LEMON Manuals: Even more car manuals for everyone: 1960-2025
Home >> Kia >> 2017 >> Sorento L >> Repair and Diagnosis >> Body & Frame >> Door Locks >> Immobilizer System >> Repair Procedures >> Teaching Procedures
April 5, 2026: LEMON Manuals is launched! Read the announcement.

Teaching Procedures

  1. Key Teaching Procedure

    Key teaching must be done after replacing a defective PCM (ECM) or when providing additional keys to the vehicle owner.

    The procedure starts with a PCM (ECM) request for vehicle specific data (PIN code: 6 digits) from the tester. The "virgin" PCM (ECM) stores the vehicle specific data and the key teaching can be started. The "learnt" PCM (ECM) compares the vehicle specific data from the tester with the stored data. If the data match, the teaching can proceed.

    If incorrect vehicle specific data is sent to the PCM (ECM) three times, the PCM (ECM) will reject the request of key teaching for one hour. This duration cannot be shortened by neither disconnecting the battery or any other manipulation. After reconnecting the battery, the delay timer will reset to one hour.

    The key teaching is done by ignition on with the key and additional tester commands. The PCM (ECM) stores the relevant data in the EEPROM and in the transponder. Then the PCM (ECM) runs the authentication required for confirmation of the teaching process. The successful programming is then confirmed by a message to the tester.

    If the key is already known to the PCM (ECM) from a previous teaching, the authentication will be accepted and the EEPROM data are updated.

    There is no changed transponder content. (This is impossible for a learnt transponder.)

    The attempt to repeatedly teach a key, which has already been taught during the same teaching cycle, is recognized by the PCM (ECM). This rejects the key and a message is sent to the tester.

    The PCM (ECM) rejects invalid keys, which are presented for teaching. A message is sent to the tester. The key can be invalid due to faults in the transponder or other reasons, which result from unsuccessful programming of data. If the PCM (ECM) detects different authenticators of a transponder and an PCM (ECM), the key is considered to be invalid.

    The maximum number of taught keys is 4.

    If an error occurs during the Immobilizer Service Menu, the PCM (ECM) status remains unchanged and a specific fault code is stored.

    If the PCM (ECM) status and the key status do not match for teaching of keys, the tester procedure will be stopped and a specific fault code will be stored at PCM (ECM).

    NOTE: When teaching the 1st key, Smartra registers at the same time.
    Fig 1: Antenna Coil Procedure Chart
    G12173762Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
    1. PCM (ECM) learnt status.
      Fig 2: Screen Display - PCM (ECM) Learning Status (1 Of 11)
      G12173763Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 3: Screen Display - PCM (ECM) Teaching Selected (2 Of 11)
      G12173764Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 4: Screen Display - PCM (ECM) Teaching Status (3 Of 11)
      G12173765Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 5: Screen Display - PCM (ECM) Teaching Status (4 Of 11)
      G12173766Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 6: Screen Display - PCM (ECM) Teaching Status (5 Of 11)
      G12173767Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 7: Screen Display - PCM (ECM) Teaching Status (6 Of 11)
      G12173768Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 8: Screen Display - PCM (ECM) Teaching Status (7 Of 11)
      G12173769Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 9: Screen Display - PCM (ECM) Teaching Status (8 Of 11)
      G12173770Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 10: Screen Display - PCM (ECM) Teaching Status (9 Of 11)
      G12173771Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 11: Screen Display - PCM (ECM) Teaching Status (10 Of 11)
      G12173772Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 12: Screen Display - PCM (ECM) Teaching Status (11 Of 11)
      G12173773Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
    2. PCM (ECM) virgin status.

      After replacing new "PCM (ECM)", GDS displays that PCM (ECM) is in virgin status in Key Teaching mode.

      "VIRGIN" status means that PCM (ECM) has never matched with any PIN code before.

  2. User Password Teaching Procedure

    The user password for limp home is taught at the service station. The owner of the vehicle can select a number with four digits.

    The user password teaching is only accepted by a "learnt" PCM (ECM). Before first teaching of user password to an PCM (ECM), the status of the password is "virgin" and No limp home function not available.

    The teaching is started by turning ignition on, with a valid key (learnt key) and sending the user password by tester. After successful teaching, the status of the user password changes from "virgin" to "learnt".

    The learnt user password can also be changed. This can be done if the user password status is "learnt" and the tester sends authorization of access, either the old user password or the vehicle specific data. After correct authorization, the PCM (ECM) requests for the new user password. The status remains "learnt" and the new user password will be valid for the next limp home mode.

    If wrong user passwords or wrong vehicle specific data is sent to the PCM (ECM) three times continuously or intermittently, the PCM (ECM) will reject the request to change the password for one hour. This duration cannot be shortened by disconnecting the battery or any other actions. After reconnecting the battery, the delay timer will reset to one hour.

    1. User password teaching
      Fig 13: Screen Display - Selecting Password Teaching (1 Of 5)
      G12173774Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 14: Screen Display - User Password Teaching (2 Of 5)
      G12173775Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 15: Screen Display - User Password Teaching (3 Of 5)
      G12173776Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 16: Screen Display - User Password Teaching (4 Of 5)
      G12173777Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 17: Screen Display - User Password Teaching (5 Of 5)
      G12173778Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.

      * When wrong password is entered, retry from the first step after 10 seconds.

    2. Changing user password
      Fig 18: Screen Display - Changing User Password (1 Of 5)
      G12173779Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 19: Screen Display - Changing User Password (2 Of 5)
      G12173780Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 20: Screen Display - Changing User Password (3 Of 5)
      G12173781Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 21: Screen Display - Changing User Password (4 Of 5)
      G12173782Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.
      Fig 22: Screen Display - Changing User Password (5 Of 5)
      G12173783Courtesy of KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC.