If the engine overheats

If your temperature gauge indicates overheating, you lose power, or you hear a loud knocking or pinging noise, the engine may be overheating. If this happens, you should:

1. Pull off the road and stop as soon as it is safe to do so.

2. Move the shift lever to P (Automatic Transmission/Dual Clutch Transmission) or N (Manual Transmission) and apply the parking brake. If the air conditioner is on, turn it off.

3. If engine coolant is leaking from under the vehicle or steam is coming from under the hood, stop the engine. Do not open the hood until the coolant stops leaking or the steam stops. If there is no visible coolant loss and no steam, leave the engine running and make sure the engine cooling fan is operating. If the fan is not operating, turn off the engine.

4. Check that the water pump drive belt is not missing. If it is not missing, check that it is tight.

If the drive belt appears to be in satisfactory condition, check for coolant leaks from the radiator, hoses, or under the vehicle. (If the air conditioner was in use, it is normal for cold water to drip from it when you stop.)

WARNING

While the engine is running, keep hair, hands, and clothing away from moving parts such as the cooling fan and drive belts to avoid injury.

5. If the water pump drive belt has broken or engine coolant is leaking, stop the engine and we recommend that you visit an authorized Kia dealer.

WARNING

Do not remove the radiator cap while the engine is hot. Coolant may spray out of the opening and cause serious burns.

6. If you cannot find the cause of the overheating, wait until the engine temperature returns to normal. Then, if coolant was lost, carefully add coolant to the reservoir until the coolant level reaches the middle mark.

7. Drive carefully and watch for further signs of overheating. If overheating occurs again, we recommend that you visit an authorized Kia dealer.

CAUTION

• A serious loss of coolant indicates a leak in the cooling system. We recommend that you have the system inspected by an authorized Kia dealer.
• When the engine overheats due to low engine coolant level, adding coolant suddenly may cause the engine to crack. To avoid damage, add engine coolant slowly in small amounts.