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- 8 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 vehi-
cle speed can cause the drive wheels to
lose traction and the vehicle to go out of
control.
WARNING:o Avoid high cornering speeds.
o Do not make quick steering wheel move-
ments, such as sharp lane changes or
fast, sharp turns.
o Always wear your seat belts.
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, un unbelted person
is significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seatbelt.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
accumulation 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
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 dam-
age 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 cause the car to pull to
one side. To dry the brakes, apply the brakes
lightly until the braking action returns to
normal, taking care to keep the car under
control 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 assistance.
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.
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
2- 12
C160K01A-AAT
Carry Emergency EquipmentDepending on the severity of the weather where
you drive your car, you should carry appropri-
ate 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 blan-
ket, 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. transaxle) and block the rear wheels so the car
cannot roll. Then release the parking brake.
C160D01F-AATCheck Battery and Cables
Winter puts additional burdens on the battery
system. Visually inspect the battery and cables
as described in Section 6 (See page 6-16). The
level of charge in your battery can be checked
by your Hyundai dealer or a service station.
C160E01A-AATChange to "Winter Weight" Oil if
Necessary
In some climates it is recommended that a
lower viscosity "winter weight" oil be used dur-
ing cold weather. See Section 9 for recommen-
dations. If you aren’t sure what weight oil you
should use, consult your Hyundai dealer. 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.
C160H01A-AATUse Approved Anti-Freeze in Window
Washer System
To keep the water in the window washer sys-
tem from freezing, add an approved anti-freeze
solution 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.
C160F01F-AATCheck Spark Plugs and Ignition
System
Inspect your spark plugs as described in Sec-
tion 6 (See page 6-6) 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-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 burn-
ing the fingers.
C160I01A-AAT
Don’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 there is a risk the
parking brake may freeze, apply it only tempo-
rarily while you put the gear selector lever in
"P" (automatic) or in first or reverse gear (manual
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
3-4
D050A01A-AATIF YOU HAVE A FLAT TIRE
If a tire goes flat while you are driving:
1. Take your foot off the accelerator pedal and
let the car slow down while driving straight
ahead. Do not apply the brakes immediately
or attempt to pull off the road as this may
cause a loss of control. When the car has
slowed to such a speed that it is safe to do
so, brake carefully and pull off the road.
Drive off the road as far as possible and
park on firm, level ground. If you are on a
divided highway, do not park in the median
area between the two traffic lanes.
2. When the car is stopped, turn on your emer-
gency hazard flashers, set the parking brake
and put the transaxle in "P" (automatic) or
reverse (manual transaxle).
3. Have all passengers get out of the car. Be
sure they all get out on the side of the car
that is away from traffic.
4. Change the tire following the instructions
provided on the following pages.
D060A01A-AATCHANGING A FLAT TIRE
The procedure described on the following pages
can be used to rotate tires as well as to change
a flat tire. When preparing to change a flat tire,
check to be sure the gear selector lever is in "P"
(automatic transaxle) or reverse gear (manual
transaxle) and that the parking brake is set,
then:
D060A01GK
Boss
D060K02Y-AATWheel Cap (If Installed)
HGK196
1. Wrap a piece of cloth around the tip of the
wrench bar to avoid scratching.
2. Insert the wrench bar into the groove of the
wheel cap and pry gently to remove the
wheel cap.
HGK224A
Groove
Groove
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY
3-5
3. Change the flat tire.
4. Reinstall the wheel cap by fitting the boss of
the wheel cap in the groove of the wheel,
hitting the center of the wheel cap with your
hand.
D060C01A-AAT
2. Block the Wheel
Block the wheel that is diagonally opposite from
the flat to keep the vehicle from rolling when the
car is raised on the jack.
Flat tire
HGK192D060D02A-AAT
3. Loosen Wheel Nuts
The wheel nuts should be loosened slightly
before raising the car. To loosen the nuts, turn
the wrench handle counterclockwise. When
doing this, be sure that the socket is seated
completely over the nut so it cannot slip off. For
maximum leverage, position the wrench so the
handle is to the left as shown in the drawing.
Then, while holding the wrench near the end of
the handle, push down on it with steady pres-
sure. Do not remove the nuts at this time. Just
loosen them about one-half turn.
Remove the spare tire and remove the jack and
tool bag from the trunk.
D060B02GK-AAT
1. Obtain Spare Tire and Tool
HGK189
HGK191
HGK193
The jack is located behind the right side of
luggage trim. Remove the jack cover by un-
screwing the bolts. Turn the jack end counter-
clockwise to lower the jack height by using a
screw driver or wrench bar and remove it from
the bracket.
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY
3-8
D080B01A-AATTowing a Car With a Manual Transaxle
o OK FOR AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL
TRANSAXLE EQUIPPED VEHICLE
WITH NO DAMAGE
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 steer-
ing lock mechanism, 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.
D080A01A-AATIF YOUR CAR MUST BE TOWED
o OK FOR AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL
TRANSAXLE EQUIPPED VEHICLE
CAUTION:Your car can be damaged if towed incor-
rectly!
If your car has to be towed, it should be done by
your Hyundai dealer or a commercial tow truck
service. This will help assure that your car is
not damaged in towing. Also, professionals are
generally aware of state and local laws govern-
ing towing. In any case, rather than risk dam-
age to your car, it is suggested that you show
this information to the tow truck operator. Be
sure that a safety chain system is used and that
all state and local laws are observed.
D060J01FC-GATAfter Changing Wheels
If you have a tire gauge, remove the valve cap
and check the air pressure. If the pressure is
lower than recommended, drive slowly to the
nearest service station and inflate to the correct
pressure. If it is too high, adjust it until it is
correct. Always reinstall the valve cap after
checking or adjusting tire pressure. If the cap is
not replaced, air may leak from the tire. If you
lose a valve cap, buy another and install it as
soon as possible.
After you have changed wheels, always secure
the flat tire in its place in the luggage compart-
ment and return the jack and tools to their
proper storage locations.
HGK195
D080A01GK
HGK199
DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
6-13
G160A01A-AATCHECKING CLUTCH PEDAL
FREE-PLAY
SSA6160A
0.24~0.51 in.
(6~13 mm)
With the engine off, press lightly on the clutch
pedal until you feel a change in resistance. This
is the clutch pedal free-play. The free-play should
be within the limits specified in the illustration. If
it is not, have it inspected by your Hyundai
dealer and adjusted or repaired if necessary.
G170A01A-AATCHECKING BRAKE PEDAL
FREE-PLAY
SSA6170A
0.12~0.31 in.
(3~8 mm)
With the engine off, press down on the brake
pedal several times to reduce the vacuum in the
brake booster.
Then, using your hand, press down slowly on
the brake pedal until you feel a change in
resistance. This is the brake pedal free-play.
The free-play should be within the limits speci-
fied in the illustration. If it is not, have it inspect-
ed by your Hyundai dealer and adjusted or
repaired if necessary.
G150A01A-AATCHECKING STEERING WHEEL
FREE-PLAY
To check the steering wheel free-play, stop the
car with the wheels pointed straight ahead and
gently move the steering wheel back and forth.
Use very light finger pressure and be sensitive
to changes in resistance that mark the limits of
the free-play. If the free-play is greater than
specified, have it inspected by your Hyundai
dealer and adjusted or repaired if necessary.1.18in
(30 mm)
HGK218