coolant level KIA FORTE 2017 Owners Manual

Driving your vehicle
4 5
Before entering vehicle
• Be sure that all windows, outside
mirror(s), and outside lights are
clean.
• Check the condition of the tires.
• Check under the vehicle for any
sign of leaks.
• Be sure there are no obstacles
behind you if you intend to back up.
Necessary inspections
Fluid levels, such as engine oil,
engine coolant, brake fluid, and
washer fluid should be checked on a
regular basis, with the exact interval
depending on the fluid. Further
details are provided in Chapter 7,
“Maintenance”.
Before starting
• Close and lock all doors.
• Position the seat so that all con-
trols are easily reached.
• Buckle your seat belt.
• Adjust the inside and outside
rearview mirrors.
• Be sure that all lights work.
• Check all gauges.
• Check the operation of warning
lights when the ignition switch is
turned to the ON position.
• Release the parking brake and
make sure the brake warning light
goes off.
For safe operation, be sure you are
familiar with your vehicle and its
equipment.
BEFORE DRIVING
WARNING- Distracted
driving
Focus on the road while driving.
The driver's primary responsi-
bility is in the safe and legal
operation of the vehicle. Use of
any hand held devices, other
equipment or vehicle systems
that distract the driver should
not be used during vehicle
operation.

587
Driving your vehicle
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 of
coolant 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 coolant
in accordance with the maintenance
schedule in section 7. Before winter,
have your coolant 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 section 7. The level of charge in
your battery can be checked by an
authorized Kia dealer or a service
station.
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, consult an authorized
Kia dealer.
Check spark plugs and igni-
tion system
Inspect your spark plugs as
described in section 7 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.
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
authorized Kia dealer and most auto
parts outlets. Do not use engine
coolant or other types of anti-freeze
as these may damage the paint fin-
ish.

What to do in an emergency
6 6
IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS
If your temperature gauge indicates
overheating, you will experience a
loss of power, or hear loud pinging or
knocking, the engine is probably too
hot. If this happens, you should:
1.Pull off the road and stop as soon
as it is safe to do so.
2.Place the shift lever in P
(Automatic transaxle/ Dual Clutch
Transaxle) or neutral (manual
transaxle) and set the parking
brake. If the air conditioning is on,
turn it off.
3.If engine coolant is running out
under the vehicle or steam is com-
ing out from underneath the hood,
stop the engine. Do not open the
hood until the coolant has stopped
running or the steaming has
stopped. If there is no visible loss
of engine coolant and no steam,
leave the engine running and
check to be sure the engine cool-
ing fan is operating. If the fan is not
running, turn the engine off.4.Check to see if the water pump
drive belt is missing. If it is not
missing, check to see that it is
tight. If the drive belt seems to be
satisfactory, check for coolant leak-
ing from the radiator, hoses or
under the vehicle. (If the air condi-
tioning had been in use, it is nor-
mal for cold water to be draining
from it when you stop).
5.If the water pump drive belt is bro-
ken or engine coolant leaks, stop
the engine immediately and call
the nearest authorized Kia dealer
for assistance.6.If you cannot find the cause of the
overheating, wait until the engine
temperature has returned to nor-
mal. Then, if coolant has been lost,
carefully add coolant to the reser-
voir to bring the fluid level in the
reservoir up to the halfway mark.
7.Proceed with caution, keeping
alert for further signs of overheat-
ing. If overheating happens again,
call an authorized Kia dealer for
assistance.
Serious loss of coolant indicates
there is a leak in the cooling system
and this should be checked as soon
as possible by an authorized Kia
dealer.
WARNING - Under the
hood
While the engine is running,
keep hair, hands and clothing
away from moving parts such
as the fan and drive belts.
WARNING- Radiator
cap
Do not remove the radiator cap
when the engine is hot. This can
allow coolant to be blown out of
the opening and cause serious
burns.

Maintenance
Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-3
Maintenance services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
• Owner’s responsibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-5
• Owner maintenance precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-6
Owner maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
• Owner maintenance schedule. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-7
Scheduled maintenance service. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items . . . 7-32
Engine oil. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-36
• Checking the engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-36
• Changing the engine oil and filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-37
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-38
• Checking the coolant level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-38
• Changing the coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-41
Brake/clutch fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-42
• Checking the brake/clutch* fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . 7-42
Washer fluid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-43
• Checking the washer fluid level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-43
Parking brake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-43
• Checking the parking brake. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-43
Air cleaner. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-44
• Filter replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-44
Climate control air filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-46
• Filter inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-46• Filter replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-46
Wiper blades . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-48
• Blade inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-48
• Blade replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-48
Battery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-52
• For best battery service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-52
• Battery recharging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-54
• Reset items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-54
Tires and wheels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-55
• Tire care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-55
• Recommended cold tire inflation pressures . . . . . . . 7-55
• Checking tire inflation pressure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-56
• Tire rotation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-57
• Wheel alignment and tire balance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-58
• Tire replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-59
• Wheel replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-60
• Tire traction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-60
• Tire maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-60
• Tire sidewall labeling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-60
• All season tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-66
• Summer tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-66
• Snow tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-67
• Radial-ply tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-67
• Low aspect ratio tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-67
7

77
Maintenance
OWNER MAINTENANCE
The following lists are vehicle checks
and inspections that should be per-
formed by the owner or an author-
ized Kia dealer at the frequencies
indicated to help ensure safe,
dependable operation of your vehi-
cle.
Any adverse conditions should be
brought to the attention of your deal-
er as soon as possible.
These Owner Maintenance Checks
are generally not covered by war-
ranties 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 the coolant level in coolant
reservoir.
• Check the windshield washer fluid
level.
• Look for low or under-inflated tires.
While operating your vehicle:
• Note any changes in the sound of
the exhaust or any smell of
exhaust fumes in the vehicle.
• Check for vibrations in the steering
wheel. Notice any increased steer-
ing effort or looseness in the steer-
ing wheel, or change in its straight-
ahead position.
• Notice if your vehicle constantly
turns slightly or “pulls” to one side
when traveling 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
operation of your transaxle occurs,
check the transaxle fluid level.
• Check the automatic transaxle P
(Park) function.
• Check the parking brake.
• Check for fluid leaks under your
vehicle (water dripping from the air
conditioning system during or after
use is normal).
WARNING- Hot coolant
Be careful when checking your
engine coolant level when the
engine is hot. Scalding hot
coolant and steam may blow
out under pressure.

Maintenance
8 7
At least monthly:
• Check the coolant level in the
engine coolant reservoir.
• Check the operation of all exterior
lights, including the stoplights, turn
signals and hazard warning flash-
ers.
• Check the inflation pressures of all
tires including the spare.
At least twice a year
(i.e., every Spring and Fall) :
• Check the radiator, heater and air
conditioning hoses for leaks or
damage.
• Check the windshield washer
spray and wiper operation. Clean
the wiper blades with clean cloth
dampened with washer fluid.
• Check the headlight alignment.
• Check the 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 the body and door drain
holes.
• Lubricate the door hinges and
check the hood hinges.
• Lubricate the door and hood locks
and latches.
• Lubricate the door rubber weather-
strips.
• Check the air conditioning system.
• Check the power steering fluid
level.
• Inspect and lubricate automatic
transaxle linkage and controls.
• Clean the battery and terminals.
• Check the brake/clutch fluid level.

Maintenance
38 7
ENGINE COOLANT
The high-pressure cooling system
has a reservoir filled with year-round
antifreeze coolant. The reservoir is
filled at the factory.
Check the antifreeze protection and
coolant level at least once a year, at
the beginning of the winter season,
and before traveling to a colder cli-
mate.Checking the coolant level
Check the condition and connections
of all cooling system hoses and
heater hoses. Replace any swollen
or deteriorated hoses.The coolant level should be filled
between F (MAX) and L (MIN) marks
on the side of the coolant reservoir
when the engine is cool.
If the coolant level is low, add enough
specified coolant or distilled (deion-
ized) water to provide protection
against freezing and corrosion. Bring
the level to F (MAX), but do not over-
fill. If frequent coolant addition is
required, see an authorized Kia deal-
er for a cooling system inspection.
WARNING - Cooling fan
Use caution when
working near the
blade of the cooling
fan. The electric
motor (cooling fan) is
controlled by engine coolant
temperature, refrigerant pres-
sure and vehicle speed. It may
sometimes operate even when
the engine is not running.OYDEMC2055
OYD076042
■Gasoline 2.0L MPI/GDI
■Gasoline 1.6L T-GDI

743
Maintenance
WASHER FLUID
Checking the washer fluid
level
Check the fluid level in the washer
fluid reservoir and add fluid if neces-
sary. Plain water may be used if
washer fluid is not available.
However, use washer solvent with
antifreeze characteristics in cold cli-
mates to prevent freezing.
Checking the parking brake
Check the stroke of the parking
brake by counting the number of
“clicks’’ heard while fully applying it
from the released position. Also, the
parking brake alone should securely
hold the vehicle on a fairly steep
grade. If the stroke is more or less
than specified, have the parking
brake adjusted by an authorized Kia
dealer.
Stroke : 6~8 “clicks’’ at a force of 20
kg (44 lbs, 196 N).
WARNING- Windshield
fluid
Do not drink the windshield
washer fluid. The windshield
washer fluid is poisonous to
humans and animals.
WARNING- Coolant
• Do not use radiator coolant or
antifreeze in the washer fluid
reservoir.
• Radiator coolant can severely
obscure visibility when sprayed
on the windshield and may
cause loss of vehicle control.
WARNING- Flammable
fluid
Do not allow the washer fluid to
come in contact with open
flames or sparks. The windshield
washer fluid reservoir is flamma-
ble under certain circumstances.
This can result in a fire.
OMD070007
OYDDDR2105
PARKING BRAKE

Maintenance
64 7
Temperature -A, B & C
The temperature grades are A (the
highest), B and C representing the
tire’s resistance to the generation of
heat and its ability to dissipate heat
when tested under controlled condi-
tions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can
cause the material of the tire to
degenerate and reduce tire life, and
excessive temperature can lead to
sudden tire failure. Grades B and A
represent higher levels of perform-
ance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.Tire terminology and definitions
Air Pressure:The amount of air
inside the tire pressing outward on
the tire. Air pressure is expressed in
pounds per square inch (psi) or kilo-
pascal (kPa).
Accessory Weight:This means the
combined weight of optional acces-
sories. Some examples of optional
accessories are, automatic
transaxle, power seats, and air con-
ditioning.
Aspect Ratio:The relationship of a
tire's height to its width.
Belt:A rubber coated layer of cords
that is located between the plies and
the tread. Cords may be made from
steel or other reinforcing materials.
Bead:The tire bead contains steel
wires wrapped by steel cords that
hold the tire onto the rim.
Bias Ply Tire:A pneumatic tire in
which the plies are laid at alternate
angles less than 90 degrees to the
centerline of the tread.Cold Tire Pressure:The amount of
air pressure in a tire, measured in
pounds per square inch (psi) or kilo-
pascals (kPa) before a tire has built
up heat from driving.
Curb Weight:This means the weight
of a motor vehicle with standard and
optional equipment including the
maximum capacity of fuel, oil and
coolant, but without passengers and
cargo.
DOT Markings:The DOT code
includes the Tire Identification
Number (TIN), an alphanumeric des-
ignator which can also identify the
tire manufacturer, production plant,
brand and date of production.
GVWR:Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
GAWR FRT:Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the Front Axle.
GAWR RR:Gross Axle Weight
Rating for the Rear axle.

Index
4I
Economical operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-80
Emergency starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Jump starting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-5
Emission control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-108
Crankcase emission control system . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-108
Evaporative emission control (including ORVR :
Onboard Refueling Vapor Recovery) system. . . . 7-108
Exhaust emission control system . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-109
Engine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-2
Engine compartment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-6, 7-3
Engine coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-38
Changing the coolant . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-41
Checking the coolant level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-38
Engine number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-11
Engine oil . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-36
Changing the engine oil and filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-37
Checking the engine oil level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-36
Engine start/stop button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Engine start/stop button position . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Illuminated Engine start/stop button . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-8
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items . . . . . . . 7-32
Exterior overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
Fuel filler lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37Closing the fuel filler lid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37
Opening the fuel filler lid. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-37
Fuel requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-3
Do not use methanol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Fuel Additives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-5
Gasoline containing alcohol and methanol . . . . . . . . 1-3
Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-69
Engine compartment fuse panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-75
Engine compartment fuse replacement . . . . . . . . . . 7-72
Engine room (Battery terminal cover) . . . . . . . . . . . 7-76
Fuse/relay panel description. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-74
Instrument panel fuse replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-70
Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-35
Closing the hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-36
Opening the hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-35
How to use this manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-2
If the engine overheats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-6
If the engine will not start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-4
If engine turns over normally but does not start . . . . 6-4
If the engine doesn't turn over or turns over slowly . . 6-4
If you have a flat tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-13
Changing tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6-14
I
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F
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