Kia Sportage: Maintenance when trailer towing
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 condition
is another important item to frequently
check. Each item is covered in
this manual, and the Index will help you
find them quickly. If you're trailering, it's
a good idea to review these sections
before you start your trip.
Don't forget to also maintain your trailer
and hitch. Follow the maintenance
schedule that accompanied your trailer
and check it periodically. Preferably,
conduct the check at the start of each day's driving. Most importantly, all
hitch
nuts and bolts should be tight.
CAUTION
- Due to higher load during trailer
usage, overheating might occur in hot
days or during uphill driving. If the
coolant gauge indicates overheating,
switch off the A/C and stop the vehicle
in a safe area to cool down the
engine.
- When towing, check the transmission
fluid more frequently.
- If your vehicle is not equipped with an
air conditioner, you should install a
condenser fan to improve engine performance
when towing a trailer.
If you do decide to pull a trailer
Here are some important points if you
decide to pull a trailer:
- Consider using a sway control. You
can ask a hitch dealer about sway
control.
- Do not do any towing with your vehicle
during its first 1,200 miles (2,000
km) in order to allow the engine to
properly break in. Failure to heed this
caution may result in serious engine
or transmission damage.
- When towing a trailer, consult an
authorized Kia dealer on additional
requirements such as a towing kit, etc.
- Always drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed (less than 60 mph (100 km/
h)).
- On a long uphill grade, do not exceed
45 mph (70 km/h) or the posted towing
speed limit, whichever is lower.
- The chart contains important considerations
that have to do with weight:
![If you do decide to pull a trailer](images/books/1538/15/index.71.jpg)
Weight of the trailer
![Weight of the trailer](images/books/1538/15/index.72.jpg)
- Tongue Load
- Total Trailer Weight
What is the maximum safe weight of a
trailer? It should never weigh more than
the maximum trailer weight with trailer
brakes. But even that can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use your
trailer. For example, speed, altitude, road
grades, outside temperature and how
often your vehicle is used to pull a trailer
are all important. The ideal trailer weight
can also depend on any special equipment
that you have on your vehicle.
Weight of the trailer tongue
![Weight of the trailer tongue](images/books/1538/15/index.73.jpg)
- Gross Axle Weight
- Gross Vehicle Weight
The tongue load of any trailer is an
important weight to measure because it
affects the total gross vehicle weight
(GVW) of your vehicle. This weight
includes the curb weight of the vehicle,
any cargo you may carry in it, and the
people who will be riding in the vehicle.
And if you tow a trailer, you must add
the tongue load to the GVW because
your vehicle will also be carrying that
weight.
The trailer tongue should weigh a maximum
of 10 % of the total loaded trailer
weight, within the limits of the maximum
trailer tongue load permissible.
After you've loaded your trailer, weigh
the trailer and then the tongue, separately,
to see if the weights are proper. If
they aren't, you may be able to correct
them simply by moving some items
around in the trailer.
WARNING
Trailer
- Never load a trailer with more weight
in the rear than in the front. The front
should be loaded with approximately
60% of the total trailer load; the rear
should be loaded with approximately
40% of the total trailer load.
- Never exceed the maximum weight
limits of the trailer or trailer towing
equipment. Improper loading can
result in damage to your vehicle and/
or personal injury. Check weights and
loading at a commercial scale or highway
patrol office equipped with
scales.
- An improperly loaded trailer can
cause loss of vehicle control.
READ NEXT:
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
The certification label is located on
the driver's door sill at the center pillar.
This label shows the maximum
allowable weight of the fully loaded
vehicle. This is called the GVWR
(Gros
SEE MORE:
Speed Limit indicator
Set speed
You can set the speed limit when you do
not want to drive over a specific speed.
If you drive over the preset speed limit,
the warning function operates (set
speed limit will blink, and chime will
sound) until the vehicle speed returns
within the s
Description and Operation
Description
The output speed sensor is a vital unit that measures the rate of rotation of
the transaxle's turbine shaft and output
shaft, and delivers the readings to the TCM. The sensor provides critical input
data that's used in feedback control,
dam