Automatic transmission operation
The automatic transmission has 6 forward speeds and one reverse speed. The individual speeds are selected automatically, depending on the position of the shift lever.
The first few shifts on a new vehicle, if the battery has been disconnected, may be somewhat abrupt. This is a normal condition, and the shifting sequence will adjust after shifts are cycled a few times by the TCM (Transmission Control Module) or PCM (Powertrain Control Module).
For smooth operation, depress the brake pedal when shifting from N (Neutral) to a forward or reverse gear.
Automatic transmission
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When driving uphill or downhill, always shift to D (Drive) for driving forward or shift to R (Reverse) for driving backwards, and check the gear position indicated on the cluster before driving.
Driving in the opposite direction of the selected gear can lead to a dangerous situation by shutting off the engine and affecting the braking performance.
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Always check the surrounding areas near your vehicle for people, especially children, before shifting a car into D (Drive) or R (Reverse).
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Before leaving the driver’s seat, always make sure the shift lever is in the P (Park) position; then set the parking brake fully and shut the engine off. Unexpected and sudden vehicle movement can occur if these precautions are not followed in the order identified.
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Do not use the engine brake (shifting from a high gear to lower gear) rapidly on slippery roads. The vehicle may slip causing an accident.
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To avoid damage to your transmission, do not accelerate the engine in R (Reverse) or any forward gear position with the brakes on.
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When stopped on an incline, do not hold the vehicle stationary with engine power. Use the service brake or the parking brake.
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Do not shift from N (Neutral) or P (Park) into D (Drive), or R (Reverse) when the engine is above idle speed.
LCD display for warning message
A warning message is displayed on the LCD in a warning condition.
A: Transmission Hot! Park with engine on
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When driving under severe conditions such as repeated sudden starts and sudden acceleration, the transmission may overheat, and a warning sound and a warning message appear on the instrument cluster due to the self-protection mode.
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If this occurs, pull over to a safe location, stop the vehicle with the engine running, apply brakes and shift the gear to P (Park), and allow the transmission to cool.
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If the warning message continues to appear, have the system checked by a professional workshop. Kia recommends to visit an authorized Kia dealer to prevent unexpected accidents.
A: Vehicle Power limited due to high transmission temperature
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If the transmission continues to drive overheating and reaches its maximum temperature, the above warning message appears. In this case, the vehicle limits transmission power by its self protection mode.
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When such a situation occurs, normal driving is restricted until the transmission goes down to normal temperature, so after moving the vehicle to a safe place, shift the gear to P (Park) with the engine running and wait several minutes until the warning on the screen disappears.
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If the warning message continues to appear, have the system checked by a professional workshop. Kia recommends to visit an authorized Kia dealer to prevent unexpected accidents.
A: Trans cooled. Resume driving.
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When the message "Trans cooled. Resume driving" appears you can continue to drive your vehicle.
Transmission ranges
The indicator in the instrument cluster displays the shift lever position when the ignition switch or ENGINE START/STOP button is in the ON position.
Always come to a complete stop before shifting into P (Park).This position locks the transmission and prevents the drive wheels from rotating.
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Shifting into P (Park) while the vehicle is in motion will cause the drive wheels to lock which will cause you to lose control of the vehicle.
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Do not use the P (Park) position in place of the parking brake. Always make sure the shift lever is latched in the P (Park) position and set the parking brake fully.
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Never leave a child unattended in a vehicle.
The transmission may be damaged if you shift into P (Park) while the vehicle is in motion.
Use this position to drive the vehicle backward.
Always come to a complete stop before shifting into or out of R (Reverse); you may damage the transmission if you shift into R (Reverse) while the vehicle is in motion, except as explained in More Details.
The wheels and transmission are not engaged. The vehicle will roll freely even on the slightest incline unless the parking brake or service brakes are applied.
Do not drive with the shift lever in N (Neutral).
The engine brake will not work and lead to an accident.
This is the normal forward driving position. The transmission will automatically shift through a 6-gear sequence, providing the best fuel economy and power.
For extra power when passing another vehicle or climbing grades, depress the accelerator fully, at which time the transmission will automatically downshift to the lower gear.
Always come to a complete stop before shifting into D (Drive).
Manual mode
Whether the vehicle is stationary or in motion, manual mode is selected by pushing the shift lever from the D (Drive) position into the manual gate. To return to D (Drive) range operation, push the shift lever back into the main gate.
In manual mode, moving the shift lever backwards and forwards will allow you to make gearshifts rapidly. In contrast to a manual transmission, the manual mode allows gearshifts with the accelerator pedal depressed.
Up (+) : Push the lever forward once to shift up one gear.
Down (-) : Pull the lever backwards once to shift down one gear.
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In manual mode, the driver must execute upshifts in accordance with road conditions, taking care to keep the engine speed below the red zone.
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In manual mode, only the 6 forward gears can be selected. To reverse or park the vehicle, move the shift lever to the R (Reverse) or P (Park) position as required.
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In manual mode, downshifts are made automatically when the vehicle slows down. When the vehicle stops, 1st gear is automatically selected.
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In manual mode, when the engine rpm approaches the red zone shift points are varied to upshift automatically.
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To maintain the required levels of vehicle performance and safety, the system may not execute certain gearshifts when the shift lever is operated.
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When driving on a slippery road, push the shift lever forward into the +(up) position. This causes the transmission to shift into the 2nd gear which is better for smooth driving on a slippery road. Push the shift lever to the -(down) side to shift back to the 1st gear.
Shift lock system
For your safety, the automatic transmission has a shift lock system which prevents shifting the transmission from P (Park) into R (Reverse) unless the brake pedal is depressed.
To shift the transmission from P (Park) into R (Reverse):
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Depress and hold the brake pedal.
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Move the shift lever.
If the brake pedal is repeatedly depressed and released with the shift lever in the P (Park) position, a chattering noise near the shift lever may be heard. This is a normal condition.
Always fully depress the brake pedal before and while shifting out of the P (Park) position into another position to avoid inadvertent motion of the vehicle which could injure persons in or around the car.
Shift-lock override
If the shift lever cannot be moved from the P (Park) position into R (Reverse) position with the brake pedal depressed, continue depressing the brake, and then do the following:
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Remove the shift lever boots from the console by using a plastic trim tool.
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After removing the boots, press and hold the button (1) on the left front side with a pointed tool and change it to the N (Neutral) position.
If the shift lever does not move even after performing this procedure, have the system inspected by a professional workshop. Kia recommends to visit an authorized Kia dealer/service partner.
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Be careful not to damage the cover when removing the shift lever boots.
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Be sure that the vehicle is in flat level ground when releasing the shift-lock.
Ignition key interlock system
The ignition key cannot be removed unless the shift lever is in the P (Park) position.