2003 Hyundai Accent brakes

FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI 1- 35
B260H03A-AAT
PARKING BRAKE/
LOW BRAKE FLUID LEVEL
WARNING LIGHT
CAUTION:
If you suspect brake trouble, have your brakes
checked by a Hyundai dealer as soon as pos-
sible. Driving your car with a problem in either
the brake electrical system or brake hydraulic
system is dangerous, and could result in se-
rious injury or death.
Warning Light Operation
The parking brake/brake fluid level warning light
should come on when the parking brake is
applied and the ignition switch is turned to "ON"
or "START". After the engine is started, the light
should go out when the parking brake is re-
leased.
If the parking brake is not applied, the warning
light should come on when the ignition switch is
turned to "ON" or "START", then go out when
the engine starts. If the light comes on at any
other time, you should slow the vehicle and
bring it to a complete stop in a safe location off
the roadway.
The brake fluid level warning light indicates
that the brake fluid level in the brake master
cylinder is low and brake fluid conforming to
DOT 3 or DOT 4 specifications should be
added. After adding fluid, if no other trouble is
!
B260J01A-AAT
CHARGING SYSTEM WARNING
LIGHT
The charging system warning light should come
on when the ignition is turned on, then go out
when the engine is running. If the light stays on
while the engine is running, there is a malfunc-
tion in the electrical charging system. If the light
comes on while you are driving, stop, turn off the
engine and check under the hood. First, make
certain the generator drive belt is in place. If it is,
check the tension of the belt. Do this as shown
on page 6-17 by pushing down on the center
of the belt. And then have the system checked
by your Hyundai dealer.
B260M01A-AAT
LOW FUEL LEVEL WARNING
LIGHT
The low fuel level warning light comes on when
the fuel tank is approaching empty. When it
comes on, you should add fuel as soon as
possible. Driving with the fuel level warning light
on or with the fuel level below "E" can cause the
engine to misfire and damage the catalytic con-
verter. found, the car should be immediately and
carefully driven to a Hyundai dealer for
inspection. If further trouble is experienced,
the vehicle should not be driven at all but taken
to a dealer by a professional towing service.
Your Hyundai is equipped with dual-diagonal
braking systems. This means you still have
braking on two wheels even if one of the dual
systems should fail. With only one of the dual
systems working, more than normal pedal travel
and greater pedal pressure are required to stop
the car. Also, the car will not stop in as short a
distance with only a portion of the brake system
working. If the brakes fail while you are driving,
shift to a lower gear for additional engine braking
and stop the car as soon as it is safe to do so.
B260L02HP-GAT
DOOR AJAR WARNING LIGHT
AND CHIME (If Installed)
The door ajar warning light warns you that a
door is not completely closed and the chime
warns you that the key is in the ignition switch.
NOTE :The warning chime only sounds whenever
the key is in the ignition switch and the driver's
side front door is open simultaneously. The
chime sounds until the key is removed from
the ignition switch or the driver's side front
door is closed.

FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI 1- 51
B530A01A-AAT
PARKING BRAKE
Always engage the parking brake before leaving
the car. This also turns on the parking brake
indicator light when the key is in the "ON" or
"START" position. Before driving away, be sure
that the parking brake is fully released and the
indicator light is off.
o To engage the parking brake, pull the lever
up as far as possible.
o To release the parking brake, pull up the
lever and press the thumb button. Then,
while holding the button in, lower the brake
lever.
HLC3024B550A01S-GAT
HIGH-MOUNTED REAR STOP LIGHT
(If Installed)
In addition to the lower-mounted rear stop lights
on either side of the car, the high mounted rear
stop light in the center of the rear window or
inserted in the rear spoiler also lights when the
brakes are applied.
HLC2124HLC2017 B570A03A-GAT
HOOD RELEASE
1 . Pull the release knob to unlatch the hood.
2. Push the safety catch lever to the left and lift
the hood.
3. Hold the hood open with the support rod.
Before closing the hood, return the support rod
to its clip to prevent it from rattling. Lower the
hood until it is about 1 ft. (30 cm) above the
closed position and let it drop. Make sure that it
locks into place.

2- 6 DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
WARNING:o The risk of rollover is greatly increased if
you lose control of your vehicle at high-
way speeds.
o Loss of control often occurs if two or
more wheels drop off the roadway and
the driver oversteers to reenter the road-
way.
o In the event your vehicle leaves the road-
way, do not steer sharply. Instead, slow
down before pulling back into the travel
lanes.
o In a collision crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seatbelt.
The shift points as shown above are recom-
mended for optimum fuel economy and perform-
ance.
C070E03A-AAT
RECOMMENDED SHIFT POINTS
C070D02A-AATGood Driving Practices
o Never take the car out of gear and coast
down a hill. This is extremely hazardous.
Always leave the car in gear.
o Don't "ride" the brakes. This can cause them
to overheat and malfunction. Instead, when
you are driving down a long hill, slow down
and shift to a lower gear. When you do this,
engine braking will help slow the car.
o Slow down before shifting to a lower gear.
This will help avoid over-revving the engine,
which can cause damage.
o Slow down when you encounter cross winds.
This gives you much better control of your
car.
o Be sure the car is completely stopped before
you attempt to shift into reverse. The transaxle
can be damaged if you do not. To shift into
reverse, depress the clutch, move the shift
lever to neutral, wait three seconds, then
shift to the reverse position.
o Exercise extreme caution when driving on a
slippery surface. Be especially careful when
braking, accelerating or shifting gears. On a
slippery surface, an abrupt change in vehicle
speed can cause the drive wheels to lose
traction and the vehicle to go out of control.
C070B01A-AATUsing the Clutch
The clutch should be pressed all the way to the
floor before shifting, then released slowly. Do
not rest your foot on the clutch pedal while
driving. This can cause unnecessary wear.
Do not partially engage the clutch to hold the car
on an incline. This causes unnecessary wear.
Use the parking brake to hold the car on an
incline. Do not operate the clutch pedal rapidly
and repeatedly.
Shift
from-toRecommended
mph(km/h)
15 (20)
25 (40)
35 (55)
45 (75) 1-2
2-3
3-4
4-5
!

2- 8 DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
C090P01A-AATOverdrive Switch
When the overdrive switch is turned on, the
transaxle will automatically upshift to the sec-
ond, third and overdrive gears. When the over-
drive switch is turned off, the transaxle will not
upshift to the overdrive gear. For normal driving,
the selector lever should be left in the "D"
position and the overdrive switch turned on.
If you need to accelerate rapidly, press the
accelerator pedal all the way to the floor. The
transaxle will automatically shift to a lower gear,
depending on the vehicle speed and load.
C090G01A-AAT
o L (Low gear):
Use for driving up a very steep grade or for
engine braking when descending steep hills.
When downshifting to "L", the transaxle will
temporarily remain in second gear until the ve-
hicle has slowed enough for low gear to engage.
Do not exceed 31 mph (50 km/h) in low gear.
C090I01A-AAT C090F01A-AAT
o 2 (Second gear):
Use for driving on a slippery road, hill climbing
or engine braking downhill. "2" automatically
shifts between first and second gears.
This means that no shift-up to 3rd gear is per-
formed. However, the shift-up to third gear is
done when the car speed exceeds a certain
value to prevent the engine from over-revving.
Manually move the selector to "D" returning to
normal driving condition.
C090H01A-AATNOTE:
o For smooth and safe operation, depress
the brake pedal when shifting from "Neu-
tral" position or "Park" position to a for-
ward or reverse gear.
o The ignition key must be in the "ON"
position and the brake pedal fully de-
pressed in order to move the shift lever
from the "P" (Park) position to any of the
other positions.o It is always possible to shift from "R",
"N", "D", "2", "L" position to "P" posi-
tion.
CAUTION:o Shift into "R" and "P" position only when
the vehicle has completely stopped.
o Do not accelerate the engine in reverse or
any of the forward positions with the
brakes applied.
o Always apply the footbrake when shifting
from "P" or "N", to "R", "D", "2" or "L"
position.
o Do not use the "P" (Park) position in
place of the parking brake. Always set
the parking brake, shift the transaxle into
"P" (Park) position and turn off the igni-
tion when you leave the vehicle, even
momentarily. Never leave the vehicle un-
attended while the engine is running.
o Check the automatic transaxle fluid level
regularly, and add fluid as necessary.
!
C090P01A

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI 2- 9
o Turn the overdrive switch on for good fuel
economy and smooth driving. If engine brak-
ing is needed in the "D" range or if repeated
upshifting and downshifting between the 3rd
and 4th gear is needed when climbing a
gentle slope, it is recommended that the
overdrive switch be turned off. Turn the over-
drive switch back on immediately afterward.C090N02A-AATGood Driving Practices
o Never move the gear selector lever from "P"
or "N" to any other position with the acceler-
ator pedal depressed.
o Never move the gear selector lever into "P"
when the vehicle is in motion.
o Be sure the car is completely stopped before
you attempt to shift into "R".
o Never take the car out of gear and coast
down a hill. This may be extremely hazard-
ous. Always leave the car in gear when
moving.
o Do not "ride" the brakes. This can cause
them to overheat and malfunction. Instead,
when you are driving down a long hill, slow
down and shift to a lower gear. When you do
this, engine braking will help slow the car.
o Slow down before shifting to a lower gear.
Otherwise, the lower gear may not be en-
gaged.
o Always use the parking brake. Do not de-
pend on placing the transaxle in "P" to keep
the car from moving.
o Exercise extreme caution when driving on a
slippery surface. Be especially careful when
braking, accelerating or shifting gears. On a
slippery surface, an abrupt change in vehicle
speed can cause the drive wheels to lose
traction and the vehicle to go out of control. If you cannot move the shift lever from the "P"
(Park) position to any other position with the
brake pedal fully depressed and the ignition key
in the "ON" position, remove the cap on the
console with a thin object such as a pencil, push
the shift lock release button down. Then, with
the brake pedal depressed, move the shift lever
to the desired position, then the shift lock re-
lease button will automatically return to its origi-
nal position after shifting from the "P" (Park)
position. Then, reinstall the cap.
Have the system checked by your Hyundai
dealer.
JC110J4-ASHIFT LOCK RELEASE (If Installed)
C090J01A
WARNING:o The risk of rollover is greatly increased if
you lose control of your vehicle at high-
way speeds.
o Loss of control often occurs if two or
more wheels drop off the roadway and
the driver oversteers to reenter the road-
way.
o In the event your vehicle leaves the road-
way, do not steer sharply. Instead, slow
down before pulling back into the travel
lanes.
o In a collision crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seatbelt.
!

2- 10 DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
C130A01A-AATGOOD BRAKING PRACTICES
WARNING:
Nothing should be carried on top of the shelf
panel behind the rear seat. If there were an
accident or a sudden stop, such objects
could move forward and cause damage to
the vehicle or injure the occupants.
!
o After being parked, check to be sure the
parking brake is not engaged and that the
parking brake indicator light is out before
driving away.
o Driving through water may get the brakes
wet. They can also get wet when the car is
washed. Wet brakes can be dangerous! Your
car will not stop as quickly if the brakes are
wet. Wet brakes may cause the car to pull to
one side. To dry the brakes, apply the brakes
lightly until the braking action returns to nor-
mal, taking care to keep the car under con-
trol at all times. If the braking action does not
return to normal, stop as soon as it is safe to
do so and call your Hyundai dealer for assis-
tance.
o Don't coast down hills with the car out of
gear. This is extremely hazardous. Keep the
car in gear at all times, use the brakes to
slow down, then shift to a lower gear so that
engine braking will help you maintain a safe
speed.o Don't "ride" the brake pedal. Resting your
foot on the brake pedal while driving can be
dangerous because it can result in the brakes
overheating and losing their effectiveness. It
also increases the wear of the brake compo-
nents.
o If a tire goes flat while you are driving, apply
the brakes gently and keep the car pointed
straight ahead while you slow down. When
you are moving slowly enough for it to be
safe to do so, pull off the road and stop in a
safe place.
o If your car is equipped with an automatic
transaxle, don't let your car creep forward.
To avoid creeping forward, keep your foot on
the brake pedal when the car is stopped.
o Use caution when parking on a hill. Engage
the parking brake and place the gear selec-
tor lever in "P" (automatic transaxle) or in
first or reverse gear (manual transaxle). If
your car is facing downhill, turn the front
wheels into the curb to help keep the car
from rolling. If your car is facing uphill, turn
the front wheels away from the curb to help
keep the car from rolling. If there is no curb
or if it is required by other conditions to keep
the car from rolling, block the wheels.
o Under some conditions your parking brake
can freeze in the engaged position. This is
most likely to happen when there is an accu-
mulation of snow or ice around or near the
rear brakes or if the brakes are wet. If there
is a risk that the parking brake may freeze,apply it only temporarily while you put the
gear selector lever in "P" (automatic) or in
first or reverse gear (manual transaxle) and
block the rear wheels so the car cannot roll.
Then release the parking brake.
o Do not hold the vehicle on the upgrade with
the accelerator pedal. This can cause the
transmission to overheat. Always use the
brake pedal or parking brake.C120A02A-AAT
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
(If Installed)
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) is designed
to prevent wheel lock-up during sudden braking
or on hazardous road surfaces. The ABS con-
trol module monitors the wheel speed and con-
trols the pressure applied to each brake. Thus,
in emergency situations or on slick roads, ABS
will increase vehicle control during braking.
NOTE:During ABS operation, a slight pulsation
may be felt in the brake pedal when the
brakes are applied. Also, a noise may be
heard in the engine compartment while brak-
ing. These conditions are normal and indi-
cate that the anti-lock brake system is func-
tioning properly.

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI 2- 11
WARNING:ABS will not prevent accidents due to
improper or dangerous driving maneu-
vers. Even though vehicle control is im-
proved during emergency braking, always
maintain a safe distance between you and
objects ahead. Vehicle speeds should al-
ways be reduced during extreme road
conditions.
The braking distance for cars equipped
with an anti-lock braking system may be
longer than for those without it in the
following road conditions.
o Driving on rough, gravel or snow-cov-
ered roads.
o Driving with tire chains installed.
o Driving on roads where the road surface
is pitted or has different surface height.
These roads should be driven at reduced
speeds. The safety features of an ABS
equipped vehicle should not be tested by
high speed driving or cornering. This could
endanger the safety of yourself or others.
!
C140A01A-AATDRIVING FOR ECONOMY
You can save fuel and get more miles from your
car if you follow these suggestions:
o Drive smoothly. Accelerate at a moderate
rate. Don't make "jack-rabbit" starts or full-
throttle shifts and maintain a steady cruising
speed. Don't race between stoplights. Try to
adjust your speed to that of the other traffic
so you don't have to change speeds unnec-
essarily. Avoid heavy traffic whenever possi-
ble. Always maintain a safe distance from
other vehicles so you can avoid unneces-
sary braking. This also reduces brake wear.
o Drive at a moderate speed. The faster you
drive, the more fuel your car uses. Driving at
a moderate speed, especially on the high-
way, is one of the most effective ways to
reduce fuel consumption.
o Don't "ride" the brake or clutch pedal. This
can increase fuel consumption and also in-
crease wear on these components. In addi-
tion, driving with your foot resting on the
brake pedal may cause the brakes to over-
heat, which reduces their effectiveness and
may lead to more serious consequences.
o Take care of your tires. Keep them inflated to
the recommended pressure. Incorrect infla-
tion, either too much or too little, results in
unnecessary tire wear. Check the tire pres-
sures at least once a month.o Be sure that the wheels are aligned correct-
ly. Improper alignment can result from hitting
curbs or driving too fast over irregular surfac-
es. Poor alignment causes faster tire wear
and may also result in other problems as well
as greater fuel consumption.
o Keep your car in good condition. For better
fuel economy and reduced maintenance
costs, maintain your car in accordance with
the maintenance schedule in Section 5. If
you drive your car in severe conditions, more
frequent maintenance is required (see Sec-
tion 5 for details).
o Keep your car clean. For maximum service,
your Hyundai should be kept clean and free
of corrosive materials. It is especially impor-
tant that mud, dirt, ice, etc. not be allowed to
accumulate on the underside of the car. This
extra weight can result in increased fuel
consumption and also contribute to corro-
sion.
o Travel lightly. Don't carry unnecessary weight
in your car. Weight reduces fuel economy.
o Don't let the engine idle longer than neces-
sary. If you are waiting (and not in traffic),
turn off your engine and restart only when
you're ready to go.
o Remember, your Hyundai does not require
extended warm-up. As soon as the engine is
running smoothly, you can drive away. In
very cold weather, however, give your en-
gine a slightly longer warm-up period.

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI 2- 13
C160H01A-AAT
Use Approved Anti-Freeze in Window
Washer System
To keep the water in the window washer system
from freezing, add an approved anti-freeze so-
lution in accordance with instructions on the
container. Window washer anti-freeze is avail-
able from Hyundai dealers and most auto parts
outlets. Do not use engine coolant or other types
of anti-freeze as these may damage the finish.
C160F01A-AATCheck Spark Plugs and Ignition
System
Inspect your spark plugs as described in Sec-
tion 6 and replace them if necessary. Also
check all ignition wiring and components to be
sure they are not cracked, worn or damaged in
any way.
C160G01A-AAT
To Keep Locks from Freezing
To keep the locks from freezing, squirt an ap-
proved de-icer fluid or glycerine into the key
opening. If a lock is covered with ice, squirt it
with an approved de-icing fluid to remove the
ice. If the lock is frozen internally, you may be
able to thaw it out by using a heated key. Handle
the heated key with care to avoid burning the
fingers.
C160I01A-AATDon't Let Your Parking Brake Freeze
Under some conditions your parking brake can
freeze in the engaged position. This is most
likely to happen when there is an accumulation
of snow or ice around or near the rear brakes or
if the brakes are wet. If you think the parking
brake may freeze, apply it only temporarily while
you put the gear selector lever in "P" (automatic)
or in first or reverse gear (manual transaxle) and
block the rear wheels so the car cannot roll.
Then release the parking brake.
C160K01A-AATCarry Emergency Equipment
Depending on the severity of the weather where
you drive your car, you should carry appropriate
emergency equipment. Some of the items you
may want to carry include tire chains, tow straps
or chains, flashlight, emergency flares, sand, a
shovel, jumper cables, a window scraper, gloves,
ground cloth, coveralls, a blanket, etc.
C160J01A-AAT
Don't Let Ice and Snow Accumulate
Underneath
Under some conditions, snow and ice can build
up under the fenders and interfere with the
steering. When driving in severe winter condi-
tions where this may happen, you should peri-
odically check underneath the car to be sure the
movement of the front wheels and the steering
components is not obstructed.
C170A01A-AAT
HIGHER SPEED MOTORING
Pre-Trip Inspections
1. Tires:
Adjust the tire inflation pressures for highway
driving. Low tire inflation pressures will result in
overheating and possible failure of the tires.
Avoid using worn or damaged tires which may
result in reduced traction or tire failure.
NOTE:Never exceed the maximum tire inflation pres-
sure shown on the tires.
2. Fuel, engine coolant and engine oil:
High speed travel consumes 1.5 times more fuel
than urban motoring. Do not forget to check both
engine coolant and engine oil.
3. Drive belt:
A loose or damaged drive belt may result in
overheating of the engine.