KIA CARENS RHD 2018 Owners Manual

Driving your vehicle
96
6
Severe weather conditions in the
winter result in greater wear and
other problems. To minimise 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 tyres
or to install tyre chains on your tyres.
If snow tyres are needed, it is neces-
sary to select tyres equivalent in size
and type of the original equipment
tyres. 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 and your vehicle. Also, apply
the brake gently. It should be notedthat installing tyre chains on the tyre
will provide a greater driving force,
but will not prevent side skids.
✽✽
NOTICE
Tyre chains are not legal in all coun-
tries. Check the country laws before
fitting tyre chains.
Snow tyres
If you mount snow tyres on your vehi-
cle, make sure they are radial tyres of
the same size and load range as the
original tyres. Mount snow tyres on all
four wheels to balance your vehicle’s
handling in all weather conditions.
Keep in mind that the traction provid-
ed by snow tyres on dry roads may
not be as high as your vehicle's orig-
inal equipment tyres. You should drive
cautiously even when the roads are
clear. Check with the tyre dealer for
maximum speed recommendations.
Do not install studded tyres without first checking local, state and munic-ipal regulations for possible restric-tions against their use.
WINTER DRIVING
WARNING - Snow tyre
size
Snow tyres should be equivalent
in size and type to the vehicle's
standard tyres. Otherwise, the
safety and handling of your vehi-
cle may be adversely affected.
1VQA3005

697
Driving your vehicle
Tyre chains
Since the sidewalls of radial tyres are
thinner, they can be damaged by
mounting some types of snow chains
on them. Therefore, the use of snowtyres is recommended instead of
snow chains. Do not mount tyre
chains on vehicles 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
15 mm (0.59 in). Damage to your
vehicle caused by improper snow
chain use is not covered by your
vehicle manufacturers warranty. Install tyre chains only on the front
tyres.Chain installation
When installing chains, follow the
manufacturer'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 begin driving
on cleared roads.
CAUTION
Make sure the snow chains
are the correct size and typefor your tyres. Incorrect snow chains can cause damage tothe vehicle body and suspen-sion and may not be covered by your vehicle manufacturerwarranty. Also, the snow chainconnecting hooks may be damaged from contactingvehicle components causingthe snow chains to come loose from the tyre. Make surethe snow chains are SAEclass “S” certified.
Always check chain installa- tion for proper mounting afterdriving approximately 0.5 to 1km (0.3 to 0.6 miles) to ensuresafe mounting. Retighten or remount the chains if they areloose.
If your vehicle has 225/45R18 size tyres do not use tyrechain; they can damage your vehicle (wheel, suspensionand body).
WARNING - Mounting
chains
When mounting snow chains,
park the vehicle on level ground
away from traffic. Turn on the
vehicle Hazard Warning flashersand place a triangular emer-
gency warning device behind
the vehicle if available. Always
place the vehicle in P (Park),
apply the parking brake and
turn off the engine before
installing snow chains.1VQA3007

Driving your vehicle
98
6
Use high quality ethylene gly- col coolant
Your vehicle is delivered with high
quality ethylene glycol coolant in the
cooling system. It is the only type ofcoolant that should be used because
it helps prevent corrosion in the cool-
ing system, lubricates the water
pump and prevents freezing. Be sure
to replace or replenish your coolantin accordance with the maintenance
schedule. Before winter, have yourcoolant tested to assure that its
freezing point is sufficient for the
temperatures anticipated during the
winter.
Check battery and cables
Winter puts additional burdens on
the battery system. Visually inspect
the battery and cables as described
in chapter 8. Have the level of charge
in your battery checked by a profes-
sional workshop. Kia recommends to
visit an authorised 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
chapter 9 for recommendations. If
you aren't sure what weight oil you
should use, Kia recommends to con-
sult an authorised Kia dealer/service
partner.
Check spark plugs and igni- tion system
Inspect your spark plugs as
described in chapter 8 and replace
them if necessary. Also check all
ignition wiring and components to be
sure they are not cracked, worn or
damaged in any way.
CAUTION
Chains that are the wrong size
or improperly installed candamage your vehicle's brakelines, suspension, body andwheels.
Stop driving and retighten the chains any time you hear themhitting the vehicle.
WARNING - Tyre chains
The use of chains may adversely affect vehicle han- dling.
Do not exceed 30 km/h (20 mph) or the chain manufactur-
er’s recommended speed
limit, whichever is lower.
Drive carefully and avoid bumps, holes, sharp turns,
and other road hazards, which
may cause the vehicle to
bounce.
Avoid sharp turns or locked- wheel braking.

699
Driving your vehicle
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. Handle the heat-
ed key with care to avoid injury.
Use approved window washer
anti-freeze in system
To keep the water in the window
washer system from freezing, add an
approved window washer anti-freeze
solution in accordance with instruc-
tions on the container. Window wash-
er anti-freeze is available from an
authorised Kia dealer/service partner
and most auto parts outlets. Do not use engine coolant or other
types of anti-freeze as these maydamage the paint finish.Don't let your parking brake
freeze
Under some conditions your parking
brake can freeze in the engaged
position. This is most likely to hap-
pen 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
whilst you put the shift lever in P
(automatic transaxle / dual clutch
transmission) 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 accu-
mulate underneath
Under some conditions, snow and
ice can build up under the fenders
and interfere 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 obstructed.Carry emergency equipment
Depending on the severity of the
weather, you should carry appropri-
ate emergency equipment. Some of
the items you may want to carry
include tyre chains, tow straps or
chains, flashlight, emergency flares,
sand, shovel, jumper cables, window
scraper, gloves, ground cloth, cover-
alls, blanket, etc.

Driving your vehicle
100
6
If you are considering towing with
your vehicle, you should first check
with your country's Department of
Motor Vehicles to determine their
legal requirements.
Since laws vary the requirements for
towing trailers, cars, or other types of
vehicles or apparatus may differ. Kia
recommends to ask an authorised
Kia dealer/service partner.✽✽
NOTICE - For Europe
 The technically permissible maxi- mum load on the rear axle(s) may
be exceeded by not more than 15
% and the technically permissible
maximum laden mass of the vehi-
cle may be exceeded by not more
than 10 % or 100 kg (220.4 lbs),
whichever value is lower. 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 tyre maximum load ratings to
be exceeded, but not by more than
15%. In such a case, do not exceed
100km/h, and the rear tyre pres-
sure should be at least 20 kPa(0.2
bar) above the tyre pressure(s) as
recommended for normal use (i.e.
without a trailer attached).
TRAILER TOWING
WARNING - Towing a
trailer
If you don't use the correct
equipment and/or drive improp-
erly, 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 pas-
sengers could be seriously or
fatally injured. Pull a trailer only
if you have followed all thesteps in this section.
WARNING - Weight
limits
Before towing, make sure the
total trailer weight, GCW (gross
combination weight), GVW
(gross vehicle weight), GAW
(gross axle weight ) and trailertongue load are all within thelimits.
WARNING
When you tow the trailer, make
sure that you turn off the ISGfunction.

6101
Driving your vehicle
Your vehicle can tow a trailer. To
identify what the vehicle trailering
capacity is for your vehicle, you
should read the information in
“Weight of the trailer” that appearslater in this section.
Remember that trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in han-
dling, durability, and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering requirescorrect equipment, and it has to be
used properly.This section contains many time-test-
ed, important trailering tips and safe-
ty rules. Many of these are important
for your safety and that of your pas-
sengers. Please read this section
carefully before you pull a trailer. Load-pulling components such as
the engine, transaxle, wheel assem-
blies, and tyres are forced to workharder against the load of the added
weight. The engine is required to
operate at relatively higher speeds
and under greater loads. This addi-
tional burden generates extra heat.
The trailer also considerably adds
wind resistance, increasing the
pulling requirements.
✽✽
NOTICE - Location of trailer
mounting
 The mounting hole for hitches are located on both sides of the under-
body behind the rear tyres.
 Remove the under cover on the rear bumper before installing a
trailer hitch.
CAUTION
Pulling a trailer improperly can
damage your vehicle and resultin costly repairs not covered by your warranty. To pull a trailercorrectly, follow the advice inthis section.
ORP052051
ORP052058

Driving your vehicle
102
6
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, thenbe sure to seal the holes later
when you remove the hitch.
The bumpers on your vehicle are not intended for hitches. Do notattach 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 avail- able at an authorised Kia
dealer/service partner. Safety chains
You should always attach chains
between your vehicle and your trail-
er. Cross the safety chains under the
tongue of the trailer so that thetongue will not drop to the road if it
becomes separated from the hitch.
Instructions about safety chains may
be provided by the hitch manufactur-
er or by the trailer manufacturer.
Follow the manufacturer’s recom-
mendation for attaching safety
chains. Always leave just enough
slack so you can turn with your trail-
er. And, never allow safety chains to
drag on the ground.
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a brak-
ing system, make sure it conforms to
your country’s regulations and that it
is properly installed and operating
correctly.
If your trailer weight exceeds the
maximum allowed weight without
trailer brakes, then the trailer will also
require its own brakes as well. Be
sure to read and follow the instruc-
tions for the trailer brakes so you’ll be
able to install, adjust and maintain
them properly.
Do not tap into or modify your vehi-
cle's brake system.
WARNING - Trailer brakes
Do not use a trailer with its own
brakes unless you are absolute-
ly certain that you have proper-
ly set up the brake system. This
is not a task for amateurs. Use
an experienced, competent
trailer shop for this work.

6103
Driving your vehicle
Loading the trailer
The weight distribution between the
car and trailer should be balanced.
Make sure that the load in the trailer
is equally distributed and it is not
front-heavy or tail-heavy.
The heavy load in the trailer should
be placed above the axle or as close
as possible to the axle. And, secure
loads properly on the trailer.
Tyre pressure
Follow the trailer manufacturer’s tyre
pressure recommendations for the
trailer tyres.
When towing, inflate tyres in vehicle
to the maximum permissible pres-
sure referring to the tyre pressurelabel.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
vehicle you are driving is now a good
deal longer and not nearly so respon-
sive as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer
hitch and platform, safety chains,
electrical connector(s), lights, tyres
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
driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations
that require heavy braking and sud-
den turns.
Passing
You’ll need more passing distance
up ahead when you’re towing a trail-
er. 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.

Driving your vehicle
104
6
Backing up
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. Then, to move
the trailer to the left, just move your
hand to the left. To move the trailer to
the right, move your hand to the
right. Always 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
shoulders, kerbs, road signs, trees,
or other objects. Avoid jerky or sud-
den manoeuvres. Signal well in
advance.
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
arrows on your instrument panel will
flash whenever you signal a turn or
lane change. Properly connected,
the trailer lights will also flash to alert
other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes, or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green
arrows 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 occasion-
ally to be sure the trailer bulbs are still
working. You must also check the
lights every time you disconnect and
then reconnect the wires.
Do not connect a trailer lighting sys-
tem directly to your vehicle’s lighting
system. Use only an approved trailer
wiring harness. Have yourself assist-
ed by a professional workshop in
installing the wiring harness. Kia recommends to visit an autho-
rised Kia dealer/service partner.WARNING
Failure to use an approved trail- er wiring harness could result
in damage to the vehicle electri-
cal system and/or personal
injury.

6105
Driving your vehicle
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 70km/h (45 mph) to reduce the possi-
bility of engine and transaxle over-heating.
If your trailer weighs more than the
maximum trailer weight without trail-
er brakes and you have an automat-
ic transaxle / dual clutch transmis-
sion, you should drive in D (Drive)
when towing a trailer.
Operating your vehicle in D (Drive)
when towing a trailer will minimise
heat build up and extend the life of
your transaxle.CAUTION
When towing a trailer on steepgrades (in excess of 6%) payclose attention to the enginecoolant temperature gauge toensure the engine does not overheat.
If the needle of the coolanttemperature gauge movesacross the dial towards “130/H(HOT)”, pull over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, andallow the engine to idle until itcools down. You may proceedonce the engine has cooled sufficiently.
You must decide driving speed depending on trailerweight and uphill grade toreduce the possibility of engine and transaxle over-heating.
CAUTION - Dual Clutch
Transmission
When towing a trailer on steepgrades, the clutch in the trans-mission could overheat.
When the clutch is overheated,the safe protection mode engages. If the safe protectionmode engages, the gear posi-tion indicator on the cluster blinks with a chime sound.
At this time, a warning messagewill appear on the LCD displayand driving may not be smooth.
If you ignore this warning, thedriving condition may become worse.
To return the normal drivingcondition, stop the vehicle onflat road and apply the footbrake for a few minutes before driving off.