KIA PICANTO 2012 Owners Manual

What to do in an emergency
24
6
Use a towing strap less than 5 m (16
feet) long. Attach a white or red cloth (about 30 cm (12 inches) wide) in the
middle of the strap for easy visibility.
Drive carefully so that the towing strap is not loosened during towing.
Emergency towing precautions
Place the ignition switch in ACC so thesteering wheel isn’t locked.
Place the transaxle shift lever in N (Neutral).
Release the parking bake.
Press the brake pedal with more force than normal since you will have
reduced brake performance.
More steering effort will be required because the power steering system
will be disabled.
If you are driving down a long hill, the brakes may overheat and brake per-
formance will be reduced. Stop often
and let the brakes cool off.CAUTION - Automatic
transaxle
If the car is being towed with all four wheels on the ground, it can
be towed only from the front. Besure that the transaxle is in neu-tral. Be sure the steering isunlocked by placing the ignition
switch in the ACC position. Adriver must be in the towed vehi- cle to operate the steering and
brakes.
To avoid serious damage to the automatic transaxle, limit thevehicle speed to 15 km/h (10 mph)and drive less than 1.5 km (1
mile) when towing.
Before towing, check the level of the automatic transaxle fluid. If itis below the "HOT" range on the dipstick, add fluid. If you cannot
add fluid, a towing dolly must beused.
OPA067014

625
What to do in an emergency
EMERGENCY COMMODITY (IF EQUIPPED)
There are some emergency commodities
in the vehicle to help you respond to theemergency situation.
Fire extinguisher
If there is small fire and you know how to
use the fire extinguisher, take the follow-
ing steps carefully.
1. Pull the pin at the top of the extin- guisher that keeps the handle from being accidentally pressed.
2. Aim the nozzle toward the base of the fire.
3. Stand approximately 2.5 m (8 ft) away from the fire and squeeze the handle
to discharge the extinguisher. If you
release the handle, the discharge will
stop.
4. Sweep the nozzle back and forth at the base of the fire. After the fire appears
to be out, watch it carefully since it
may re-ignite. First aid kit
There are some items such as scissors,
bandage and adhesive tape and etc. in
the kit to give first aid to an injured per-son.
Triangle reflector
Place the triangle reflector on the road to
warn oncoming vehicles during emer-
gencies, such as when the vehicle is
parked by the roadside due to any prob-
lems.
Tire pressure gauge (If equipped)
Tires normally lose some air in day-to-
day use, and you may have to add a few
pounds of air periodically and it is not
usually a sign of a leaking tire, but of nor-
mal wear. Always check tire pressurewhen the tires are cold because tire pres-
sure increases with temperature. To check the tire pressure, take the fol-
lowing steps;
1. Unscrew the inflation valve cap that is
located on the rim of the tire.
2. Press and hold the gauge against the tire valve. Some air will escape as you
begin and more will escape if you don't
press the gauge in firmly.
3. A firm non-leaking push will activate the gauge.
4. Read the tire pressure on the gauge to know whether the tire pressure is lowor high.
5. Adjust the tire pressures to the speci- fied pressure. Refer to “Tires and
wheels” in section 8.
6. Reinstall the inflation valve cap.

7
Engine compartment / 7-2
Maintenance services / 7-3
Owner maintenance / 7-4
Scheduled maintenance service / 7-6
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items / 7-19
Engine oil / 7-22
Engine coolant / 7-24
Brake fluid / 7-27
Automatic transaxle fluid / 7-28
Washer fluid / 7-30
Parking brake / 7-30
Air cleaner / 7-31
Climate control air filter / 7-33
Wiper blades / 7-35
Battery / 7-38
Tires and wheels / 7-41
Fuses / 7-51
Light bulbs / 7-62
Appearance care / 7-70
Emission control system / 7-76
Maintenance

Maintenance
2
7
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
OTA010004L/OTA010003L/OTA010005L
1. Engine coolant reservoir
2. Radiator cap
3. Brake fluid reservoir
4. Air cleaner
5. Engine oil dipstick
6. Engine oil filler cap
7. Windshield washer fluid reservoir
8. Fuse box
9. Positive battery terminal
10. Negative battery terminal
11. Automatic transaxle fluid dipstick*
* : if equipped ❈ The actual engine compartment in the vehicle may differ
from the illustration.
■
■
1.25 Gasoline
■
■ 1.0 Gasoline ■
■
1.0 LPG

73
Maintenance
MAINTENANCE SERVICES
You should exercise the utmost care to
prevent damage to your vehicle and
injury to yourself whenever performing
any maintenance or inspection proce-
dures.
Should you have any doubts concerning
the inspection or servicing of your vehi-
cle, we strongly recommend that you
have an authorized KIA dealer perform
this work.
An authorized KIA dealer has factory-
trained technicians and genuine KIA
parts to service your vehicle properly. For
expert advice and quality service, see an
authorized KIA dealer.
Inadequate, incomplete or insufficient
servicing may result in operational prob-
lems with your vehicle that could lead to
vehicle damage, an accident, or person-
al injury. Owner’s responsibility
✽✽
NOTICE
Maintenance Service and Record
Retention are the owner's responsibility.
You should retain documents that show
proper maintenance has been performed
on your vehicle in accordance with the
scheduled maintenance service charts
shown on the following pages. You need
this information to establish your compli-
ance with the servicing and maintenance
requirements of your vehicle warranties.
Detailed warranty information is provided
in your Warranty & Maintenance book. Repairs and adjustments required as a
result of improper maintenance or a lack
of required maintenance are not covered.
We recommend you have your vehicle
maintained and repaired by an author-
ized KIA dealer. An authorized KIA deal-
er meets KIA’s high service quality stan-
dards and receives technical support
from KIA in order to provide you with a
high level of service satisfaction. Owner maintenance precautions
Improper or incomplete service may
result in problems. This section gives
instructions only for the maintenance
items that are easy to perform.
As explained earlier in this section, sev-
eral procedures can be done only by an
authorized KIA dealer with special tools.
✽✽
NOTICE
Improper owner maintenance during
the warranty period may affect warran-
ty coverage. For details, read the sepa-
rate Warranty & Maintenance book
provided with the vehicle. If you're
unsure about any servicing or mainte-
nance procedure, have it done by an
authorized KIA dealer.

Maintenance
4
7
OWNER MAINTENANCE
The following lists are vehicle checks and
inspections that should be performed by
the owner or an authorized KIA dealer atthe frequencies indicated to help ensure
safe, dependable operation of your vehi-
cle.
Any adverse conditions should be
brought to the attention of your dealer as
soon as possible.
These Owner Maintenance Checks are
generally not covered by warranties and
you may be charged for labor, parts and
lubricants used. Owner maintenance schedule
When you stop for fuel:
Check the engine oil level.
Check coolant level in coolant reser-
voir.
Check the windshield washer fluid level.
Look for low or under-inflated tires.
Check the radiator and condenser. Check if the front of the radiator and
condenser are clean and not blocked
with leaves, dirt or insects etc.
If any of the above parts are extremely
dirty or you are not sure of their condi-
tion, take your vehicle to an authorized
KIA dealer.
WARNING - Maintenance
work
Performing maintenance work on a vehicle can be dangerous. You
can be seriously injured while
performing some maintenance
procedures. If you lack sufficient
knowledge and experience or the
proper tools and equipment to do
the work, have it done by an
authorized KIA dealer.
Working under the hood with the engine running is dangerous. It
becomes even more dangerous
when you wear jewelry or loose
clothing. These can become
entangled in moving parts and
result in injury. Therefore, if you
must run the engine while work-
ing under the hood, make certain
that you remove all jewelry (espe-
cially rings, bracelets, watches,
and necklaces) and all neckties,
scarves, and similar loose cloth-
ing before getting near theengine or cooling fans.
WARNING
Be careful when checking your
engine coolant level when the
engine is hot. Scalding hot coolant
and steam may blow out under
pressure. This could cause burns
or other serious injury.

75
Maintenance
While operating your vehicle:
Note any changes in the sound of theexhaust or any smell of exhaust fumes
in the vehicle.
Check for vibrations in the steering wheel. Notice any increased steering
effort or looseness in the steering
wheel, or change in its straight-aheadposition.
Notice if your vehicle constantly turns slightly or “pulls” to one side when trav-
eling on smooth, level road.
When stopping, listen and check for unusual sounds, pulling to one side,
increased brake pedal travel or “hard-
to-push” brake pedal.
If any slipping or changes in the oper- ation of your transaxle occurs, check
the transaxle fluid level.
Check manual transaxle operation, including clutch operation.
Check automatic transaxle P (Park) function.
Check parking brake.
Check for fluid leaks under your vehicle (water dripping from the air condition-
ing system during or after use is nor-mal).
At least monthly:
Check coolant level in the enginecoolant reservoir.
Check the operation of all exterior lights, including the stoplights, turn sig-
nals and hazard warning flashers.
Check the inflation pressures of all tires including the spare.
At least twice a year
(i.e., every Spring and Fall):
Check radiator, heater and air condi- tioning hoses for leaks or damage.
Check windshield washer spray and wiper operation. Clean wiper blades
with clean cloth dampened with wash-er fluid.
Check headlight alignment.
Check muffler, exhaust pipes, shields and clamps.
Check the lap/shoulder belts for wear and function.
Check for worn tires and loose wheel lug nuts.
At least once a year:
Clean body and door drain holes.
Lubricate door hinges and checks, andhood hinges.
Lubricate door and hood locks and latches.
Lubricate door rubber weatherstrips.
Check the air conditioning system.
Inspect and lubricate automatic transaxle linkage and controls.
Clean battery and terminals.
Check the brake fluid level.

Maintenance
6
7
SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE SERVICE
Follow Normal Maintenance Schedule if
the vehicle is usually operated where
none of the following conditions apply. If
any of the following conditions apply, fol-
low Maintenance Under Severe Usage
Conditions.
Repeated short distance driving.
Driving in dusty conditions or sandy areas.
Extensive use of brakes.
Driving in areas where salt or other corrosive materials are being used.
Driving on rough or muddy roads.
Driving in mountainous areas.
Extended periods of idling or low speed operation.
Driving for a prolonged period in cold temperatures and/or extremely humid
climates.
More than 50% driving in heavy city traffic during hot weather above 32°C(90°F).
If your vehicle is operated under the
above conditions, you should inspect,replace or refill more frequently than thefollowing Normal Maintenance Schedule.
After the periods or distance shown inthe chart, continue to follow the pre-scribed maintenance intervals.

77
Maintenance
NORMAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE
The following maintenance services must be performed to ensure good emission control and performance. Keep receipts for all
vehicle emission services to protect your warranty. Where both mileage and time are shown, the frequency of service is deter-
mined by whichever occurs first. *1
: Adjust alternator, water pump and air conditioner (if equipped)
drive belt. Inspect and if necessary repair or replace.
If drive belt noise occurred, readjust drive belt tension before
replace.
* 2
: Check the engine oil level and leak every 500 km (350
miles) or before starting a long trip.
* 3
: Driving in summer season temperature over 40 °C (104 °F
- SAUDI, UAE, OMAN, KUWAIT, BAHRAIN, QATAR, IRAN,
YEMEN ETC) or driving over 170 km/h (106 mile/h) must
conform the severe driving condition.
* 4
: For your convenience, it can be replaced prior to it's interval
when you do maintenance of other items.
* 5
: Inspect for excessive valve noise and/or engine vibration
and adjust if necessary. An authorized KIA dealer should
perform the operation.
* 6
: The fuel filter is considered to be maintenance free but peri-
odic inspection is recommended for this maintenance
schedule depends on fuel quality. If there are some impor-
tant matters like fuel flow restriction, surging, loss of power,
hard starting problem etc, replace the fuel filter immediate-ly regardless of maintenance schedule and consult an
authorized KIA dealer for details. *
7
: When adding coolant, use only deionized water or soft
water for your vehicle and never mix hard water in the
coolant filled at the factory. An improper coolant mixture can
result in serious malfunction or engine damage.
* 8
: KIA recommends that you use good quality gasolines meet
Europe Fuel standards (EN228) or equivalents.
For customers who do not use good quality gasolines
including fuel additives regularly, and have problems start-
ing or the engine does not run smoothly, one bottle of addi-
tives added to the fuel tank at every 15,000km(For Europe)/ 5,000km(Except Europe) is recommended.
Additves are available from your authorized KIA dealer
along with information on how to use them. Do not mix other
additves.

Maintenance
8
7
NORMAL MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE (CONT.)
(Continued)
❑ Replace engine oil and filter - For Middle East, Brazil * 2
(Every 10,000 km (6,500 miles) or 12months* 3
)
❑ Add fuel additives * 8
(Every 15,000 km or 12months - For Europe, every 5,000 km or 6months - Except Europe)
15,000 km (10,000 miles) or 12months
❑ Inspect air cleaner filter - Except China, India, Middle East
❑ Inspect air conditioner refrigerant/compressor (if equipped)
❑ Inspect battery condition
❑ Inspect brake lines, hoses and connections
❑ Inspect brake fluid
❑ Inspect disc brakes and pads
❑ Inspect exhaust system
❑ Inspect front suspension ball joints
❑ Inspect parking brake
❑ Inspect steering gear rack, linkage and boots
❑ Inspect tire (pressure & tread wear)
❑ Replace air cleaner filter - For China, India, Middle East
❑ Replace climate control air filter (if equipped)
❑ Replace engine oil and filter - Except Middle East, Brazil * 2
(Continued)