brake fluid KIA Optima Hybrid 2012 3.G Owner's Manual

Introduction
61
INDICATOR SYMBOLS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
Seat belt warning light
High beam indicator
Turn signal indicator
ABS warning light
Parking brake & Brake fluid
warning light
Engine oil pressure warning light
12V charging system warning light
ESC indicator/ESC malfunction
indicator
ESC OFF indicator
Malfunction indicator
Air bag warning light
Cruise indicator*
Cruise SET indicator*
Low fuel level warning light
Door ajar warning light
Trunk lid open warning light
Front fog light indicator*
Engine coolant temperature
warning light
Electronic power steering (EPS)
system warning light*
Shift pattern indicator
Low Tire Pressure Telltale/TPMS
Tire Pressure monitoring
system/Malfunction indicator
Active ECO
ECO
Immobilizer indicator
Vehicle ready indicator EV (Electronic Vehicle) MODE
Service indicator
* : if equipped
❈ For more detailed explanations, refer
to “Instrument cluster” in section 4.

Your vehicle at a glance
42
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
1. Sub relay box ....................................7-55
2. Engine coolant reservoir ...................7-24
3. Windshield washer fluid reservoir .....7-29
4. Radiator cap .....................................7-26
5. Engine oil dipstick .............................7-22
6. Engine oil filler cap ...........................7-22
7. Brake fluid reservoir ..........................7-28
8. Air cleaner.........................................7-30
9. Fuse box ...........................................7-52
10. Inverter coolant reservoir ................7-24
* : if equipped
* The actual engine room in the vehicle may differ from the illustration.
OYFH071001

465
Features of your vehicle
Brake system & Parking brake & Brake fluid warning light
The brake warning light will illuminate
when the Regenerative Brake System is
not operating properly.
Have the system checked by an author-
ized Kia dealer as soon as possible.
When the brake function is not well or the
regenerative brake system is not operat-
ed with brake system malfunction, the
brake warning light turned on and 'check
brake' is displayed on the LCD. Have the
system checked by an authorized Kia
dealer as soon as possible.
Parking brake warning
This light illuminated when the parking
brake is applied with engine start/stop
button in the START or ON position. The
warning light should go off when the
parking brake is released. Low brake fluid level warning
If the warning light remains on, it may
indicate that the brake fluid level in the
reservoir is low.
If the warning light remains on:
1. Drive carefully to the nearest safe
location and stop your vehicle.
2. With the engine stopped, check the brake fluid level immediately and add
fluid as required. Then check all brake
components for fluid leaks.
3. Do not drive the vehicle if leaks are found, the warning light remains on or
the brakes do not operate properly.
Have the vehicle towed to any author-
ized Kia dealer for a brake system
inspection and necessary repairs.
Your vehicle is equipped with a dual-
diagonal braking system. This means you
still have braking on two wheels even if
one of the brake circuits is damaged or
malfunctions. With only one of the circuits
working, more than normal pedal travel
and greater pedal pressure are required
to stop the car. Also, the car will not stop
in as short a distance with only a portion
of the brake system working. If the
brakes fail while you are driving, shift to a
lower gear for additional engine braking
and stop the car as soon as it is safe to
do so.
CAUTION
If the oil pressure warning light stays on while the engine is run-ning, serious engine damage mayresult. The oil pressure warninglight comes on whenever there is insufficient oil pressure. In normaloperation, it should come on whenthe engine start/stop button isturned on, then go out when theengine is started. If the oil pressurewarning light stays on while theengine is running, there is a seriousmalfunction.
If this happens, stop the vehicle assoon as it is safe to do so, turn off the engine and check the oil level. Ifthe oil level is low, fill the engine oilto the proper level and start theengine again. If the light stays onwith the engine running, turn theengine off immediately. In anyinstance where the oil light stays onwhen the engine is running, theengine should be checked by an authorized Kia dealer before the caris driven again.

Features of your vehicle
66
4
To check bulb operation, check whether
the parking brake and brake fluid warning
light illuminates when the engine
start/stop button is in the ON position.Front fog light indicator
(if equipped)
This indicator comes on when the front
fog lights are ON.
Shift pattern indicator
The indicator displays which automatic
transaxle shift position is selected.
✽ ✽ NOTICE
If the engine coolant temperature warn-
ing light illuminates, it indicates over-
heating that may damage the engine.
WARNING
Driving the vehicle with a warning
light on is dangerous. If the brake
warning light remains on, have the
brakes checked and repaired imme-
diately by an authorized Kia dealer.
WARNING
When the brake function is not well
and the regenerative brake system
is not operated with brake system
malfunction, the brake warning
light turned on with 'check brake' is
displayed on the LCD and warning
chime will sound. In this condition
you can stop your vehicle by apply-
ing greater force to the brake pedal
than normal and the stopping dis-
tance will be longer. Have the sys-
tem checked by an authorized Kia
dealer as soon as possible.

477
Features of your vehicle
Parking assist warning
Displays the area an obstacle is detected
while moving rearward.Low washer liquid
This warning light illuminates for 12 sec-
onds when the washer fluid reservoir is
nearly empty. To turn off the warning light
immediately, press the RESET button for
more than 1 second. Refill the washer
fluid as soon as possible.Check brake
'Check brake' is displayed when the
brake function is not well or the regener-
ative brake system is not operated with
brake system malfunction. Refer to the
page 4-62 for the related information.
Have the system checked by an author-
ized Kia dealer as soon as possible.
OTFH040099NOTFH040211N
WARNING
Driving with the 'check brake' on is
dangerous. Have the system
checked by an authorized Kia dealer
as soon as possible.
OTFH040100N

53
Driving your vehicle
Before entering vehicle
• Be sure that all windows, outside mir-ror(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
Section 7, “Maintenance”.
Before starting
Close and lock all doors.
Position the seat so that all controls areeasily 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 out.
For safe operation, be sure you are famil-
iar with your vehicle and its equipment.
BEFORE DRIVING
WARNING - Distracted
driving
Focus on the road while driving.
The driver's primary responsibility
is in the safe and legal operation of
the vehicle. Use of any handled
devices, other equipment or vehicle
systems that distract the drive
should not be used during vehicle
operation.
WARNING - Check
surrounding
Always check the surrounding
areas near your vehicle for people,
especially children, before putting a
vehicle into D (Drive) or R
(Reverse).

67
What to do in an emergency
IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS
If your temperature gauge indicates over-
heating, you will experience a loss of
power, or hear loud pinging or knocking,
the engine is probably too hot. If this hap-
pens, you should:
1. Pull off the road and stop as soon as itis safe to do so.
2. Place the shift lever in P (automatic 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 coming 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 cooling fan is operat-
ing. 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 leaking from the radiator,
hoses or under the vehicle. (If the air
conditioning 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 broken
or engine coolant leaks, stop the
engine immediately and call the near-
est authorized Kia dealer for assis-
tance. 6. If you cannot find the cause of the
overheating, wait until the engine tem-
perature has returned to normal. Then,
if coolant has been lost, carefully add
coolant to the reservoir to bring the
fluid level in the reservoir up to the
halfway mark.
7. Proceed with caution, keeping alert for further signs of overheating. If over-
heating happens again, call an author-
ized 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.

7
Engine compartment / 7-2
Maintenance services / 7-3
Owner maintenance / 7-5
Scheduled maintenance service / 7-7
Explanation of scheduled maintenance items / 7-19
Engine oil / 7-22
Coolant / 7-24
Brake fluid / 7-28
Washer fluid / 7-29
Parking brake / 7-29
Air cleaner / 7-30
Climate control air filter / 7-31
Wiper blades / 7-32
Battery / 7-35
Tires and wheels / 7-38
Fuses / 7-51
Appearance care / 7-61
Emission control system / 7-68
Maintenance

Maintenance
27
ENGINE COMPARTMENT
OYFH071001
❈The actual engine room in the vehicle may differ from the illustration. 1. Sub relay box
2. Engine coolant reservoir
3. Windshield washer fluid reservoir
4. Radiator cap
5. Engine oil dipstick
6. Engine oil filler cap
7. Brake fluid reservoir
8. Air cleaner
9. Fuse box
10. Inverter coolant

75
Maintenance
OWNER MAINTENANCE
The following lists are vehicle checks and
inspections that should be performed by
the owner or an authorized 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 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 the coolant level in coolantreservoir.
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 steering
effort or looseness in the steering
wheel, or change in its straight-ahead
position.
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 the automatic transaxle P (Park) function.
Check the parking brake.
Check for fluid leaks under your vehicle (water dripping from the air condition-
ing system during or after use is nor-
mal).
Check inverter coolant.
WARNING - Hot coolant
Be careful when checking your
engine or inverter coolant level
when the engine is hot. Scalding
hot coolant and steam may blow
out under pressure.