2003 Hyundai Sonata engine

6- 4 DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
G020C01A-AATVehicle Interior
The following should be checked each time
when the vehicle is driven:
o Lights operation
o Windshield wiper operation
o Horn operation
o Defroster, heating system operation (and air
conditioning, if installed)
o Steering operation and condition
o Mirror condition and operation
o Turn signal operation
o Accelerator pedal operation
o Brake operation, including parking brake
o Manual transaxle operation, including clutch
operation
o Automatic transaxle operation, including
"Park" mechanism operation
o Seat control condition and operation
o Seat belt condition and operation
o Sunvisor operation
If you notice anything that does not operate
correctly or appears to be functioning incor-
rectly, inspect it carefully and seek assistance
from your Hyundai dealer if service is needed.
G020B01A-AATVehicle Exterior
The following should be checked monthly:
o Overall appearance and condition
o Air filter condition
o Wheel condition and wheel nut torque
o Exhaust system condition
o Light condition and operation
o Windshield glass condition
o Wiper blade condition
o Paint condition and body corrosion
o Fluid leaks
o Door and hood lock condition
o Tire pressure and condition (including spare
tire)
G020A01A-AATGENERAL CHECKS
Engine Compartment
The following should be checked regularly:
o Engine oil level and condition
o Transaxle fluid level and condition
o Brake fluid level
o Clutch fluid level
o Engine coolant level
o Windshield washer fluid level
o Accessory drive belt condition
o Engine Coolant hose condition
o Fluid leaks (on or below components)
o Power steering fluid level
o Battery condition

DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE 6- 5
G030A01A-AATCHECKING THE ENGINE OIL
Engine oil is essential to the performance and
service of the engine. It is suggested that you
check the oil level at least once a week in normal
use and more often if you are on a trip or driving
in severe conditions.
G030C02A-AATTo Check the Oil LevelG030B01A-AATRecommended Oil
SH, SG or SG/CD (API) multi-grade and fuel
efficient oil is recommended.Before checking the oil, warm up the engine to
the normal operating temperature and be sure
your car is parked on level ground. Turn the
engine off.
Wait five minutes, then remove the dipstick,
wipe it off, fully reinsert the dipstick and withdraw
it again. Then note the highest level the oil has
reached on the dipstick. It should be between
the upper ("F") and lower ("L") range.
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6- 6 DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
!WARNING:Be very careful when draining the engine oil
as it may be hot enough to burn you!
G040A02A-AATCHANGING THE OIL AND FILTERG030D01A-AATAdding Oil
If the oil level is close to or below the "L" mark,
add oil until it reaches the "F" mark. To add oil:
1. Remove the oil filler cap by turning it counter-
clockwise.
2. Add oil, then check the level again. Do not
overfill.
3. Replace the cap by turning it clockwise.
The distance between the "F" and "L" marks is
equal to about 1 quart of oil.The engine oil and filter should be changed at
those intervals specified in the maintenance
schedule in Section 5. If the car is being driven
in severe conditions, more frequent oil and filter
changes are required.
The procedure for changing the oil and filter is
as follows:
1. Park the car on level ground and set the
parking brake. Start the engine and let it
warm up until the needle on the coolant
temperature gauge moves above the lowest
mark. Turn the engine off and place the gear
selector lever in "P" (automatic) or reverse
gear (manual transaxle). Set the parking
brake.
2. Open the hood and remove the engine oil
filler cap.
3. Slide underneath the car and loosen the
drain plug by turning it counterclockwise with
a wrench of the proper size. Be sure that a
drain pan is in position to catch the oil as it
drains out, then remove the drain plug.
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DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE 6- 7
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4. When the oil has stopped draining, replace
the drain plug using a new washer and
retighten by turning it clockwise.
Tightening torque is: 3.5 ~ 4.5 kgf.m
5. Remove the oil filter by turning it counter-
clockwise with a oil filter wrench of the proper
size. A certain amount of oil will come out
when you remove the filter. So be sure to
have your drain pan in place underneath it.
6. Install a new oil filter in accordance with the
instructions on the carton or on the filter itself.
Do not over-tighten.
Tightening torque is: 1.2 ~ 1.6 kgf.m
Be sure that the mounting surface on the
engine is clean and that the old gasket is
removed completely. Lubricate the new
gasket on the filter with clean engine oil
before installation.
7. Refill the crankcase with the recommended
engine oil. Refer to the specification in chap-
ter 9 for engine oil capacity.
8. Start the engine and check to be sure no oil
is leaking from the drain plug or oil filter.
9. Shut off the engine and recheck the oil level.G050A01A-AATCHECKING AND CHANGING THE EN-
GINE COOLANT
WARNING:
Do not remove the radiator cap when the
engine is hot. When the engine is hot, the
engine coolant is under pressure and may
erupt through the opening if the cap is
removed. You could be seriously burned if
you do not observe this precaution. Do not
remove the radiator cap until the radiator is
cool to the touch.
NOTE:Always dispose of used engine oil in an
environmentally acceptable manner. It is
suggested that it be placed in a sealed
container and taken to a service station for
reclamation. Do not pour the oil on the
ground or put it into the household trash.
WARNING:Used motor oil may cause irritation or can-
cer of the skin if left in contact with the skin
for prolonged periods of time. Wash your
hands thoroughly with soap and warm
water as soon as possible after handling
used oil.

6- 8 DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
G050D02A-AATTo Change the Engine CoolantThe engine coolant should be changed at those
intervals specified in the vehicle maintenance
schedule in Section 5.
CAUTION:Engine coolant can damage the finish of
your car. If you spill engine coolant on the
car, wash it off thoroughly with clean water.
1. Park the car on level ground, set the park-
ing brake and remove the radiator cap when
cool.
2. Be sure your drain receptacle is in place.
Open the drain cock on the radiator. Allow all
the engine coolant to drain from the cooling
system, then securely close the drain cock.
3. Check Section 9 for the capacity of the
cooling system in your car. Then, following
the manufacturer's directions on the engine
coolant container, add the appropriate quan-
tity of coolant to the radiator.
G050C01A-AAT
To Check the Coolant LevelThe coolant level can be seen on the side of the
plastic coolant reservoir. The level of the cool-
ant should be between the "L" and "F" lines on
the reservoir when the engine is cool. If the level
is below the "L" mark, add engine coolant to
bring it up between "L" and "F". If the level is low,
inspect for coolant leaks and recheck the fluid
level frequently. If the level drops again, visit
your Hyundai dealer for an inspection and
diagnosis of the reason.Ambient
temperature
°C ( °F)
-15 (5)
-25 (-13)
-35 (-31)
-45 (-49)
65%
60%
50%
40% 35%
40%
50%
60%Water Antifreeze
solution Engine Coolant concentration
G050B01A-AATRecommended Engine Coolant
Use a high quality ethylene-glycol coolant in a
50/50 mix with water. The engine coolant should
be compatible with aluminum engine parts.
Additional corrosion inhibitors or additives should
not be used. The cooling system must be
maintained with the correct concentration and
type of engine coolant to prevent freezing and
corrosion. Never allow the concentration of
antifreeze to exceed the 60% level or go below
the 35% level, or damage to the cooling system
may result. For proper concentration when
adding or replacing the engine coolant, refer to
the following table.
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DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE 6- 9
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4. Turn the radiator cap counterclockwise with-
out pressing down on it, until it stops. This
relieves any pressure remaining in the cool-
ing system. And remove the radiator cap by
pushing down and turning counterclock-
wise.
Now fill the radiator with clean demineralized
or distilled water. Continue to add clean
demineralized or distilled water in small quan-
tities until the fluid level stays up in the
radiator neck.
5. Start the engine, top off the radiator with
water and then add coolant to the reservoir
until the level is between "L" and "F".
6. Replace the radiator and reservoir caps and
check to be sure the drain cocks are fully
closed and not leaking.G060A02Y-AATSPARK PLUGS
Your engine was originally equipped with plati-
num-tipped spark plugs.
Platinum-tipped spark plugs will last longer than
conventional type spark plugs and can be
identified by blue lines on the ceramic shell.
NOTE:Do not clean or regap platinum-tipped spark
plugs.
WARNING:The cooling fan is controlled by engine
coolant temperature and may sometimes
operate even when the engine is not run-
ning. Use extreme caution when working
near the blades of the coolant fan so that
you are not injured by a rotating fan blade.
As the engine coolant temperature de-
creases, the fan will automatically shut off.
This is a normal condition.
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Replacing the Spark PlugsThe spark plugs should be changed at the
intervals specified in the vehicle maintenance
schedule in Section 5 or whenever engine
performance indicates they should be changed.
Symptoms that suggest poor spark plug perfor-
mance include engine misfiring under load, loss
of fuel economy, poor acceleration, etc. When
spark plugs are replaced, always use spark
plugs recommended by Hyundai. The use of
other spark plugs can result in loss of perfor-
mance, radio interference or engine damage.
NOTE:When replacing the spark plugs, always use
the genuine parts recommended.
Recommended Spark Plugs:
Type
RN10PYP4 (CHAMPION)
PGR5C-11 (NGK)
RC10PYB4 (CHAMPION)
PFR5N-11 (NGK)Remark
For 2.4L only
For 2.7L only
DOHC V6
0.1~1.1 mm 0.1~1.1 mm

6- 10 DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
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G060C04Y-AATChanging the Spark Plugs
You will find it easier to change spark plugs if the
engine is cold. Always change one spark plug
at a time. This helps avoid getting the wires
mixed up.
1. Remove the center (2.4 L) cover on the
engine rocker cover.
NOTE:It is recommended that the spark plugs (For
2.7L Engines) should be changed by an
authorized Hyundai dealer.
2. Using a clean cloth, remove any dirt that has
accumulated around the base of the spark
plug so it cannot fall into the cylinder when the
spark plug is removed.3. To remove the spark plug cable, pull straight
up on the insulated connector, not the cable.
Pulling on the cable may damage the carbon
core conductor.
WARNING:It is recommended that the engine be cool
or cold when changing the spark plugs. If
the engine is hot, you could burn yourself
on the insulated connector, the spark plug
or the engine itself.
4. When preparing to remove the old spark
plug, guide the socket down over the spark
plug, being careful not to damage the ce-
ramic insulator.
5. To remove the old spark plug, turn the
wrench handle in a counterclockwise direc-
tion.6. To install the new spark plug, guide the
socket down over the spark plug, being
careful not to damage the ceramic insulator.
NOTE:Spark plugs should be tightened to speci-
fication. Over-tightening can damage the
threads in the aluminum cylinder head.
Also, leaving them too loose can cause the
spark plug to get very hot and possibly
result in damage to the engine.
7. Replace the cable by pushing the insulated
connector directly down onto the electrode.
Check to be sure it has snapped into place
and can’t fall off.
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DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE 6- 11
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G070A03Y-AATCHANGING THE AIR CLEANER FILTER
The replacement of air cleaner filter is per-
formed in the following manner.
1. Unsnap the clips around the cover.
2. When this is done, the cover can be lifted off,
the old filter removed and the new filter put in
its place.
Genuine Hyundai replacement parts are rec-
ommended.
G080A02A-AATWINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES
The wiper blades should be carefully inspected
from time to time and cleaned to remove accu-
mulations of road film or other debris. To clean
the wiper blades and arms, use a clean sponge
or cloth with a mild soap or detergent and water.
If the wipers continue to streak or smear the
glass, replace them with genuine Hyundai re-
placement parts or their equivalent.
NOTE:o Do not operate the wipers on dry glass.
This can result in more rapid wear of the
wiper blades and may scratch the glass.
o Keep the blade rubber out of contact
with petroleum products such as engine
oil, gasoline, etc.
G090A01A-AATFILLING THE WASHER RESERVOIR
The washer fluid reservoir supplies fluid to the
windshield washer system.
A good quality washer fluid should be used to fill
the washer reservoir. The fluid level should be
checked more frequently during bad weather or
whenever the washer system is in more fre-
quent use.
The capacity of the washer reservoir is 3.2 U.S.
quarts (3.0 Liters).
CAUTION:Operating your vehicle without using a
proper air cleaner filter in place can result in
excessive engine wear.
CAUTION:o Radiator anti-freeze (engine coolant)
should not be used in the washer system
because it will damage the car’s finish.
o The washer lever should not be pulled
and the washer should not be operated
if the washer reservoir is empty. This can
damage the washer fluid pump.
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