Get Driving your vehicle -> Four wheel drive (4WD) Guide for Kia Sportage SUV Second Generation (2004-2010)

Driving your vehicle

FOUR WHEEL DRIVE (4WD) (IF EQUIPPED)

Engine power can be delivered to all

These factors must be carefully con-

4WD

front and rear wheels for maximum

sidered when driving off-road.

traction. Full-time 4WD is useful

Keeping the vehicle in contact with

Front wheel

when extra traction is required on

the driving surface and under control

road, such as, when driving on slip-

in these conditions is always the dri-

pery, muddy, wet, or snow-covered

ver's responsibility for the safety of

roads. These vehicles are not

him/herself and his or her passen-

designed for challenging off-road

gers.

Rear wheel

use. Occasional off-road use such as

established unpaved roads and trails

WARNING - Off road dri-

is OK. It is always important when

1KMA3053

ving

traveling off-highway that the driver

2WD

carefully reduce speed to a level that

This vehicle is designed primar-

does not exceed the safe operating

Front wheel

ily for on road use although it

speed for those conditions. In gener-

can operate effectively off road.

al, off-road conditions provide less

However it was not designed for

traction and braking effectiveness

driving in challenging off-road

than normal road conditions. The dri-

conditions. Driving in condi-

ver must be especially alert to avoid

tions that exceed the vehicle's

driving on slopes which tilt the vehi-

intended design or the driver's

cle to either side.

experience level may result in

1KMA3054

severe injury or death.

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Driving your vehicle

Four Wheel Drive (4WD) transfer mode selection

Transfer mode

Selection button

Indicator light

Description

• This mode is used for climbing or descending sharp grades,

off-road driving, driving on sandy and muddy roads etc. to

4WD

maximize traction.

LOCK

• This mode automatically begins to deactivate at speed above

4WD LOCK

30 km/h (19 mph) and is shifted to 4WD AUTO mode at

speed above 40 km/h (25 mph). If the vehicle decelerates to

(Indicator light is

speeds below 30 km/h (19 mph), however, the transfer mode

illuminated)

is shifted into 4WD LOCK mode again.

• When driving in AUTO mode, the vehicle operates similar to

the conventional 2WD vehicles under normal operating con-

4 W D

ditions. However, if the system determines that there is a

4WD AUTO

need for the 4WD mode, the engine’s driving power is dis-

L OC K

tributed to all four wheels automatically without driver inter-

(4WD LOCK is

vention.

deactivated)

• When driving on normal roads and pavement, the vehicle

(Indicator light is

moves similar to the conventional 2WD vehicles.

not illuminated)

✽ NOTICE

• When driving on normal roads, deactivate the 4WD LOCK mode by pushing the 4WD LOCK button(the indica-

tor light goes off). Driving on normal roads with 4WD LOCK mode(especially, when cornering) may cause

mechanical noise or vibration. The noise and vibration will disappear when the 4WD LOCK mode is deactivated.

Some parts of the power train may be damaged by prolonged driving with the noise and vibration.

• When the 4WD LOCK mode is deactivated, a shock may be felt as the drive power delivered entirely to the front

wheels. This shock is not a mechanical failure.

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Driving your vehicle

For safe four-wheel drive oper-

ation

WARNING - Four-wheel

driving

The conditions on-road or off-

road that demand four-wheel

drive mean all functions of your

vehicle are exposed to more

extreme stress than under nor-

mal road conditions. Slow down

HILL1

HILL2

and be ready for changes in the

• When you are driving up or down

composition and traction of the

hills drive as close to straight up

WARNING - Hills

surface under your tires. If you

and down the hill as possible. Use

have any doubt about the safety

Driving across the contour of

extreme caution in going up or

of the conditions you are facing,

steep hills can be extremely

down steep hills, since you may flip

stop and consider the best way

dangerous. This danger can

your vehicle over depending on the

to proceed. Do not exceed the

come from slight changes in the

grade, terrain and water/mud con-

ability of yourself or your vehi-

wheel angle which can destabi-

ditions.

cle to operate safely.

lize the vehicle or, even if the

vehicle is maintaining stability

under power, it can lose that

• Do not try to drive in deep standing

stability if the vehicle stops its

water or mud since such conditions

forward motion. Your vehicle

can stall your engine and clog your

may roll over without warning

exhaust pipes. Do not drive down

and without time for you to cor-

steep hills since it requires extreme

rect a mistake that could cause

skill to maintain control of the vehi-

serious injury or death.

cle.

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Driving your vehicle

• You must consciously take the

• Always hold the steering wheel

firmly when you are driving off-

effort to learn how to corner in a

road.

4WD vehicle. Do not rely on your

experience in conventional 2WD

• Make sure all passengers are

vehicles in choosing safe cornering

wearing seat belts.

speed in 4WD mode. For starters,

you must drive more slowly in

4WD.

WARNING - 4WD

Reduce speed when you turn

1KMN4415

corners. The center of gravity of

4WD vehicles is higher than that

of conventional 2WD vehicles,

WARNING - Steering

making them more likely to roll

wheel

over when you turn corners too

Do not grab inside of the steer-

fast.

ing wheel when you are driving

off-road. Your arm may be hurt

• Drive carefully off-road because

by a sudden steering maneuver

your vehicle may be damaged by

or from steering wheel rebound

rocks or roots of trees. Become

due to impact with objects on

familiar with the off-road conditions

the ground. You could lose con-

where you are going to drive

trol of the steering wheel.

before you begin driving.

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Driving your vehicle

✽ NOTICE

WARNING - Wind danger

WARNING - Driving

• Do not drive in water if the level is

through water

If you are driving in heavy wind,

higher than the bottom of the vehi-

the vehicle's higher center of

Drive slowly. If you are driving

cle.

gravity decreases your steering

too fast in water, the water spray

• Check your brake condition once

control capacity and requires

can get into the engine com-

you are out of mud or water. Press

you to drive more slowly.

partment and wet the ignition

the brake pedal several times as

system, causing your vehicle to

you move slowly until you feel nor-

suddenly stall. If this happens

mal braking forces return.

• If you need to drive in water, stop

and your vehicle is in a tilted

• Shorten your scheduled mainte-

your vehicle, set your transfer to

position, your vehicle may roll

nance interval if you drive in off-

“4WD LOCK” and drive at less than

over.

road conditions such as sand,

8 km/h (5 mph).

mud or water (see “Maintenance

Schedule” in the Index). Always

wash you car thoroughly after off

road use, especially cleaning the

under side of the vehicle.

• Since the driving torque is always

applied to the 4 wheels the perfor-

mance of the 4WD vehicle is great-

ly affected by the condition of the

tires. Be sure to equip the vehicle

with four tires of the same size and

type.

• A full time four wheel drive vehi-

cle cannot be towed by an ordi-

nary tow truck. Make sure that

the vehicle is placed on a flat bed

truck for moving.

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Driving your vehicle

WARNING

WARNING - Jacked vehi-

WARNING - 4WD driving

cle

Your vehicle is equipped with

• Avoid high cornering speed.

tires designed to provide for

While the full-time 4WD vehicle

• Do not make quick steering

safe ride and handling capabili-

is being raised on a jack, never

wheel movements, such as

ty. Do not use a size and type of

start the engine or cause the

sharp lane changes or fast,

tire and wheel that is different

tires to rotate.

sharp turns.

from the one that is originally

There is the danger that rotating

• The risk of rollover is greatly

installed on your vehicle. It can

tires touching the ground could

increased if you lose control

affect the safety and perfor-

cause the vehicle to go off the

of your vehicle at high speed.

mance of your vehicle, which

jack and to jump forward.

• In a collision, an unbelted per-

could lead to handling failure or

son is significantly more likely

rollover and serious injury.

to die compared to a person

When replacing the tires, be

CAUTION - Mud or snow

wearing a seat belt.

sure to equip all four tires with

If one of the front or rear wheels

the tire and wheel of the same

• Loss of control often occurs if

begins to spin in mud, snow,

size, type, tread, brand and

two or more wheels drop off

etc. the vehicle can sometimes

load-carrying capacity. If you

the roadway and the driver

be driven out by depressing the

nevertheless decide to equip

over steers to re-enter the

accelerator pedal further; how-

your vehicle with any tire/wheel

roadway. In the event your

ever avoid running the engine

combination not recommended

vehicle leaves the roadway, do

continuously at high rpm

by Kia for off road driving, you

not steer sharply. Instead,

because doing so could dam-

should not use these tires for

slow down before pulling back

age the 4WD system.

highway driving.

into the travel lanes.

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Driving your vehicle -> Four wheel drive (4WD) for Your Kia Sportage SUV Second Generation (2004-2010)

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