100 km/h, and the rear tire

pressure should be at least

20 kPa(0.2 bar) above the tire

pressure(s) as recommended for

normal use (i.e. without a trailer

attached).

Driving your vehicle

6-70

CAUTION

Pulling a trailer improperly can dam‐

age your vehicle and result in costly

repairs not covered by your warran‐

ty. To pull a trailer correctly, follow

the advice in this section.

Your vehicle can tow a trailer. To identi‐

fy what the vehicle trailering capacity is

for your vehicle, you should read the in‐

formation in "Weight of the trailer" that

appears later in this section.

Remember that trailering is different

than just driving your vehicle by itself.

Trailering means changes in handling,

durability, and fuel economy. Success‐

ful, safe trailering requires correct

equipment, and it has to be used prop‐

erly.

This section contains many time-tes‐

ted, important trailering tips and safety

rules. Many of these are important for

your safety and that of your passen‐

gers. Please read this section carefully

before you pull a trailer.

Load-pulling components such as the

engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies,

and tires are forced to work harder

against the load of the added weight.

The engine is required to operate at

relatively higher speeds and under

greater loads. This additional burden

generates extra heat. The trailer also

considerably adds wind resistance, in‐

creasing the pulling requirements.

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NOTICE

n Location of trailer mounting

The mounting hole for hitches are

located on both sides of the under‐

body behind the rear tires.

Hitches

It's important to have the correct hitch

equipment. Crosswinds, large trucks

going by, and rough roads are a few

reasons why you ll need the right hitch.

Here are some rules to follow:

• Do you have to make any holes in the

body of your vehicle when you install

a trailer hitch? If you do, then be sure

to seal the holes later when you re‐

move the hitch.

If you do not seal them, deadly car‐

bon monoxide (CO) from your ex‐

haust can get into your vehicle, as

well as dirt and water.

• The bumpers on your vehicle are not

intended for hitches. Do not attach

rental hitches or other bumper-type

hitches to them. Use only a frame-

mounted hitch that does not attach

to the bumper.

• Kia trailer hitch accessary is available

at an authorized Kia dealer/service

partner.

Safety chains

You should always attach chains be‐

tween your vehicle and your trailer.

Cross the safety chains under the

tongue of the trailer so that the tongue

will not drop to the road if it becomes

separated from the hitch.

Instructions about safety chains may

be provided by the hitch manufacturer

or by the trailer manufacturer. Follow

the manufacturer s recommendation

for attaching safety chains. Always

leave just enough slack so you can turn

with your trailer. And, never allow safe‐

ty chains to drag on the ground.

Trailer brakes

If your trailer is equipped with a braking

system, make sure it conforms to your

country s regulations and that it is

properly installed and operating cor‐

rectly.

If your trailer weight exceeds the maxi‐

mum allowed weight without trailer

brakes, then the trailer will also require

its own brakes as well. Be sure to read

and follow the instructions for the trail‐

er brakes so you ll be able to install, ad‐

just and maintain them properly.

• Do not tap into or modify your vehi‐

cle's brake system.

WARNING

n Trailer brakes

Do not use a trailer with its own

brakes unless you are absolutely

certain that you have properly set

up the brake system. This is not a

task for amateurs. Use an experi‐

enced, competent trailer shop for

this work.

Driving with a trailer

Towing a trailer requires a certain

amount of experience. Before setting

out for the open road, you must get to

know your trailer. Acquaint yourself

with the feel of handling and braking

with the added weight of the trailer.

And always keep in mind that the vehi‐

cle you are driving is now a good deal

longer and not nearly so responsive as

your vehicle is by itself.

Driving your vehicle

6-72

Before you start, check the trailer hitch

and platform, safety chains, electrical

connector(s), lights, tires and mirror

adjustment. If the trailer has electric

brakes, start your vehicle and trailer

moving and then apply the trailer brake

controller by hand to be sure the

brakes are working. This lets you check

your electrical connection at the same

time.

During your trip, check occasionally to

be sure that the load is secure, and

that the lights and any trailer brakes

are still working.

Following distance

Stay at least twice as far behind the

vehicle ahead as you would when driv‐

ing your vehicle without a trailer. This

can help you avoid situations that re‐

quire heavy braking and sudden turns.

Passing

You ll need more passing distance up

ahead when you re towing a trailer.

And, because of the increased vehicle

length, you ll need to go much farther

beyond the passed vehicle before you

can return to your lane. Due to the

added load to the engine when going

uphill the vehicle may also take longer

to pass than it would on flat ground.

Backing up

Hold the bottom of the steering wheel

with one hand. Then, to move the trail‐

er to the left, just move your hand to

the left. To move the trailer to the

right, move your hand to the right. Al‐

ways back up slowly and, if possible,

have someone guide you.

Making turns

When you re turning with a trailer,

make wider turns than normal. Do this

so your trailer won t strike soft should‐

ers, curbs, road signs, trees, or other

objects near the edge of the road.

Avoid jerky or sudden maneuvers. Sig‐

nal well in advance before turning or

lane changes.

Turn signals when towing a trailer

When you tow a trailer, your vehicle

has to have a different turn signal

flasher and extra wiring. The green ar‐

rows on your instrument panel will

flash whenever you signal a turn or

lane change. Properly connected, the

trailer lights will also flash to alert oth‐

er drivers you re about to turn, change

lanes, or stop.

When towing a trailer, the green ar‐

rows on your instrument panel will

flash for turns even if the bulbs on the

trailer are burned out. Thus, you may

think drivers behind you are seeing

your signals when, in fact, they are not.

It is important to check occasionally to

be sure the trailer bulbs are still work‐

ing. You must also check the lights ev‐

ery time you disconnect and then re‐

connect the wires.

Do not connect a trailer lighting system

directly to your vehicle s lighting sys‐

tem. Use only an approved trailer wir‐

ing harness.

Have yourself assisted by a professio‐

nal workshop in installing the wiring

harness.

Kia recommends to visit an authorized

Kia dealer/service partner.

WARNING

Failure to use an approved trailer

wiring harness could result in dam‐

age to the vehicle electrical system

and/or personal injury.

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Driving on grades

Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear

before you start down a long or steep

downgrade. If you don t shift down, you

might have to use your brakes so much

that they would get hot and no longer

operate efficiently.

On a long uphill grade, shift down and

reduce your speed to around 70 km/h

(45 mph) to reduce the possibility of

engine and transaxle overheating.

If your trailer weighs more than the

maximum trailer weight without trailer

brakes and you have an automatic

transaxle / dual clutch transmission,

you should drive in D (Drive) when tow‐

ing a trailer.

Operating your vehicle in D (Drive)

when towing a trailer will minimize

heat build up and extend the life of

your transaxle.

CAUTION

• When towing a trailer on steep

grades (in excess of 6%) pay close

attention to the engine coolant

temperature gauge to ensure the

engine does not overheat.

If the needle of the coolant tem‐

perature gauge moves across the

dial towards 130/H (HOT) , pull

over and stop as soon as it is safe

to do so, and allow the engine to

idle until it cools down. You may

proceed once the engine has

cooled sufficiently.

• You must decide driving speed de‐

pending on trailer weight and up‐

hill grade to reduce the possibility

of engine and transaxle overheat‐

ing.

Parking on hills

Generally, if you have a trailer attached

to your vehicle, you should not park

your vehicle on a hill. People can be se‐

riously or fatally injured, and both your

vehicle and the trailer can be damaged

if they unexpectedly roll down hill.

However, if you ever have to park your

trailer on a hill, here is how to do it:

WARNING

n Parking on a hill

Parking your vehicle on a hill with a

trailer attached could cause serious

injury or death, should the trailer

break loose or the brake stops work‐

ing.

1. Pull the vehicle into the parking

space. Turn the steering wheel in

the direction of the curb (right if

headed down hill, left if headed up

hill).

2. If the vehicle has a manual trans‐

axle, place the car in neutral. If the

vehicle has an automatic trans‐

axle / dual clutch transmission,

place the car in P (Park).

3. Set the parking brake and shut off

the vehicle.

4. Place chocks under the trailer

wheels on the down hill side of the

wheels.

5. Start the vehicle, hold the brakes,

shift to neutral, release the parking

brake and slowly release the brakes

until the trailer chocks absorb the

load.

Driving your vehicle

6-74

6. Reapply the brakes, reapply the

parking brake and shift the vehicle

to R (Reverse) for manual transaxle

or P (Park) for automatic trans‐

axle / dual clutch transmission.

7. Shut off the vehicle and release the

vehicle brakes but leave the parking

brake set.

WARNING

n Parking brake

It can be dangerous to get out of

your vehicle if the parking brake is

not firmly set.

If you have left the engine running,

the vehicle can move suddenly. You

or others could be seriously or fatal‐

ly injured.

When you are ready to leave after
parking on a hill

1. With the manual transaxle in Neu‐

tral or automatic transaxle / dual

clutch transmission in P (Park), ap‐

ply your brakes and hold the brake

pedal down while you:

• Start your engine;
• Shift into gear; and

• Release the parking brake.

2. Slowly remove your foot from the

brake pedal.

3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear

of the chocks.

4. Stop and have someone pick up and

store the chocks.

Maintenance when trailer

towing

Your vehicle will need service more of‐

ten when you regularly pull a trailer.

Important items to pay particular at‐

tention to include engine oil, automatic

transaxle / dual clutch transmission flu‐

id, axle lubricant and cooling system

fluid. Brake condition is another impor‐

tant item to frequently check. Each

item is covered in this manual, and the

Index will help you find them quickly. If

you re trailering, it is a good idea to re‐

view these sections before you start

your trip.

Do not forget to also maintain your

trailer and hitch. Follow the mainte‐

nance schedule that accompanied your

trailer and check it periodically. Pref‐

erably, conduct the check at the start

of each day s driving. Most importantly,

all hitch nuts and bolts should be tight.

CAUTION

• Due to higher load during trailer

usage, overheating might occur in

hot days or during uphill driving. If

the coolant gauge indicates over‐

heating, switch off the air condi‐

tioner and stop the vehicle in a

safe area to cool down the engine.

• When towing check transaxle fluid

more frequently.

If you do decide to pull a trailer

Here are some important points if you

decide to pull a trailer:

• Consider using a sway control. You

can ask a hitch dealer about sway

control.

• Do not do any towing with your car

during its first 2,000 km (1,200 miles)

in order to allow the engine to prop‐

erly break in. Failure to heed this cau‐

tion may result in serious engine or

transaxle damage.

• When towing a trailer, Kia recom‐

mends that you consult an author‐

ized Kia dealer/service partner on ad‐

ditional requirements such as a tow‐

ing kit, etc.

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6

Driving your v

ehicle