check transmission fluid KIA SPORTAGE 2021 Owners Manual

5 159
Driving your vehicle
Change to "winter weight" oil
if necessary
In some climates it is recommended
that a lower viscosity "winter weight"
oil be used during cold weather. See
chapter 9 for recommendations. If
you aren't sure what weight oil you
should use, consult an authorized
Kia dealer.
Check spark plugs and ignition
system
Inspect your spark plugs as
described in chapter 7 and replace
them if necessary. Also check all
ignition wiring and components to be
sure they are not cracked, worn or
damaged in any way.
To keep locks from freezing
To keep the locks from freezing,
squirt an approved de-icer fluid or
glycerine into the key opening. If a
lock is covered with ice, squirt it with
an approved de-icing fluid to remove
the ice. If the lock is frozen internally,
you may be able to thaw it out by
using a heated key. Handle the heat-
ed key with care to avoid injury.
Use approved window washer
anti-freeze in system
To keep the water in the window
washer system from freezing, add an
approved window washer anti-freeze
solution in accordance with instruc-
tions on the container. Window wash-
er anti-freeze is available from an
authorized Kia dealer and most auto
parts outlets. Do not use engine
coolant or other types of anti-freeze
as these may damage the paint fin-
ish.
Don’t let your parking brake
freeze
Under some conditions your parking
brake can freeze in the engaged
position. This is most likely to happen
when there is an accumulation of
snow or ice around or near the rear
brakes or if the brakes are wet. If
there is a risk the parking brake may
freeze, apply it only temporarily while
you put the gear shift lever in P
(Park, Automatic Transmission) and
block the rear wheels so the vehicle
cannot roll. Then release the parking
brake.
Don't let ice and snow accu-
mulate underneath
Under some conditions, snow and
ice can build up under the fenders
and interfere with the steering. When
driving in severe winter conditions
where this may happen, you should
periodically check underneath the
vehicle to be sure the movement of
the front wheels and the steering
components are not obstructed.

Driving your vehicle
1665
When you are ready to leave after
parking on a hill
1. With the automatic transmission inP (Park), apply your brakes and
hold the brake pedal down while
you:
• Start your engine;
• Shift into gear; and
• Release the parking brake.
2. Slowly remove your foot from the brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.Maintenance when trailer tow-
ing
Your vehicle will need service more
often when you regularly pull a trail-
er. Important items to pay particular
attention to include engine oil, auto-
matic transmission fluid, axle lubri-
cant and cooling system fluid. Brake
condition is another important item to
frequently check. Each item is cov-
ered in this manual, and the Index
will help you find them quickly. If
you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to
review these sections before you
start your trip.
Don’t forget to also maintain your
trailer and hitch. Follow the mainte-
nance schedule that accompanied
your trailer and check it periodically.
Preferably, conduct the check at the
start of each day’s driving. Most
importantly, all hitch nuts and bolts
should be tight. • When towing check transmission
fluid more frequently.
CAUTION - Air condition
Do not use the A/C while usingyour vehicle to tow uphill. Dueto higher load during trailerusage, overheating might occuron hot days or during uphilldriving.

67
What to do in an emergency
IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS
If your temperature gauge indicates
overheating, you experience a loss
of power, or hear loud pinging or
knocking, the engine will probably be
too hot. If this happens, you should:
1. Pull off the road and stop as soonas it is safe to do so.
2. Place the shift lever in P (for Automatic transmission) and set
the parking brake. If the air condi-
tioning is on, turn it off.
3. If engine coolant is running out under the vehicle or steam is com-
ing 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 cool-
ing fan is operating. 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 condi-
tioning 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 bro- ken or engine coolant is leaking
out, stop the engine immediately
and call the nearest authorized
Kia dealer for assistance. 6. If you cannot find the cause of the
overheating, wait until the engine
temperature has returned to nor-
mal. If coolant has been lost, care-
fully 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 overheat-
ing. If overheating happens again,
call an authorized 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 to pre-
vent injury.
WARNING - Radiator cap
Do not remove the
radiator cap when the
engine is hot. This may
result in coolant being
blown out of the open-
ing and cause serious
burns.

6 37
What to do in an emergency
• Use a towing strap less than 16feet (5 m) long. Attach a white or
red cloth (about 12 inches (30 cm)
wide) in the middle of the strap for
easy visibility.
• Drive carefully so that the towing strap is not loosened during tow-
ing.
• The driver must be in the vehicle for steering and braking operations
when the vehicle is towed and pas-
sengers other than the driver must
not be allowed to be on board.
Emergency towing precautions
• Turn the ignition switch to ACC sothe steering wheel isn’t locked.
• Place the transmission shift lever in N (Neutral).
• Release the parking brake.
• Press the brake pedal with more force than normal since you will
have reduced brake performance.
• More steering effort will be required because the power steer-
ing system will be disabled.
• If you are driving down a long hill, the brakes may overheat and brake
performance will be reduced. Stop
often and let the brakes cool off.
• The vehicle should be towed at a speed of 25 km/h or less within the
distance of 20 km. • If the car is being towed with all
four wheels on the ground, it can
be towed only from the front. Be
sure that the transmission is in
neutral. Be sure the steering is
unlocked by placing the ignition
switch in the ACC position. A driver
must be in the towed vehicle to
operate the steering and brakes.
CAUTION - Automatic
transmission
• To avoid serious damage to the automatic transmission, limitthe vehicle speed to 10 mph(15 km/h) and drive less than 1mile (1.5 km) when towing.
• Before towing, check the auto- matic transmission for fluidleaks under your vehicle. If theautomatic transmission fluid isleaking, flatbed equipment or atowing dolly must be used.
OQL065021

77
Maintenance
OWNER MAINTENANCE
The following lists are vehicle checks
and inspections that should be per-
formed by the owner or an author-
ized 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 deal-
er as soon as possible.
These Owner Maintenance Checks
are generally not covered by war-
ranties 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 thecoolant reservoir.
• 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 steer-
ing effort or looseness in the steer-
ing wheel, or change in its straight-
ahead position.
• Notice if your vehicle constantly turns slightly or “pulls” to one side
when traveling on smooth, level
roads.
• 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 operation of your transmission
occurs, check the transmission
fluid level.
• Check the automatic transmission P (Park) function.
• Check the parking brake.
• Check for fluid leaks under your vehicle (water dripping from the air
conditioning system during or after
use is normal).
WARNING- Hot coolant
Be careful when checking your
engine coolant level when the
engine is hot. Scalding hot
coolant and steam may blow
out under pressure.

Maintenance
87
At least monthly:
• Check the coolant level in theengine coolant reservoir.
• Check the operation of all exterior lights, including the stoplights, turn
signals and hazard warning flash-
ers.
• Check the inflation pressures of all tires including the spare for tires
that are worn, show uneven wear,
or are damaged.
• Check for loose wheel lug nuts.
At least twice a year (i.e., every Spring and Fall) :
• Check the radiator, heater and air conditioning hoses for leaks or
damage.
• Check the windshield washer spray and wiper operation. Clean
the wiper blades with clean cloth
dampened with washer fluid.
• Check the headlight alignment.
• Check the muffler, exhaust pipes, shields and clamps.
• Check the lap/shoulder belts for wear and function.
At least once a year :
• Clean the body and door drainholes.
• Lubricate the door hinges and check the hood hinges.
• Lubricate the door and hood locks and latches.
• Lubricate the door rubber weather- strips.
• Check the air conditioning system.
• Inspect and lubricate automatic transmission linkage and controls.
• Clean the battery and terminals.
• Check the brake fluid level.

Maintenance
127
Number of months or driving distance, whichever comes first
Months1224364860728496108120132144156168180
Miles×1,00061218243036424854606672788490
Km×1,000102030405060708090100110120130140150
Intercooler, in/out hose,
air intake hoseTheta II 2.0L T-GDIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII
Cooling system---I-I-I-I-I-I-
Automatic transmission fluidNo check, No service required
Rear differential oil (AWD) *5---I---I---I---
Transfer case oil (AWD) *5---I---I---I---
Vapor hose, fuel filler cap and fuel tank-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-
Fuel tank air filter *4-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-
Normal Maintenance Schedule - Turbo Models (CONT.)
I : Inspect and if necessary, adjust, correct, clean or replace.
R : Replace or change.
*
4: Fuel tank air filter are considered to be maintenance free but periodic inspection is recommended for this maintenance sched-ule depends on fuel quality.
*
5: Rear differential oil and transfer case oil should be changed anytime they have been submerged in water.
MAINTENANCE INTERVALS
MAINTENANCE
ITEM

Maintenance
187
Number of months or driving distance, whichever comes first
Months1224364860728496108120132144156168180
Miles×1,0007.51522.530 37.5 45 52.5 60 67.5 75 82.5 90 97.5 105 112.5
Km×1,00012 24 36 48 60 72 84 96 108 120 132 144 156 168 180
Cooling system---I-I-I-I-I-I-
Automatic transmission fluidNo check, No service required
Rear differential oil (AWD) *5---I---I---I---
Transfer case oil (AWD) *5---I---I---I---
Vapor hose and fuel filler cap---I---I---I---
Fuel tank air filter *4---I---I---I---
Fuel lines, hoses and connections---I---I---I---
Parking brake-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-
Brake fluidIIIRIIIRIIIRIII
MAINTENANCEINTERVALS
MAINTENANCE
ITEM
Normal Maintenance Schedule - Non Turbo Models (CONT.)
I : Inspect and if necessary, adjust, correct, clean or replace.
R : Replace or change.
*
4: Fuel tank air filter are considered to be maintenance free but periodic inspection is recommended for this maintenance sched- ule depends on fuel quality.
*
5: Rear differential oil and transfer case oil should be changed anytime they have been submerged in water.

7 23
Maintenance
Automatic transmission fluid
Automatic transmission fluid should
not be checked under normal usage
conditions.
But in severe conditions, the fluid
should be changed at an authorized
Kia dealer in accordance to the
scheduled maintenance at the begin-
ning of this chapter.
✽NOTICE
Automatic transmission fluid color
is reddish.
As the vehicle is driven, the auto-
matic transmission fluid will begin
to look darker.
It is normal condition and you should
not judge the need to replace the fluid
based upon the changed color.
Brake hoses and lines
Visually check for proper installation,
chafing, cracks, deterioration and
any leakage. Replace any deteriorat-
ed or damaged parts immediately.
✽NOTICE- NHTSA SafetyCorrosion Alert
NHTSA has warned all vehicle own-
ers of all brands that they must
maintain their vehicles in a manner
which will prevent brake hose and
brake line failures due to corrosion
when such vehicles are exposed to
winter road salt and related chemi-
cals. While serious corrosion condi-
tions typically only manifest them-
selves as safety issues after 7 years of
vehicle use, the corrosion process
starts immediately and thus under-
body cleaning maintenance must
commence from your vehicle's first
exposure to road salts and chemi-
cals. NHTSA urges vehicle owners to
take the following steps to prevent
corrosion: (Continued)
CAUTION
Use only specified automatic
transmission fluid. The use of anon-specified fluid could resultin a transmission malfunctionand failure. (Refer to"Recommended lubricants andcapacities" in chapter 8.)