KIA Optima 2008 2.G Owner's Guide

Knowing your vehicle22 3Adjusting the seatback reclinerMove the lever forward or backward to
the desired angle and release the lever. If
the lever is released, seatback will lock in
place. After adjustment, make sure that
the lever has returned to its original
locked position.
Warming the front seat
(if equipped)The front seats can be electrically heated
individually when the ignition switch is
ON. When the switch is ON, a number
ranging from 1 to 5 is displayed on the
switch (5 = warmest setting).
To turn off the seat warmer, set the
switch to 0.
The seat warmer turns off automatically
when the seat temperature reaches the
selected range and will turn on again if
the temperature drops below the select-
ed range.
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WARNING
- Driver respon-
sibility for front seat pas-
senger
Driving or riding in a vehicle with a
front seatback reclined could lead
to serious or fatal injury in an acci-
dent. If a front seat is reclined dur-
ing an accident, the occupant’s hips
may slide under the lap portion of
the safety belt applying great force
to the unprotected abdomen or
neck. Serious or fatal internal
injuries could result. The driver
must advise the front passenger to
keep the seatbacks in comfortably
upright position whenever the vehi-
cle is in motion.
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✽ ✽
NOTICE• When cleaning the seats, do not use an
organic solvent such as thinner, ben-
zene, alcohol or gasoline. Doing so
may damage the surface of the heater
or seats.
• To prevent overheating the seat
warmer, do not place blankets, cush-
ions or seat covers on the seats while
the seat warmer is in operation.
• Do not place heavy or sharp objects
on seats equipped with seat warmers.
Damage to the seat warming compo-
nents could occur.
Headrest adjustmentAdjusting the height up and down
The headrest not only provides comfort
for the driver and passengers, but also
helps to protect the head and neck in the
event of a collision.
To raise the headrest, pull it up to the
desired position (1). To lower the head-
rest, push and hold the release button (2)
on the headrest support and lower the
headrest to the desired position (3). For
best protection, adjust the headrest so its
center is as high as your ears. Also
adjust the headrest so its distance from
the head is as wide as your fist.
WARNING -
Seat warmer
burns
Passengers should use caution
when using seat warmers due to
the possibility of excess heating or
burns. In particular, the driver must
exercise extreme care for the fol-
lowing types of passengers:
1. Infants, children, elderly or hand-
icapped persons, or hospital out-
patients
2. Persons with sensitive skin or
those that burn easily
3. Fatigued individuals
4. Intoxicated individuals
5. Individuals taking medication
that can cause drowsiness or
sleepiness (sleeping pills, cold
tablets, etc.)
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Knowing your vehicle24 3Adjusting forward and backward
The headrest may be adjusted forward to
three different positions by pulling the
headrest forward. To adjust the headrest
backward, pull it fully forward to the far-
thest position and release it. Adjust the
headrest so that it properly supports the
head and neck.Removal
To remove the headrest, raise it as far as
it can go then press the release lever (1)
while pulling upward (2).
Rear seat Split folding rear seat (if equipped) The rear seatbacks fold forward to pro-
vide additional cargo space and to pro-
vide access to the cargo area.
To fold the rear seatback(s) down, pull
the lock release lever, then fold the
seatback forward and down.
To raise the seatback, lift and push it
firmly until it clicks into place.
When you return the seatback to its
upright position, reposition the rear
safety belts so that they can be used
by rear seat passengers.
WARNING
- Headrest posi-
tioning
To reduce the risk of head and neck
injuries, each occupant headrest
must be properly adjusted. Do not
drive the vehicle with the headrest
removed or improperly positioned.
Do not adjust the driver's headrest
while driving, or else loss of control
and an accident is possible.
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1. Slide the front seat forward, and move
the seatback to the forward position.
2. Lower the headrest to the lowest posi-
tion.
3. To retract the rear center seatbelt,
insert the key or similar small rigid
device into the web release button (B)
on the anchor connector. Pull up on
the seat belt web (A) and allow the
webbing to retract automatically. (if
equipped)4. Open the trunk lid.
5. Pull the lock release lever (1).
6. Fold the seatback forward and down
firmly.
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Knowing your vehicle26 3To unfold the rear seat:1. Lift and push the seatback backward
firmly until it clicks into place (1).
2. Return the rear safety belt to the prop-
er position.
✽ ✽
NOTICEBe careful when loading cargo through
the rear passenger seats to prevent dam-
age to the vehicle interior.
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(if equipped)
CAUTION
When returning the rear seat-
backs to the upright position,
remember to return the rear
shoulder belts to their proper
position.
Do not remove the floor carpet in
your vehicle. Emission control
system components cause high
exhaust temperatures under the
floor.
WARNING
- Cargo danger
Cargo should always be secured to
prevent it from being thrown about
the vehicle in a collision and caus-
ing injury to the vehicle occupants.
CAUTION
- Loading proce-
dure
Make sure the engine is off, the
transaxle is in P (Park) and the
parking brake is applied whenever
loading or unloading cargo. Vehicle
may move if shift lever is inadver-
tently moved to another position
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Knowing your vehicle
Armrest (if equipped)The armrest is located in the center of
the rear seat. Pull the armrest down from
the seatback.
Headrest adjustmentAdjusting the height up and down
The headrest not only provides comfort
for the driver and passengers, but also
helps to protect the head and neck in the
event of a collision.
To raise the headrest, pull it up to the
desired position (1). To lower the head-
rest, push and hold the release button (2)
on the headrest support and lower the
headrest to the desired position (3). For
best protection, adjust the headrest so its
center is as high as your ears. Also
adjust the headrest so its distance from
the head is as wide as your fist.Removal
To remove the headrest, raise it as far as
it can go then press the release lever (1)
while pulling upward (2).
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WARNING
- Rear headrest
To reduce the risk of head and neck
injuries to rear passengers, do not
operate the vehicle with the rear
headrest removed or improperly
positioned.

Knowing your vehicle28 3Pre-tensioner seat belt
(if equipped)Your vehicle is equipped with driver's and
front passenger's pre-tensioner safety
belts. The purpose of the pre-tensioner is
to make sure that excess slack is taken
up in certain frontal collisions. The pre-
tensioners may activate along with the
front air bags in frontal collisions based
on angle of impact, seat belt usage and
impact severity.The pre-tensioner seat belt is
equipped at the front seats, and the
sensor is equipped inside the buckle,
where presence of passenger is
sensed by the fastening of the seat
belts. Therefore, pre-tensioner will not
activate if the passenger is not fas-
tened with the seat belts. Likewise, it
will activate if buckled even without a
passenger in the seat. Pre-tensioner
seat belt is designed to activate when
the seatbelt is in use. To ensure the
pretensioner seatbelts activate in
event of a possible seatbelt buckle
switch malfunction, the system is
designed to activate regardless of
whether a seat belt is in use or if no
seat belt use is detected within 6 sec-
onds of turning the ignition switch
ON.The seat belt pre-tensioner system con-
sists mainly of the following components.
Their locations are shown in the illustra-
tion.
(1) SRS air bag warning light
(2) Seatbelt pre-tensioner assembly
(3) SRS air bag control module
(4) Buckle pre-tensioner assemblySAFETY BELTS
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2
3
4
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Knowing your vehicle
CAUTION -
Air bag/Pre-
tensioner dust
When the air bags and pre-tension-
ers are activated, a loud noise may
be heard and fine dust, which may
appear to be smoke, may be visible
in the passenger compartment. This
dust is not toxic. The dust may
cause skin irritation and should not
be breathed for prolonged periods.
Ventilate the vehicle after impact
and wash your hands and face thor-
oughly after an accident.
WARNING
- Air bag/pre-
tensioner warning light
If the SRS air bag warning light
does not illuminate when the igni-
tion key is turned to “ON”, or if it
remains illuminated after approxi-
mately 6 seconds, or if it illuminates
while the vehicle is being driven,
please have an authorized Kia deal-
er inspect the pre-tensioner and air
bag system as soon as possible.
WARNING
- Safety belt
adjustment
To obtain maximum benefit from a
pre-tensioner seat belt:
The safety belt must be worn cor-
rectly.
The safety belt must be adjusted
to the correct position.
WARNING
- Replacing
used pre-tensioners
Pre-tensioners are designed to
operate once. After activation,
pre-tensioner seat belts must be
replaced. All seat belts, of any
type, should always be replaced
after they have been worn during
a collision.
Do not attempt to replace the pre-
tensioners yourself. This must be
done by an authorized Kia dealer.
CAUTION -
Hot parts
The pre-tensioner assembies mech-
anism becomes hot during activa-
tion. Do not touch the pre-tensioner
seat belt assembly for several min-
utes after they have been activated.
WARNING
- Damaging the
pre-tensioners
Do not hit or strike the pre-ten-
sioner assemblies, especially
with a tool or heavy object.
Do not attempt to service or
repair the pre-tensioners.

Knowing your vehicle30 3Safety belt restraint system
We strongly recommend that the driver
and all passengers be properly
restrained at all times by using the safety
belts provided with the vehicle. Proper
use of the safety belts decreases the risk
of severe injury or death in accidents or
sudden stops. In most states, and in
Canada, the law requires their use.
All seats have lap/shoulder belts. Inertial
locks in the safety belt retractors allow all
of the lap/shoulder safety belts to remain
unlocked during normal vehicle opera-
tion. This allows the occupants some
freedom of movement and increased
comfort while using the safety belts. If a
force is applied to the vehicle, such as a
sudden stop, a sharp turn, or a collision,
the safety belt retractors will automatical-
ly lock the safety belts.
Since the inertial locks do not require a
collision in order to lock up, you may
become aware of the safety belts locking
while braking or going around sharp cor-
ners.
Always use the rear seat position(s) to
install your child restraint(s).The rear safety belts use a special auto-
lock feature designed to allow a child
restraint to be used in these positions
without an added locking clip. They nor-
mally lock only under extreme or emer-
gency conditions (emergency lock
mode). However they can be adjusted so
that they remain fixed and locked when a
child restraint system is placed in these
positions. (Use this auto-lock mode only
to secure a child restraint, never for pas-
sengers restrained by the safety belts.)
Page 3-43 gives instructions on placing
the safety belt in the auto lock mode.
The drivers safety belt can only operate
in the emergency lock mode.
WARNING
- Safety belts
To minimize the risk of serious or
fatal injury in an accident, the driv-
er and all passengers should use
the appropriate safety restraints for
their age and size. The presence of
air bags does not change the need
to be properly restrained by a safe-
ty belt or size-appropriate child
restraint. In fact, air bags are
designed to work the best when
passengers are correctly restrained
in the vehicle.
Be sure you are familiar with the
information in this section,
including the information on
infant and child restraints.
Read the safety warnings on the
sun visors of your vehicle also.
WARNING
- Child restraint
in front seat
Never install a child restraint sys-
tem in the front passenger position,
as an inflating air bag could cause
serious or fatal injury to a child in
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Knowing your vehicle
Safety belts provide the best restraint
when:
The seatback is upright.
The occupant is sitting upright (not
slouched).
The lap belt is snug across the hips.
The shoulder belt is snug across the
chest.
The knees are straight forward.
WARNING
- After a collision
Lap/shoulder belt assemblies
may be stretched or damaged
when subjected to the stress and
forces of a collision.
The entire restraint system
should be inspected following
any collision. All belts, retractors,
anchors and hardware damaged
by a collision should be replaced
before the vehicle is operated
again.
WARNING -
Cargo area
(if equipped)
Passengers should never be
allowed to ride in the cargo area of
a vehicle. No safety belts are pro-
vided for the cargo area. Persons
riding in the vehicle without a fas-
tened safety belt are much more
likely to suffer serious bodily injury
or death during an accident.
WARNING
- Twisted belts
A twisted or jammed safety belt
cannot restrain you properly. If you
cannot untwist or unjam the safety
belt, have an authorized Kia dealer
service it immediately. Never drive
or ride with a twisted or jammed
safety belt.
WARNING
- Belt use
Safety belts must be used correctly
to work properly in an accident.
Each seating position in your vehi-
cle has a specific safety belt assem-
bly that includes a buckle and
tongue designed to be used togeth-
er.
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(Continued)
Failure to heed these warnings and
follow these instructions will
increase the risk and severity of
injuries and the likelihood of death
in an accident.
Use the shoulder portion of the
safety belt on the outside shoul-
der only.
Never wear the shoulder portion
of the safety belt under the out-
side arm or behind the back.
Never swing the safety belt
around your neck to fit over the
inside shoulder.
Never wear the shoulder portion
of the safety belt across the neck
or face.
Wear the lap portion as low as
possible. Be sure that the lap belt
fits snugly around the hips.
Never wear a lap portion of a
lap/shoulder belt over your waist;
it should always go over the
stronger area of your hips.
Never use a single safety belt for
more than one person.
The front seatbacks should
always remain in a comfortable,
upright position when the vehicle
is moving.