For safe All Wheel Drive (AWD) operation
All Wheel Drive
The conditions of on-road or off-road that demand All Wheel Drive mean all functions of your vehicle are exposed to extreme stress than under normal road conditions. Slow down and be ready for changes in the composition and traction of the surface under your tyres. If you have any doubt about the safety of the conditions you are facing, stop and consider the best way to proceed.
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Do not try to drive in deep standing water or mud since such conditions can stall your engine and clog your exhaust pipes. Do not drive down steep hills since it requires extreme skill to maintain control of the vehicle.
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When you are driving up or down hills drive as straight as possible. Use extreme caution in going up or down steep hills, since you may flip your vehicle over depending on the grade, terrain and water/mud conditions.
WARNINGHills
Driving across the contour of steep hills can be extremely dangerous. This danger can come from slight changes in the wheel angle which can destabilize the vehicle or, even if the vehicle is maintaining stability under power, it can lose that stability if the vehicle stops its forward motion. Your vehicle may roll over without warning and without time for you to correct a mistake that could cause serious injury or death.
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You must learn how to corner in a AWD vehicle. Do not rely on your experience in conventional FWD vehicles when cornering the vehicle in AWD mode. For starters, you must drive slower in AWD.
All Wheel Drive (AWD)
Reduce speed when you turn corners. The centre of gravity of AWD vehicles is higher than that of conventional FWD vehicles, making them more likely to roll over when you turn corners too fast.
Steering wheel
Do not grab the inside of the steering wheel when you are driving on unpaved roads. You may hurt your arm by a sudden steering manoeuvre or from steering wheel rebound due to impact with objects on the ground. You could lose control of the steering wheel.
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Always hold the steering wheel firmly when you are driving on unpaved roads.
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Make sure all passengers are wearing seat belts.
WARNINGWind danger
If you are driving in heavy wind, the vehicle's higher centre of gravity decreases your steering control capacity and requires you to drive more slowly.
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.
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Do not drive in water if the level is higher than the bottom of the vehicle.
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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.
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Shorten your scheduled maintenance interval if you drive in offroad conditions such as sand, mud or water (refer to More Details). Always wash your vehicle thoroughly after off-road use, especially cleaning the bottom of the vehicle.
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Since the driving torque is always applied to the 4 wheels the performance of the AWD vehicle is greatly affected by the condition of the tyres. Be sure to equip the vehicle with four tyres of the same size and type.
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A full time All 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.
All Wheel Drive (AWD) driving
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Avoid high cornering speed.
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Do not make quick steering wheel movements, such as sharp lane changes or fast, sharp turns.
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The risk of rollover is greatly increased if you lose control of your vehicle at high speed.
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In a collision, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die compared to a person wearing a seat belt.
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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.
Mud or snow
If one of the front or rear wheels begins to spin in mud, snow, etc. the vehicle can sometimes be driven out by engaging the accelerator pedal further; however avoid running the engine continuously at high rpm because doing so could damage the AWD system.
Driving in sand or mud
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Maintain slow and constant speed. Operate the accelerator pedal slowly to ensure safe driving (wheel-slip prevention).
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Keep sufficient distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you.
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Reduce vehicle speed and always check the road condition.
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Avoid speeding, rapid acceleration, sudden brake applications, and sharp turns to prevent getting stuck.
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When the vehicle is stuck in snow, sand or mud, the tyres may not operate.
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This is to protect the transmission and not a malfunction.
Moving the vehicle forcibly to get out of mud or sand can cause damage/overheat of the engine or damage/breakdown of the transmission, differential or 4WD system as well as damage to tyres. If excessive wheel slip occurs after entering a sandy/muddy road, the vehicle may fall into the sand/mud. When it happens, put a stone or a tree branch under the tyre, and then try to pull out the vehicle, or try to get it unstuck by repeatedly moving forwards and backwards.
Transmission overheated
A: Transmission Hot! Park with engine on
A: Trans cooled. Resume driving.
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When driving on muddy and sandy roads under the severe condition, the transmission could be overheated.
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When the transmission is overheated, the safe protection mode engages and the "Transmission Hot! Park with engine on" warning message will appear on the LCD display with a chime.
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If this occurs, pull over to a safe location, stop the vehicle with the engine running, apply the brakes and shift the vehicle to P (Park), and allow the transmission to cool.
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If you ignore this warning, the driving condition may become worse. You may experience abrupt shifts, frequent shifts, or jerkiness. To return to the normal driving condition, stop the vehicle and apply the foot brake or shift into P (Park). Then allow the transmission to cool for a few minutes with engine on, before driving off.
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When the message "Trans cooled. Resume driving" appears you can continue to drive your vehicle.
If the warning messages in the LCD display continue to blink, for your safety, have the system checked by a professional workshop. Kia recommends to visit an authorised Kia dealer/ service partner.
Tyre Precautions
Always pay attention to tyres for AWD (all-wheel drive) vehicles.
When driving in all-wheel drive, driving force is applied to all tyres, and the driving performance of the vehicle is greatly affected by the degree of tyre wear:
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When replacing tyres, be sure to equip all four tyres with the same size, type, tread, brand and load-carrying capacity. Do not use tyre and wheel with different size and type from the one originally installed on your vehicle. It can affect the safety and performance of your vehicle, which could lead to steering failure or rollover causing serious injury.
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Replace the front and rear tyre positions every 10,000 km.
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Each tyre should be checked monthly when cold and inflated to inflation pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer on the vehicle placard or tyre inflation pressure label.
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For AWD (all-wheel drive) vehicles, install the chains on the driven wheels. However, this may damage the AWD system, so keep the travel distance as short as possible.
* Refer to More Details.
Towing Precautions
The AWD vehicle should never be towed with the wheels on the ground. Your vehicle must be towed with a wheel lift and dollies or flatbed equipment with all the wheels off the ground.
* Refer to More Details.
The AWD vehicle cannot be towed with sling-type equipment. Use wheel lift or flatbed equipment.
Your vehicle is equipped with tyres designed to provide safe ride and handling capability. Do not use tyres and wheels that are different in size and type from the originally installed ones. It can affect the safety and performance of your vehicle, which could lead to steering failure or rollover and serious injury. When replacing the tyres, be sure to equip all four tyres with the tyre and wheel of the same size, type, tread, brand and load-carrying capacity.
Jacked vehicle
Whilst the full-time AWD vehicle is being raised on a jack, never start the engine or cause the tyres to rotate.
There is the danger that rotating tyres touching the ground could cause the vehicle to go off the jack and to jump forward.
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Full-time AWD vehicles must be tested on a special four wheel chassis dynamometer.
NOTICENever engage the parking brake whilst performing these tests.
Dynamometer testing
Keep away from the front of the vehicle whilst the vehicle is in gear on the dynamometer. This is very dangerous as the vehicle can jump forward and cause serious injury or death.
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When lifting up the vehicle, do not operate front and rear wheel separately. All four wheels should be operated.
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If you need to operate the front wheel and rear wheel when lifting up the vehicle, you should release the parking brake.