2009 Hyundai Sonata Owner's Manual

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI44
!
WARNING:
o Even though your vehicle is equipped
with the occupant classification sys-
tem, never install a child restraint
system in the front passenger's seat.
A deploying air bag can forcefully
strike a child resulting in serious
injuries or death. Any child age 12 and
under should ride in the rear seat.
Children too large for child restraints
should use the available lap/shoulder
belts. No matter what type of crash,
children of all ages are safer when
restrained in the rear seat.
o If the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF"
indicator is illuminated when the front
passenger's seat is occupied by an
adult and he/she sits properly (sitting
upright with the seatback in an upright
position, centered on the seat cushion
with their seat belt on, legs comfortably
extended and their feet on the floor),
have that person sit in the rear seat.
o Do not modify or replace the front
passenger seat. Don't place anything
on or attach anything such as a blanket
or after market seat heater to the
front passenger seat. This can
adversely affect the occupant
classification system.
o Do not sit on sharp objects such as tools
when occupying the front passenger
seat. This can adversely affect the occu-
pant classification system.
o Do not use accessory seat covers on
the front seats.
o Accident statistics show that children
are safer if they are restrained in the
rear, as opposed to the front seat. It is
recommended that child restraints be
secured in a rear seat, including an infant
riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child
riding in a forward-facing child seat and
an older child riding in a booster seat.
o Air bags can only be used once – have
an authorized Hyundai dealer replace
the air bag immediately after
deployment.
o A smaller-stature adult who is not seated
correctly (for example: seat excessively
reclined, leaning on the center console,
or hips shifted forward in the seat) can
cause a condition where the advanced
frontal air bag system senses less
weight than if the occupant were seated
properly (sitting upright with the seatback
in an upright position, centered on the
seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs
comfortably extended and their feet on
the floor). This condition can result in an
adult potentially being misclassified and
illumination of the "PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF" indicator.
B990B05Y-AATSide Impact AirbagYour Hyundai is equipped with a side
impact airbag in each front seat. The
purpose of the airbag is to provide the
vehicle's driver and/or the front passenger
with additional protection than that offered
by the seat belt alone. The side impact
airbags are designed to deploy only during
certain side-impact collisions, depending
on the crash severity, angle, speed and
point of impact. The side impact airbags
are not designed to deploy in all side
impact situations.
B990B02LZ

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
45
!
o For best protection from the side im-
pact airbag system and to avoid being
injured by the deploying side impact
airbag, both front seat occupants
should sit in an upright position with
the seat belt properly fastened. The
driver's hands should be placed on
the steering wheel at the 9:00 and
3:00 positions. The passenger's arms
and hands should be placed on their
laps.
o Do not use any accessory seat covers.
o Use of seat covers could reduce or
prevent the effectiveness of the sys-
tem.
o Do not install any accessories on the
side or near the side impact airbag.
o Do not place any objects over the
airbag or between the airbag and
yourself.
o Do not place any objects (an umbrella,
bag, etc.) between the front door and
the front seat. Such objects may be-
come dangerous projectiles and
cause injury if the supplemental side
impact airbag inflates.
o To prevent unexpected deployment
of the side impact airbag that may
result in personal injury, avoid impact
to the side impact sensor when the
ignition key is on.
WARNING:
WARNING:
o The side impact airbag is
supplemental to the driver's and the
passenger's seat belt systems and is
not a substitute for them. Therefore
your seat belts must be worn at all
times while the vehicle is in motion.
The airbags deploy only in certain
side impact conditions severe enough
to cause significant injury to the
vehicle occupants.
!
ONF038022
Side impact
sensor
B990C01LZ-GATCurtain AirbagCurtain airbags are located along both
sides of the roof rails above the front and
rear doors.
They are designed to help protect the
heads of the front seat occupants and the
rear outboard seat occupants in certain
side impact collisions.
The curtain airbags are designed to deploy
only during certain side impact collisions,
depending on the crash severity, angle,
speed and impact. The curtain airbags are
not designed to deploy in all side impact
situations, collisions from the front or rear
of the vehicle or in most rollover situations.
HLZ2051
Curtain Airbag

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI46
o If the airbags inflate, they must be
replaced by an authorized Hyundai
dealer.
o Do not tamper with or disconnect SRS
wiring, or other components of the
SRS system. Doing so could result in
injury, due to accidental inflation of
the airbags or by rendering the SRS
inoperative.
o If components of the airbag system
must be discarded, or if the vehicle
must be scrapped, certain safety
precautions must be observed. Your
Hyundai dealer knows these precau-
tions and can give you the necessary
information. Failure to follow these
precautions and procedures could in-
crease the risk of personal injury.
o If your car was flooded and has soaked
carpeting or water on flooring, you
shouldn't try to start the engine; have
the car towed to an authorized Hyundai
dealer.
!
WARNING:
B240C03NF-AATSRS CareThe SRS is virtually maintenance-free and
so there are no parts you can safely service
by yourself. If the SRS airbag warning light
does not illuminate, or continuously re-
mains on, have your vehicle immediately
inspected by your Hyundai dealer.
Any work on the SRS system, such as
removing, installing, repairing, or any work
on the steering wheel must be performed
by a qualified Hyundai technician. Improper
handling of the SRS system may result in
serious personal injury.
WARNING:
o Do not install a child restraint system
in the front passenger seat position.
A child restraint system must never
be placed in the front seat. The infant
or child could be severely injured by
an airbag deployment in case of an
accident.
o Modification to SRS components or
wiring, including the addition of any
kind of badges to the pad covers or
modifications to the body structure,
can adversely affect SRS perfor-
mance and lead to possible injury.
o For cleaning the airbag pad covers,
use only a soft, dry cloth or one which
has been moistened with plain water.
Solvents or cleaners could adversely
affect the airbag covers and proper
deployment of the system.
o No objects should be placed over or
near the airbag modules on the
steering wheel, instrument panel, and
the front passenger's panel above
the glove box, because any such
object could cause harm if the vehicle
is in a crash severe enough to cause
the airbags to inflate.
!
HSM393

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
47
B240D02NF-AATAdditional Safety PrecautionsoNever let passengers ride in the cargo
area (trunk) or on top of a folded-down
back seat. All occupants should sit
upright, fully back in their seats with
their seat belts on and their feet on the
floor.
oPassengers should not move out of or
change seats while the vehicle is mov-
ing. A passenger who is not wearing a
seat belt during a crash or emergency
stop can be thrown against the inside of
the vehicle, against other occupants, or
out of the vehicle.
oEach seat belt is designed to restrain
one occupant. If more than one person
uses the same seat belt, they could be
seriously injured or killed in a collision.
oDo not use any accessories on seat
belts. Devices claiming to improve oc-
cupant comfort or reposition the seat
belt can reduce the protection provided
by the seat belt and increase the chance
of serious injury in a crash.oPassengers should not place hard or
sharp objects between themselves
and the airbags. Carrying hard or sharp
objects on your lap or in your mouth can
result in injuries if an airbag inflates.
oKeep occupants away from the airbag
covers. All occupants should sit upright,
fully back in their seats with their seat
belts on and their feet on the floor. If
occupants are too close to the airbag
covers, they could be injured if the
airbags inflate.
oDo not attach or place objects on or
near the airbag covers. Any object
attached to or placed on the front or side
impact airbag covers could interfere
with the proper operation of the airbags.
oDo not modify the front seats. Modifi-
cation of the front seats could interfere
with the operation of the supplemental
restraint system sensing components
or side impact airbags.
oDo not place items under the front
seats. Placing items under the front
seats could interfere with the operation
of the supplemental restraint system
sensing components and wiring
harnesses.
!
WARNING:
o Sitting improperly or out of position
can cause occupants to be shifted too
close to a deploying airbag, strike the
interior structure or be thrown from
the vehicle resulting in serious injury
or death.
o Always sit upright with the seatback
in an upright position, centered on the
seat cushion with your seat belt on,
legs comfortably extended and your
feet on the floor. oNever hold an infant or child on your
lap. The infant or child could be seriously
injured or killed in the event of a crash.
All infants and children should be
properly restrained in appropriate child
safety seats or seat belts in the rear seat.Adding Equipment to or Modifying
Your Airbag-Equipped Vehicle.If you modify your vehicle by changing
your vehicle's frame, bumper system, front
end or side sheet metal or ride height, this
may affect the operation of your vehicle's
airbag system.

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI48
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND INDICATOR
LIGHTSB260A02NF-AAT
ONF048038N

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
49
1. Tachometer
2. Low Tire Pressure Telltale
3. TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) Malfunction Telltale
4. Door Ajar Warning Light
5. Seat Belt Warning Light (Driver's side)
6. High Beam Indicator Light
7. Turn Signal Indicator Lights
8. Speedometer
9. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Indicator Lights
(If Installed)
10. Front Fog Light Indicator Light (If Installed)
11. ABS Service Reminder Indicator (SRI) (If Installed)
12. Coolant Temperature Gauge13. Fuel Gauge
14. Parking Brake/Low Brake Fluid Level Warning Light
15. Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
16. Charging System Warning Light
17. Low Windshield Washer Fluid Level Warning Light
18. Check Engine - Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
19. SRS (Airbag) Warning Light
20. Automatic Transaxle Position Indicator Light (If Installed)
21. Odometer/ Trip Odometer/ Trip Computer (If Installed)
22. CRUISE Indicator Light
23. Cruise SET Indicator Light
24. Trunk Lid Open Warning Light
25. Low Fuel Warning Light

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI50
WARNING AND INDICATOR
LIGHTSB260B01JM-AAT
SRS (Airbag) Warning Light
The SRS warning light comes on for about
6 seconds after the key is turned to the "ON"
position or after the engine is started, after
which it will go out.
This light also comes on when the SRS is
not working properly. If the airbag warning
light does not come on, or continuously
remains on after operating for about 6
seconds when you turned the ignition key
to the "ON" position or started the engine,
or if it comes on while driving, have the
SRS inspected by an authorized Hyundai
dealer.B260D01A-AAT
Turn Signal Indicator Lights
The blinking green arrows on the
instrument panel show the direction
indicated by the turn signals. If the arrow
comes on but does not blink, blinks more
rapidly than normal, or does not illuminate
at all, a malfunction in the turn signal system
is indicated. Your dealer should be
consulted for repairs.
The driver's seat belt warning light and
chime will activate to the following table
when the ignition switch is in "ON" position.B265E01TG-AAT
Seat Belt Warning Light and
Chime (Driver's Side)
*1) Warning pattern repeats 11 times with
interval 24 seconds. If the driver's seat
belt is buckled, the light will stop within
6 seconds and chime will stop immedi-
ately.
*2) The light will stop within 6 seconds and
chime will stop immediately.
Conditions Warning Pattern
Seat BeltVehicle SpeedLight-Blink Chime-SoundUnbuckled
Buckled
UnbuckledAbove 6 mph
(10 km/h)
↓
Below 3 mph
(5 km/h)6 seconds
6 secondsNone
6 seconds
6 seconds *1)
↓Stop *2)
6 secondsNone
The front passenger's seat belt warning
light will activate to the following table
when the ignition switch is in "ON" position.
Seat Belt Warning Light
(Front Passenger's Side)
*1) The seat belt warning light will go off if
the vehicle speed decreases below 3
mph (5 km/h). And if the vehicle speed
increases above 3 mph (5 km/h), the
warning light will blink again.
Conditions Warning Pattern
Seat BeltVehicle SpeedLight-BlinkUnbuckled
Buckled6 seconds
Continuously
6 seconds
Continuously *1)
None
UnbuckledAbove 6mph
(10 km/h)
Buckled
→ →→ →
→
UnbuckledAbove 6mph
(10 km/h)
Below 6mph
(10 km/h)
Buckled
→ →→ →
→
UnbuckledBelow 3 mph
(5 km/h)
3 mph~6 mph
Above 6 mph
(10 km/h)
6 sec. on / 24 sec. off
(11 times)

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
51
B260F01A-AAT
High Beam Indicator Light
The high beam indicator light comes on
whenever the headlights are switched to
the high beam or flash position.
B260G01A-AAT
Low Oil Pressure Warning
Light
CAUTION:
If the low oil pressure warning light stays
on while the engine is running, serious
engine damage may result. The oil pres-
sure warning light comes on whenever
there is insufficient oil pressure. In nor-
mal operation, it should come on when
the ignition switch is turned on, then go
out when the engine is started. If the oil
pressure warning light stays on while
the engine is running, there is a serious
malfunction.
If this happens, stop the car as soon as
it is safe to do so, turn off the engine and
check the oil level. If the oil level is low,
fill the engine oil to the proper level and
start the engine again. If the light stays
on with the engine running, turn the en-
gine off immediately. In any instance
where the oil light stays on when the
engine is running, the engine should be
checked by a Hyundai dealer before the
car is driven again.
!
B260A01Y-GAT
Front Fog Light Indicator Light
(If Installed)
This fog indicator light comes on when the
ignition key is turned to the "ON" position
and the front fog light switch is on.NOTE:o You can find the front passenger's
seat belt warning light on the center
fascia panel.
o Although the front passenger seat is
not occupied, the seat belt warning
light will blink for 6 seconds.
o The seat belt warning light can blink
when a briefcase or purse is placed
on the front passenger seat.
!
B260H02A-AAT
Parking Brake/Low Brake Fluid
Level Warning Light
WARNING:
If you suspect brake trouble, have your
brakes checked by a Hyundai dealer as
soon as possible. Driving your car with
a problem in either the brake electrical
system or brake hydraulic system is
dangerous, and could result in a serious
injury or death.Warning Light OperationThe parking brake/brake fluid level
warning light should come on when the
parking brake is applied and the ignition
switch is turned to "ON" or "START". After
the engine is started, the light should go
out when the parking brake is released.
If the parking brake is not applied, the
warning light should come on when the
ignition switch is turned to "ON" or "START",
then go out when the engine starts. If the
light comes on at any other time, you should
slow the vehicle and bring it to a complete
stop in a safe location off the roadway.