Get Driving your vehicle -> Manual transaxle (if equipped) Guide for Kia Sportage SUV Third Generation (2011-2016)

Driving your vehicle

MANUAL TRANSAXLE (IF EQUIPPED)

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CAUTION

Manual transaxle operation

• When downshifting from fifth

gear to fourth gear, caution

should be taken not to inadver-

tently press the gear shift lever

sideways in such a manner that

second gear is engaged. Such a

drastic downshift may cause the

engine speed to increase to the

point that the tachometer will

enter the red-zone. Such over-

revving of the engine may possi-

bly cause engine damage.

• Do not downshift more than 2

gears or downshift the gear when

the engine is running at high

speed (5,000 RPM or higher).

Such a downshifting may damage

the engine.

The manual transaxle has 6 forward

gears.

This shift pattern is imprinted on the shift

knob. The transaxle is fully synchronized

in all forward gears so shifting to either a

higher or a lower gear is easily accom-

plished.

Press the clutch pedal down fully while

shifting, then release it slowly.

If your vehicle is equipped with an igni-

tion lock switch, the engine will not start

when starting the engine without

depressing the clutch pedal. (if equipped)

The gearshift lever must be returned to

the neutral position before shifting into R

(Reverse).

The ring (1) located immediately below

the shift knob must be pulled upward

while moving the shift lever to the R posi-

tion. (if equipped)

The shift lever can be moved without pulling

the R knob (1).

The R knob (1) must be pulled up while

moving the shift lever.

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Make sure the vehicle is completely

stopped before shifting into R (Reverse).

Never operate the engine with the

tachometer (rpm) in the red zone.

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• During cold weather, shifting may be

difficult until the transaxle lubricant has

warmed up. This is normal and not

harmful to the transaxle.

• If you've come to a complete stop and

it's hard to shift into 1st or R (Reverse),

put the shift lever in N (Neutral) posi-

tion and release the clutch. Press the

clutch pedal back down, and then shift

into 1st or R (Reverse) gear position.

Using the clutch

WARNING

The clutch should be pressed all the way

to the floor before shifting, then released

slowly.The clutch pedal should always be

fully released while driving. Do not rest

your foot on the clutch pedal while driv-

ing. This can cause unnecessary wear.

Do not partially engage the clutch to hold

the car on an incline. This causes unnec-

essary wear. Use the foot brake or park-

ing brake to hold the car on an incline. Do

not operate the clutch pedal rapidly and

repeatedly.

• Before leaving the driver’s seat,

always set the parking brake fully

and shut the engine off. Then

make sure the transaxle is shifted

into 1st gear when the vehicle is

parked on a level or uphill grade,

and shifted into R (Reverse) on a

downhill grade. Unexpected and

sudden vehicle movement can

occur if these precautions are not

followed in the order identified.

CAUTION

• To avoid premature clutch wear

and damage, do not drive with

your foot resting on the clutch

pedal. Also, don’t use the clutch

to hold the vehicle stopped on an

uphill grade, while waiting for a

traffic light, etc.

• If your vehicle has a manual

transaxle not equipped with a

ignition lock switch, it may move

and cause a serious accident

when starting the engine without

depressing the clutch pedal while

the parking brake is released and

the shift lever not in the N (neu-

tral) position.

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Downshifting

When you must slow down in heavy traf-

fic or while driving up steep hills, down-

shift before the engine starts to labor.

Downshifting reduces the chance of

stalling and gives better acceleration

when you again need to increase your

speed. When the vehicle is traveling

down steep hills, downshifting helps

maintain safe speed and prolongs brake

life.

• Do not use the shift lever as a

handrest during driving, as this

can result in premature wear of

the transaxle shift forks.

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• Exercise extreme caution when driving

on a slippery surface. Be especially

careful when braking, accelerating or

shifting gears. On a slippery surface,

an abrupt change in vehicle speed can

cause the drive wheels to lose traction

and the vehicle to go out of control.

Good driving practices

WARNING

• Always buckle-up! In a collision,

an unbelted occupant is signifi-

cantly more likely to be seriously

injured or killed than a properly

belted occupant.

• Never take the vehicle out of gear and

coast down a hill. This is extremely

hazardous. Always leave the vehicle in

gear.

• Don't "ride" the brakes. This can cause

them to overheat and malfunction.

Instead, when you are driving down a

long hill, slow down and shift to a lower

gear. When you do this, engine braking

will help slow down the vehicle.

• Avoid high speeds when corner-

ing or turning.

• Do not make quick steering

wheel movements, such as sharp

lane changes or fast, sharp turns.

• Slow down before shifting to a lower

gear. This will help avoid over-revving

the engine, which can cause damage.

• The risk of rollover is greatly

increased if you lose control of

your vehicle at highway speeds.

• Slow down when you encounter cross

winds. This gives you much better con-

trol of your vehicle.

• Be sure the vehicle is completely

stopped before you attempt to shift into

reverse. The transaxle can be dam-

aged if you do not.To shift into reverse,

depress the clutch, move the shift lever

to neutral, then shift to the reverse

position.

• Loss of control often occurs if

two or more wheels drop off the

roadway and the driver over-

steers to reenter the roadway.

• In the event your vehicle leaves

the roadway, do not steer sharply.

Instead, slow down before pulling

back into the travel lanes.

• Never exceed posted speed lim-

its.

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Driving your vehicle -> Manual transaxle (if equipped) for Your Kia Sportage SUV Third Generation (2011-2016)

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