2008 Hyundai Accent Owner's Manual

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
14
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 ac-
tion 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.
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 auto-
matic 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.
Firmly engage the parking brake and
place the gear selector lever in "P"
(automatic transaxle) or in first or re-
verse 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.
GOOD BRAKING PRAC-
TICES!
C130A02A-AAT
WARNING:
o Whenever leaving vehicle or park-
ing, always set the parking brake as
far as possible and fully engage the
vehicle's transaxle into the park po-
sition. Vehicles not fully engaged in
park with the parking brake set are
at risk for moving inadvertently and
injuring yourself or others.
o All vehicles should always have the
parking brake fully engaged when
parking to avoid inadvertent move-
ment of the car which can injure
occupants or pedestrians.
o 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 for-
ward and cause damage to the ve-
hicle 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.

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
152
DRIVING FOR ECONOMYC140A02A-AATYou can save fuel and get more miles
from your car if you follow these sugges-
tions:
o Drive smoothly. Accelerate at a mod-
erate 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
possible. Always maintain a safe dis-
tance from other vehicles so you can
avoid unnecessary 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, espe-
cially on the highway, is one of the
most effective ways to reduce fuel con-
sumption.
o Don't "ride" the brake or clutch pedal.
This can increase fuel consumption
and also increase wear on these com-
ponents. In addition, driving with your
foot resting on the brake pedal may
cause the brakes to overheat, which
reduces their effectiveness and may
lead to more serious consequences. o Under some conditions your parking
brake can freeze in the engaged posi-
tion. 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 transaxle to overheat. Al-
ways use the brake pedal or parking
brake.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 Be sure that the wheels are aligned
correctly. Improper alignment can re-
sult from hitting curbs or driving too fast
over irregular surfaces. Poor align-
ment causes faster tire wear and may
also result in other problems as well as
greater fuel consumption.
o Keep your car in good condition. For
better fuel economy and reduced main-
tenance costs, maintain your car in
accordance with the maintenance
schedule in Section 5. If you drive your
car in severe conditions, more fre-
quent maintenance is required (see
Section 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 important 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
corrosion.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
16
WINTER DRIVINGC160A01A-AATThe 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: o Travel lightly. Don't carry unnecessary
weight in your car. Weight reduces fuel
economy.
o Don't let the engine idle longer than
necessary. If you are waiting (and not
in traffic), turn off your engine and
restart only when you're ready to go.
o Remember, your Hyundai does not
require extended warm-up. After the
engine has started, allow the engine to
run for 10 to 20 seconds prior to plac-
ing the vehicle in gear. In very cold
weather, however, give your engine a
slightly longer warm-up period.
o Don't "lug" or "over-rev" the engine.
Lugging is driving too slowly in too
high a gear resulting in the engine
bucking. If this happens, shift to a lower
gear. Over-revving is racing the en-
gine beyond its safe limit. This can be
avoided by shifting at the recommend-
ed speeds.
o Use your air conditioning sparingly.
The air conditioning system is oper-
ated by engine power so your fuel
economy is reduced when you use it.
SMOOTH CORNERINGC150A01A-AATAvoid braking or gear changing in cor-
ners, especially when roads are wet. Ide-
ally, corners should always be taken
under gentle acceleration. If you follow
these suggestions, tire wear will be held
to a minimum.

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
172
C160D01A-AATCheck Battery and CablesWinter puts additional burdens on the
battery system. Visually inspect the bat-
tery 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.C160C01A-AATUse High Quality Ethylene Glycol
CoolantYour Hyundai is delivered with high qual-
ity ethylene 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, lubri-
cates the water pump and prevents freez-
ing. Be sure to replace or replenish your
coolant in accordance with the mainte-
nance schedule in Section 5. Before win-
ter, have your coolant tested to assure
that its freezing point is sufficient for the
temperatures anticipated during the win-
ter.
C160B01A-AATSnowy or Icy ConditionsTo 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 han-
dling of your car. Furthermore, speeding,
rapid acceleration, sudden brake appli-
cations, and sharp turns are potentially
very hazardous practices.
During deceleration, use engine braking
to the fullest extent. Sudden brake appli-
cations on snowy or icy roads may cause
skids to occur. You need to keep suffi-
cient 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.
C160E01A-AATChange to "Winter Weight" Oil if
NecessaryIn 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.C160F02A-AATCheck Spark Plugs and Ignition
SystemInspect your spark plugs 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.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
18
C160K01A-AATCarry Emergency EquipmentDepending 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.
C160H01A-AATUse Approved Anti-Freeze in Win-
dow Washer SystemTo keep the water in the window washer
system from freezing, add an approved
anti-freeze solution in accordance with
instructions on the container. Window
washer anti-freeze is available 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.C160G01A-AATTo Keep Locks from FreezingTo keep the locks from freezing, squirt an
approved 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.
C160I01A-AATDon't Let Your Parking Brake FreezeUnder 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 re-
lease the parking brake.C160J01A-AATDon't Let Ice and Snow Accumulate
UnderneathUnder some conditions, snow and ice
can build up under the fenders and inter-
fere with the steering. When driving in
severe winter conditions where this may
happen, you should periodically check
underneath the car to be sure the move-
ment of the front wheels and the steering
components is not obstructed.

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
192
!
!
USE OF LIGHTSC180A01A-AATCheck 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.
HIGHER SPEED MOTORINGC170A02A-AATPre-Trip Inspections1. Tires:
Adjust the tire inflation pressures for high-
way 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 fail-
ure.NOTE:Never exceed the maximum tire infla-
tion pressure shown on the tires.
WARNING:
o Underinflated or overinflated tires
can cause poor handling, loss of ve-
hicle control, and sudden tire failure
leading to accidents, injuries, and
even death. Always check tires are
properly inflated before driving. Refer
to pages 2-20 and 8-3 for proper tire
pressures and further information.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. o Driving on tires with no or insuffi-
cient tread is dangerous. Worn-out
tires can result in loss of vehicle
control, collisions, injury, and even
death. Worn-out tires should be re-
placed as soon as possible and
should never be used for driving.
Always check tire tread before driv-
ing your car. Refer to 8-12 for further
information and tread limits.
WARNING:

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
20
TRAILER TOWINGC190A01A-AATYour Hyundai should not be used to tow
a trailer. It is designed to be compact and
light for good fuel economy, and is not
designed as a trailer-towing vehicle.
Damages or malfunctions caused by tow-
ing may not be covered by the limited
warranties applying to your Hyundai.
Damages or malfunctions that result from
towing a trailer for commercial purposes
are specifically not covered by Hyundai
limited warranties.
C190A01MC
VEHICLE LOAD LIMITC190F01MC-AATTire and Loading Information Label
C190F01MC-1
C190F01MC-2
Type A
Type B
C190F01MC-3
C190F01MC-4
Type C
Type D

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
212
Steps for Determining Correct Load
Limit
(1)Locate the statement "The com-
bined weight of occupants and cargo
should never exceed XXX pounds''
on your vehicle's placard.
(2)Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will
be riding in your vehicle.
(3)Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from XXX
kilograms or XXX pounds.
(4)The resulting figure equals the avail-
able amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity. For example, if the
"XXX" amount equals 1400 lbs, and
there will be five 150 lb. passengers
in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capac-
ity is 650 lbs. (1400-750 (5 x 150) =
650 lbs.) The tire label located on the driver's
side of the center pillar outer panel
gives the original tire size, cold tire
pressures recommended for your ve-
hicle, the number of people that can be
in your vehicle and vehicle capacity
weight.
Vehicle capacity weight:
849 lbs (385 kg)
Vehicle capacity weight is the maxi-
mum combined weight of occupants
and cargo. If your vehicle is equipped
with a trailer, the combined weight
includes the tongue load.
Seating capacity:
Total: 5 persons
(Front seat: 2 persons,
Rear seat: 3 persons)
Seating capacity is the maximum num-
ber of occupants including a driver,
your vehicle may carry.However the seating capacity may be
reduced based upon the weight of all
of the occupants, and the weight of the
cargo being carried or towed. Do not
overload the vehicle as there is a limit
to the total weight, or load limit includ-
ing occupants and cargo, the vehicle
can carry.
Towing capacity:
We do not recommend using this ve-
hicle for trailer towing.
Cargo capacity:
The cargo capacity of your vehicle will
increase or decrease depending on the
weight and the number of occupants
and the tongue load, if your vehicle is
equipped with a trailer.