Brake system
Power brakes
Your vehicle has power-assisted brakes
that adjust automatically through normal
usage.
In the event that the power-assisted brakes lose power because of a stalled engine or some other reason, you can still stop your vehicle by applying greater force to the brake pedal than you normally would. The stopping distance, however, will be longer.
When the engine is not running, the reserve brake power is partially depleted each time the brake pedal is applied. Do not pump the brake pedal when the power assist has been interrupted.
Pump the brake pedal only when necessary to maintain steering control on slippery surfaces.
In the event of brake failure If service brakes fail to operate while the vehicle is in motion, you can make an emergency stop with the parking brake.
The stopping distance, however, will be much greater than normal.
WARNING - Parking brake Pulling the parking brake while the vehicle is moving at normal speeds can cause a sudden loss of control of the vehicle. If you must use the parking brake to stop the vehicle, use great caution in applying the brake.
WARNING - Brakes
• Do not drive with your foot resting
on the brake pedal. This will
create abnormal high brake temperatures,
excessive brake lining
and pad wear, and increased
stopping distances.
• When descending a long or steep hill, shift to a lower gear and avoid continuous application of the brakes. Continuous brake application will cause the brakes to overheat and could result in a temporary loss of braking performance.
• Wet brakes may result in the vehicle not slowing down at the usual rate and pulling to one side when the brakes are applied. After going through water, apply the brakes lightly to regain smooth braking performance.
Disc brakes wear indicator Your vehicle has disc brakes.
When your brake pads are worn and it's time for new pads, you will hear a highpitched warning sound from your front brakes or rear brakes (if equipped). You may hear this sound come and go or it may occur whenever you depress the brake pedal.
Please remember that some driving conditions or climates may cause a brake squeal when you first apply (or lightly apply) the brakes. This is normal and does not indicate a problem with your brakes.
NOTICE
To avoid costly brake repairs, do not
continue to drive with worn brake pads.
WARNING - Brake wear
This brake wear warning sound
means your vehicle needs service.
If you ignore this audible warning,
you will eventually lose braking performance,
which could lead to a
serious accident.
CAUTION
Always replace brake pads as complete
front or rear axle sets to
ensure smooth brake performance.
Parking brake
Applying the parking brake
To engage the parking brake, first apply
the foot brake and then without pressing
the release button in, pull the parking
brake lever up as far as possible. In addition
it is recommended that when parking
the vehicle on a gradient, the shift lever
should be positioned in the appropriate
low gear on manual transaxle vehicles or
in the P (Park) position on automatic
transaxle vehicles.
CAUTION
Driving with the parking brake
applied will cause excessive brake
pad (or lining) and brake rotor wear.
Releasing the parking brake To release the parking brake, first apply the foot brake and pull up the parking brake lever slightly. Secondly, depress the release button and lower the parking brake lever while holding the button.
WARNING - Parking brake
• To prevent unintentional movement
when stopped and leaving
the vehicle, do not use the
gearshift lever in place of the
parking brake. Set the parking
brake AND make sure the
gearshift lever is securely positioned
in 1st (First) gear or R
(Reverse) for manual transaxle
equipped vehicles and in P (Park)
for automatic transaxle equipped
vehicles.
• Never allow a person who is unfamiliar
with the vehicle or children
to touch the parking brake. If the
parking brake is released unintentionally,
serious injury may
occur.
Check the brake warning light by turning the ignition switch ON (do not start the engine). This light will be illuminated when the parking brake is applied with the ignition switch in the START or ON position.
Before driving, be sure the parking brake is fully released and the brake warning light is off.
If the brake warning light remains on after the parking brake is released, there may be a malfunction in the brake system.
Immediate attention is necessary.
If at all possible, cease driving the vehicle immediately. If that is not possible, use extreme caution while operating the vehicle and only continue to drive the vehicle until you can reach a safe location or repair shop.
Parking on curbed streets • When parking your vehicle on an uphill grade, park as close to the curb as possible and turn the front wheels away from the curb so that the front wheels will contact the curb if the vehicle moves backward.
• When parking your vehicle on a downhill grade, park as close to the curb as possible and turn the front wheels toward the curb so that the front wheels will contact the curb if the vehicle moves forward.
WARNING - ABS Brakes
Your ABS is not a substitute for
good driving judgement. You can
still have an accident. In fact, your
ABS will probably not be able to
prevent an accident in the following
driving conditions:
• Dangerous driving, such as
neglecting safety precautions,
speeding, or driving too close to
the vehicle in front of you.
• Driving at high speed in situations providing considerably less traction, such as wet conditions where hydroplaning could occur.
• Driving too fast on poor road surfaces.
The ABS is designed to
improve maximum braking effectiveness
on typical highways and
roads in good condition. On poor
road surfaces, the ABS may actually
reduce braking effectiveness.
Anti-lock brake system (ABS)
(if equipped)
The ABS continuously senses the speed
of the wheels. If the wheels are going to
lock, the ABS repeatedly modulates the
hydraulic brake pressure to the wheels.
When you apply your brakes under conditions which may lock the wheels, you may hear a “tik-tik’’ sound from the brakes, or feel a corresponding sensation in the brake pedal. This is normal and it means your ABS is active.
In order to obtain the maximum benefit from your ABS in an emergency situation, do not attempt to modulate your brake pressure and do not try to pump your brakes. Press your brake pedal as hard as possible or as hard as the situation warrants and allow the ABS to control the force being delivered to the brakes.
• Even with the anti-lock brake system, your vehicle still requires sufficient stopping distance. Always maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you.
• Always slow down when cornering.
The anti-lock brake system cannot prevent accidents resulting from excessive speeds.
• On loose or uneven road surfaces, operation of the anti-lock brake system may result in a longer stopping distance than for vehicles equipped with a conventional brake system.
NOTICE
• If the ABS warning light is on and
stays on, you may have a problem
with the ABS. In this case, however,
your regular brakes will work normally.
• The ABS warning light will stay on for approximately 3 seconds after the ignition switch is ON. During that time, the ABS will go through selfdiagnosis and the light will go off if everything is normal. If the light stays on, you may have a problem with your ABS. Contact an authorized Kia dealer as soon as possible.
NOTICE
• When you drive on a road having
poor traction, such as an icy road, and
operate your brakes continuously, the
ABS will be active continuously and
the ABS warning light may illuminate.
Pull your car over to a safe place and stop the engine.
• Restart the engine. If the ABS warning light is off, then your ABS is normal.
Otherwise, you may have a problem with the ABS. Contact an authorized Kia dealer as soon as possible.
NOTICE
When you jump start your vehicle
because of a drained battery, the engine
may not run as smoothly and the ABS
warning light may turn on at the same
time. This happens because of the low
battery voltage. It does not mean your
ABS is malfunctioning.
• Do not pump your brakes!
• Have the battery recharged before driving the vehicle.
See also:
Standard Kia Safety Features
Kia Soul continues to offer the same high level of standard safety equipment
as all Kia vehicles, with features such as front seat active headrests, dual
front advanced airbags, front seat-mounted ...
Emission control system
The emission control system of your
vehicle is covered by a written limited
warranty. Please see the warranty information
contained in the Warranty &
Maintenance booklet in your vehicle.
Your ...
Windshield defrosting and defogging
WARNING: - Windshield
heating.
Do not use the or
position
during cooling operation in
extremely humid weather. The difference
between the temperature of
the outside air and that of the winds ...