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Driving your vehicle
18 5
Manual transaxle operation
The manual transaxle has 6 forward
gears. The transaxle is fully synchro-
nized in all forward gears so shifting
to either a higher or a lower gear is
easily accomplished.To shift to R (Reverse), make sure
the vehicle has completely stopped,
and then move the shift lever to neu-
tral before moving into R (Reverse).
When you've come to a complete
stop and it's hard to shift into 1st gear
or R (Reverse):
1.Put the shift lever in neutral and
release the clutch pedal.
2.Depress the clutch pedal, and then
shift into first or R (Reverse) gear.
✽NOTICE
During cold weather, shifting may
be difficult until the transaxle lubri-
cant has warmed up.
MANUAL TRANSAXLE
OMD050009
The shift lever can be moved without
pressing the button (1).
The button (1) must be pressed while
moving the shift lever to R (Reverse).
WARNING
Before leaving the driver’s seat,
always make sure the shift lever
is in 1st gear when the vehicle
is parked on a uphill and in R
(Reverse) on a downhill, set the
parking brake, and place the
ignition switch in the LOCK/OFF
position. Unexpected vehicle
movement may occur if these
precautions are not followed.
Page 355 of 526
Driving your vehicle
22 5
Automatic transaxle operation
The automatic transaxle has six for-
ward speeds and one reverse speed.
The individual speeds are selected
automatically in the D (Drive) posi-
tion.
AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE
OMD054010
+ +
( (
U U
P P
) )
- -
( (
D D
O O
W W
N N
) )
Sports mode
Move shift lever. Depress the brake pedal, then move shift lever.
Press the shift button, then move shift lever.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of serious
injury or death:
• ALWAYS check the surround-
ing areas near your vehicle for
people, especially children,
before shifting a vehicle into
D (Drive) or R (Reverse).
• Before leaving the driver’s
seat, always make sure the
shift lever is in the P (Park)
position, then set the parking
brake, and place the ignition
switch in the LOCK/OFF posi-
tion. Unexpected and sudden
vehicle movement can occur
if these precautions are not
followed.
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523
Driving your vehicle
The indicator in the instrument clus-
ter displays the shift lever position
when the ignition switch is in the ON
position.
P (Park)
Always come to a complete stop
before shifting into P (Park).
To shift from P (Park), you must
depress firmly on the brake pedal
and make sure your foot is off the
accelerator pedal.
If you have done all of the above and
still cannot shift the lever out of P
(Park), see “Shift-Lock Release” on
page 5-26.
The shift lever must be in P (Park)
before turning the engine off.
R (Reverse)
Use this position to drive the vehicle
backward.WARNING
• Shifting into P (Park) while the
vehicle is in motion may
cause you to lose control of
the vehicle.
• After the vehicle has stopped,
always make sure the shift
lever is in P (Park), apply the
parking brake, and turn the
engine off.
• Do not use the P (Park) posi-
tion in place of the parking
brake.
CAUTION
Always come to a complete stop
before shifting into or out of R
(Reverse); you may damage the
transaxle if you shift into R
(Reverse) while the vehicle is in
motion.
Page 359 of 526
Driving your vehicle
26 5
Shift-lock release
If the shift lever cannot be moved
from the P (Park) position into R
(Reverse) position with the brake
pedal depressed, continue depress-
ing the brake, and then do the follow-
ing:
1.Place the ignition switch in the
LOCK/OFF position.
2.Apply the parking brake.
3.Carefully remove the cap (1) cover-
ing the shift-lock access hole.
4.Insert a screwdriver into the
access hole and press down on
the screwdriver.
5.Move the shift lever while holding
down the screwdriver.
6.Remove the screwdriver from the
shift-lock access hole then install
the cap.If you need to use the shift-lock
release, have the system inspected
by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer
immediately.
OMD054031
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527
Driving your vehicle
Ignition key interlock system
The ignition key cannot be removed
unless the shift lever is in the P
(Park) position.
Parking
Always come to a complete stop and
continue to depress the brake pedal.
Move the shift lever into the P (Park)
position, apply the parking brake,
and place the ignition switch in the
LOCK/OFF position. Take the Key
with you when exiting the vehicle.
Good driving practices
• Never move the shift lever from P
(Park) or N (Neutral) to any other
position with the accelerator pedal
depressed.
• Never move the shift lever into P
(Park) when the vehicle is in
motion.
Be sure the vehicle is completely
stopped before you attempt to shift
into R (Reverse) or D (Drive).
• Do not move the shift lever to N
(Neutral) when driving. Doing so
may result in an accident because
of a loss of engine braking and the
transaxle could be damaged.
• Do not drive with your foot resting
on the brake pedal. Even light, but
consistent pedal pressure can
result in the brakes overheating,
brake wear and possibly even
brake failure.
• When driving in sports mode, slow
down before shifting to a lower
gear. Otherwise, the lower gear
may not be engaged if the engine
RPM is outside of the allowable
range.
WARNING
When you stay in the vehicle
with the engine running, be
careful not to depress the accel-
erator pedal for a long period of
time. The engine or exhaust
system may overheat and start
a fire.
The exhaust gas and the
exhaust system are very hot.
Keep away from the exhaust
system components.
Do not stop or park over flam-
mable materials, such as dry
grass, paper or leaves. They
may ignite and cause a fire.
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531
Driving your vehicle
To release:
Firmly depress the brake pedal.
Slightly pull up the parking brake
lever.
While pressing the release button
(1), lower the parking brake (2).
If the parking brake does not release
or does not release all the way,
have the system checked by an
authorized HYUNDAI dealer.
OMD050015
WARNING
• Whenever leaving the vehicle
or parking, always come to a
complete stop and continue
to depress the brake pedal.
Move the shift lever into the
1st gear (for manual transaxle
vehicle) or P (Park, for auto-
matic transaxle vehicle) posi-
tion, then apply the parking
brake, and place the ignition
switch in the LOCK/OFF posi-
tion.
Vehicles with the parking
brake not fully engaged are at
risk for moving inadvertently
and causing injury to yourself
or others.
• NEVER allow anyone who is
unfamiliar with the vehicle to
touch the parking brake. If the
parking brake is released
unintentionally, serious injury
may occur.
• Only release the parking
brake when you are seated
inside the vehicle with your
foot firmly on the brake pedal.
CAUTION
• Do not apply the accelerator
pedal while the parking brake
is engaged. If you depress the
accelerator pedal with the
parking brake engaged, warn-
ing will sound. Damage to the
parking brake may occur.
• Driving with the parking brake
on can overheat the braking
system and cause premature
wear or damage to brake
parts. Make sure the parking
brake is released and the
Brake Warning Light is off
before driving.
Page 365 of 526

Driving your vehicle
32 5
Check the Parking
Brake Warning Light by
placing the ignition
switch to the ON posi-
tion (do not start the
engine).
This light will be illuminated when the
parking brake is applied with the igni-
tion switch in the START or ON posi-
tion.
Before driving, be sure the parking
brake is released and the Brake
Warning Light is OFF.If the Parking Brake Warning Light
remains on after the parking brake is
released while engine is running,
there may be a malfunction in the
brake system. Immediate attention is
necessary.
If at all possible, cease driving the
vehicle immediately. If that is not pos-
sible, use extreme caution while
operating the vehicle and only con-
tinue to drive the vehicle until you
can reach a safe location.Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
WARNING
An Anti-Lock Braking System
(ABS) or an Electronic Stability
Control (ESC) system will not
prevent accidents due to
improper or dangerous driving
maneuvers. Even though vehi-
cle control is improved during
emergency braking, always
maintain a safe distance
between you and objects ahead
of you. Vehicle speeds should
always be reduced during
extreme road conditions. The
braking distance for cars
equipped with ABS or ESC may
be longer than for those without
these systems in the following
road conditions.
(Continued)
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Driving your vehicle
36 5
ESC operation
ESC ON condition
When the ignition switch is in the ON
position, the ESC and the ESC OFF
indicator lights illuminate for approxi-
mately three seconds and goes off,
then the ESC is turned on.
If this light stays on, your vehicle may
have a malfunction with the ESC
system. Have your vehicle checked
by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer
as soon as possible.When operating
When the ESC is in opera-
tion, the ESC indicator light
blinks:
• When you apply your brakes under
conditions which may lock the
wheels, you may hear sounds from
the brakes, or feel a corresponding
sensation in the brake pedal. This
is normal and it means your ESC is
active.
• When the ESC activates, the
engine may not respond to the
accelerator as it does under rou-
tine conditions.
• If the Cruise Control was in use
when the ESC activates, the cruise
control automatically disengages.
The Cruise Control can be reen-
gaged when the road conditions
allow. See “Cruise Control System”
later in this chapter.• When moving out of the mud or
driving on a slippery road, the
engine rpm (revolutions per
minute) may not increase even if
you press the accelerator pedal
deeply. This is to maintain the sta-
bility and traction of the vehicle and
does not indicate a problem.