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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
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WARNING:
o The 2WD Tucson is not designed for off-
road use. The 4WD Tucson is designed
primarily for use on paved roads. How-
ever, occasional use in off-highway con-
ditions such as established unpaved
roads and non-challenging off-road
trails is allowed. The 4WD Tucson 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 vehicles have a significantly higher
rollover rate than other types of vehicles.o Utility vehicle have higher ground clear-
ance 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 gravitiy than ordinary cars. An advan-
tage of the higher ground clearance is a
better view of the road allowing you to
anticipate problem. They are not de-
signed for cornering at the same speeds
as conventional 2-wheel drive vehicles
any more than low-slung sports cars are
designed to perform satisfactorily un-
der off-road conditions. If at all possible,
avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers.
As with other vehicles of this type, fail-
ure to operate this vehicle correctly may
result in loss of control or vehicle rollover.
o In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt.
WARNING:
RISK OF ROLLOVER
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WARNING:
Your vehicle is equipped with tires de-
signed to provide for safe ride and handling
capability.
Do not use a size and type of tire and wheel
that is different from the one that is origi-
nally installed on your vehicle. It can affect
the safety and performance of your vehicle,
which could lead to handling failure or
rollover and serious injury.
When replacing the tires, be sure to equip
all four tires with the tire and wheel of the
same size, type, tread, brand and load-
carrying capacity. If you nevertheless de-
cide to equip your vehicle with any tire/
wheel combination not recommended by
Hyundai for off-road driving, you should
not use these tires for highway driving.
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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
4
TO START THE ENGINEC030A01E-AATCOMBINATION IGNITION SWITCHo If your Hyundai is equipped with a manual
transaxle, place the shift lever in neutral and
depress the clutch pedal fully.
o If your Hyundai has an automatic transaxle,
place the shift lever in "P" (park).
o To start the engine, insert the ignition key and
turn it to the "START" position. Release it as
soon as the engine starts. Do not hold the
key in the "START" position for more that 15
seconds.NOTE:o For safety, the engine will not start if the
clutch pedal is not depressed fully
(Manual Transaxle) or the shift lever is
not in "P" or "N" Position (Automatic
Transaxle).
o The ignition key cannot be turned from
"ACC" position to "LOCK" position un-
less the shift lever is in the "P" (Park)
position or the negative battery terminal
is disconnected from the battery. To
remove the key, always confirm that the
shift lever is securely positioned in "P"
(Park) (For Automatic Transaxle).
o For additional information about start-
ing, see page 2-6.
BEFORE STARTING THE ENGINEC020A03A-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.
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WARNING:
o All passengers must be properly belted
whenever the vehicle is moving. Refer to
pages: 1-18 through 1-24 for more infor-
mation on their proper use.
o Always check the surrounding areas near
your vehicle for people, especially chil-
dren, before putting a car into 'drive.'
!
WARNING:
Always wear appropriate shoes when oper-
ating your vehicle.
Unsuitable shoes (high heels, ski boots,
etc.) may interfere with your ability to use
the brake and accelerator pedal, and the
clutch (if installed).
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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
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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.C050B02JM-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.
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C050A01E-1
STARTING!
C050A01A-AAT
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.
WARNING:
Always fully depress the brake pedal before
and while shifting out of the "P" Park posi-
tion into another position to avoid inad-
vertent motion of the vehicle which could
injure persons in or around the car.
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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
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WARNING:
o Always buckle-up! In a collision, an
unbelted occupant is significantly more
likely to be seriously injured or killed
than a properly belted occupant.
o Avoid high speeds when cornering or
turning.
o Do not make quick steering wheel move-
ments, such as sharp lane changes or
fast, sharp turns.
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 Never exceed posted speed limits.
C070D02O-AATRecommended Shift PointsThe shift points as shown on the chart are
recommended for optimum fuel economy and
performance.
Shift
from-to
1-2
2-3
3-4
4-5Recommended
mph (km/h)
15 (20)
25 (40)
35 (55)
45 (75)
C070D04O-AATGood 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.
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.
o Optimum vehicle performance and economy
is obtained by smoothly depressing and
releasing the accelerator pedal.
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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
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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.C090C02A-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.
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.
HJM3020
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WARNING:
Always apply the brake pedal when you
stop the vehicle on an inclined road with the
shift lever in the D (Drive) position. Do NOT
rely on the engine and transaxle to prevent
the vehicle from rolling down the hill.
Before attempting to backup on an inclined
road, always apply the brake pedal before
moving the shift lever to the R (Reverse)
position.
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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
12
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C090N05O-AATGood Driving Practiceso 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 Always buckle-up! In a collision, an
unbelted occupant is significantly more
likely to be seriously injured or killed
than a properly belted occupant.
o Avoid high speeds when cornering or
turning.
o Do not make quick steering wheel move-
ments, such as sharp lane changes or
fast, sharp turns.
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 Never exceed posted speed limits. o Optimum vehicle performance and economy
is obtained by smoothly depressing and
releasing the accelerator pedal.
CAUTION:
If your vehicle becomes stuck in snow,
mud, sand, etc., then you may attempt to
rock the vehicle free by moving it forward
and backward. Do not attempt this proce-
dure if people or objects are anywhere near
the vehicle. During the rocking operation
the vehicle may suddenly move forward of
backward as it becomes unstuck, causing
injury to nearby people or damage to ob-
jects.
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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
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WARNING:
ABS / TCS / ESC will not prevent accidents
due to improper or dangerous driving ma-
neuvers. Even though vehicle control is
improved during emergency braking, al-
ways 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 / TCS / ESC
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 / TCS / ESC
equipped vehicle should not be tested by
high speed driving or cornering. This could
endanger the safety of yourself or others.
TRACTION CONTROL
SYSTEM (TCS)C300A03Y-GAT(If installed)
C300A01JM-U
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.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.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS)C120A01JM-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:o A click sound may be heard in the engine
compartment when the vehicle begins
to move after the engine is started. These
conditions are normal and indicate that
the anti-lock brake system / Traction
Control System / Electronic Stability Con-
trol is functioning properly.
o During ABS / TCS / ESC operation, a
pulsation may be felt in the brake pedal
when the brakes are applied. Also, a
noise may be heard in the engine com-
partment while braking. These condi-
tions are normal and indicate that the
anti-lock brake system / Traction Con-
trol System / Electronic Stability Control
System is functioning properly.
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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
14
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Driving HintsTCS does not actively apply brakes. Be sure to
decelerate the car sufficiently before entering
curves.
CAUTION:
When the TCS indicator blinks, SLIP con-
trol function has been activated. It also
means that the road is slippery or your car
is accelerating excessively. In this situa-
tion, gently release foot pressure from the
accelerator pedal and maintain moderate
speed.
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WARNING:
Traction control is a driving aid; all normal
precautions for driving in inclement weath-
er and on slippery driving 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.
C310D01JM-AATIndicators and WarningThe indicators should illuminate when the igni-
tion key is turned to ON or START but should
go out after approximately three seconds.
If the indicators do not illuminate, or the TCS or
TCS-OFF indicator does not go out after 3
seconds, have the system checked by an
authorized dealer.
Should there be any unusual conditions in the
TCS System while driving, TCS-OFF indicator
illuminates 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:When the TCS-OFF indicator illuminates,
traction control is automatically deacti-
vated.