2003 Hyundai Sonata brake fluid

1- 34 FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
B260A05Y-GATINSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND INDICATOR LIGHTS
1. Malfuction Indicator Light (If installed)
2. Tachometer
3. Turn Signal Indicator Light
4. Coolant Temperature Gauge
5. Fuel Gauge
6. Speedometer
7. Anti-Lock Brake Warning Light (If installed)
8. SRS (Airbag) Warning Light (If installed)
9. Seat Belt Warning Light (If installed)10.Trunk Lid Open Warning Light
11.Door Ajar Warning Light
12.Trip odometer or Trip computer (If installed)
reset switch
13.High Beam Indicator Light
14.Front Fog Indicator Light (If installed)
15.Automatic Transaxle Position Indicator Light
(If installed)
16.Odometer/Trip odometer/Trip Computer
(If installed)17.Low Fuel Warning Light
18.Trip odometer or Trip computer (If installed)
mode convert switch
19.Parking Brake/Brake Fluid Level Warning
Light
20.Charging System Warning Light
21.Oil Pressure Warning Light
22.Cruise Indicator (If installed)
23.Traction Control Indicator Light (If installed)
B260A04Y-A1
12345637
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23

1- 36 FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
B260H02A-AATParking Brake/Brake Fluid Level
Warning Lightadding fluid, if no other trouble is 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 or some other safe method.
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 half 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.
WARNING:If you suspect brake trouble, have your
brakes checked by a Hyundai dealer as
soon as possible. Driving your car with a
problem in either the brake electrical sys-
tem or brake hydraulic system is danger-
ous, and could result in a serious injury or
death.
Warning Light OperationThe 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 warning light indicates that the brake
fluid level in the brake master cylinder is low and
hydraulic brake fluid conforming to DOT 3 or
DOT 4 specifications should be added. After
B260J01A-AATCharging 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 6-18 by pushing down on the center of
the belt. And then have the system checked by
your Hyundai dealer.
B260K01S-AATTrunk Lid Open Warning Light
This light remains on unless the trunk lid is
completely closed.
B260L01Y-AAT
Door Ajar Warning Light
and Chime
The door ajar warning light warns you that a door
is not completely closed and the chime warns
you that driver's side front door is not completely
closed.
NOTE:To remind you not to lock the key inside the
car, the warning light comes on whenever
the key is in the "LOCK" position and a door
is open. The warning chime only sounds
whenever the key is in the "LOCK" position
and driver's side front door is open. The
chime sounds and the light remains on
until the key is removed from the ignition.

FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI 1- 37
B260M01A-AATLow 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
converter.
B260N01A-AAT
Malfunction Indicator Light
This light illuminates when there is a malfunction
of an exhaust gas related component, and the
system is not functioning properly so that the
exhaust gas regulation values are not satisfied.
This light will also illuminate when the ignition key
is turned to the "ON" position, and will go out in
a few seconds. If it illuminates while driving, or
does not illuminate when the ignition key is
turned to the "ON" position, take your car to your
nearest authorized Hyundai dealer and have
the system checked.
B260P02Y-GATABS Service Reminder
Indicator (If installed)
When the key is turned to the "ON" position, the
Anti-Lock Brake System will come on and then
go off in a few seconds. If the ABS SRI remains
on, comes on while driving, or does not come on
when the key is turned to the "ON" position, this
indicates that there may be a problem with the
ABS.
If this occurs, have your vehicle checked by
your Hyundai dealer as soon as possible. The
normal braking system will still be operational,
but without the assistance of the anti-lock brake
system.
CAUTION:If both ABS SRI and Parking Brake/Brake
fluid level warning lights remain "ON" or
come on while driving, there may be a
problem with E.B.D (Electronic brake force
distribution).
If this occurs, avoid sudden stops and have
your vehicle checked by your Hyundai dealer
as soon as possible.
!
B260C02E-GATTraction Control Indicator
Light (If Installed)
The traction control indicator changes opera-
tion according to the ignition switch position and
whether or not the system is in operation.
It will also illuminate when the ignition key is
turned to the "ON" position, and then go off in a
few seconds. If the TCS indicator stays on, take
your car to your authorized Hyundai dealer and
have the system checked. See section 2 for
more information about the TCS system.
B260Q01HP-DATCruise Indicator (If installed)
The cruise indicator light in the instrument clus-
ter is illuminated only when the vehicle cruising
speed has been set using the control switch on
the steering wheel.
The indicator light does not illuminate when the
main cruise control switch is activated.
Information on the use of cruise control may be
found begins on page 1-62.
B260A01Y-GATFront Fog Lamp Indicator Light
(If installed)
This fog lamp indicator light comes on whenever
the front fog lamp switch is on, when the ignition
key is turned to the "ON" position.

1- 58 FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
!
B560A02Y-AATREMOTE FUEL-FILLER LID RELEASE
The fuel-filler lid may be opened from inside the
vehicle by pushing up on the fuel-filler lid opener
located on the driver side door.
NOTE:If the fuel-filler lid will not open because ice
has formed around it, tap lightly or push on
the lid to break the ice and release the lid. Do
not pry on the lid. If necessary, spray around
the lid with an approved de-icer fluid (do
not use radiator anti-freeze) or move the
vehicle to a warm place and allow the ice to
melt.
B550A02Y-AATHIGH-MOUNTED REAR STOP LIGHT
In addition to the lower-mounted rear stoplights
on either side of the car, the high mounted rear
stoplight in the center of the rear window also
lights when the brakes are applied.WARNING:o Gasoline vapors are dangerous. Before
refueling, always stop the engine and
never allow sparks or open flames near
the filler area. If you need to replace the
filler cap, use a genuine Hyundai re-
placement part.
o If you open the fuel filler cap during high
ambient temperatures, a slight "pres-
sure sound" may be heard. This is nor-
mal and not a cause for concern.
Whenever you open the fuel filler cap,
turn it slowly.
o Make sure the fuel filler cap is replaced
and securely seated after fueling. Failure
to replace or fully seat the fuel filler cap
will result in fuel vapors escaping into
the atmosphere and the check engine
(MIL) indicator illuminating.
B550A03Y
HEF-132AB560A02Y
Fuel Cap Holder

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI 2- 9
CAUTION:o In sports mode, the driver must execute
upward shifts in accordance with pre-
vailing road conditions, taking care to
keep the engine speed below the red
zone.
o For engine protection, upward shifts are
made automatically when the engine
rpm reaches the red zone.
o By rapidly moving the selector lever back-
wards (-) twice it is possible to skip one
gear, i.e., 3rd to 1st, 4th to 2nd. Since
sudden engine braking and/or rapid ac-
celeration can cause a loss of traction,
however, downshifts must be made care-
fully in accordance with the vehicle's
speed.
!
C090H01L-GATNOTE:o For smooth and safe operation, depress
the brake pedal when shifting from "Neu-
tral" position or "Park" position to a
forward 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" position to "P" position. The
vehicle must be fully stopped to avoid
transaxle damage.
C090I02L-GAT
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 shift-
ing from "P" or "N", to "R", "D"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
ignition when you leave the vehicle, even
momentarily. Never leave the vehicle
unattended while the engine is running.
o Check the automatic transaxle fluid level
regularly, and add fluid as necessary.
o See the maintenance schedule for the
proper fluid recommendation.
!
NOTE:o In sports mode, only the four forward
gears can be selected. To reverse or park
the vehicle, move the selector lever to
the "R" or "P" position as required.
o In sports mode, downward shifts are
made automatically when the vehicle
slows down. When the vehicle stops, 1st
gear is automatically selected.
o To maintain the required levels of ve-
hicle performance and safety, the sys-
tem may not execute certain gearshifts
when the selector lever is operated.o Before driving away from a stop on a
slippery road, push the selector lever
forward into the +(UP) position. This
causes the transaxle to shift into 2nd
gear which is better for smooth driving
away on a slippery road. Push the selec-
tor lever to the -(DOWN) side to shift
back to 1st gear.

2- 14 DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
C160G01A-AATTo Keep Locks from Freezing
To keep the locks from freezing, squirt an
approved 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.
C160D01A-AAT
Check Battery and Cables
Winter puts additional burdens on the battery
system. Visually inspect the battery and cables
as described in Section 6. The level of charge
in your battery can be checked by your Hyundai
dealer or a service station.
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.
C160E01A-AATChange to "Winter Weight" Oil if
Necessary
In some climates it is recommended that a lower
viscosity "winter weight" oil be used during cold
weather. See Section 9 for recommendations.
If you aren't sure what weight oil you should use,
consult your Hyundai dealer.
C160C01A-AATUse High Quality Ethylene Glycol
Coolant
Your Hyundai is delivered with high quality
ethylene glycol coolant in the cooling system. It
is the only type of coolant that should be used
because it helps prevent corrosion in the cool-
ing system, lubricates the water pump and
prevents freezing. Be sure to replace or replen-
ish your coolant in accordance with the main-
tenance schedule in Section 5. Before winter,
have your coolant tested to assure that its
freezing point is sufficient for the temperatures
anticipated during the winter.
C160B01A-AATSnowy or Icy Conditions
To drive your vehicle in deep snow, it may be
necessary to use snow tires or to install tire
chains on your tires. If snow tires are needed,
it is necessary to select tires equivalent in size
and type of the original equipment tires. Failure
to do so may adversely affect the safety and
handling of your car. Furthermore, speeding,
rapid acceleration, sudden brake applications,
and sharp turns are potentially very hazardous
practices.
During deceleration, use engine braking to the
fullest extent. Sudden brake applications on
snowy or icy roads may cause skids to occur.
You need to keep sufficient distance between
the vehicle in operation in front and your vehicle.
Also, apply the brake gently. It should be noted
that installing tire chains on the tire will provide
a greater driving force, but will not prevent side
skids.
NOTE:Tire chains are not legal in all states. Check
state laws before fitting tire chains.

2- 18 DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
CAUTION:If overheating should occur when towing,
(the temperature gauge reads near red zone),
taking the following action may reduce or
eliminate the problem.
1. Turn off the air conditioner.
2. Reduce highway speed.
3. Select a lower gear when going uphill.
4. While in stop and go traffic, place the gear
selector in park or neutral and idle the engine
at a higher speed.
!
C190F01S-AATTrailer or Vehicle Towing Tips
1. Before towing, check hitch and safety chain
connections as well as proper operation of
the trailer running lights, brake lights, and
turn signals.
2. Always drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed (Less than 60 mph)
3. Trailer towing requires more fuel than normal
conditions.
4. To maintain engine braking efficiency and
electrical charging performance, do not use
fifth gear (manual transaxle) or overdrive
(automatic transaxle).
5. Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
6. Check the condition and air pressure of all
tires on the trailer and your car. Low tire
pressure can seriously affect the handling.
Also check the spare tire.
7. The vehicle/trailer combination is more af-
fected by crosswind and buffeting.
When being passed by a large vehicle, keep
a constant speed and steer straight ahead.
If there is too much wind buffeting slow down
to get out of the other vehicle's air turbulence.
8. When parking your car and trailer, especially
on a hill, be sure to follow all the normal
precautions. Turn your front wheel into the
curb, set the parking brake firmly, and put the
transaxle in 1st or Reverse (manual) or Park
(automatic). In addition, place wheel chocks
at each of the trailer's tires.9. If the trailer has electric brakes, start your
vehicle and trailer moving, and then apply the
trailer brake controller by hand to be sure the
brakes are working. This lets you check
your electrical connection at the same time.
10.During your trip, check occasionally to be
sure that the load is secure, and that the
lights and any trailer brakes are still working.
11.Avoid jerky starts, sudden acceleration or
sudden stops.
12.Avoid sharp turns and rapid lane changes.
13.Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the brakes
to overheat, resulting in reduced braking
efficiency.
14.When going down a hill, shift into a lower gear
and use the engine braking effect.
When ascending a long grade, downshift the
transaxle to a lower gear and reduce speed
to reduce chances of engine overloading
and/or overheating.
15.If you have to stop while going uphill, do not
hold the vehicle in place by pressing on the
accelerator. This can cause the automatic
transaxle to overheat. Use the parking brake
or footbrake.
NOTE:When towing check transaxle fluid more
frequently.

3- 10 WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY
D080B01A-AATTowing a Car With Manual TransaxleD080C02A-AATTowing a Car With Automatic Transaxle
o If the car is being towed with the rear wheels
on the ground, be sure the parking brake is
released.
o If the car is being towed with the front wheels
on the ground, be sure that the transaxle is
in neutral. Also, be sure that the ignition key
is in the "ACC" position. This is necessary to
prevent damage to the steering lock mecha-
nism, which is not designed to hold the front
wheels straight while the car is being towed.
o If any of the loaded wheels or suspension
components are damaged, a towing dolly
must be used.
CAUTION:A car with an automatic transaxle should
never be towed from the rear with the front
wheels on the ground. This can cause se-
rious damage to the transaxle. If the car
must be towed from the rear, a towing dolly
must be used under the front wheels.
If the car is being towed with the rear wheels on
the ground, be sure the parking brake is re-
leased.
NOTE:Before towing, check the level of the
transaxle fluid. If it is below the "HOT" mark
on the dipstick, add fluid. If you cannot add
fluid, a towing dolly must be used as de-
scribed above.!
o OK FOR AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL
TRANSAXLE EQUIPPED VEHICLE
WITH NO DAMAGE o NOT OK FOR AUTOMATIC
TRANSAXLE EQUIPPED VEHICLE
o OK FOR MANUAL TRANSAXLE o OK FOR AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL
TRANSAXLE EQUIPPED VEHICLE
HEF-210HEF-211HEF-212