Using The Clutch - Kia Optima 2017 Owner's Manual

• If you've come to a complete stop
and it's hard to shift into 1 (First) or
R (Reverse), put the shift lever in
neutral position and release the
clutch. Press the clutch pedal back
down, and then shift into 1 (First) or
R (Reverse) gear position.
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 up‐
hill grade, while waiting for a traf‐
fic light, etc.
• Do not use the shift lever as a
handrest during driving, as this can
result in premature wear of the
transaxle shift forks.
• When operating the clutch pedal,
press the clutch pedal down fully.
If you don't press the clutch pedal
fully, the clutch may be damaged
or noise may occur.
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• To prevent possible damage to the
clutch system, do not start with
the 2nd (second) gear engaged ex‐
cept when you start on a slippery
road.
WARNING
• Before leaving the driver's seat, al‐
ways set the parking brake fully
and shut the engine off. Then
make sure the transaxle is shifted
into 1 (First) 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 pre‐
cautions are not followed in the
order identified.
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• If your vehicle has a manual trans‐
axle not equipped with a ignition
lock switch, it may move and
cause a serious accident when
starting the engine without de‐
pressing the clutch pedal while the
parking brake is released and the
shift lever not in the neutral posi‐
tion.
• Do not use the engine brake (shift‐
ing from a high gear to lower gear)
rapidly on slippery roads.
The vehicle may slip causing an ac‐
cident.

Using the clutch

The clutch pedal should be depressed
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 driving. This can
cause unnecessary wear. Do not parti‐
ally engage the clutch to hold the vehi‐
cle on an incline. This causes unneces‐
sary wear. Use the foot brake or park‐
ing brake to hold the vehicle on an in‐
cline. Do not operate the clutch pedal
rapidly and repeatedly.
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