2015 Hyundai Sonata check engine

5-63
Driving your vehicle
5
Snow or icy conditions
You need to keep sufficient distance
between your vehicle and the vehicle
in front of you.
Apply the brakes gently. Speeding,
rapid acceleration, sudden brake
applications, and sharp turns are
potentially very hazardous practices.
During deceleration, use engine
braking to the fullest extent. Sudden
brake applications on snowy or icy
roads may cause skids to occur.
To drive your vehicle in deep snow, it
may be necessary to use snow tyres
or to install tyre chains on your tyres.
Always carry emergency equipment.
Some of the items you may want to
carry include tyre chains, tow straps
or chains, a flashlight, emergency
flares, sand, a shovel, jumper cables,
a window scraper, gloves, ground
cloth, coveralls, a blanket, etc.
Snow tyresIf you mount snow tyres on your vehi-
cle, make sure to use radial tyres of
the same size and load range as the
original tyres. Mount snow tyres on
all four wheels to balance your vehi-
cle’s handling in all weather condi-
tions. The traction provided by snow
tyres on dry roads may not be as
high as your vehicle's original equip-
ment tyres. Check with the tyre deal-
er for maximum speed recommenda-
tions.
Information
Do not install studded tyres without
first checking local and municipal reg-
ulations for possible restrictions
against their use.
i
WINTER DRIVING
Snow tyres should be equiva-
lent in size and type to the vehi-
cle's standard tyres. Otherwise,
the safety and handling of your
vehicle may be adversely affect-
ed.
WARNING

5-66
Driving your vehicle
Check battery and cables
Winter puts additional burdens on
the battery system.Visually inspect
the battery and cables as
described in chapter 7.We recom-
mend that the level of charge in your
battery be checked by an authorised
HYUNDAI dealer.
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, we recommend that you
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 components 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 heat-
ed 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 instruc-
tions on the container. Window wash-
er anti-freeze is available from an
authorised HYUNDAI dealer and
most auto parts outlets. Do not use
engine coolant or other types of anti-
freeze as these may damage the
paint finish.

5-67
Driving your vehicle
5
Don't let your parking brake freeze
Under some conditions your parking
brake can freeze in the engaged
position. This is most likely to hap-
pen 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
whilst you put the shift lever in P
(automatic transaxle) or in first or
reverse gear (manual transaxle) and
block the rear wheels so the vehicle
cannot roll. Then release the parking
brake.Don't let ice and snow accumulate
underneath
Under 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
vehicle to be sure the movement of
the front wheels and the steering
components is not obstructed.
Carry emergency equipment
Depending on the severity of the
weather, you should carry appropri-
ate emergency equipment. Some of
the items you may want to carry
include tyre chains, tow straps or
chains, flashlight, emergency flares,
sand, shovel, jumper cables, window
scraper, gloves, ground cloth, cover-
alls, blanket, etc.Don't place foreign objects or
materials in the engine compart-
ment
Placement of foreign object or mate-
rials which prevent cooling of the
engine, in the engine compartment,
may cause a failure or combustion.
The manufacturer is not responsible
for the damage caused by such
placement.

5-68
Driving your vehicle
If you are considering towing with
your vehicle, you should first check
your country's legal requirements.
Since laws vary, the requirements for
towing trailers, cars, or other types of
vehicles or apparatus may differ. Ask
an authorised HYUNDAI dealer for
further details before towing.
Remember that towing is different
from just driving your vehicle by
itself. Towing means changes in han-
dling, durability, and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailer towing
requires correct equipment, and it
has to be used properly. Damage to
your vehicle caused by improper
trailer towing is not covered by your
vehicle manufacturer's warranty.
This section contains many time-
tested, important towing tips and
safety rules. Many of these are
important for your safety and that of
your passengers. Please read this
section carefully before you pull a
trailer.
If you decide to pull a trailer?
Here are some important points if
you decide to pull a trailer:
• Do not do any towing with your
vehicle during its first 2,000 km to
allow the engine to properly break
in. Failure to heed this caution may
result in serious engine or
transaxle damage.
• When towing a trailer, be sure to
consult an authorised HYUNDAI
dealer for further information on
additional requirements such as a
towing kit, etc.
• Always drive your vehicle at a mod-
erate speed (less than 100 km/h)
or posted towing speed limit.
• On a long uphill grade, do not
exceed 70 km/h or the posted tow-
ing speed limit, whichever is lower.
TRAILER TOWING
Take the following precautions:
•If you don't use the correct
equipment and/or drive
improperly, you can lose con-
trol of the vehicle when you
are pulling a trailer. For exam-
ple, if the trailer is too heavy,
the braking performance may
be reduced. You and your pas-
sengers could be seriously or
fatally injured. Pull a trailer
only if you have followed all
the steps in this section.
•Before towing, make sure the
total trailer weight, GCW
(Gross Combination Weight),
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight),
GAW (Gross Axle Weight ) and
trailer tongue load are all with-
in the limits.
WARNING

5-77
Driving your vehicle
5
Ready to leave after parking on
a hill
1.With the shift lever to P (Park, for
automatic transaxle vehicle) or
neutral (for manual transaxle vehi-
cle), apply your brakes and hold
the brake pedal down whilst you:
• Start your engine;
• Shift into gear; and
• Release the parking brake.
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 towing a
trailer
Your vehicle will need service more
often when you regularly pull a trail-
er. Important items to pay particular
attention to include engine oil, auto-
matic transaxle fluid, axle lubricant
and cooling system fluid. Brake con-
dition is another important item to
frequently check. If you are planning
a trip with a trailer, it's a good idea to
review these items before you start
your trip. Don't forget to also maintain
your trailer and towbar. Follow the
maintenance schedule that accom-
panied your trailer and check it peri-
odically. Preferably, conduct the
check at the start of each day's driv-
ing. Most importantly, all towbar nuts
and bolts should be tight.To prevent vehicle damage:
• Due to higher load during trailer
usage, overheating might occur
on hot days or during uphill driv-
ing. If the coolant gauge indi-
cates over-heating, switch off
the air conditioner and stop the
vehicle in a safe area to cool
down the engine.
• When towing check automatic
transaxle fluid more frequently.
NOTICE

6-4
IF THE ENGINE WILL NOT START
What to do in an emergency
If the engine doesn't turn over
or turns over slowly
• Ensure the shift lever is in N
(Neutral) or P (Park) if it is an auto-
matic transaxle vehicle. The engine
starts only when the shift lever is in
N (Neutral) or P (Park).
• Check the battery connections to
be sure they are clean and tight.
• Turn on the interior light. If the light
dims or goes out when you operate
the starter, the battery is drained.
Do not push or pull the vehicle to
start it. This could cause damage to
your vehicle. See instructions for
"Jump Starting" provided in this
chapter.
If the engine turns over nor-
mally but doesn’t start
• Check the fuel level and add fuel if
necessary.
If the engine still does not start, we
recommend that you call an autho-
rised HYUNDAI dealer for assis-
tance.
Push or pull starting the vehicle
may cause the catalytic con-
verter to overload which can
lead to damage to the emission
control system.
CAUTION

6-7
What to do in an emergency
4. Connect the jumper cables in the
exact sequence shown in the illus-
tration. First connect one jumper
cable to the red, positive (+)
jumper terminal of your vehicle
(1).
5. Connect the other end of the
jumper cable to the red, positive
(+) battery/jumper terminal of the
assisting vehicle (2).
6. Connect the second jumper cable
to the black, negative (-) battery/
chassis ground of the assisting
vehicle (3).7. Connect the other end of the sec-
ond jumper cable to the black,
negative (-) chassis ground of
your vehicle (4).
Do not allow the jumper cables to
contact anything except the cor-
rect battery or jumper terminals or
the correct ground. Do not lean
over the battery when making
connections.
8. Start the engine of the assisting
vehicle and let it run at approxi-
mately 2,000 rpm for a few min-
utes. Then start your vehicle.
If your vehicle will not start after a
few attempts, it probably requires
servicing. In this event please seek
qualified assistance. If the cause of
your battery discharging is not
apparent, have your vehicle checked
by an authorised HYUNDAI dealer.Disconnect the jumper cables in the
exact reverse order you connected
them:
1. Disconnect the jumper cable from
the black, negative (-) chassis
ground of your vehicle (4).
2. Disconnect the other end of the
jumper cable from the black, neg-
ative (-) battery/chassis ground of
the assisting vehicle (3).
3. Disconnect the second jumper
cable from the red, positive (+)
battery/jumper terminal of the
assisting vehicle (2).
4. Disconnect the other end of the
jumper cable from the red, positive
(+) jumper terminal of your vehicle
(1).
6
1VQA4001

6-8
What to do in an emergency
If your temperature gauge indicates
overheating, you experience a loss
of power, or hear loud pinging or
knocking, the engine may be over-
heating. If this happens, you should:
1. Pull off the road and stop as soon
as it is safe to do so.
2. Place the shift lever in P (Park, for
automatic transaxle vehicle) or
neutral (for manual transaxle vehi-
cle) and set the parking brake. If
the air conditioning is ON, turn it
OFF.
3. If engine coolant is running out
under the vehicle or steam is com-
ing out from the bonnet, stop the
engine. Do not open the bonnet
until the coolant has stopped run-
ning 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 for coolant leaking from the
radiator, hoses or under the vehi-
cle. (If the air conditioning had
been in use, it is normal for cold
water to be draining from it when
you stop.)
5. If engine coolant is leaking out,
stop the engine immediately and
we recommend that you call an
authorised HYUNDAI dealer for
assistance.
IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS
Whilst the engine is
running, keep hands,
clothing and tools
away from the mov-
ing parts such as the
cooling fan and drive
belt to prevent seri-
ous injury.
WARNING
NEVER remove the
radiator cap or the
drain plug whilst the
engine and radiator
are hot. Hot coolant
and steam may blow out under
pressure, causing serious
injury.
Turn the engine off and wait
until the engine cools down.
Use extreme care when remov-
ing the radiator cap. Wrap a
thick towel around it, and turn it
anticlockwise slowly to the first
stop. Step back whilst the pres-
sure is released from the cool-
ing system. When you are sure
all the pressure has been
released, press down on the
cap, using a thick towel, and
continue turning anticlockwise
to remove it.
WARNING