DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
2- 3
C050A01A-AATSTARTING
WARNING:
Never run the engine in a closed or poorly
ventilated area any longer than is needed to
move your car in or out of the area. The
carbon monoxide gas emitted is odorless
and can cause serious injury or death.
C050B01A-AATNormal Conditions:
The Starting Procedure:
1. Insert key, and fasten the seat belt.
2. Depress the clutch pedal fully and place the
gearshift lever (manual transaxle) in neutral
or the selector lever (automatic transaxle) in
"P" (park) position.
3. After turning the ignition key to the "ON"
position, make certain all warning lights and
gauges are functioning properly before start-
ing the engine.
WARNING:Be sure that the clutch is fully depressed
when starting a manual transaxle vehicle.
Your manual transaxle equipped vehicle will
not start unless the clutch pedal is fully
depressed. On a manual transaxle equipped
vehicle that can be started without depress-
ing the clutch, there is the potential to cause
damage to the vehicle or injury to someone
inside or outside the vehicle as a result of
the forward or backward movement of the
vehicle that will occur if the clutch is not
depressed when the vehicle is started.
4. Turn the ignition key to the "Start" position
and release it when the engine starts.
After the engine has started, allow the en-
gine to run for 10 to 20 seconds prior to
placing the vehicle in gear.The starter should not be operated for more
than 15 seconds at a time. Wait 15-30 sec-
onds between starting attempts to protect
the starter from overheating.
o “LOCK”
The key can be removed or inserted in this
position. To protect against theft, the steering
wheel locks by removing the key.
NOTE:To unlock the steering wheel, insert the key,
and then turn the steering wheel and key
simultaneously.C070C02A-AAT
To Remove the Ignition Key
(If your vehicle is equipped with an automatic
transaxle)
1. Turn the ignition key counterclockwise from
the "ACC" position to the "LOCK" position.
2. The key can be removed in the "LOCK"
position.
(If your vehicle is equipped with a manual
transaxle)
1. Turn the ignition key to the "ACC" position.
2. Simultaneously push and turn the ignition
key counterclockwise from the "ACC" posi-
tion to the "LOCK" position.
3. The key can be removed in the "LOCK"
position.
C070C01E
LOCKACC
ON
START
C050A01E
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
2- 4
C070B01A-AATUsing the Clutch
The clutch should be pressed all the way to the
floor before shifting, then released slowly. The
clutch pedal should always be used after fully
returning to the original position. 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.
C070D02A-AAT
Good Driving Practiceso 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.
C070A02GK-AATOPERATING THE MANUAL
TRANSAXLE
Your Hyundai's manual transaxle has a con-
ventional shift pattern. This shift pattern is im-
printed on the shift knob. The transaxle is fully
synchronized in all forward gears so shifting to
either a higher or a lower gear is easily accom-
plished.
NOTE:o To shift into reverse, rest the lever in
neutral for at least 3 seconds after your
car is completely stopped. Then move
the lever into the reverse position.
o During cold weather, shifting may be dif-
ficult until the transaxle lubricant has
warmed up. This is normal and not harm-
ful to the transaxle.
HGK181-E
o If you've come to a complete stop and it's
hard to shift into 1st or R(Reverse), put
the shift lever in N(Neutral) position and
release the clutch. Press the clutch pedal
back down, and then shift into 1
st or
R(Reverse) gear position.
o Do not use the shift lever as a handrest
during driving, as this can result in pre-
mature wear of the transaxle shift forks.
CAUTION:When downshifting from fifth gear to fourth
gear, caution should be taken not to inad-
vertently press the gear shift lever sideways
in such a manner that second gear is en-
gaged. Such a drastic downshift may cause
the engine speed to increase to the point
that the tachometer will enter the red zone.
Such over-revving of the engine may possi-
bly cause engine damage.
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
2- 7 SKIP : By rapidly moving the selector forward
or backward twice, it is possible to skip one
gear, i.e. 1st to 3rd or 3rd to 1st .
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 by using the sports mode. 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.
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 vehicle
performance and safety, the system 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.
C090H01L-GAT
NOTE: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.
C090N01O-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 be-
fore 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 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
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.
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- 9
C120A02A-AATANTI-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.
C300A03Y-GATTRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM (TCS)
(If installed)
HGK156A
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.WARNING:ABS will not prevent accidents due to im-
proper or dangerous driving maneuvers.
Even though vehicle control is improved
during emergency braking, always maintain
a safe distance between you and objects
ahead. Vehicle speeds should always 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.
During these conditions the vehicle should
be driven at reduced speeds. The safety
features of an ABS equipped vehicle should
not be tested by high speed driving or cor-
nering. This could endanger the safety of
yourself or others.On slippery road surfaces, the traction control
system (TCS) limits the drive wheels from spin-
ning excessively, thus helping the car to accel-
erate. It also provides sufficient driving force
and steering performance as the car turns at
accelerated speeds.
SLIP Control
Limits the drive wheels from spinning exces-
sively during starting or while making accelerat-
ed turns on slippery roads to avoid losing the
driving force of the front wheels.
Driving hintsTCS does not actively apply brakes. Be sure to
decelerate the car sufficiently before entering
curves.
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
3-2 to follow this procedure, seek qualified as-
sistance. Automobile batteries contain sul-
furic acid. This is poisonous and highly
corrosive. When jump starting, wear protec-
tive glasses and be careful not to get acid on
yourself, your clothing or on the car.
o If you should accidentally get acid on your
skin or in your eyes, immediately remove
any contaminated clothing and flush the
area with clear water for at least 15 minutes.
Then promptly obtain medical attention. If
you must be transported to an emergency
facility, continue to apply water to the affect-
ed area with a sponge or cloth.
o The gas produced by the battery during the
jump-start operation is highly explosive. Do
not smoke or allow a spark or an open flame
in the vicinity.
o The battery being used to provide the jump
start must be 12-volt. If you cannot deter-
mine that it is a 12-volt battery, do not
attempt to use it for the jump start.
o To jump start a car with a discharged bat-
tery, follow this procedure exactly:
1. If the booster battery is installed in another
vehicle, be sure the two vehicles are not
touching.
2. Turn off all unnecessary lights and acces-
sories in both vehicles.
3. Attach the clamps of the jumper cable in the
exact location shown on the previous page.
First, attach one clamp of the jumper cableto the positive (+) post or cable of the dis-
charged battery. Then attach the other end
of the same cable to the positive (+) post or
cable of the booster battery. Next, using the
other cable, attach one clamp to the nega-
tive (-) post or cable of the booster battery.
Then attach the other end of that cable to a
solid metal part of the engine away from the
battery. Do not connect the cable to any
moving part.
4. Start the engine in the car with the booster
battery and let it run for a few minutes. This
will help to assure that the booster battery is
fully charged. During the jumping operation,
run the engine in this vehicle at about 2,000
rpm.
5. Start your engine using the normal starting
procedure. After the engine starts, leave the
jumper cables connected and let the engine
run at fast idle or about 2,000 rpm for sev-
eral minutes.
6. Carefully remove the jumper cables in the
reverse order of attachment.
If you do not know why your battery became
discharged (because the lights were left on,
etc.), have the charging system checked by your
Hyundai dealer.
D030A01A-AATIF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS
If your temperature gauge indicates overheating,
you experience a loss of power, or hear loud
pinging or knocking and the engine is probably
too hot. If this happens and, you should:
1. Pull off the road and stop as soon as it is
safe to do so.
2. Place the gear selector lever in "P" (auto-
matic), or neutral (manual transaxle) and set
the parking brake. If the air conditioning is
on, turn it off.
3. If engine coolant is running out under the car
or steam is coming out from the hood, stop
the engine. Do not open the hood until the
engine coolant has stopped running or the
steaming has stopped. If there is no visible
loss of engine coolant and no steam, leave
the engine running and check to be sure the
engine cooling fan is operating. If the fan is
not running, turn the engine off.
4. Check to see if the water pump drive belt is
missing. If it is not missing, check to see that
it is tight. If the drive belt seems to be
satisfactory, check for engine coolant leak-
ing from the radiator, hoses or under the car.
(If the air conditioning had been in use, it is
normal for cold water to be draining from it
when you stop).