2008 HYUNDAI TUCSON maintenance schedule

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
11
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o To maintain the required levels of ve-
hicle performance and safety, the sys-
tem may not execute certain gearshifts
when the selector lever is operated.
o Before driving away from a stop on a
slippery road, push the selector lever
forward into the +(UP) position. This
causes the transaxle to shift into 2nd
gear which is better for smooth driving
away on a slippery road. Push the selec-
tor lever to the -(DOWN) side to shift
back to 1st gear.
CAUTION:
o In sports mode, The driver must execute
shifts in accordance with prevailing road
conditions, taking care to keep the en-
gine speed below the red zone. For en-
gine protection, upward shifts are made
automatically when the engine rpm
reaches the red zone.
o By rapidly moving the selector lever back-
wards (-) twice, it is possible to skip one
gear, i.e., 3rd to 1st, 4th to 2nd. Since
sudden engine braking and/or rapid ac-
celeration can cause a loss of traction,
however, downshifts must be made care-
fully in accordance with the vehicle's
speed.NOTE:o In sports mode, only the four forward
gears can be selected. To select reverse
or park, move the selector lever to the "R"
or "P" position as required.
o In sports mode, downward shifts are
made automatically when the vehicle
slows down. When the vehicle stops, 1st
gear is automatically selected.
C090H01L-GATNOTE: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" position to "P" position. The
vehicle must be fully stopped to avoid
transaxle damage.
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C090I04L-GAT
CAUTION:
o Shift into "R", "D" 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" or "D"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
unattended while the engine is running.
o When accelerating from a stop on a
steep hill, the vehicle may have a ten-
dency to roll backwards. Shifting the
shift lever into 2nd gear while in Sport
mode will help prevent the vehicle from
rolling backwards.
o Check the automatic transaxle fluid level
regularly, and add fluid as necessary.
o See the maintenance schedule for the
proper fluid recommendation.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
22
o Be sure that the wheels are aligned cor-
rectly. Improper alignment can result from
hitting curbs or driving too fast over irregular
surfaces. Poor alignment 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 maintenance
costs, maintain your car in accordance with
the maintenance schedule in Section 5. If
you drive your car in severe conditions,
more frequent 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 impor-
tant 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 corro-
sion.
o Travel lightly. Don't carry unnecessary
weight in your car. Weight reduces fuel
economy.
o Don't let the engine idle longer than neces-
sary. 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 placing 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 result-
ing in the engine bucking. If this happens,
shift to a lower gear. Over-revving is racing
the engine beyond its safe limit. This can be
avoided by shifting at the recommended
speeds.
o Use your air conditioning sparingly. The air
conditioning system is operated by engine
power so your fuel economy is reduced
when you use it.
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.

6
DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
6
WARNING:
Be very careful not to touch the radiator
hose when adding the engine oil as it may
be hot enough to burn you.
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CHANGING THE OIL AND FILTER
If the oil level is close to or below the "L" mark,
add oil until it reaches the "F" mark. To add oil:
1. Remove the oil filler cap by turning it counter-
clockwise.
2. Add oil, then check the level again. Do not
overfill.
3. Replace the cap by turning it clockwise.
The distance between the "F" and "L" marks is
equal to about 1 quart of oil.The engine oil and filter should be changed at
those intervals specified in the maintenance
schedule in Section 5. If the car is being driven
in severe conditions, more frequent oil and filter
changes are required.
The procedure for changing the oil and filter is
as follows:
1. Park the car on level ground and set the
parking brake. Start the engine and let it
warm up until the needle on the coolant
temperature gauge moves above the lowest
mark. Turn the engine off and place the gear
selector lever in "P" (automatic) or reverse
gear (manual transaxle).G030D01JM-AATAdding Oil
G030D01JM
DOHC V6
G040A01GK
DOHC V6
G040A02JM-AAT

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DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
9
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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. 2. Turn the radiator cap counterclockwise with-
out pressing down on it, until it stops. This
relieves any pressure remaining in the cool-
ing system. And remove the radiator cap by
pushing down and turning counterclock-
wise.
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, 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. Fill the radiator with clean demineralized or
distilled water. Continue to add clean dem-
ineralized or distilled water in small quantities
until the fluid level stays up in the radiator
neck.6. Start the engine, top off the radiator with
water and then add coolant to the reservoir
until the level is between "L" and "F".
7. Replace the radiator and reservoir caps and
check to be sure the drain cocks are fully
closed and not leaking.
G050D02A-AATTo Change the Engine CoolantThe engine coolant should be changed at those
intervals specified in the vehicle maintenance
schedule in Section 5.
HJM5034G050D01JM
CAUTION:
Engine coolant can damage the finish of
your car. If you spill engine coolant on the
car, wash it off thoroughly with clean water.
1. Park the car on level ground, set the park-
ing brake and remove the radiator cap when
cool.

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DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
11
G090A01JM
FILLING THE WASHER RESERVOIRG090A02JM-AATThe washer fluid reservoir supplies fluid to the
front and rear washer systems.
A good quality washer fluid should be used to fill
the washer reservoir. The fluid level should be
checked more frequently during inclement
weather or whenever the washer system is in
more frequent use.
The capacity of the washer reservoir is 3.59
U.S. quarts (3.4 Liters).
CAUTION:
o Radiator anti-freeze (engine coolant)
should not be used in the washer system
because it will damage the car's finish.
o The washer should not be operated if the
washer reservoir is empty. This can dam-
age the washer fluid pump.
!!
WARNING:
o Windshield washer fluid agents contain
some amounts of alcohol and can be
flammable under certain circumstances.
Do not allow sparks or flame to contact
the washer fluid or the washer fluid
reservoir. Damage to the vehicle or its
occupants could occur.
o Windshield washer fluid is poisonous to
humans and animals. Do not drink wind-
shield washer fluid. Serious injury or
death could occur.
CHECKING THE TRANSAXLE OIL
(MANUAL)G100A02JM-AATTransaxle lubricant in the manual transaxle
should be checked at those intervals specified
in the vehicle maintenance schedule in Section
5.Recommended OilUse only HYUNDAI GENUINE PARTS MTF
75W/85 (API GL-4) or EQUIVALENT in the
manual transaxle.Manual Transaxle Oil CapacityThe oil capacity of the manual transaxle is 2.2
U.S. quarts (2.1 liters).
HJM5009
Filler plug
Drain plug

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DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
12
CHECKING THE TRANSAXLE
FLUID (AUTOMATIC)G110A01E-AATTransaxle fluid in the automatic transaxle should
be checked at those intervals specified in the
vehicle maintenance schedule in Section 5.NOTE:Automatic transaxle fluid is basically red
color. As driving distance increases, the
fluid color turns darkish red gradually. It is
a normal condition and you should not
judge the need to replace based upon the
changing color.
You must replace the automatic transaxle
fluid in accordance with intervals specified
in the vehicle maintenance schedule in
section 5.
G100B01L
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G100B02A-AATTo Check the Manual Transaxle Fluid
Level
WARNING:
It is always better to check the transaxle oil
level when the engine is cool or cold. If the
engine is hot, you should exercise great
caution to avoid burning yourself on hot
engine or exhaust parts.
Park the car on level ground with the engine off.
1. Using a wrench of the correct size, loosen
the oil filler plug by turning it counterclock-
wise and remove it with your fingers.
2. Use your finger or suitable tool to feel inside
the hole. The oil level should be at its bottom
edge. If it is not, check for leaks before
adding oil. To refill the transaxle or bring the
oil level up,add oil slowly until it reaches the
proper level. Do not overfill.
3. Replace the plug and washer, screw it in with
your fingers and then tighten securely with
the wrench.

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DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
14
3. Confirm if the fluid level is in “HOT” range on
the level gauge. If the fluid level is lower, add
the specified fluid from the fill hole. If the fluid
level is higher, drain the fluid from the drain
hole.
4. If the fluid level is checked in cold condition
(fluid temperature 68~86°F), add the fluid to
the “COLD” line and then recheck the fluid
level according to the above step 2.
HJM5044
CHECKING THE BRAKES
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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 cooling 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. HOT
G120A01A-AAT
CAUTION:
Because brakes are essential to the safe
operation of the car, it is suggested that
they be checked and inspected by your
Hyundai dealer. The brakes should be
checked and inspected for wear at those
intervals specified in the vehicle mainte-
nance schedule in Section 5.
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COLD

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DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
25
HEADLIGHT AIMING ADJUSTMENT
6. Draw a vertical line (through the center of
each headlight beam pattern) and a horizon-
tal line (through the center of each headlight
beam pattern) on the aiming screen.
And then, draw a parallel line at 0.8 in. (21
mm) under the horizontal line.
7. Adjust each cut-off line of the low beam to the
parallel line with a phillips screwdriver -
VERTICAL AIMING.
G290A03O-AATBefore performing aiming adjustment, make
sure of the following.
1. Keep all tires inflated to the correct pressure.
2. Place the vehicle on level ground and press
the front bumper & rear bumper down sev-
eral times.
Place vehicle at a distance of 118 in. (3m)
from the test wall.
3. See that the vehicle is unloaded (except for
full levels of coolant, engine oil and fuel, and
spare tire, jack, and tools). Have the driver
or equivalent weight placed in driver's seat.
4. Clean the head light lenses and turn on the
headlights (Low beam).
5. Open the hood.
G250A01A-AATFOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
YOUR HYUNDAIIf you desire additional information about main-
taining and servicing your Hyundai, you may
purchase a factory Shop Manual at your Hyundai
dealer's parts department. This is the same
manual used by dealership technicians and
while it is highly technical it can be useful in
obtaining a better understanding of your car and
how it works.G240A01A-AATPOWER STEERING HOSESIt is suggested that you check the power steer-
ing hose connections for fluid leakage at those
intervals specified in the vehicle maintenance
schedule in Section 5.
The power steering hoses should be replaced
if there is severe surface cracking, pulling,
scuffing or worn spots. Deterioration of the hose
could cause premature failure. Recommended Fluid
Use PSF-3 type fluidNOTE:Do not start the engine when the power
steering oil reservoir is empty.
G290A01JM
Vertical
aiming
Horizontal
aiming