KIA Soul (2018 year). Instruction — part 26

Driving your vehicle

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6

Warning message

The message (“Blind Spot Detection
disabled. Radar blocked”) will appear
to notify the driver if there are foreign
substances on the rear bumper or it
is hot near the rear bumper. The light
on the switch and the system will be
turned off automatically.
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.
It is possible to get the message with
no foreign substance on the rear
bumper, for example, when driving in
sparse rural or open area, such as
desert, where there is insufficient
data for operation.
This message may also activate dur-
ing heavy rain or due to road spray.

The warning message may activate
with that the rear bumper, in which
the sensor is located, is covered or
blocked with a foreign matter such as
a sticker, a bumper guard, a bicycle
stand, etc.
When trailer/carrier or other equip-
ment is installed on the rear of the
vehicle
Turn OFF the system when using a
trailer, carrier or other equipment.
Make sure to remove a trailer, carrier
or other equipment prior to use of the
BSD(Blind spot detection system).
Remove the foreign substance on
the bumper, if any.
Also, when a trailer or carrier is
installed, the message may appear.
In this case, the vehicle does not
need service.

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 the system checked by an
authorized Kia dealer.

OJF055247L

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Driving your vehicle

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
stand by to be activated.

• Select RCTA again, to turn the sys-

tem off.

• If the vehicle is turned off and on

again, the RCTA system will return
to the state right before the vehicle
was turned off. Turn the RCTA sys-
tem off when not in use.

• The system is operated when the

vehicle speed is below 6 mph (10
km/h) with the shift lever in R
(Reverse).

• The RCTA (Rear Cross Traffic Alert)

detection range is 1.6 feet (0.5 m) ~
65 feet (20 m) based on side direc-
tion. If an approaching vehicle
speed is 4 mph (7 km/h) ~ 22 mph
(36 km/h) in detection range, The
warning is on. However, the system
sensing range is different based on
conditions. Always pay attention to
surrounding.

Warning type

OPS046471L

OJF055196L

OPS046470L

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• If an approaching vehicle detected

by sensors, the warning is chime
and the warning light will blink on
the outside rearview mirror.

• If the detected vehicle is out of

detection range, moving away in
the opposite direction or moving
slow, the warning is cancelled.

• The system may not be operating

properly due to other factors or cir-
cumstances, so always pay atten-
tion to your surrounding.

❈

If the bumper on either side is
blocked by a barrier or vehicles,
the system sensing ability may be
deteriorated.

✽

✽

NOTICE

• The system may not work proper-

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

• The detection area differs accord-

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

• On the contrary, if the road is very

wide the system may not detect
other vehicles in the next lane.

• The system might be turned off

due to strong electromagnetic
waves.

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 and Rear Cross Traffic
Alert may not detect every
object alongside the vehicle.

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Driving your vehicle

Non-operating condition

Outside rearview mirror may not
alert the driver when:
- The outside rearview mirror housing

is damaged or covered with debris.

- The window is covered with debris.
- The windows are severely tinted.

Driver's Attention

The driver must be cautious in the
below situations, because the sys-
tem may not detect other vehicles
or objects in certain circumstances.
- The vehicle drives on a curved

road or through a tollgate.

- The sensor is polluted with rain,

snow, mud, etc.

- The rear bumper, in which the

sensor is located, is covered or
blocked with a foreign matter
such as a sticker, a bumper
guard, a bicycle stand, etc.

- The rear bumper is damaged, or

the sensor is out of the original
default position.

- The vehicle height gets lower or

higher due to heavy loading in a
trunk, abnormal tire pressure, etc.

- The vehicle drives in a bad

weather such as heavy rain or
snow.

(Continued)

(Continued)
- There is a fixed object near the

vehicle, such as a guardrail.

- A big vehicle is near such as a

bus or truck.

- A motorcycle or bicycle is near.
- A flat trailer is near.
- If the vehicle has started at the

same time as the vehicle next to
you and has accelerated.

- When the other vehicle passes

at a very fast speed.

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

uneven road.

- When the other vehicle

approaches very close.

- When a trailer or carrier is

installed.

- When the temperature of the

rear bumper is very high or low.

(Continued)

Driving your vehicle

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(Continued)
- When the sensors are blocked

by other vehicles, walls or park-
ing-lot pillars.

- When the detected vehicle also

moves back, as your vehicle
drives back.

- If there are small things like

shopping cart and baby carriage.

- If there is low height vehicle like

sport vehicle.

- When other vehicles are close to

your vehicle.

- When the vehicle in the next

lane moves two lanes away from
you OR when the vehicle two
lanes away moves to the next
lane from you.

- When driving through a narrow

road with many plants.

- When driving on wet surface.

Outside rearview mirror may not
alert the driver when:

- The outside rearview mirror hous-

ing is severely polluted

- The window is severely polluted
- The windows are severely tinted.

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

The Foward Collision Warning
System helps avoid accidents by
identifying critical situations early
and warning the driver.

FCWS Operation

To operate:

Go to the User Settings Mode
(Driving Assist) and select FCW
(Forward Collision Warning) on the
LCD display.
Select one of the three warning tim-
ing level (Late/Normal/Early) to turn
the system on and adjust the level of
the forward collision warning timing.
The system will turn on and standby
to activate. The system will activate
when vehicle speed is above 10 mph
(16 km/h) and below 110 mph (177
km/h).
FCWS will default ON when vehicle
is restarted.

Warning message

A warning message and chime will
be provided when rapidly approach-
ing a slower moving, braking or
stopped vehicle ahead.
Immediately reduce your speed to
prevent a collision.

FOWARD COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM (FCWS) (IF EQUIPPED)

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FCWS is a warning system and does
not apply the brakes automatically in
a near crash situation. FCWS may
not provide a warning with enough
time to help avoid a crash. FCWS
does not detect pedestrians, ani-
mals, signs, construction or other
objects. It is the responsibility of the
driver to pay attention to the roadway
to prevent collisions.

FCWS malfunction message

When the FCWS is not working
properly, the warning message will
come on for a few second. After the
message disappears, the master
warning light will illuminate.

System disabled

The message will appear when cam-
era’s field of view is covered by some
objects. The system stops until the
field of view is normal.

WARNING

- Forward

Collision Warning System

The Forward Collision Warning
System is a supplemental sys-
tem to assist you and its effects
may differ according to road
and driving conditions. Do not
solely rely on the system and
always pay attention to prevent
dangerous situations from
occurring.

OYP054118N

OPS056109L

■

Warning message

■

Master warning light

OUMA054148

OPS055040N

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Driving your vehicle

Check the windshield around the
camera view area. If the system does
not work normally even though cam-
era’s field of view is cleared, take
your vehicle to an authorized Kia
dealer and have the system checked.

Limitations of the System

The Forward Collision Warning
System may have limits to its ability
to detect distance to the vehicle
ahead due to road and traffic condi-
tions.
The FCW could not detect vehicle or
could detect objects as vehicles
when :
- The camera lens is covered with

dirt.

- There is heavy rain or heavy snow.
- Driving on a curve.
- Driving uphill or downhill.
- An object ahead is very narrow

such as motorcycles or bicycles.

- A vehicle suddenly cut in on your

lane.

- The front vehicle suddenly departs

from the lane or it is hidden by other
objects.

- A vehicle passes by at a higher rate

of speed.

- An unusual shape vehicle is ahead

such as a trailer, special access
vehicles or a truck with unique
shaped cargo.

- The rear lamps of the vehicle

ahead is missing, installed on an
unusual place or installed unevenly.

- The front vehicle has a separate

lamp or LED lamp at the rear of the
vehicle.

- Passing through a tunnel where the

difference of intensity of illumina-
tion is high.

- Driving with the sun in front of you.
- The approaching vehicle turns it’s

high beam on.

- The vehicle violently vibrates due to

road conditions.

- The vehicle is tilted from a flat tire

or being towed.

- The vehicle ahead is not distin-

guishable due to multiple or repeat-
ed shape lamps.

- The vehicle ahead is not distin-

guishable due to objects that can
be mistaken for a vehicle.

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- The surrounding environments

such as shadow or markers on a
road, etc. could be mistaken as a
vehicle.

Outside rearview mirror may not
alert the driver when:

- The outside rearview mirror hous-

ing is severely polluted

- The window is severely polluted
- The windows are severely tinted.

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

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 or clutch

pedal. This can increase fuel con-
sumption and also increase wear
on these components. 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 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
section 8. If you drive your vehicle
in severe conditions, more frequent
maintenance is required (see sec-
tion 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

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• 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,
turning off the ignition while
driving could engage the steer-
ing wheel lock resulting in loss
of vehicle steering. Keep the
engine on and downshift to an
appropriate gear for 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 second gear. Accelerate slow-
ly 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.

Reducing the risk of a rollover

This multi-purpose passenger vehi-
cle is defined as a Crossover Utility
Vehicle (CUV). CUV’s have higher
ground clearance and a narrower
track to make them capable of per-
forming in a wide variety of off-road
applications. Specific design charac-
teristics give them a higher center of
gravity than ordinary vehicles. An
advantage of the higher ground
clearance is a better view of the
road, which allows you to anticipate
problems. They are not designed for
cornering at the same speeds as
conventional passenger vehicles,
any more than low-slung sports vehi-
cles are designed to perform satis-
factorily in off-road conditions. Due to
this risk, driver and passengers are
strongly recommended to buckle
their seat belts. In a rollover crash,
an unbelted person is more likely to
die than a person wearing a seat
belt. There are steps that a driver can
make to reduce the risk of a rollover.

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.

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6

If at all possible, avoid sharp turns or
abrupt maneuvers, do not load your
roof rack with heavy cargo, and
never modify your vehicle in any way.

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 1st (First) and R (Reverse)
in vehicles equipped with a manual
transaxle or R (Reverse) and any for-
ward gear in vehicles equipped with
an automatic transaxle. Do not race
the engine, and spin the wheels as lit-
tle 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.

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

CAUTION

- Vehicle rocking

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

WARNING

- Replacement

tires

Always use the size and type of
tires recommended in the tire
section of the manual.
Installation of variant tires can
affect the safety and perform-
ance of your vehicle.

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.

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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Driving your 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.

• 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.

OUN056051

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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.

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.

1VQA3003

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Driving your vehicle

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 section 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 section 8.