KIA Sorento 2006 1.G Owner's Manual

Operating Precautions for
Catalytic Converters
Your vehicle is equipped with a cat-
alytic converter emission control
device.
Therefore, the following precautions
must be observed:
 Use only UNLEADED FUEL.
 Do not operate the vehicle when
there are signs of engine malfunc-
tion, such as misfire or a noticeable
loss of performance.
 Do not misuse or abuse the engine.
Examples of misuse are coasting
with the ignition off and descending
steep grades in gear with the igni-
tion off. Do not operate the engine at high
idle speed for extended periods (5
minutes or more).
 Do not modify or tamper with any
part of the engine or emission con-
trol system. All inspections and
adjustments must be made by a
qualified technician.
Failure to observe these precautions
could result in damage to the catalyt-
ic converter and to your vehicle.
Additionally, such actions could void
your warranties.DRIVING TIPS5-4
WARNING
Your Full-time Four-Wheel Drive
vehicle must never be tested on
a two-wheel dynamometer.
Serious transmission damage
and uncontrolled vehicle move-
ment could result.
WARNING
- Fire
A hot exhaust system can ignite
flammable items under your
vehicle. Do not park the vehicle
over or near flammable objects,
such as dry grass, paper,
leaves, etc.
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TIPS ON DRIVING YOUR
VEHICLEBefore 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/clutch fluid,
and washer fluid should be checked
on a regular basis, with the exact
interval depending on the fluid.
Further details are provided in the
“Maintenance” section.Before Starting
 Close and lock all doors.
 Position the seat so that all controls
are easily reached.
 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
familiar with your vehicle and its
equipment.
DRIVING TIPS
5-5
WARNING- Driving Under the
Influence of Alcohol or
Drugs
Drinking and driving is danger-
ous. Drunk driving is the num-
ber one contributor to the high-
way death toll each year. Even
a small amount of alcohol will
affect your reflexes, percep-
tions and judgement.
You are much more likely to
have a serious accident if you
drink and drive.
If you are drinking or taking
drugs, don’t drive. Do not ride
with a driver who has been
drinking or taking drugs.
Choose a designated driver or
call a cab.
Driving while under the influ-
ence of drugs is as dangerous
or more dangerous than driving
drunk.
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SUGGESTIONS FOR
ECONOMICAL OPERATIONYour vehicle’s fuel economy depends
mainly on your style of driving, where
you drive and when you drive.
Each of these factors affects how
many miles (kilometers) you can get
from a gallon (liter) of fuel. To operate
your vehicle as economically as pos-
sible, use the following driving sug-
gestions to help save money in both
fuel and repairs:
 Avoid lengthy warm-up idling. Once
the engine is running smoothly,
begin driving. Remember, engine
warm-up may take a little longer on
cold days.
 Save fuel by accelerating slowly
after stopping.
 Keep the engine in tune and follow
the recommended periodic mainte-
nance schedule. This will increase
the life of all parts and lower your
operating costs. Do not use the air conditioner
unnecessarily.
 Slow down when driving on rough
roads.
 For longer tire life and better fuel
economy, always keep the tires
inflated to the recommended pres-
sures.
 Maintain a safe distance from other
vehicles to avoid sudden stops.
This will reduce wear on brake lin-
ings and pads. Driving in such a
way will also save fuel because
extra fuel is required to accelerate
back to driving speed.
 Do not carry unnecessary weight in
the vehicle.
 Do not rest your foot on the brake
pedal while driving. This can cause
needless wear, possible damage to
the brakes, and poor fuel economy. Improper wheel alignment results
in faster tire wear and lower fuel
economy.
 Open windows at high speeds can
reduce fuel economy.
 Fuel economy is less in crosswinds
and headwinds. To help offset
some of this loss, slow down when
driving in these conditions.
Keeping a vehicle in good operating
condition is important both for econo-
my and safety. Therefore, have an
authorized Kia dealer perform sched-
uled inspections and maintenance.DRIVING TIPS5-6
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DRIVING TIPS
5-7
WARNING - Engine off During Motion
Never turn the engine off while
the vehicle is in motion. The
power steering and power
brakes will not work with the
engine off. Instead of coasting
downhill with the engine off,
downshift to an appropriate
gear for engine braking effect.
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SPECIAL DRIVING
CONDITIONSHazardous Driving Conditions
When hazardous driving conditions
are encountered such as water,
snow, ice, mud, sand, or similar haz-
ards, follow these suggestions:
 Drive cautiously and allow extra
distance for braking.
 Avoid sudden movements in brak-
ing or steering.
 When braking in the four-wheel
drive mode (if equipped), pump the
brake pedal with a light up-and-
down motion until the vehicle is
stopped. If stalled in snow, mud, or sand, use
second gear or shift the transfer
case (if equipped) into four-wheel
drive. Accelerate slowly to avoid
spinning the drive wheels.
 Use sand, rock salt, tire chains, or
other non-slip material under the
drive wheels to provide traction
when stalled in ice, snow, or mud.
(If equipped, refer to “Using Four-
Wheel Drive.’’)DRIVING TIPS5-8✽ ✽
NOTICEDo not pump the brake pedal on
ABS equipped vehicle.
WARNING
- Downshifting
On slippery surfaces, down-
shifting can cause an accident.
The sudden change in tire
speed could cause the tires to
skid. Be careful when down-
shifting on slippery surfaces.
Try to drive slowly enough so
you won’t have to make any
sudden changes in gear or vehi-
cle speed.
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Rocking the Vehicle
If it is necessary to rock the vehicle to
free it from snow, sand, or mud, first
turn the steering wheel right and left
to clear the area around your front
wheels. Then, shift back and forth
between 1 (First) and R (Reverse) in
vehicles equipped with a manual
transmission or R (Reverse) and any
forward gear in vehicles equipped
with an automatic transmission. Do
not race the engine, and spin the
wheels as little as possible. If you are
still stuck after a few tries, have the
vehicle pulled out by a tow vehicle to
avoid engine overheating and possi-
ble damage to the transmission,
transfer case (if equipped), or differ-
ential.Driving at Night
Because night driving presents many
more hazards than driving in the day-
light, here are some important tips to
remember:
 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.
 Keep your headlights clean and
properly aimed. 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 TIPS
5-9
✽ ✽
NOTICEProlonged rocking may cause
engine over-heating, transmission
or transfer case (if equipped) dam-
age or failure, and tire damage.
WARNING- Spinning Tires
Do not spin the wheels, espe-
cially at speeds more than 35
mph (56 km/h). Spinning the
wheels at high speeds when the
vehicle is stationary could
cause a tire to overheat,
explode and injure bystanders.
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Driving in the Rain
Rain and wet roads can make driving
dangerous, especially if you’re not
prepared 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 dis-
tance needed 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 condi-
tion, making a quick stop on wet
pavement 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 your brakes may have
become wet, apply them lightly
while driving until normal braking
operation returns.Winter Driving
 We recommend that you carry
emergency equipment, including
tire chains, a window scraper, wind-
shield de-icer, a bag of sand or salt,
flares, a small shovel and jumper
cables.
 Make sure you have sufficient eth-
ylene-glycol coolant in the radiator.
 Check the battery condition and
cables. Cold temperatures reduce
the capacity of any battery, so it
must be in excellent condition to
provide enough winter starting
power.
 Make sure the engine oil viscosity
is suitable for cold weather.
 Check the ignition system for loose
connections and damage.DRIVING TIPS5-10
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 Use antifreeze-formulated wind-
shield washer fluid. (Do not use
engine coolant antifreeze.)
 Do not use the parking brake if it
might freeze. When parking, shift to
1 (First) or R (Reverse) with a man-
ual transmission or P (Park) with an
automatic transmission, and block
the rear wheels.Snow Tires
If you mount snow tires on your Kia,
make sure they are radial tires of the
same size and load range as the orig-
inal tires. Mount snow tires on all four
wheels to balance your vehicle’s han-
dling 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
equipment tires. You should drive
cautiously even when the roads are
clear. Check with the tire dealer for
maximum speed recommendations.Do not install studded tires without
first checking local, provincial and
municipal regulations for possible
restrictions against their use.
DRIVING TIPS
5-11
WARNING- Snow Tire Size
Snow tires should be equivalent
in size and type to the vehicle’s
standard tires. Otherwise, the
safety and handling of your
vehicle may be adversely affect-
ed.
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Driving in Flooded Areas
Avoid driving through flooded areas
unless 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 sev-
eral times while the vehicle is moving
slowly.Reducing the Risk of a Rollover
This multi-purpose passenger vehicle
is defined as a Sports Utility Vehicle
(SUV). SUV’s have higher ground
clearance and a narrower track to
make them capable of performing in
a wide variety of off-road applica-
tions. Specific design characteristics
give them a higher center of gravity
than ordinary cars. An advantage of
the higher ground clearance is a bet-
ter view of the road, which allows you
to anticipate problems. They are not
designed for cornering at the same
speeds as conventional passenger
drive vehicles, any more than low-rid-
ing sports cars are designed to per-
form satisfactorily in off-road condi-
tions. Due to this risk, driver and pas-
sengers are strongly recommended
to buckle their seatbelts.In a rollover crash, an unbelted per-
son is more likely to die than a person
wearing a seatbelt. There are steps
that a driver can make to reduce the
risk of a rollover. If at all possible,
avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneu-
vers, do not load your roof rack with
heavy cargo, and never modify your
vehicle in any way.DRIVING TIPS5-12
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Rollover Warning Label
To remind you of the danger of the
rollover, a rollover warning label
which is now required by Federal
Safety regulations is adhered to the
driver’s sunvisor.
To remind you of the danger of the
rollover, the rollover warning label is
adhered to the driver’s sunvisor. If
you close the driver’s sunvisor, you
can see the rollover warning label
located at the side of the air bag
warning label.
DRIVING TIPS
5-13
Avoid Abrupt Maneuvers
and Excessive Speed.
Always Buckle Up.
See Owner's Manual
For Further Information.
WARNING
- Rollover
As with other Sports Utility
Vehicle (SUV), failure to operate
this vehicle correctly may result
in loss of control, an accident or
vehicle rollover.
 Specific design characteris-
tics (higher ground clearance,
narrower track, etc.) give this
vehicle a higher center of
gravity than ordinary cars.
 An SUV is not designed for
cornering at the same speeds
as conventional 2-wheel drive
vehicles.
 Avoid sharp turns or abrupt
maneuvers.
 In a rollover crash, an unbelt-
ed person is significantly
more likely to die than a per-
son wearing a safety belt.
Make sure everyone in the
vehicle is properly buckled
up.
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