2009 HYUNDAI TUCSON Owners Manual

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
18
!
CAUTION:
o While the full-time 4WD vehicle is
being raised on a jack, never start the
engine or cause the tires to rotate.
There is danger that rotating tires
touching the ground could cause the
vehicle to go off the jack and to jump
forward.
o If one of the front or rear wheels be-
gins to spin in mud, snow, etc., the
vehicle can sometimes be driven out
by depressing the accelerator pedal
further; however, avoid running the
engine continuously at high rpm be-
cause doing so could damage the
4WD system. (10)When using tire chains, always attach
them to the front wheels.
(11) If the front or rear wheels get stuck in
the mud, do not spin them recklessly.
The 4WD system could be damaged.
o In rare cases when it's unavoidable
that a 4WD vehicle is to be inspected
on a 2WD roll tester, strictly follow the
procedures.
1. Check the tire pressures recom-
mended for your vehicle.
2. Place the front wheels on the roll
tester as shown in the illustration.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Place the rear wheels on the tem-
porary free roller as shown in the
illustration.
!!
WARNING:
Keep away from the front of the vehicle
while inspecting. This is very dangerous
as the vehicle can jump forward and
cause serious injury or death.
!
WARNING:
o Avoid high cornering speeds.
o Do not make quick steering wheel
movements, such as sharp lane
charges or fast, sharp turns.
o The risk of rollover is greatly in-
creased if you lose control of your
vehicle at highway speeds.
o In a collision, an unbelted person is
signicantly more likely to be seriously
injured or killed than a person wearing
a seat belt.
o Loss of control may occurs if two or
more wheels drop off the roadway
and the driver oversteers to reenter
the roadway.
o In the event your vehicle leaves the
roadway, do not steer sharply. Instead,
slow down before pulling back into the
travel lanes. (9)For a speedometer test or inspection/
maintenance (I/M) program of a Tucson
4WD vehicle, use a four wheel chassis
dynamometer.
CAUTION:
Never engage the parking brake while
performing these tests.

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
19
4WD LOCK SYSTEMC360A01O-GAT(With Electronic Control 4WD)
(If installed)This 4WD system is designed for dividing
the power ratio automatically in normal
driving conditions.
During off-road or low-friction driving con-
ditions, press the 4WD lock button to drive
in full-time 4WD, dividing the power ratio to
50:50 in the front and rear wheels. The
4WD lock indicator light in the instrument
cluster is illuminated.This setup begins to get cancelled when
the vehicle speed exceeds 30 km/h, and
the function is completely released at a
speed of 40 km/h or higher. Conversely,
the function is rerun when the speed again
drops to 40 km/h or lower, and is fully
established at speeds below 30 km/h.
To release the 4WD lock function, press
the 4WD lock button again.
The 4WD lock indicator light in the instru-
ment cluster should go off.
C360A01JM-U
1) Pressing the 4WD lock button on the
tough terrain, the driving power is
equally distributed to the front and rear.
4WD lock keeps activating when not
exceeding 40 km/h.
2) Release the 4WD lock button on the
normal driving conditions.
C360A02JM
1)
2)

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20
Four Wheel Drive (4WD) transfer mode selectionTransfer mode Selection buttonIndicator lightDescription
o This mode is used for climbing or descending sharp grades,
off-road driving, driving on sandy and muddy roads etc. to
maximize traction.
o This mode automatically begins to deactivate at speed above
19 mph (30 km/h) and is shifted to 4WD AUTO mode at speed
above 25 mph (40 km/h). If the vehicle decelerates to speeds
below 19 mph (30 km/h), however, the transfer mode is shifted
into 4WD LOCK mode again.
o When driving in AUTO mode, the vehicle operates similar to
the conventional 2WD vehicles under normal operating con-
ditions. However, if the system determines that there is a need
for the 4WD mode, the engine’s driving power is distributed
to all four wheels automatically without driver intervention.
o When driving on normal roads and pavement, the vehicle
moves similar to the conventional 2WD vehicles.
4WD
LOCK
(Indicator light
is illuminated)
4WD LOCK
4WD AUTO(4WD LOCK is
deactivated)
(Indicator light is
not illuminated)
NOTE:o When driving on normal roads, deactivate the 4WD LOCK mode by pushing the 4WD LOCK button(the indicator light goes off).
Driving on normal roads with 4WD LOCK mode(especially, when cornering) may cause mechanical noise or vibration. The noise
and vibration will disappear when the 4WD LOCK mode is deactivated. Some parts of the power train may be damaged by
prolonged driving with the noise and vibration.
o When the 4WD LOCK mode is deactivated, a shock may be felt as the drive power delivered entirely to the front wheels. This
shock is not a mechanical failure.

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
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GOOD BRAKING PRACTICESC130A02A-AAT
WARNING:
o Whenever leaving vehicle or parking,
always set the parking brake as far as
possible and fully engage the vehicle's
transaxle into the park position. Ve-
hicles 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 occu-
pants 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.
!
o If your car is equipped with an automatic
transaxle, don't let your car creep for-
ward. 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" (au-
tomatic transaxle) or in first or reverse
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.
o Under some conditions your parking
brake can freeze in the engaged posi-
tion. This is most likely to happen when
there is an ac-cumulation 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 se-
lector 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. Always
use the brake pedal or parking brake. 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
while driving slowly until the braking
action 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 driv-
ing can be dangerous because it can
result in the brakes overheating and
losing their effectiveness. It also in-
creases the wear of the brake compo-
nents.
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.

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
22
o Take care of your tires. Keep them in-
flated 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 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 main-
tenance costs, maintain your car in ac-
cordance with the maintenance sched-
ule in Section 5. If you drive your car in
severe conditions, more frequent main-
tenance 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 con-
sumption 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
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 re-
quire extended warm-up. After the en-
gine 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 resulting in the engine bucking.
If this happens, shift to a lower gear.
Over-revving is racing the engine be-
yond 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 moder-
ate rate. Don't make "jack-rabbit" starts
or full-throttle shifts and maintain a
steady cruising speed. Don't race be-
tween stoplights. Try to adjust your
speed to that of the other traffic so you
don't have to change speeds unneces-
sarily. Avoid heavy traffic whenever pos-
sible. Always maintain a safe distance
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 consump-
tion.
o Don't "ride" the brake or clutch pedal.
This can increase fuel consumption and
also increase wear on these compo-
nents. 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.

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
23
SMOOTH CORNERINGC150A01A-AATAvoid braking or gear changing in corners,
especially when roads are wet. Ideally,
corners should always be taken under
gentle acceleration. If you follow these
suggestions, tire wear will be held to a
minimum.
C160D01A-AATCheck Battery and CablesWinter puts additional burdens on the
battery system. Visually inspect the battery
and cables as described in Section 6. The
level of charge in your battery can be
checked by your Hyundai dealer or a ser-
vice 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, lubricates
the water pump and prevents freezing. Be
sure to replace or replenish your coolant in
accordance with the maintenance sched-
ule in Section 5. Before winter, have your
coolant tested to assure that its freezing
point is sufficient for the temperatures an-
ticipated during the winter.NOTE:o Tire chains are not legal in all states.
Check state laws before fitting tire
chains.
o Tire chains are to be used on front
tires only.
C160A01A-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:C160B01JM-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 of the original
equipment tires. Failure to do so may ad-
versely affect the safety and handling of
your car. Furthermore, speeding, rapid
acceleration, sudden brake applications,
and sharp turns are potentially very haz-
ardous practices.
During deceleration, use engine braking
to the fullest extent. Sudden brake applica-
tions on snowy or icy roads may cause
skids to occur. You need to keep sufficient
distance between the vehicle in operation
in front and your vehicle. Also, apply the
brake gently. It should be noted that install-
ing tire chains on the tire will provide a
greater driving force, but will not prevent
side skids.WINTER DRIVING

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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.
C160H02A-AATUse Approved Window Washer Anti-
Freeze in SystemTo 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 avail-
able from Hyundai dealers and most auto
parts outlets. Do not use engine coolant or
other types of anti-freeze as these may
damage the paint 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 inter-
nally, you may be able to thaw it out by
using a heated key. Handle the heated key
with care to avoid injury.
C160J01A-AATDon't Let Ice and Snow Accumulate
UnderneathUnder some conditions, snow and ice can
build up under the fenders and interfere
with the steering. When driving in severe
winter conditions where this may happen,
you should periodically check underneath
the car to be sure the movement of the front
wheels and the steering components is
not obstructed.
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 there is a risk the parking brake may
freeze, apply it only temporarily while you
put the gear selector lever in "P" (auto-
matic) or in first or reverse gear (manual
transaxle) and block the rear wheels so the
car cannot roll. Then release the parking
brake.
C160F01A-AATCheck Spark Plugs and Ignition
SystemInspect your spark plugs as described in
Section 6 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.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.

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25
!
HIGHER SPEED MOTORINGC170A02A-AATPre-Trip Inspections1. Tires:
Adjust the tire inflation pressures to speci-
fication. 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 vehicle
control, and sudden tire failure lead-
ing to accidents, injuries, and even
death. Always check tires are prop-
erly inflated before driving. Refer to
pages 2-29 and 8-3 for proper tire
pressures and further information.
o Driving on tires with no or insufficient
tread is dangerous. Worn-out tires
can result in loss of vehicle control,
collisions, injury, and even death.
Worn-out tires should be replaced as
soon as possible and should never be
used for driving. Always check tire
tread before driving your car. Refer to
8-11 for further information and tread
limits.
USE OF LIGHTSC180A01A-AATCheck your lights regularly for correct op-
eration and always keep them clean. When
driving during the day in conditions of poor
visibility, it is helpful to drive with head-
lights on low beam. This enables you to be
seen as well as to see.
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.