DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
2- 2
C020A01A-AATBEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
Before you start the engine, you should always:
1. Look around the vehicle to be sure there are
no flat tires, puddles of oil, water or other
indications of possible trouble.
2. After entering the car, check to be sure the
parking brake is engaged.
3. Check that all windows, and lights are clean.
4. Check that the interior and exterior mirrors
are clean and in position.
5. Check your seat, seatback and headrest to
be sure they are in their proper positions.
6. Lock all the doors.
7. Fasten your seat belt and be sure that all
other occupants have fastened theirs.
8. Turn off all lights and accessories that are
not needed.
9. When you turn the ignition switch to “ON”,
check that all appropriate warning lights are
operating and that you have sufficient fuel.
10. Check the operation of warning lights and all
bulbs when key is in the “ON” position.o To start the engine, insert the ignition key
and turn it to the "START" position. Release
it as soon as the engine starts. Do not hold
the key in the "START" position for more
than 15 seconds.
NOTE:o For safety, the engine will not start if the
clutch pedal is not depressed fully (Man-
ual transaxle) or the shift lever is not in
“P” or “N” Position (Automatic transaxle).
o The ignition key cannot be turned from
"ACC" position to "LOCK" position un-
less the shift lever is in the "P" (Park)
position or the negative battery terminal
is disconnected from the battery. To re-
move the key, always confirm that the
shift lever is securely positioned in "P"
(Park) (For Automatic transaxle)
o For additional information about start-
ing, see page 2-3.
C040A01A-AAT
KEY POSITIONS
WARNING:
The engine should not be turned off or the
key removed from the ignition key cylinder
while the vehicle is in motion. The steering
wheel is locked by removing the key.
C030A01A-AATCOMBINATION IGNITION SWITCH
To Start the Engine
o If your Hyundai is equipped with a manual
transaxle, place the shift lever in neutral and
depress the clutch pedal fully.
o If your Hyundai has an automatic transaxle,
place the shift lever in "P" (park).
o “START”The engine is started in this position. It will
crank until you release the key.
NOTE:Do not hold the key in the “START” position
for more than 15 seconds.
o “ON”When the key is in the “ON position, the ignition
is on and all accessories may be turned on. If
the engine is not running, the key should not be
left in the “ON” position. This will discharge the
battery and may also damage the ignition sys-
tem.
o “ACC”
With the key in the “ACC” position, some elec-
trical accessories (radio etc.) may be operated.
C040A01E
LOCKACC
ON
START
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
2- 5 o Be sure the car is completely stopped be-
fore 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 vehi-
cle speed can cause the drive wheels to
lose traction and the vehicle to go out of
control.
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.
HGK174 C090A03Y-AAT
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE
The highly efficient Hyundai automatic transaxle
has four forward speeds and one reverse speed.
The individual speeds are selected automati-
cally, depending on the position of the speed
selector lever. The selector lever has 2 gates;
the main gate and the manual gate.
NOTE:For information on manual gate operation,
refer to "Sports Mode".
In the main gate, the selector lever has 4
positions, and is equipped with a button to avoid
inadvertent wrong selection.
NOTE:Depress the brake pedal and push the
button when shifting.
Push the button when shifting.
The selector lever can be shifted freely.
The first few shifts on a new vehicle, or if the
battery has been disconnected, may be
somewhat abrupt. This is a normal condi-
tion, and the shifting sequence will adjust
after shifts are cycled a few times by the
T.C.M (Transmission Control Module).
C070E02GK-AATRECOMMENDED SHIFT POINTS
The shift points as shown below are recom-
mended for optimum fuel economy and perfor-
mance.
1-2
2-3
3-4
4-5 Shift
from-toRecommended
15 mph (20 km/h)
25 mph (40 km/h)
35 mph (55 km/h)
45 mph (75 km/h)
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
2- 10
C140A01A-AAT
DRIVING 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 pos-
sible. 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
increase wear on these components. In ad-
dition, 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.
C300B01GK-GATTCS ON/OFF Mode
In the TCS ON mode, the indicator in the
instrument cluster will not be illuminated.
To switch the TCS OFF mode, press the TCS
switch . To switch the TCS mode, press the
TCS switch again. In the TCS OFF mode, the
SLIP control will be deactivated and the TCS-
OFF indicator in the instrument cluster will be
illuminated.
NOTE:1) Turn off the engine. Then restart the
engine, and the TCS mode will automati-
cally turn ON.
2) When the traction control is operating
properly, you can feel a slight pulsation
CAUTION:When the TCS indicator blinks, SLIP control
has been activated. It also means that the
road is slippery or your car is accelerating
excessively. In this situation, release foot
pressure from the accelerator pedal and
maintain moderate speed.
WARNING:Traction control is only a driving aid; all
normal precautions for driving in inclement
weather and on slippery road surfaces
should be observed.
C300D01GK-GAT
Indicator and Warning
The indicator should illuminate when the igni-
tion key is turned to ON or START but should
go out after three seconds.
If the indicator does not illuminate, or the TCS
indicator does not go out after 3 seconds, have
it checked by an authorized dealer.
Should there be any unusual conditions in the
device, TCS-OFF either illuminates or blinks as
a warning.
If TCS-OFF illuminates or blinks, pull your car
to a safe place and stop the engine.
Then, start the engine again to check if the
TCS-OFF indicator goes out.
If the indicator remains lit even after the engine
has been started, have your car checked by an
authorized Hyundai dealer.in the vehicle. This is only the effect of
brake control and indicates nothing un-
usual.
3) When the engine starts, a click is heard
from the engine compartment; however,
this is only the sound of traction control
being checked.
4) When moving out of the mud or fresh
snow, pressing the accelerator pedal may
not cause the engine speed to increase.
NOTE:1) When TCS-OFF illuminates or blinks, trac-
tion control is automatically deactivated
for safety.
2) This warning function is not provided
when the driver selects the TCS-OFF
mode.
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
2- 11 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.
o Don't "lug" or "over-rev" the engine. Lugging
is driving too slowly in too high a gear
resulting in the engine bucking. If this hap-
pens, shift to a lower gear. Over-revving is
racing the engine beyond its safe limit. This
can be avoided by shifting at the recom-
mended speeds.
o Use your air conditioning sparingly. The air
conditioning system is operated by engine
power so your fuel economy is reduced
when you use it.
C150A01A-AAT
SMOOTH CORNERING
Avoid braking or gear changing in corners,
especially when roads are wet. Ideally, corners
should always be taken under gentle accelera-
tion. If you follow these suggestions, tire wear
will be held to a minimum.
C160A01A-AAT
WINTER DRIVING
The more severe weather conditions of winter
result in greater wear and other problems. To
minimize the problems of winter driving, you
should follow these suggestions: o Take care of your tires. Keep them inflated
to the recommended pressure. Incorrect in-
flation, 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 sur-
faces. 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
Section 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.
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-
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 to the original equipment tires. Failure
to do so may adversely affect the safety and
handling of your car. Speeding, rapid accelera-
tion, 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 front and your vehicle. Also, apply
the brake gently. It should be noted that install-
ing 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.
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
2- 13
C190B01S-AAT
Trailer Hitches
Select the proper hitch and ball combination,
making sure that its location is compatible with
that of the trailer or vehicle being towed. Use a
quality non-equalizing hitch which distributes
the tongue load uniformly throughout the chas-
sis.
The hitch should be bolted securely to the car
and installed by a qualified technician. DO NOT
USE A HITCH DESIGNED FOR TEMPORARY
INSTALLATION AND NEVER USE ONE THAT
ATTACHES ONLY TO THE BUMPER.
C190A02S-AATTRAILER OR VEHICLE TOWING
If you are considering towing with your car, you
should first check with your State's Department
of Motor Vehicles to determine their legal re-
quirements.
Since laws vary from State to State, the re-
quirements for towing trailers, cars, other types
of vehicles, or apparatus may differ. Ask your
Hyundai dealer for further details before towing.
CAUTION:Do not do any towing with your car during
its first 1,200 miles (2,000 km) in order to
allow the engine to properly break in. Fail-
ure to heed this caution may result in seri-
ous engine or transaxle damage.
C170A01A-AATHIGHER SPEED MOTORING
Pre-Trip Inspections
1. Tires:
Adjust the tire inflation pressures to specifica-
tion. 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
pressure 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.
C180A01A-AAT
USE OF LIGHTSCheck your lights regularly for correct operation
and always keep them clean. When driving
during the day in conditions of poor visibility, it
is helpful to drive with headlights on low beam.
This enables you to be seen as well as to see.
C190C02S-AATTrailer Brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking system,
make sure it conforms to federal and/or local
regulations and that it is properly installed and
operating correctly.
NOTE:If you tow a trailer or vehicle, your car will
require more frequent maintenance due to
the additional load. See "Maintenance Un-
der Severe Usage Conditions" on page 5-5.
CAUTION:o Never connect a trailer brake system di-
rectly to the vehicle brake system.
o When towing a trailer on steep grades (in
excess of 12%) pay close attention to the
engine coolant temperature gauge to
ensure the engine does not overheat. If
the needle of the coolant temperature
gauge moves across the dial towards
"H" (HOT), pull over and stop as soon as
it is safe to do so, and allow the engine to
idle until it cools down. You may proceed
once the engine has cooled sufficiently.
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
2- 15 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, occasionally check 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.
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 nor-
mal 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, especial-
ly 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.
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 en-
gine at a higher speed.
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY
3-1
2. Check the battery connections to be sure
they are clean and tight.
3. Turn on the interior light. If the light dims or
goes out when you operate the starter, the
battery is discharged.
4. Check the starter connections to be sure
they are securely tightened.
5. Do not push or pull the vehicle to start it. See
instructions for "Jump Starting".D020A02A-AATJUMP STARTING3. WHAT TO DO IN AN
EMERGENCY
D010A01A-AATIF THE ENGINE WILL NOT START
CAUTION:
If the engine will not start, do not push or
pull the car to start it. This could result in a
collision or cause other damage. In addi-
tion, push or pull starting may cause the
catalytic converter to be overloaded and
create a fire hazard.
D010B02A-AATIf Engine Doesn’t Turn Over or Turns
Over Slowly
1. If your car has an automatic transaxle, be
sure the gear selector lever is in "N" or "P"
and the emergency brake is set.
D010C01A-AATIf Engine Turns Over Normally but Does
Not Start
1. Check fuel level.
2. Check all connectors at ignition, coil and
spark plugs. Reconnect any that may be
disconnected or loose.
3. Check the fuel line in the engine room.
4. If the engine still refuses to start, call a
Hyundai dealer or seek other qualified as-
sistance.
D010D01A-AAT
If the Engine Stalls While Driving1. Reduce your speed gradually, keeping a
straight line. Move cautiously off the road to
a safe place.
2. Turn on your emergency flashers.
3. Try to start the engine again. If your vehicle
will not start, contact a Hyundai dealer or
seek other qualified assistance.
WARNING:The gas produced by the battery during the
jump-start operation is highly explosive. If
these instructions are not followed exactly,
serious personal injury and damage to the
vehicle may occur! If you are not sure how
3
D010B01GK
HGK184Battery
HGK184A
DOHC
V6
Battery
VEHICLE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
5-1
F010C01A-AATSpecified Scheduled Procedures
These are the procedures such as inspections,
adjustments and replacements that are listed in
the maintenance charts starting on page 5-3.
These procedures must be performed at the
intervals shown in the maintenance schedule to
assure that your warranty remains in effect.
Although it is strongly recommended that they
be performed by the trained technicians at your
Hyundai dealer, these procedures may be per-
formed at any qualified service facility.
It is suggested that genuine Hyundai service
parts be used for any required repairs or re-
placements. Other parts of equivalent quality
such as engine oil, engine coolant, manual or
auto transaxle oil, brake fluid and so on which
are not supplied by Hyundai Motor Company or
its distributor may be used without affecting
your warranty coverage but you should always
be sure these are equivalent to the quality of the
original Hyundai parts. Your Owner's Hand-
book provides further information about your
warranty coverage.
5. VEHICLE MAINTE-
NANCE REQUIRE-
MENTSF010E01A-AATDo-It-Yourself Maintenance
If you are mechanically inclined, own a few tools
that are required and want to take the time to do
so, you can inspect and service a number of
items. For more information about doing it your-
self, see Section 6.
F010D01A-AAT
General ChecksThese are the regular checks you should per-
form when you drive your Hyundai or you fill the
fuel tank. A list of these items will be found on
page 6-3.
F010A01A-AATMAINTENANCE INTERVALS
Service Requirements
To ensure that you receive the greatest number
of miles of satisfying operation from your
Hyundai, certain maintenance procedures must
be performed. Although careful design and en-
gineering have reduced these to a minimum,
those that are required are of the utmost impor-
tance.
It is your responsibility to have these mainte-
nance procedures performed to comply with the
terms of the warranties covering your new
Hyundai. The Owner's Handbook supplied with
your new vehicle provides further information
about these warranties.
F010B01A-AATMaintenance Requirements
The maintenance required for your Hyundai can
be divided into three main areas:
o Specified scheduled procedures
o General checks
o Do-it-yourself maintenance
F010F01A-AAT
A Few Tips
o Whenever you have your Hyundai serviced,
keep copies of the service records in your
glovebox. This will help ensure that you can
document that the required procedures have
been performed to keep your warranties in
effect. This is especially important when
service is not performed by an authorized
Hyundai dealer.
o If you choose to do your own maintenance
and repairs, you may find it helpful to have
an official Hyundai Shop Manual. A copy of
this publication may be purchased at your
Hyundai dealer's parts department.
F020A02S-AATSCHEDULED MAINTENANCE RE-
QUIREMENTS
o Inspection should be performed any time a
malfunction is experienced or suspected.
o Receipts for all emission control system
services should be retained to demonstrate
5