2009 Hyundai Elantra coolant

Introduction
6
1
INDICATOR SYMBOLS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
Door ajar warning light
Seat belt warning light
High beam indicator
Turn signal indicator lights
Front fog light indicator (If equipped)
ABS warning light (If equipped)
Hand brake & Brake fluid warning
Engine oil pressure warning
Charging system warning
ESP indicator (If equipped)
ESP OFF indicator (If equipped)
Malfunction indicator lamp (If equipped)
Air bag warning light (If equipped)
Cruise indicator (If equipped)
Cruise SET indicator (If equipped)
Immobiliser indicator
Low fuel level warning
Electronic power steering (EPS) system warning light
Boot lid open warning light
* For more detailed explanations, refer to section 4, “Instrument cluster”.
Engine coolant temperature warning light

443
Features of your vehicle
Malfunction indicator lamp(MIL) (check engine light) (if equipped)
This indicator light is part of the Engine
Control System which monitors various
emission control system components. If
this light illuminates while driving, it indi-
cates that a potential problem has been
detected somewhere in the emissioncontrol system. This light will also illuminate when the
ignition switch is turned to the ON posi-
tion, and will go out in a few seconds
after the engine is started. If it illuminates
while driving, or does not illuminate when
the ignition key is turned to the ON posi-
tion, take your vehicle to your nearest
authorised Hyundai dealer and have the
system checked.
Generally, your vehicle will continue to be
drivable, but have the system checked by
an authorised Hyundai dealer promptly.
Engine coolant tempera-ture warning light
This warning light shows the temperature of the engine coolant when the ignition
switch is ON. The warning light illumi-
nates if the temperature of the engine
coolant is above 120°C (248°F) and the
warning light turns off if the temperature
of the engine coolant is below 115°C(239°F).
If the warning light illuminates, pull over
and stop as soon as possible and turn off
the engine. Then open the hood and
check the coolant level (If your vehicle
overheats, refer to “If the engine over-
heats” in the Index.) and the water pump
drive belt. If you suspect cooling system
trouble, have your cooling system
checked by a Hyundai dealer as soon as
possible.
CAUTION
Prolonged driving with the
Emission Control SystemMalfunction Indicator Light ( ) illuminated may cause
damage to the emission controlsystems which could effect dri- vability and/or fuel economy.

If the EmissionControl System
Malfunction Indicator Light ( ) illuminates, potential catalytic converter damage is possiblewhich could result in loss of
engine power. Have the EngineControl System inspected as soonas possible by an authorised
Hyundai dealer.
WARNING
Never remove the radiator cap
when the engine is hot. The enginecoolant is under pressure and
could erupt and cause severe
burns. Wait until the engine is cool
before removing the radiator cap.

Features of your vehicle
44
4
CRUISE
ESP
OFF✽✽ NOTICE
If the engine coolant temperature warn- ing light illuminates, it indicates over-heating that may damage the engine.ESP indicator (Electronic Stability Program) (if equipped)
The ESP indicator will illuminate when
the ignition switch is turned ON, but
should go off after approximately 3 sec-
onds. When the ESP is on, it monitors the
driving conditions and under normal driv-
ing conditions, the ESP light will remain
off. When a slippery or low traction con-dition is encountered, the ESP will oper-
ate, and the ESP indicator will blink to
indicate the ESP is operating.
ESP OFF indicator (if equipped)
The ESP OFF indicator will illuminate
when the ignition switch is turned ON,
but should go off after approximately 3
seconds. To switch to ESP OFF mode,
press the ESP OFF button. The ESPOFF indicator will illuminate indicating
the ESP is deactivated. If this indicator
stays on in the ESP ON mode, the ESP
may have a malfunction. Take your car to
an authorised Hyundai dealer and have
the system checked.
Cruise indicator
(if equipped)
CRUISE indicator The indicator light illuminates when the
cruise control system is enabled.
The cruise indicator light in the instru- ment cluster is illuminated when the
cruise control ON/OFF button on the
steering wheel is pulled.
The indicator light turns off when the
cruise control ON/OFF button is pushed
again. For more Information about the
use of cruise control, refer to section 5,
“Cruise control system”.
ESP

53
Driving your vehicle
Before entering vehicle
• Be sure that all windows, outside mir-ror(s), and outside lights are clean.
Check the condition of the tyres.
Check under the vehicle for any sign of leaks.
Be sure there are no obstacles behind you if you intend to back up.
Necessary inspections
Fluid levels, such as engine oil, engine
coolant, brake fluid, and washer fluid
should be checked on a regular basis,
with the exact interval depending on the
fluid. Further details are provided in
Section 7, “Maintenance”.
Before starting
Close and lock all doors.
Position the seat so that all controls are easily reached.
Adjust the inside and outside rearview mirrors. Be sure that all lights work.
Check all gauges.
Check the operation of warning lights
when the ignition switch is turned to the ON position.
Release the hand brake and make sure the brake warning light goes out.
For safe operation, be sure you are famil-
iar with your vehicle and its equipment.
BEFORE DRIVING
WARNING
All passengers must be properly
belted whenever the vehicle is mov-
ing. Refer to “Seat belts” in section
3 for more information on their
proper use.
WARNING
Always check the surrounding
areas near your vehicle for people,
especially children, before putting a
car into “Drive” or “Reverse”.
WARNING - Driving under
the influence of alcohol or drugs
Drinking and driving is dangerous.
Drunk driving is the number one
contributor to the highway death
toll each year. Even a small amount
of alcohol will affect your reflexes,
perceptions and judgement.Driving while under the influence of
drugs is as dangerous or more dan-
gerous than driving drunk.
You are much more likely to have a
serious accident if you drink or
take drugs and drive.
If you are drinking or taking drugs,
don’t drive. Do not ride with a driv-er who has been drinking or taking
drugs. Choose a designated driveror call a cab.
WARNING
When you intend to park or stop the
vehicle with the engine on, be care-ful not to depress the accelerator
pedal for a long period of time. It
may overheat the engine or exhaust
system and cause fire.

533
Driving your vehicle
Higher speed motoring
Tyres:
Adjust the tyre inflation pressures to
specification. Low tyre inflation pressures
will result in overheating and possible
failure of the tyres.
Avoid using worn or damaged tyres
which may result in reduced traction or
tyre failure.
✽✽NOTICE
Never exceed the maximum tyre infla-
tion pressure shown on the tyres.
Fuel, engine coolant and engine oil:
High speed travel consumes more fuel
than urban motoring. Do not forget to
check both engine coolant and engineoil.
Drive belt:
A loose or damaged drive belt may result
in overheating of the engine.
WARNING
Underinflated or overinflated tyres can cause poor handling,
loss of vehicle control, and sud-den tyre failure leading to acci-
dents, injuries, and even death.
Always check the tyres for proper
inflation before driving. For prop-
er tyre pressures, refer to section
8, “Tyres and wheels”.
Driving on tyres with no or insuf- ficient tread is dangerous. Worn-out tyres can result in loss of
vehicle control, collisions, injury,
and even death. Worn-out tyresshould be replaced as soon as
possible and should never be
used for driving. Always check
the tyre tread before driving your
car. For further information and
tread limits, refer to section 7,
“Tyres and wheels”.

Driving your vehicle
36
5
Use high quality ethylene glycol coolant
Your vehicle is delivered with high quality
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
freezing. Be sure to replace or replenish
your coolant in accordance with themaintenance schedule in Section 7.
Before winter, have your coolant tested toassure that its freezing point is sufficient
for the temperatures anticipated during
the winter.
Check battery and cables
Winter puts additional burdens on the
battery system. Visually inspect the bat-
tery and cables as described in Section
7. The level of charge in your battery can
be checked by an authorised Hyundai
dealer or a service station. Change to "winter weight" oil if
necessary In some climates it is recommended that
a lower viscosity "winter weight" oil be
used during cold weather. See Section 8
for recommendations. If you aren't sure
what weight oil you should use, consult
an authorised Hyundai dealer.
Check spark plugs and ignition system
Inspect your spark plugs as described in
Section 7 and replace them if necessary.
Also check all ignition wiring and compo-
nents to be sure they are not cracked,
worn or damaged in any way.
To keep locks from freezing
To 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.
Use approved window washer
anti-freeze in system
To keep the water in the window washer
system from freezing, add an approved
window washer anti-freeze solution in
accordance with instructions on the con-
tainer. Window washer anti-freeze is
available from an authorised Hyundai
dealer and most auto parts outlets. Donot use engine coolant or other types of
anti-freeze as these may damage thepaint finish.

541
Driving your vehicle
Driving on grades
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before you start down a long or steep
downgrade. If you don’t shift down, you
might have to use your brakes so much
that they would get hot and no longer
operate efficiently.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and
reduce your speed to around 30 km/h toreduce the possibility of engine and
transaxle overheating.
If your trailer weighs more than the max-
imum trailer weight without trailer brakes
and you have an automatic transaxle,
you should drive in D (Drive) when tow-
ing a trailer.
Operating your vehicle in D (Drive) when
towing a trailer will minimise heat build up
and extend the life of your transaxle.
Parking on hills
Generally, if you have a trailer attached to
your vehicle, you should not park your
vehicle on a hill. People can be seriously
or fatally injured, and both your vehicle
and the trailer can be damaged if unex-
pectedly roll down hill.
However, if you ever have to park your
trailer on a hill, here's how to do it:
1. Pull the vehicle into the parking space.Turn the steering wheel in the direction
of the curb (right if headed down hill,left if headed up hill).
2. If the vehicle has a manual transaxle, place the car in neutral. If the vehicle
has an automatic transaxle, place the
car in P (Park).
3. Set the hand brake and shut off the vehicle.
4. Place chocks under the trailer wheels on the down hill side of the wheels.CAUTION
When towing a trailer on steep
grades (in excess of 8%) payclose attention to the enginecoolant temperature gauge to
ensure the engine does not over- heat. If the needle of the coolanttemperature gauge moves across the dial towards “H” (HOT), pull
over and stop as soon as it is safe to do so, and allow the engine toidle until it cools down. You may proceed once the engine has
cooled sufficiently.
You must decide driving speed depending on trailer weight anduphill grade to reduce the possi-
bility of engine and transaxle overheating.
WARNING - Parking on a
hill
Parking your vehicle on a hill with a
trailer attached could cause seri-
ous injury or death, should the trail-
er break loose.

Driving your vehicle
42
5
5. Start the vehicle, hold the brakes, shift
to neutral, release the hand brake and
slowly release the brakes until the trail-
er chocks absorb the load.
6. Reapply the brakes, reapply the hand brake and shift the vehicle to R
(Reverse) for manual transaxle or P
(Park) for automatic transaxle.
7. Shut off the vehicle and release the vehicle brakes but leave the hand
brake set.
When you are ready to leave after park-ing on a hill
1. With the manual transaxle in Neutral or automatic transaxle in P (Park),
apply your brakes and hold the brake
pedal down while you:

and
2. Slowly remove your foot from the
brake pedal.
3. Drive slowly until the trailer is clear of the chocks.
4. Stop and have someone pick up and store the chocks.
Maintenance when trailer towing
Your vehicle will need service more often
when you regularly pull a trailer.
Important items to pay particular atten-tion to include engine oil, automatic
transaxle fluid, axle lubricant and cooling
system fluid. Brake condition is another
important item to frequently check. Each
item is covered in this manual, and the
Index will help you find them quickly. If
you’re trailering, it’s a good idea to review
these sections before you start your trip.
Don’t forget to also maintain your trailer
and towbar. Follow the maintenance
schedule that accompanied your trailer
and check it periodically. Preferably, con-
duct the check at the start of each day’s
driving. Most importantly, all towbar nutsand bolts should be tight.
WARNING - Hand brake
It can be dangerous to get out of
your vehicle if the hand brake is not
firmly set.
If you have left the engine running,
the vehicle can move suddenly. You
or others could be seriously injured
or cause fatality.
CAUTION
Due to higher load during trailer usage, overheating might occurin hot days or during uphill driv- ing. If the coolant gauge indicates
over-heating, switch off the A/C and stop the vehicle in a safe areato cool down the engine.
When towing check transaxle fluid more frequently.
If your vehicle is not equipped with the air conditioner, youshould install a condenser fan to improve engine performance
when towing a trailer.