2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
3
RISK OF ROLLOVER
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
!
!
WARNING:
o The 2WD Santa Fe is not designed for
off-road use. The 4WD Santa Fe is de-
signed primarily for use on paved roads.
However, occasional use in off-highway
conditions such as established unpaved
roads and non-challenging off-road
trails is allowed. The 4WD Santa Fe is not
designed for blazing new trails, chal-
lenging off-road conditions, or unpaved
hill climbing. Exceeding the conditions
that were intended for the vehicle's pri-
mary design may result in injury or death.
o Utility vehicle has a significantly higher
collision rate than other type of vehicles.
C020A01O-AATBefore 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 Sports utility vehicles have higher
ground clearance and a narrower track
to make them capable of performing in
a wide variety of off-road applications.
Specific design characteristics give them
a higher center of gravity than ordinary
cars. An advantage of the higher ground
clearance is a better view of the road
allowing you to anticipate problem. They
are not designed for cornering at the
same speeds as conventional 2-wheel
drive vehicles any more than low-slung
sports cars are designed to perform sat-
isfactorily under off-road conditions. If
at all possible, avoid sharp turns or abrupt
maneuvers. As with other vehicles of
this type, failure to operate this vehicle
correctly may result in loss of control or
vehicle rollover.
o In a collision, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to be seriously
injured or killed than a person wearing a
seatbelt.
WARNING:
C015A01O-AAT
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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
6
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).
HSM3022-1
CAUTION:
Never shift into "R" or "P" position while the
vehicle is moving.
!
OPERATING THE AUTOMATIC
TRANSAXLE (4 SPEED A/T)C090A01O-GAT(If installed)The highly efficient Hyundai automatic transaxle
has four forward speeds and one reverse
speed. The individual speeds are selected au-
tomatically, 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 selection.
HSM3022 C050B01L-AAT
Normal Conditions:The Starting Procedure:
1. Insert key, and fasten the seat belt.
2. Depress the brake pedal fully and place the
selector lever 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.
4. Turn the ignition key to the "START" position
and release it when the engine starts.
After the engine has started, allow the engine
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.
2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
7
!
C090E01O-AATo D(Drive):Use for normal driving. The transaxle will auto-
matically shift through a four gear sequence.C090D02O-AATo 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.
C090B02A-AATThe 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. Whenever parking the
car, apply the parking brake and shift the selec-
tor lever to the "P" (Park) position.
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.
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.NOTE:
Depress the brake pedal and push the
button when shifting.
Push the button when shifting.
The selector lever can be shifted freely.
The indicator lights in the instrument cluster
indicate the selector lever position when the
ignition is switched "ON". During "D" range
operation, green lights indicate the gear cur-
rently in use.
C090F01JM-GATSports ModeWhether the vehicle is stationary or in motion,
sports mode is selected by pushing the selector
lever from the "D" position into the manual gate.
To return to "D" range operation, push the
selector lever back into the main gate.
In sports mode, moving the selector lever back-
wards and forwards can make gearshifts simple.
UP (+) : Push the lever forward once to shift up
one gear.
DOWN (-) : Pull the lever backwards once to
shift down one gear.
SKIP : By rapidly moving the selector forwards
or backwards twice, it is possible to skip one
gear, i.e. 1st to 3rd or 3rd to 1st.
C090F01O
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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
9
!
OPERATING THE AUTOMATIC
TRANSAXLE (5 SPEED A/T)C095A01O-AAT(If installed)
HSM3022
The highly efficient Hyundai automatic transaxle
has five 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 selection.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).
HSM3022-1
CAUTION:
Never shift into "R" or "P" position while the
vehicle is moving.
C090B01A-AATThe 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. 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.
!
NOTE:
Depress the brake pedal and push the
button when shifting.
Push the button when shifting.
The selector lever can be shifted freely.
The indicator lights in the instrument cluster
indicate the selector lever position when the
ignition is switched "ON". During sports mode
operation, green lights indicate the gear cur-
rently in use.
2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
14
C300D02O-AATIndicator and WarningThe TCS indicator should illuminate when the
ignition key is turned to ON or START but should
go out after approximately three seconds.
If the indicator does not illuminate, have the
system checked by an authorized dealer.
Should there be any unusual conditions in the
TCS system while driving, TCS illuminates as a
warning.
If TCS illuminates, pull your car to a safe place
and stop the engine. Then, start the engine
again to check if the TCS 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:When the TCS indicator illuminates, trac-
tion control is automatically deactivated.
C300B01O-AATTCS ON ModeWhen the TCS is operating, the TCS indicator
in the instrument cluster will blink.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 op-
erating properly, you can feel a slight
pulsation in the vehicle. This is only the
effect of the brake control and indicates
nothing unusual.
3) When the engine starts, a click may be
heard from the engine compartment;
however, this is the sound of the 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.
!!
CAUTION:
When the TCS indicator blinks, SLIP func-
tion has been activated. It also means that
the road is slippery or your car is accelerat-
ing excessively. In this situation, gently
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.
2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
15
FULL TRACTION CONTROL SYS-
TEM (FTCS)C310A01O-AAT(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 helps to provide sufficient
driving force and steering performance as the
car turns.
HSM434
!
SLIP ControlLimits 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 HintsTCS 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:
Traction control is only a driving aid; all
normal precautions for driving in inclement
weather and on slippery road surfaces
should be observed.
!
C310B02O-AATTCS ON/OFF ModeWhen the TCS is operating, 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 op-
erating 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 may be
heard from the engine compartment;
this is the sound of the 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.
2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
19
!
WARNING:
o Avoid high cornering speeds.
o Do not make quick steering wheel move-
ments, such as sharp lane charges or
fast, sharp turns.
o The risk of rollover is greatly increased if
you lose control of your vehicle at high-
way speeds.
o In a collision, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to be seriously
injured or killed than a person wearing a
seat belt.
o Loss of control may 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.
LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIALD190A01HP-GAT(If installed)A limited-slip differential, if equipped, is for the
rear wheel differential only. The features of this
limited-slip differential are described below:
Just as with a conventional differential, the
wheel on one side is allowed to turn at a different
speed from the wheel on the other side when the
vehicle is cornering. The difference between
the limited-slip differential and a conventional
differential is that if the wheel on one side of the
vehicle loses traction, a greater amount of
torque is applied to the rear wheel on the other
side to improve traction.
CAUTION:
o Never start the engine with the gearshift
lever placed in the forward or reverse
while one of the rear wheels is jacked up
and the other in contact with the
ground; doing so may cause the vehicle
to jump forward.
o Use only recommended oil for LSD in
the rear axle.
See page 9-5 for the recommended oil
descriptions.
!
!GOOD BRAKING PRACTICESC130A01L-AAT
WARNING:
Nothing should be carried on top of the
cargo area cover 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 while driving slowly 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.
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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
20
DRIVING FOR ECONOMYC140A02A-AATYou 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. o Under some conditions your parking brake
can freeze in the engaged position. This is
most likely to happen when there is an ac-
cumulation 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" 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. 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 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. Firmly
engage the parking brake and place the gear
selector lever in "P". 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.