KIA STONIC 2018 Owners Manual
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WARNING
If your vehicle becomes stuck insnow, mud, sand, etc., then you mayattempt to rock the vehicle free bymoving it forward and backward. Donot attempt this procedure if peopleor objects are anywhere near the ve‐hicle. During the rocking operationthe vehicle may suddenly move for‐ward of backward as it becomes un‐stuck, causing injury or damage tonearby 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 distanceneeded 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.
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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 tirescan cause poor handling, loss ofvehicle control, and sudden tirefailure leading to accidents, inju‐ries, and even death. Always checktires for proper inflation beforedriving. For proper tire pressures,refer to L
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WINTER DRIVING
More severe weather conditions of win‐
ter result in greater wear and other problems. To minimize winter driving
problem, you should follow these sug‐
gestions: ❈ Snow tires and tire chains for the
national language (Icelandic, Bul‐
garian) see the Appendix to chapter
10.
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 car. 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
nSnow tire size
Snow tires should be equivalent insize and type to the vehicle's stand‐ard tires. Otherwise, the safety andhandling of your vehicle may be ad‐versely affected.
Do not install studded tires without
first checking local, state and municipal regulations for possible restrictionsagainst their use.
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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 thecorrect size and type for yourtires. Incorrect snow chains cancause damage to the vehicle bodyand suspension and may not becovered by your vehicle manufac‐turer warranty. Also, the snowchain connecting hooks may bedamaged from contacting vehiclecomponents causing the snowchains to come loose from the tire.Make sure the snow chains areSAE class L
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(Continued)
ways place the vehicle in P (Park),apply the parking brake and turn offthe engine before installing snowchains.
WARNING
nTire chains
•The use of chains may adverselyaffect vehicle handling.
•Do not exceed 30 km/h (20 mph)or the chain manufacturer’s rec‐ommended speed limit, whicheveris lower.
•Drive carefully and avoid bumps,holes, sharp turns, and other roadhazards, which may cause the ve‐hicle to bounce.
•Avoid sharp turns or lockedwheelbraking.
CAUTION
•Chains that are the wrong size orimproperly installed can damageyour vehicle's brake lines, suspen‐sion, body and wheels.
•Stop driving and retighten thechains any time you hear themhitting 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
L
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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.
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 asthese 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) or in first
or reverse 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 car 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 (FOR EUROPE)
If you are considering towing with your
car, you should first check with your
country’s Department of Motor Vehi‐ cles to determine their legal require‐
ments.
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
nTowing a trailer
If you don't use the correct equip‐ment and drive improperly, you canlose control when you pull a trailer.For example, if the trailer is tooheavy, the brakes may not work well- or even at all. You and your pas‐sengers could be seriously or fatallyinjured. Pull a trailer only if you havefollowed all the steps in this section.
WARNING
nWeight limits
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(Continued)
Before towing, make sure the totaltrailer weight, gross combinationweight, gross vehicle weight, grossaxle weight and trailer tongue loadare all within the limits.
NOTICE
nFor Europe
•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.
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(Continued)
•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).
CAUTION
Pulling a trailer improperly can dam‐age your vehicle and result in costlyrepairs not covered by your warran‐ty. To pull a trailer correctly, followthe 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 L
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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 pulling requirements.
0 : # %
NOTICE
nLocation of trailer mounting
CUV
After removing rear bumper and
back beam, hitch equipment can be
installed. The rear bumper should be
reinstalled after completion of hitch
equipment installation.
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 installa trailer hitch? If you do, then be sure
to seal the holes later when you re‐
move the hitch.
If you don’t seal them, deadly carbon
monoxide (CO) from your exhaust 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. 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.
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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 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 weighs more than the
maximum trailer weight without trailer brakes loaded, then it needs its own
brakes and they must be adequate. Be
sure to read and follow the instructions for the trailer brakes so you’ll be able
to install, adjust and maintain them
properly. • Don’t tap into your vehicle's brake system.
WARNING
nTrailer brakes
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(Continued)
Do not use a trailer with its ownbrakes unless you are absolutelycertain that you have properly setup the brake system. This is not atask for amateurs. Use an experi‐enced, competent trailer shop forthis 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.
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 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.
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.
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