2004 Hyundai Accent Owner's Manual

2DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
8
C090G01A-AATo L (Low gear):
Use for driving up a very steep grade or for
engine braking when descending steep hills.
When downshifting to "L", the transaxle will
temporarily remain in second gear until the ve-
hicle has slowed enough for low gear to engage.
Do not exceed 31 mph (50 km/h) in low gear.
C090F01A-AAT
o 2 (Second gear):
Use for driving on a slippery road, hill climbing
or engine braking downhill. "2" automatically
shifts between first and second gears.
This means that no shift-up to 3rd gear is per-
formed. However, the shift-up to third gear is
done when the car speed exceeds a certain
value to prevent the engine from over-revving.
Manually move the selector to "D" returning to
normal driving condition.
C090H01A-AAT
NOTE:
o For smooth and safe operation, de-
press the brake pedal when shifting
from "Neutral" position or "Park" posi-
tion 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", "2", "L" position to "P" posi-
tion.
C090C01A-AAT
o R(Reverse):
Use for backing up the vehicle. Bring the car to
a complete stop before shifting the selector
lever to "R" position.
C090D02A-AAT
o N (Neutral):
In the "N" position, the transaxle is in neutral
position, which means that no gears are en-
gaged. The engine can be started with the shift
lever in "N" position, although this is not recom-
mended except if the engine stalls while the car
is moving.
C090E01A-AAT
o D (Drive):
Use for normal driving. The transaxle will auto-
matically shift through a four-gear sequence.
Never downshift manually to "2" position or "L"
position when vehicle speed is more than 60
mph (96 km/h).

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
9
2
C090I01A-AAT
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 shifting
from "P" or "N", to "R", "D", "2" or "L"
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 igni-
tion when you leave the vehicle, even
momentarily. Never leave the vehicle un-
attended while the engine is running.
o Check the automatic transaxle fluid level
regularly, and add fluid as necessary.
!
If you cannot move the shift lever from the "P"
(Park) position to any other position with the
brake pedal fully depressed and the ignition key
in the "ON" position, remove the cap on the
console with a thin object such as a pencil, push
the shift lock release button down. Then, with
the brake pedal depressed, move the shift lever
to the desired position, then the shift lock re-
lease button will automatically return to its origi-
nal position after shifting from the "P" (Park)
position. Then, reinstall the cap.
Have the system checked by your Hyundai
dealer.
JC110J4-A
SHIFT LOCK RELEASE (If Installed)
C090J01A
C090P01A-AAT
Overdrive Switch
When the overdrive switch is turned on, the
transaxle will automatically upshift to the sec-
ond, third and overdrive gears. When the over-
drive switch is turned off, the transaxle will not
upshift to the overdrive gear. For normal driving,
the selector lever should be left in the "D"
position and the overdrive switch turned on.
If you need to accelerate rapidly, press the
accelerator pedal all the way to the floor. The
transaxle will automatically shift to a lower gear,
depending on the vehicle speed and load.
C090P01A

2DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
10GOOD BRAKING PRACTICES
o Turn the overdrive switch on for good fuel
economy and smooth driving. If engine brak-
ing is needed in the "D" range or if repeated
upshifting and downshifting between the 3rd
and 4th gear is needed when climbing a
gentle slope, it is recommended that the
overdrive switch be turned off. Turn the over-
drive switch back on immediately afterward.C090N03A-AAT
Good 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 before
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 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 vehicle
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.
In a collision crash, un unbelted person
is significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seatbelt.
o The risk of rollover is greatly increased
if you lose control of your vehicle at
highway 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
roadway, do not steer sharply. Instead,
slow down before pulling back into the
travel lanes.
o Never exceed posted speed limits.
!
!
C130A01A-AAT
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
damage to the vehicle or injure the occu-
pants.
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 may cause the car to pull to
one side. To dry the brakes, apply the brakes
lightly until the braking action returns to nor-
mal, taking care to keep the car under con-
trol 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 assis-
tance.
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

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
11
2
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
that engine braking will help you maintain a
safe speed.
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
firmly 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
put the gear selector lever in "P" (automat-
ic) 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
transaxle to overheat. Always use the brake
pedal or parking brake.C120A02A-AAT
(If Installed)
The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) is de-
signed to prevent wheel lock-up during sud-
den braking or on hazardous road surfaces.
The ABS control module monitors the wheel
speed and controls the pressure applied to
each brake. Thus, in emergency situations or
on slick roads, ABS will increase vehicle con-
trol 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.

2DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
12DRIVING FOR ECONOMY
!WARNING:ABS will not prevent accidents due to
improper or dangerous driving maneu-
vers. Even though vehicle control is im-
proved during emergency braking, always
maintain a safe distance between you and
objects ahead. Vehicle speeds should al-
ways 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.
During these conditions the veicle should
be driven at reduced speeds.
o Rough, gravel or snow-covered roads.
o With tire chains installed.
o On roads where the road surface is
pitted or has different surface height.
These roads should be driven at reduced
speeds. The safety features of an ABS
equipped vehicle should not be tested by
high speed driving or cornering. This could
endanger the safety of yourself or others.
C140A01A-AAT
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 possi-
ble. 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 in-
crease wear on these components. In addi-
tion, 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.
o Take care of your tires. Keep them inflated to
the recommended pressure. Incorrect infla-
tion, 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 cor-
rectly. Improper alignment can result from
hitting curbs or driving too fast over irreg-
ular surfaces. Poor alignment causes faster
tire wear and may also result in other
problems as well as greater fuel consump-
tion.
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 Sec-
tion 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.

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
13
2
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. Lug-
ging 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.
WINTER DRIVINGSMOOTH CORNERING
C160A01A-AAT
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:
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. 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.
C150A01A-AAT
Avoid braking or gear changing in corners,
especially when roads are wet. Ideally, cor-
ners should always be taken under gentle
acceleration. If you follow these suggestions,
tire wear will be held to a minimum.

2DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
14
C160D01A-AATCheck 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.
C160E01A-AAT
Change 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-AAT
Use High Quality Ethylene Glycol
Coolant
Your Hyundai is delivered with high quality eth-
ylene glycol coolant in the cooling system. It is
the only type of coolant that should be used
because it helps prevent corrosion in the cooling
system, lubricates the water pump and prevents
freezing. Be sure to replace or replenish your
coolant in accordance with the maintenance
schedule in Section 5. Before winter, have your
coolant tested to assure that its freezing point is
sufficient for the temperatures anticipated dur-
ing the winter.
C160H01A-AAT
Use Approved Anti-Freeze in Window
Washer System
To keep the water in the window washer system
from freezing, add an approved anti-freeze so-
lution 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.
C160F01A-AAT
Check 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.
C160G01A-AAT
To Keep Locks from Freezing
To keep the locks from freezing, squirt an ap-
proved 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 injury.

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
15
2
HIGHER SPEED MOTORING
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 you think the parking
brake may freeze, apply it only temporarily while
you 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.
C160K01A-AAT
Carry Emergency Equipment
Depending on the severity of the weather where
you drive your car, you should carry appropriate
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 blanket, 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.
C170A01A-AAT
Pre-Trip Inspections
1. Tires:
Adjust the tire inflation pressures for highway
driving. 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 pres-
sure shown on the tires.
2. Fuel, engine coolant and engine oil:
High speed travel consumes 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.