4WD KIA SORENTO 2010 Owners Manual

17
Introduction
INDICATOR SYMBOLS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
Seat belt warning light
Door/tailgate open position indicator*
Tailgate open warning light
High beam indicator
Light on indicator*
Turn signal indicator
Front fog light indicator*
ABS warning light
Parking brake & Brake fluid
warning light
Engine oil pressure warning light
4WD system warning light* 4WD LOCK indicator*
Malfunction indicator*
Air bag warning light
Cruise SET indicator*
Low fuel level warning light
Shift pattern indicator*
DBC indicator*
❈ For more detailed explanations, refer to “Instrument cluster” in section 4.
Charging system warning light
Low windshield washer fluid level
warning light*
Door ajar warning light
Overspeed warning light*
120km/h
Key out warning light*KEY
OUT
* if equipped
Glow indicator (Diesel only)
Fuel filter warning light (Diesel only)
Cruise indicator*
Rear fog light indicator*
ESP indicator*
ESP OFF indicator*
Immobilizer indicator*
Low tire pressure telltale*/
TPMS (Tire Pressure MonitoringSystem) malfunction indicator*
Low tire pressure position telltale*

Your vehicle at a glance
2
2
INTERIOR OVERVIEW
1. Door lock/unlock button ....................4-14
2. Outside rearview mirror folding
button*...............................................4-38
3. Outside rearview mirror control switch ................................................4-37
4. Central door lock switch* ..................4-14
5. Power window lock button* ...............4-23
6. Power window switches ....................4-20
7. Fuel filler lid release button...............4-26
8. Head lamp leveling device*...............4-67
9. 4WD lock button* ..............................5-23
10. ESP OFF button* ...........................5-35
11. Headlight washer button*................4-68
12. DBC button* ....................................5-38
13. Instrument panel illumination control switch*.............................................4-41
14. Steering wheel tilt control* ..............4-34
15. Steering wheel ................................4-33
16. Fuse box .........................................7-51
17. Hood release lever ..........................4-24
18. Seat...................................................3-2
19. Air vent ............................................4-78
* : if equipped
OXM019001L

Features of your vehicle
56
4
Overspeed warning light
(if equipped)
Overspeed warning light
If you drive with the speed of 120 km/h or
more, the overspeed warning light will
blink. This is to prevent you from over-speeding.
Overspeed warning chime
If you drive with the speed of 120 km/h or
more, the overspeed warning chime will
sound for about 5 seconds. This is to pre-
vent you from overspeeding.
4WD system warning light(if equipped)
When the ignition switch is turned to the ON position, the 4WD indicator will illu-
minate and then go off in a few seconds.
If the 4WD system warning light
illuminates, this indicates that there is a
malfunction in the 4WD system. If this
occurs, have your vehicle checked by an
authorized KIA dealer as soon as possi-
ble.
4WD LOCK indicator (if equipped)
The 4WD LOCK indicator light is illumi-
nated when the 4WD LOCK button is
pushed. The purpose of this 4WD LOCK
mode is to increase the drive power
when driving on dry road surfaces, wet
pavement, snow-covered roads and/or
off-road. The 4WD LOCK indicator light is
turned off by pushing the button again.
KEY OUT indicator (if equipped)
When the ENGINE START/STOP button
is in the ACC or ON position, if any door
is open, the system checks for the smart
key. If the smart key is not in the vehicle,
the indicator will blink, and if all doors are
closed, the chime will also sound for
about 5 seconds. The indicator will go off
while the vehicle is moving. Keep the
smart key in the vehicle or insert it in the
smart key holder.
TPMS (Tire Pressure MonitoringSystem) indicator (if equipped)
Low tire pressure telltale /
TPMS malfunction indicator
Low tire pressure position
telltale
The low tire pressure telltale comes on
for 3 seconds after the ignition switch is
turned to the "ON" position.
The low tire pressure and position tell-
tales illuminate when one or more of your
tires is significantly underinflated.
KEY
OUT120 km/h
CAUTION
Do not use 4WD LOCK mode on dry
paved roads or highway, it cancause noise, vibration or damage of4WD related parts.

5
Before driving / 5-3
Key positions / 5-4
ENGINE START/STOP button / 5-8
Manual transaxle / 5-14
Automatic transaxle / 5-17
Four wheel drive (4WD) / 5-23
Brake system / 5-30
Cruise control system / 5-41
Economical operation / 5-45
Special driving conditions / 5-47
Winter driving / 5-51
Trailer towing / 5-55
Vehicle weight / 5-63
Driving your vehicle

523
Driving your vehicle
FOUR WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) (IF EQUIPPED)
Engine power can be delivered to all front
and rear wheels for maximum traction.
4WD is useful when extra traction is
required on road, such as, when driving
on slippery, muddy, wet, or snow-covered
roads. These vehicles are not designed
for challenging off-road use. Occasional
off-road use such as established
unpaved roads and trails are OK. It is
always important when traveling off-high-
way that the driver carefully reduces the
speed to a level that does not exceed the
safe operating speed for those condi-
tions. In general, off-road conditions pro-
vide less traction and braking effective-
ness than normal road conditions. The
driver must be especially alert to avoid
driving on slopes which tilt the vehicle to
either side.
These factors must be carefully consid-
ered when driving off-road. Keeping the
vehicle in contact with the driving surfaceand under control in these conditions is
always the driver's responsibility for the
safety of him/herself and his or her pas-
sengers. Tight corner brake effect
Tight corner brake effect is a unique
characteristic of four-wheel drive vehicles
caused by the difference in tire rotation at
the four wheels and the zero-degreealignment of the front wheels and sus-pension.
Sharp turns at low speeds should be car-
ried out with caution.
WARNING
- Off road driving
This vehicle is designed primarily
for on road use although it can oper-
ate effectively off road. However, it
was not designed to drive in chal-
lenging off-road conditions. Driving
in conditions that exceed the vehi-
cle's intended design or the driver's
experience level may result in
severe injury or death.
CAUTION - 4WD
When turning sharply on a paved
road at low speed while in four-wheel drive, steering control will be difficult.

Driving your vehicle
24
5
This mode is used for climbing or descending sharp grades,
off-road driving, driving on sandy and muddy roads, etc., to
maximize traction.
This mode automatically begins to deactivate at speeds above 30 km/h (19 mph) and is shifted to 4WD AUTO mode
at speed above 40 km/h (25 mph). If the vehicle decelerates
to speeds below 30 km/h (19 mph), however, the transfermode is shifted into 4WD LOCK mode again.
4WD AUTO
(4WD LOCK is deactivated)
(Indicator light isnot illuminated)
✽✽ NOTICE
 When driving on normal roads, deactivate the 4WD LOCK mode by pushing the 4WD LOCK button (the indi cator light goes
off). Driving on normal roads with 4WD LOCK mode(especially, when cornering) may cause mechanic al noise or vibration.
The noise and vibration will disappear when the 4WD LOCK mode is deactivated. Some parts of the power train may be dam-
aged by prolonged driving with the noise and vibration.
 When the 4WD LOCK mode is deactivated, a shock may be felt as the drive power is delivered en tirely to the front wheels.
This shock is not a mechanical failure.
Four Wheel Drive (4WD) transfer mode selection
Transfer mode Selection button Indicator light Description
When driving in 4WD AUTO mode, the vehicle operates sim-
ilar to conventional 2WD vehicles under normal operating
conditions. However, if the system determines that there is a
need for the 4WD mode, the engine’s driving power is dis-
tributed to all four wheels automatically without driver inter-
vention.
When driving on normal roads and pavement, the vehicle moves similar to conventional 2WD vehicles.
4WD LOCK
(Indicator light is illuminated)

Driving your vehicle
26
5
You must consciously take the effort to
learn how to corner in a 4WD vehicle.
Do not rely on your experience in con-
ventional 2WD vehicles in choosing
safe cornering speed in 4WD mode.
For starters, you must drive more slow-
ly in 4WD.
Drive carefully off-road because your vehicle may be damaged by rocks or
roots of trees. Become familiar with the
off-road conditions where you are
going to drive before you begin driving.
Always hold the steering wheel firmlywhen you are driving off-road.
Make sure all passengers are wearing seat belts. If you need to drive in the water, stop
your vehicle, set your transfer to the
4WD LOCK mode and drive at lessthan 8 km/h (5 mph).
WARNING - Steering wheel
Do not grab the inside of the steer-
ing wheel when you are driving off-
road. You may hurt your arm by a
sudden steering maneuver or fromsteering wheel rebound due to
impact with objects on the ground.
You could lose control of the steer-ing wheel.
WARNING - Wind danger
If you are driving in heavy wind, the
vehicle's higher center of gravity
decreases your steering control
capacity and requires you to drive
more slowly.
WARNING - Driving
through water
Drive slowly. If you are driving too
fast in water, the water can get into
the engine compartment and wet
the ignition system, causing your
vehicle to suddenly stop. If this
happens and your vehicle is in a
tilted position, your vehicle may roll
over.
OXM059027L
WARNING - 4WD
Reduce speed when you turn cor-
ners. The center of gravity of 4WD
vehicles is higher than that of con-
ventional 2WD vehicles, making
them more likely to roll over when
you turn corners too fast.

527
Driving your vehicle
✽✽NOTICE
 Do not drive in water if the level is higher than the bottom of the vehicle.
 Check your brake condition once you
are out of mud or water. Press the
brake pedal several times as you move
slowly until you feel normal braking
forces return.
 Shorten your scheduled maintenance interval if you drive in off-road condi-
tions such as sand, mud or water (see
“Maintenance under severe usage
conditions” in section 7). Always wash
your vehicle thoroughly after off road
use, especially cleaning the bottom of
the vehicle.
 Since the driving torque is always applied to the 4 wheels the perform-
ance of the 4WD vehicle is greatly
affected by the condition of the tires.
Be sure to equip the vehicle with four
tires of the same size and type.
 A full time four wheel drive vehicle cannot be towed by an ordinary tow
truck. Make sure that the vehicle is
placed on a flat bed truck for moving.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
applications. Specific design characteris-
tics give them a higher center of gravity
than ordinary vehicles. An advantage of
the higher ground clearance is a better
view of the road, which allows you to
anticipate problems. They are not
designed for cornering at the same
speeds as conventional passenger vehi-
cles, any more than low-slung sports
vehicles are designed to perform satis-
factorily in off-road conditions. Due to this
risk, driver and passengers are strongly
recommended to buckle their seat belts.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
more likely to die than a person wearing
a seat belt. There are steps that a driver
can make to reduce the risk of a rollover.
If at all possible, avoid sharp turns or
abrupt maneuvers, do not load your roof
rack with heavy cargo, and never modify
your vehicle in any way.
CAUTION - Mud or snow
If one of the front or rear wheels
begins to spin in mud, snow, etc.
the vehicle can sometimes be driv-en out by depressing the accelera-
tor pedal further; however avoid running the engine continuously at
high rpm because doing so coulddamage the 4WD system.
WARNING - 4WD driving
Avoid high cornering speed.
Do not make quick steering wheel movements, such as sharp
lane changes or fast, sharp turns.
The risk of rollover is greatly increased if you lose control of
your vehicle at high speed.
In a collision, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die
compared to a person wearing aseat belt.
Loss of control often occurs if two or more wheels drop off the
roadway and the driver over
steers to re-enter the roadway. In
the event your vehicle leaves the
roadway, do not steer sharply.
Instead, slow down before pulling
back into the travel lanes.

Driving your vehicle
28
5
WARNING - Jacked vehicle
While the full-time 4WD vehicle is
being raised on a jack, never startthe engine or cause the tires to
rotate.
There is the danger that rotating
tires touching the ground could
cause the vehicle to go off the jack
and to jump forward.WARNING
Your vehicle is equipped with tires
designed to provide safe ride and
handling capability. Do not use a
size and type of tire and wheel that
is different from the one that is
originally installed on your vehicle.
It can affect the safety and perform-
ance of your vehicle, which could
lead to steering failure or rollover
and serious injury. When replacing
the tires, be sure to equip all fourtires with the tire and wheel of the
same size, type, tread, brand and
load-carrying capacity. If you never-
theless decide to equip your vehi-
cle with any tire/wheel combination
not recommended by KIA for off
road driving, you should not use
these tires for highway driving.WARNING - Rollover
As with other Sports Utility Vehicle
(SUV), failure to operate this vehi-
cle correctly may result in loss of
control, an accident or vehicle
rollover.
Utility vehicles have a significant- ly higher rollover rate than other
types of vehicles.
Specific design characteristics (higher ground clearance, nar-
rower track, etc.) give this vehicle
a higher center of gravity than
ordinary vehicles.
A SUV is not designed for corner- ing at the same speeds as con-
ventional vehicles.
Avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more like-
ly to die than a person wearing a
seat belt. Make sure everyone in
the vehicle is properly buckledup.

529
Driving your vehicle
Full-time 4WD vehicles must be testedon a special four wheel chassis
dynamometer.
✽✽ NOTICE
Never engage the parking brake while
performing these tests.
A full-time 4WD vehicle should not be tested on a 2WD roll tester. If a 2WD
roll tester must be used, perform the
following: 1. Check the tire pressures recommend-
ed for your vehicle.
2. Place the front wheels on the roll tester for a speedometer test as shown
in the illustration.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Place the rear wheels on the tempo- rary free roller as shown in the illustra- tion.
WARNING - Dynamometer testing
Keep away from the front of the
vehicle while the vehicle is in gear
on the dynamometer. This is very
dangerous as the vehicle can jump
forward and cause serious injury ordeath.
OXM059025
Roll tester (speedometer)
Temporary free roller