What to Do in an Emergency

If the engine overheats

~2min read

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. Place the shift lever in P (Automatic Transmission/Dual Clutch Transmission/Intelligent Variable Transmission) or Neutral (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 contact a professional repair shop. Kia recommends contacting an authorized Kia dealer/service partner.

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. Proceed with caution and watch for further signs of overheating. If the overheating recurs, contact a professional repair shop. Kia recommends contacting an authorized Kia dealer/service partner.

CAUTION

  • A significant loss of coolant indicates a leak in the cooling system. In this case, have the system checked at a professional repair shop. Kia recommends visiting an authorized Kia dealer/service partner.
  • When the engine overheats due to low coolant level, adding engine coolant suddenly may cause engine cracking. To prevent damage, add engine coolant slowly in small amounts.

Test yourself

A quick Kia Soul Owner's Manual quiz: every answer comes with an explanation and a link to the manual page.