2004 Hyundai Elantra Owner's Manual

2DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
6
C070B01A-AAT
Using 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.
C070E03A-AAT
Recommended Shift Points
The shift points as shown above are recom-
mended for optimum fuel economy and perfor-
mance.
Shift
from-to
1-2
2-3
3-4
4-5Recommended
mph (km/h)
15 (20)
25 (40)
35 (55)
45 (75)
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
difficult until the transaxle lubricant has
warmed up. This is normal and not harm-
ful to the transaxle.
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 1st
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 pos-
sibly cause engine damage.
!

2DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
7AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE
!
C070D03A-AAT
Good Driving Practices
o 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.
o Be sure the car is completely stopped before
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 ve-
hicle 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.
o Never exceed posted speed limits.
C090A02Y-AAT
The highly efficient Hyundai automatic transaxle
has four forward speeds and one reverse
speed. It has a conventional shift pattern as
shown in the illustration. At night, with the multi-
function switch turned on to the parking light or
headlight position, the appropriate symbol on
the shift pattern indicator will be illuminated
according to the range selected.
!CAUTION:Never shift into "R" or "P" position while the
vehicle is moving.
C090A01E-M

2DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
8
C090E01A-AATo 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).
C090D02A-AAT
o N (Neutral):
In the "N" position, the transaxle is in neutral,
which means that no gears are engaged. The
engine can be started with the shift lever in "N"
position, although this is not recommended
except if the engine stalls while the car is
moving.
C090Q01A-GATo 3 (Third gear):
Use for towing a trailer during hill climbing or to
use engine braking downhill.
"3" automatically shifts between 1st, 2nd and
3rd gears. This means that no shift-up to 4th
gear is performed. However, the shift-up to 4th
gear is done when the car speed exceeds a
certain value to prevent the engine from over-
revving. Manually move the selector to "D"
when returning to normal driving condition.
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 some-
what abrupt. This is a normal condition, and the
shifting sequence will adjust after shifts are
cycled a few times by the T.C.M (Transaxle
Control Module.)
!
C090B01A-AAT
The function of each position is as fol-
lows:
o P (Park):
Use to hold the vehicle in place when parked or
while starting the engine; shift the selector lever
to the "P" (Park) position. Whenever parking the
car, apply the parking brake and shift the selec-
tor lever to the "P" (Park) position.
CAUTION:Never place the selector lever in the "P"
(Park) position unless the vehicle is fully
stopped. Failure to observe this caution
will cause severe damage to the transaxle.
C090C01A-AATo R (Reverse):
Use for backing up the vehicle. Bring the car to
a complete stop before shifting the selector
lever to "R" position.
HXD007

2DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
9
!
C090I02Y-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 shift-
ing from "P" or "N", to "R", "D", "3", "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
ignition 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.
See the maintenance schedule for the
proper fluid recommendation.
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
performed. 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.
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
vehicle has slowed enough for low gear to
engage. Do not exceed 31 mph (50 km/h) in low
gear.
C090H01Y-AAT
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", "3", "2", "L" position to "P"
position. The vehicle must be fully
stopped to avoid transaxle damage.

2DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
10GOOD BRAKING PRACTICES
!
!
C130A01A-AAT C090N03A-AAT
Good Driving Practices
o Never move the gear selector lever from "P"
or "N" to any other position with the accelera-
tor 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 ve-
hicle 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.
o Never exceed posted speed limits.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 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 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
overdrive switch back on immediately after-
ward.
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.

2DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
11ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
(ABS)
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.
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 com-
ponents.
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 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.C120A02A-AAT
(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
braking. These conditions are normal and
indicate that the anti-lock brake system is
functioning properly.

2DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
12TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
(TCS)
!
C300A02Y-GAT
(If Installed)
On slippery road surfaces, the traction control
system (TCS) limits the drive wheels from
spinning excessively, thus helping the car to
accelerate. 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 acceler-
ated turns on slippery roads to avoid losing the
driving force of the front wheels.
Driving hints
TCS does not actively apply brakes. Be sure to
decelerate the car sufficiently before entering
curves.
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:ABS will not prevent accidents due to im-
proper or dangerous driving maneuvers.
Even though vehicle control is improved
during emergency braking, always main-
tain a safe distance between you and ob-
jects ahead. Vehicle speeds should always
be reduced during extreme road condi-
tions.
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 vehicle 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 pit-
ted or has different surface height.
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.
WARNING:Traction control is only a driving aid; all
normal precautions for driving in inclem-
ent weather and on slippery driving sur-
faces should be observed.
HXDFL371-1

2DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
13DRIVING FOR ECONOMY
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 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
addition, 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
inflation, either too much or too little, results
in unnecessary tire wear. Check the tire
pressures at least once a month.
C310B01O-AAT
TCS ON/OFF Mode
When the TCS is running, the TCS indicator in
the instrument cluster will blink.
If you turn the system off by pressing the TCS
switch, the TCS-OFF indicator will come on and
stay on. In the TCS-OFF mode, the SLIP control
will be deactivated. Adjust you driving accord-
ingly. To turn the system back on, press the
switch again. The TCS-OFF indicator should go
off.
NOTE:1) The TCS mode will automatically be
turned ON after the engine is turned off
and restarted.
2) When the traction control system is
operating properly, you can feel a slight
pulsation in the vehicle. This is only the
effect of brake control and indicates
nothing unusual.
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 in-
crease due to TCS operation.
C310D01O-AAT
Indicators and Warning
The indicators should illuminate when the igni-
tion key is turned to ON or START but should
go out after three seconds.
If the indicators do not illuminate, or the TCS or
TCS-OFF indicator does not go out after 3
seconds, have it checked by an authorized
dealer.
Should there be any unusual conditions in the
device while driving, TCS-OFF indicator illumi-
nates as a warning.
If TCS-OFF indicator illuminates, 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.
NOTE:1) When the TCS-OFF indicator illuminates,
traction control is automatically deacti-
vated for safety.
2) This warning function is not provided
when the driver selects the TCS-OFF
mode.