Kia Sportage: Driving on grades
Reduce the speed and shift to a lower
gear before you start down a long or
steep downgrade. If you don't shift
down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get hot
and no longer operate efficiently.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and
reduce your speed to around 45 mph
(70 km/h) to reduce the possibility of
engine and transmission overheating.
CAUTION
- When towing a trailer on steep grades
(in excess of 6 %) pay close attention
to the engine coolant temperature
gauge to ensure the engine does not
overheat. If the needle of the coolant
temperature gauge moves across the
dial towards "H (HOT) (or 260 ºF/130
ºC)", pull over and stop as soon as it is
safe to do so, and allow the engine to
idle until it cools down. You may proceed once the engine has cooled
sufficiently.
- You must decide the driving speed
depending on trailer weight and uphill
grade to reduce the possibility of
engine and transmission overheating.
Parking on hills
Generally, if you have a trailer attached
to your vehicle, you should not park your
vehicle on a hill. People can be seriously
or fatally injured, and both your vehicle
and the trailer can be damaged if unexpectedly
roll down hill.
WARNING
Parking on a hill
Parking your vehicle on a hill with a
trailer attached could cause serious
injury or death, should the trailer break
loose.
However, if you ever have to park your
trailer on a hill, here's how to do it:
- Pull the vehicle into the parking space.
Turn the steering wheel in the direction
of the curb (right if headed down
hill, left if headed up hill).
- Set the parking brake and shut off the
vehicle.
- Place chocks under the trailer wheels
on the down hill side of the wheels.
- Start the vehicle, hold the brakes, shift
to neutral, release the parking brake
and slowly release the brakes until the
trailer chocks absorb the load.
- Reapply the brakes, reapply the parking
brake.
- Shut off the vehicle and release the
vehicle brakes but leave the parking
brake set.
WARNING
Parking brake
It can be dangerous to get out of your
vehicle if the parking brake is not firmly
set.
If you have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You or others
could be seriously or fatally injured.
When you are ready to leave
after parking on a hill
- Apply your brakes and hold the brake
pedal down while you:
- Start your engine;
- Shift into gear; and
- Release the parking brake
- Slowly remove your foot from the
brake pedal.
- Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of
the chocks.
- Stop and have someone pick up and
store the chocks.
READ NEXT:
Your vehicle will need service more
often when you regularly pull a trailer.
Important items to pay particular attention
to include engine oil, axle lubricant
and cooling system fluid. Brake con
The vehicle load limit is displayed on
the tire and loading information
label on the driver's door.
Tire and loading information
label
The label located on the driver's
door sill gives t
Locate the statement "The combined
weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX
kg or XXX lbs.'' on your vehicle's
placard.
Determine the combined weight
SEE MORE:
Locate the statement "The combined
weight of occupants and
cargo should never exceed XXX
kg or XXX lbs.'' on your vehicle's
placard.
Determine the combined weight
of the driver and passengers that
will be riding in your vehicle.
Subtract the combined w
Setting features
Forward Safety
Driver Assistance
Forward Safety
Active Assist
Warning Only
Off
With the vehicle on, select Settings?
Driver Assistance ? Forward Safety
from the User Settings menu or select
Settings ? Vehicle ?Driver Assistance
? Forward Safety from t