KIA Sorento 2009 2.G Owner's Manual

719
Maintenance
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION (IF EQUIPPED)Checking the automatic transmis-
sion fluid level ✽ ✽NOTICEIf your vehicle is not equipped with the
automatic transmission level gauge,
have the automatic transmission fluid
inspected by an authorized Kia dealer
according to the maintenance schedule.
If your vehicle is equipped with the
automatic transmission level gauge,
inspect the fluid level as follows.
The automatic transmission fluid level
should be checked regularly.
Keep the vehicle on the level ground with
the parking brake applied and check the
fluid level according to the following pro-
cedure.
1. Place the selector lever in N (Neutral)
position and confirm the engine is run-
ning at idle speed.
2. After the transmission is warmed up sufficiently (fluid temperature 70~80°C
(158~176°F), for example by 10 min-
utes usual driving, shift the selector
lever through all positions then place
the selector lever in “N (Neutral) or P
(Park)” position. 3. Confirm that the fluid level is in “HOT”
range on the level gauge. If the fluid
level is lower, add the specified fluid
from the fill hole. If the fluid level is
higher, drain the fluid from the drain
hole.
4. If the fluid level is checked in cold con- dition (fluid temperature 20~30°C
(68~86°F) add the fluid to “COLD” line
and then recheck the fluid level
according to the above step 2.
OBL056002
Automatic transmission fluid dipstick
25 C
75 C
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Low
HOT
COLD Full
Low
Cold fluid scale Hot fluid scale
Full

Maintenance20
7
✽
✽
NOTICE“COLD” scale is for reference only and
should NOT be used to determine trans-
mission fluid level.
✽ ✽NOTICENew automatic transmission fluid
should be red. The red dye is added so
the assembly plant can identify it as
automatic transmission fluid and distin-
guish it from engine oil or antifreeze.
The red dye, which is not an indicator of
fluid quality, is not permanent. As the
vehicle is driven, the automatic trans-
mission fluid will begin to look darker.
The color may eventually appear light
brown. Therefore, have an Authorized
Kia dealer change the automatic trans-
mission fluid according to the Scheduled
Maintenance at the beginning of this
section.
CAUTION
Low fluid level causes transmis-
sion slippage. Overfilling cancause foaming, loss of fluid andtransmission malfunction.
The use of a non-specified fluid could result in transmission mal-function and failure.
WARNING
- Parking brake
To avoid sudden movement of the
vehicle, apply parking brake and
depress the brake pedal before
moving the shift lever.
WARNING -
Transmission
fluid
The transmission fluid level should
be checked when the engine is at
normal operating temperature. This
means that the engine, radiator,
radiator hose and exhaust system
etc., are very hot. Exercise great
care not to burn yourself during this
procedure.

721
Maintenance
LUBRICANTS AND FLUIDS Checking the washer fluid level The reservoir is translucent so that you
can check the level with a quick visual
inspection.
Check the fluid level in the washer fluid
reservoir and add fluid if necessary. 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.This warning light indicatesthe washer fluid reservoir is
near empty. Refill the washer
fluid as soon as possible.
Body lubrication All moving points of the body, such as
door hinges, hood hinges, and locks,
should be lubricated each time the
engine oil is changed. Use a non-freez-
ing lubricant on locks during cold weath-
er.
Make sure the engine hood secondary
latch keeps the hood from opening when
the primary latch is released.
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 or damage
to paint and body trim.
Windshield Washer fluid agents contain some amounts of alcohol
and can be flammable under cer-
tain circumstances. Do not allow
sparks or flame to contact the
washer fluid or the washer fluid
reservoir. Damage to the vehicle
or it's occupants could occur.
Windshield washer fluid is poi- sonous to humans and animals.
Do not drink and avoid contacting
windshield washer fluid. Serious
injury or death could occur.
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Maintenance22
7AIR CLEANER Element replacementHave the air cleaner element checked
and replaced in accordance with the
maintenance schedule.
✽ ✽
NOTICEDo not drive with the air cleaner
removed; this will result in excessive
engine wear.
OBL076006N
CAUTION
- Engine
Driving without an air cleaner
encourages backfiring, which couldcause a fire in the engine compart- ment.

723
Maintenance
CLIMATE CONTROL AIR FILTER (IF EQUIPPED)The climate control air filter installed
behind the glove box filters the dust or
other pollutants that come into the vehi-
cle from the outside through the heating
and air conditioning system. If dust or
other pollutants accumulate in the filter
over a period of time, the air flow from the
air vents may decrease, resulting in
moisture accumulation on the inside of
the windshield even when the outside
(fresh) are position is selected. If this
happens, have the climate control air fil-
ter replaced by an Authorized Kia Dealer.The air filter should be replaced every
15,000 km (10,000 miles). If the vehicle
is operated in the severely air-polluted
cities or on dusty rough roads for a long
period, it should be inspected more fre-
quently and replaced earlier. When you
try to replace the air filter by owner main-
tenance, replace it performing the follow-
ing procedure, and in this case, be care-
ful to avoid damaging other components.
Wiper blade maintenance Commercial hot waxes applied by
automatic car washes have been
known to make the windshield diffi-
cult to clean.
Contamination of either the windshield or
the wiper blades with foreign matter can
reduce the effectiveness of the wind-
shield wipers. Common sources of con-
tamination are insects, tree sap, and hot
wax treatments used by some commer-
cial car washes. If the blades are not wip-
ing properly, clean both the window and
the blades with a good cleaner or mild
detergent, and rinse thoroughly with
clean water.
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Outside air
Recirculated air
Blower
Evaporator core
Heater core
Climate control air filter
WIPER BLADES
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the wiperblades, do not use gasoline,kerosene, paint thinner, or other solvents on or near them.

Maintenance24
7Windshield wiper blade replace-
ment When the wipers no longer clean ade-
quately, the blades may be worn or
cracked, and require replacement.
1. Raise the wiper arm and turn the wiperblade assembly to expose the plastic
locking clip.
2. Compress the clip and slide the bladeassembly downward.
3. Lift it off the arm.
4. Install the blade assembly in the reverse order of removal.
CAUTION
Do not allow the wiper arm to fallagainst the windshield, since it may chip or crack the windshield.
1LDA5023
CAUTION
To prevent damage to the wiper armsor other components, do not attemptto move the wipers manually.
CAUTION
The use of a non-specified wiper blade could result in wiper malfunc-tion and failure.
1JBA70371JBA7038

725
Maintenance
Rear window wiper blade replace-
ment 1. Raise the wiper arm and pull out thewiper blade assembly. 2. Install the new blade assembly by
inserting the center part (
➀) into the
slot (
➁) in the wiper arm until it clicks
into place.
3. Make sure the blade assembly is installed firmly by gently pulling on the
blade.
1KMB7038
1KMB7039
➀
➁
WARNING
- Battery dangers
Always read the following
instructions carefully when
handling a battery.
Keep lighted cigarettes and all other flames or sparks
away from the battery.
Hydrogen, a highly com- bustible gas, is always
present in battery cells and
may explode if ignited.
Keep batteries out of the reach of children because
batteries contain highly
corrosive SULFURIC ACID.
Do not allow battery acid to
contact your skin, eyes,
clothing or paint finish.
(Continued)
BATTERY

Maintenance26
7
For best battery service : Keep the battery securely mounted.
Keep the battery top clean and dry.
Keep the terminals and connections
clean, tight, and coated with petroleum
jelly or terminal grease.
Rinse any spilled electrolyte from the battery immediately with a solution of
water and baking soda.
If the vehicle is not going to be used for an extended time, disconnect the bat-
tery cables.
(Continued)
If any electrolyte gets intoyour eyes, flush your eyes
with clean water for at least
15 minutes and get immedi-
ate medical attention. If
possible, continue to apply
water with a sponge or
cloth until medical attention
is received.
If electrolyte gets on your
skin, thoroughly wash the
contacted area. If you feel a
pain or a burning sensation,
get medical attention imme-
diately.
Wear eye protection whencharging or working near a
battery. Always provide
ventilation when working in
an enclosed space.
(Continued)
(Continued)An inappropriately dis-posed battery can be harm-
ful to the environment and
human health. Dispose the
battery according to your
local law(s) or regulation.
When lifting a plastic-cased bat- tery, excessive pressure on the
case may cause battery acid to
leak, resulting in personal injury.
Lift with a battery carrier or with
your hands on opposite corners.
Never attempt to recharge the battery when the battery cables
are connected.
The electrical ignition system works with high voltage. Never
touch these components with the
engine running or the ignition
switched on.
Failure to follow the above warn-
ings can result in serious bodily
injury or death.
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727
Maintenance
Battery recharging Your vehicle has a maintenance-free,
calcium-based battery.
If the battery becomes discharged in ashort time (because, for example, the
headlights or interior lights were left on
while the vehicle was not in use),
recharge it by slow charging (trickle)
for 10 hours.
If the battery gradually discharges because of high electric load while the
vehicle is being used, recharge it at 20-
30A for two hours.Items to be reset after the battery hasbeen discharged or the battery has been disconnected. Clock (See Chapter 3)
Trip computer (See Chapter 4)
Compass (See Chapter 4)
Climate control system (See Chapter 4)
Audio (See Chapter 3)
WARNING
- Recharging battery
When recharging the battery,
observe the following precautions:
The battery must be removed
from the vehicle and placed in an
area with good ventilation.
Do not allow cigarettes, sparks, or flame near the battery.
Watch the battery during charg- ing, and stop or reduce the charg-
ing rate if the battery cells begin
gassing (boiling) violently or if
the temperature of the electrolyte
of any cell exceeds 49°C (120°F).
Wear eye protection when check- ing the battery during charging.
Disconnect the battery charger in the following order.
1. Turn off the battery charger main switch.
2. Unhook the negative clamp from the negative battery terminal.
3. Unhook the positive clamp from the positive battery terminal.
CAUTION
Before performing maintenance or recharging the battery, turn offall accessories and stop the engine.
The negative battery cable must be removed first and installed lastwhen the battery is disconnected.

Maintenance28
7TIRES AND WHEELSTires care
For proper maintenance, safety, and
maximum fuel economy, you must
always maintain recommended tire
inflation pressures and stay within
the load limits and weight distribution
recommended for your vehicle.
Inflation pressures
All tire pressures (including the
spare) should be checked every day
when the tires are cold. “Cold Tires”
means the vehicle has not been driv-
en for at least three hours or driven
less than 1.6 km (one mile).
Recommended pressures must be
maintained for the best ride, top vehi-
cle handling, and minimum tire wear.
(Refer to “Tires” in section 8,
Specifications.) All specifications (sizes and pres-
sures) can be found on a label
attached to the front driver’s door sill.
WARNING
- Tire underin-
flation
Severe underinflation (70 kPa
(10 psi) or more) can lead to
severe heat build-up, causing
blowouts, tread separation and
other tire failures that can result
in the loss of vehicle control
leading to severe injury or
death. This risk is much higher
on hot days and when driving
for protracted periods at high
speeds.
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