Overheating

If your temperature gauge indicates overheating, if you experience a loss of power, or if you hear a loud knocking or pinging noise, the engine has probably overheated. Should any of these symptoms occur, use the following procedure: 1. Turn on the hazard warning flasher, then drive to the nearest safe location and stop your vehicle; set the automatic transaxle in P (Park), or shift the manual transaxle to N (Neutral) and apply the parking brake.

2. Make sure the air conditioner is off.

3. If coolant or steam is boiling out of the radiator, stop the engine and call an authorized Kia dealer for assistance.

If coolant is not boiling out, allow the engine to idle and open the hood to permit the engine to cool gradually.

If the temperature does not go down with the engine idling, stop the engine and allow sufficient time for it to cool.

4. The coolant level should then be checked. If the level in the reservoir is low, look for leaks at the radiator hoses and connections, heater hoses and connections, radiator, and water pump. If you find a major leak or another problem that may have caused the engine to overheat, do not operate the engine until it has been corrected. Call an authorized Kia dealer for assistance.

If you do not find a leak or other problem, carefully add coolant to the reservoir.

WARNING - Removing
radiator cap
Do not remove the radiator cap when the engine and radiator are hot. Scalding hot coolant and steam may blow out under pressure. This could cause serious injury.

If the engine frequently overheats, have the cooling system checked and repaired by an authorized Kia dealer.

    See also:

    Appearance care
    Exterior care Exterior general caution It is very important to follow the label directions when using any chemical cleaner or polish. Read all warning and caution statements that appear on the l ...

    Road warning
    Hazard warning flasher The hazard warning flasher serves as a warning to other drivers to exercise extreme caution when approaching, overtaking, or passing your vehicle. It should be used whene ...

    Powertrains and Performance
    All Sorento trim levels come standard with a 2.4-liter four-cylinder engine rated at 175 horsepower and 169 pound-feet of torque. The base model has a six-speed manual transmission, while the othe ...