Kia Optima Hybrid 2017 Owner's Manual page 169

Features of your vehicle
STEERING WHEEL
Electric power steering
Power steering uses the motor to as‐
sist you in steering the vehicle. If the
engine is off or if the power steering
system becomes inoperative, the vehi‐
cle may still be steered, but it will re‐
quire increased steering effort.
The motor driven power steering is
controlled by the power steering con‐
trol unit which senses the steering
wheel torque and vehicle speed to com‐
mand the motor.
The steering effort becomes heavier as
the vehicle s speed increases and be‐
comes lighter as the vehicle s speed de‐
creases for better control of the steer‐
ing wheel.
Should you notice any change in the ef‐
fort required to steer during normal ve‐
hicle operation, we recommend that
the system be checked by an author‐
ized Kia dealer.
NOTICE
The following symptoms may occur
during normal vehicle operation:
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5-40
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• The EPS warning light does not il‐
luminate.
• The steering effort is high imme‐
diately after turning the engine
start/stop button to the ON posi‐
tion.
This happens as the EPS system
performs the diagnostics. When
the diagnostics is completed, the
steering effort will return to its
normal condition.
• A click noise may be heard from
the EPS relay after the engine
start/stop button is in the ON po‐
sition.
• Motor noise may be heard when
the vehicle is at a stop or at a low
driving speed.
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• The steering effort can suddenly
increase if the operation of the
EPS system is stopped to prevent
serious accidents when the EPS
control unit detects a malfunction
of the EPS system by self-diagno‐
sis.
• The steering effort increases if
the steering wheel is rotated con‐
tinuously when the vehicle is not
in motion. However, after a few
minutes, it will return to its normal
conditions.
• If the Electronic Power Steering
System does not operate normal‐
ly, the warning light will illuminate
on the instrument cluster. The
steering wheel may become diffi‐
cult to control or operate abnor‐
mally. We recommend that you
contact an authorized Kia dealer.
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