2008 Hyundai Sonata coolant reservoir

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
57
B330A03A-AATTACHOMETERThe tachometer registers the speed of your
engine in revolutions per minute (rpm).
CAUTION:
The engine should not be raced to such a
speed that the needle enters the red zone
on the tachometer face. This can cause
severe engine damage and may void your
warranty coverage.
!
!
B290A03A-AATENGINE COOLANT TEMPERATURE
GAUGE
WARNING:Never remove the radiator cap when the
engine is hot. The engine coolant is under
pressure and could erupt and cause severe
burns. Wait until the engine is cool before
adding coolant to the reservoir.The normal range is approximately in the middle
between "H" and "C". If it moves across the dial
to "H" (HOT), pull over and stop as soon as
possible and turn off the engine. Then open the
hood and, after the engine has cooled, check the
coolant level (See "If the engine overheats" on
the page 3-4.) and the water pump drive belt. If you
suspect cooling system trouble, have your cool-
ing system checked by a Hyundai dealer as soon
as possible.
B290A01NF
B330A01NFRed
Zone

34WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY
IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS
!!
!
WARNING:
While the engine is running, keep hair,
hands and clothing away from moving parts
such as the fan and drive belts to prevent
injury.
5. If the water pump drive belt is broken or
engine coolant is leaking out, stop the engine
immediately and call the nearest Hyundai
dealer for assistance.
WARNING:
Do not remove the radiator cap when the
engine is hot. This can allow coolant to be
blown out of the opening and cause seri-
ous burns.6. If you cannot find the cause of the overheat-
ing, wait until the engine temperature has
returned to normal. Then, if coolant has been
lost, carefully add coolant to the reservoir
(page 6-9) to bring the fluid level in the
reservoir up to the halfway mark.
7. Proceed with caution, keeping alert for fur-
ther signs of overheating. If overheating
happens again, call a Hyundai dealer for
assistance.
CAUTION:
Serious loss of coolant indicates there is a
leak in the cooling system and this should
be checked as soon as possible by a Hyundai
dealer.
D030A02A-AATIf your temperature gauge indicates overheat-
ing, you experience a loss of power, or hear loud
pinging or knocking, the engine is probably too
hot. If this happens, you should:
1. Pull off the road and stop as soon as it is safe
to do so.
2. Place the gear selector lever in "P" (auto-
matic) or neutral (manual transaxle) and set
the parking brake. If the air conditioning is on,
turn it off.
3. If engine coolant is running out under the car
or steam is coming out from the hood, stop
the engine. Do not open the hood until the
coolant has stopped running or the steaming
has stopped. If there is no visible loss of
engine coolant and no steam, leave the
engine running and check to be sure the
engine cooling fan is operating. If the fan is
not running, turn the engine off.
4. Check to see if the water pump drive belt is
missing. If it is not missing, check to see that
it is tight. If the drive belt seems to be
satisfactory, check for coolant leaking from
the radiator, hoses or under the car. (If the
air conditioning had been in use, it is normal
for cold water to be draining from it when you
stop).

5
VEHICLE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS8
F070G02A-AATo Brake FluidCheck brake fluid level in the brake fluid reser-
voir. The level should be between "MIN" and
"MAX" marks on the side of the reservoir. Use
only hydraulic brake fluid conforming to DOT 3
or DOT 4.F070F01A-AATo Brake Hoses and LinesVisually check for proper installation, chafing,
cracks, deterioration and any leakage. Replace
any deteriorated or damaged parts immedi-
ately.
F070E06A-AATo Automatic Transaxle FluidThe fluid level should be in the “HOT” range of
the dipstick, after the engine and transaxle are
at normal operating temperature. Check the
automatic transaxle fluid level with the engine
running and the transaxle in neutral, with the
parking brake properly applied. Use HYUNDAI
GENUINE ATF SP III, DIAMOND ATF SP III, SK
ATF SP III or other brands meeting the SP III
specification approved by Hyundai Motor Co.
when adding or changing fluid. Using the wrong
ATF may result in damage to the ATM.
F070H01A-AATo Rear Brake Drums and Linings/
Parking BrakeCheck the rear brake drums and linings for
scoring, burning, leaking fluid, broken parts,
and excessive wear. Inspect the parking brake
system including the parking brake lever and
cables. For detailed service procedures, refer
to the Shop Manual.
F070C01A-AATo CoolantThe coolant should be changed at the intervals
specified in the maintenance schedule.
F060J01A-AATo Spark PlugsMake sure to install new spark plugs of the
correct heat range.F060H01A-AATo Air Cleaner FilterA Genuine Hyundai air cleaner filter is recom-
mended when the filter is replaced.F060G01A-AATo Vapor Hose and Fuel Filler CapThe vapor hose and fuel filler cap should be
inspected at those intervals specified in the
maintenance schedule. Make sure that a new
vapor hose or fuel filler cap is correctly re-
placed.
F070D01A-AATo Manual Transaxle OilInspect the manual transaxle oil according to
the maintenance schedule.NOTE:If the oil level is low, check for possible leaks
before adding oil. Do not overfill.
F060N02E-AATo Valve ClearanceInspect excessive valve noise and/or engine
vibration and adjust if necessary. A qualified
technician should perform the operation.

6
DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
2
G010B01NF-AAT(2.4 DOHC)ENGINE COMPARTMENT
7G010B01NF
CAUTION:
When inspecting or servicing the
engine, you should handle tools
and other heavy objects carefully
so that the plastic cover of the
engine is not damaged.
!
1. Coolant reservoir cap
2. Engine oil filler cap
3. Air cleaner
4. Brake fluid reservoir5. Fuse and relay box
6. Windshield washer fluid reservoir
7. Power steering fluid reservoir
8. Engine oil level dipstick9. Automatic transaxle oil level
dipstick (If Installed)
10. Radiator cap
11. Battery

6
DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
3
G010A01NF-AAT(3.3 V6)
7G010A01NF
CAUTION:
When inspecting or servicing the
engine, you should handle tools
and other heavy objects carefully
so that the plastic cover of the
engine is not damaged.
!
1. Coolant reservoir cap
2. Engine oil filler cap
3. Air cleaner
4. Brake fluid reservoir5. Fuse and relay box
6. Windshield washer fluid reservoir
7. Power steering fluid reservoir
8. Engine oil level dipstick9. Automatic transaxle oil level dipstick
10. Radiator cap
11. Battery

6
DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
9
G050B01A-AATRecommended Engine CoolantUse a high quality ethylene-glycol coolant in a
50/50 mix with water. The engine coolant should
be compatible with aluminum engine parts.
Additional corrosion inhibitors or additives should
not be used. The cooling system must be
maintained with the correct concentration and
type of engine coolant to prevent freezing and
corrosion. Never allow the concentration of
antifreeze to exceed the 60% level or go below
the 35% level, or damage to the cooling system
may result. For proper concentration when
adding or replacing the engine coolant, refer to
the following table.
Ambient
temperature
°F (°C)
5 (-15)
-13 (-25)
-31 (-35)
-49 (-45)
65%
60%
50%
40% 35%
40%
50%
60%Water Antifreeze
solution Engine Coolant concentration
G050C01NF-GATTo Check the Coolant LevelThe coolant level can be seen on the side of the
plastic coolant reservoir. The level of the cool-
ant should be between the "L" and "F" lines on
the reservoir when the engine is warm with it at
idle . If the level is below the "L" mark, add engine
coolant to bring it up to "F". If the level is low,
inspect for coolant leaks and recheck the fluid
level frequently. If the level drops again, visit
your Hyundai dealer for an inspection and
diagnosis of the reason.
G050C01NFG050D01NF-GAT
To Change the Engine CoolantThe engine coolant should be changed at those
intervals specified in the vehicle maintenance
schedule in Section 5.
CAUTION:
o Engine coolant can damage the finish of
your car. If you spill engine coolant on
the car, wash it off thoroughly with clean
water.
o The engine in your vehicle has alumi-
num engine parts and must be protected
by an ethylene-glycol base coolant to
prevent corrosion and freezing.
Do not use hard water. Hard water can
cause engine damage from corrosion,
overheating or freezing.
!
1. Park the car on level ground, set the parking
brake and remove the radiator cap when
cool.

6
DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
10
3. Be sure your drain receptacle is in place.
Open the drain cock on the radiator. Allow all
the engine coolant to drain from the cooling
system, and then securely close the drain
cock.
4. Check Section 9 for the capacity of the
cooling system in your car. Then, following
the manufacturer's directions on the engine
coolant container, add the appropriate quan-
tity of coolant to the radiator.
5. Slowly fill the radiator with the proper coolant
mixture (see the "Recommended Engine
Coolant in previous page) until the fluid level
stays up in the radiator neck. And pump the
radiator hose in order to bleed the air.
HNF5008
2. Wrap a thick cloth around the radiator cap
and slowly turn the radiator cap counter-
clockwise without pressing down on it, until
it stops. This relieves any pressure remain-
ing in the cooling system. When you are sure
that all the pressure has been released,
remove the radiator cap by pushing down
and turning counterclockwise.
G050D02NF-A
G050D01NF
6. Run the engine at idle until the coolant circu-
lates. If the cooling fan operates and the
coolant starts to circulate, add the coolant to
the reservoir.
7. To bleed the air in the cooling system, repeat
procedure 6 until the cooling fan operates
3~5 times.
8. Replace the radiator cap and turn it until
tightly installed. And then, add coolant to the
reservoir until the level is between "L" and
"F".
9. Stop the engine and check the coolant level
when the engine is cool. The level of the
coolant should be the "L" and "F" lines on the
reservoir. If the level is below the "L" line,
repeat the procedure 4~8 until the level
between "L" and "F".

6
DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
11
!!
10.Replace the reservoir cap and check to be
sure the drain cock and the radiator cap are
fully closed and not leaking.
CAUTION:
Recheck after a few days and add the cool-
ant if the level is below the "L" level.
WARNING:
The cooling fan is controlled by engine
coolant temperature and may sometimes
operate even when the engine is not run-
ning. Use extreme caution when working
near the blades of the coolant fan so that
you are not injured by a rotating fan blade.
As the engine coolant temperature de-
creases, the fan will automatically shut off.
This is a normal condition.
CAUTION:
o Operating your vehicle without using a
proper air cleaner filter in place can result
in excessive engine wear.
o When removing the air cleaner filter, be
careful that dust or dirt does not enter
the air intake. These may result in dam-
age to the air cleaner filter.
!
CHANGING THE AIR
CLEANER FILTERG070A03Y-AATThe replacement of the air cleaner filter is
performed in the following manner.
1. Unsnap the clips around the cover.
2. When this is done, the cover can be lifted off,
the old filter removed and the new filter put in
its place.
Genuine Hyundai replacement parts are rec-
ommended.
HNF5011