
5-71
Driving your vehicle05
Highway driving
Tires
Adjust the tire inflation, as specified.
Under-inflation may overheat or
damage the tires.
Do not install worn-out or damaged
tires, which may reduce traction or
fail the braking operation.
Information
Never over-inflate your tires above the
maximum inflation pressure, as speci-
fied on your tires.
Fuel, engine coolant and engineoil
Driving at a high speed consumes
more fuel than driving in an urban
area. Do not forget to check both the
engine coolant and engine oil.
Drive belt
A loose or damaged drive belt may
overheat the engine.
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Underinflated or overinflated
tires may cause poor han-
dling, loss of vehicle control,
and sudden braking failure,
leading to an accident, an
injury, and even a death.
Always check tire pressure to
maintain the proper inflation,
before driving. For further tire
pressure information, refer to
“Tires and wheels” in the
chapter 8.
Driving with tires with insuffi- cient or extremely worn-out
tread is dangerous. Those
tires may result in loss of
vehicle control, a collision, an
injury, and even a death.
Worn-out tires must be
replaced immediately and not
used for driving. Always
check the tire tread before
driving. For further informa-
tion and tread limits, refer to
“Tires and wheels” in the
chapter 7.
WARNING

5-74
Driving your vehicle
An AutoSock, which is in the wrong size or is improperly
installed, may damage brake
lines, suspension, body and
wheels of your vehicle.
Stop driving and retighten the AutoSock, whenever there are
snapping sounds between the
vehicle and the AutoSock.
Use high quality ethylene gly-
col coolant
The cooling system of your vehicle is
filled with the high-quality ethylene
glycol coolant when being delivered.
It is the only type of coolant that your
vehicle is filled with, because it pre-
vents corrosion of the cooling sys-
tem, lubricates the water pump and
prevents freezing. Refill the cooling
system in accordance with your
maintenance schedule in the chapter
7. Before winter, check your coolant
to assure that the freezing point is
sufficiently lower than the expected
winter temperature.
Check battery and cables
The winter temperature increases
the battery consumption. Inspect the
battery and cables, as described in
the chapter 7. The battery charging
level can be checked by an author-
ized EQUUS dealer or in a service
station.
Change to "winter weight" oil,
if necessary
In some regions during the cold win-
ter, it is recommended to use the
"winter weight" oil with lower viscosi-
ty. For further information about this,
refer to the chapter 8. When you can-
not be sure about a type of winter
weight oil, consult an authorized
EQUUS dealer.
Check spark plugs and ignition
system
Inspect your spark plugs and, if nec-
essary, replace them. Also check all
ignition wirings and components for
any cracks, wear-out, and damage.
NOTICE
- Chain installation
When installing the AutoSock,
park the vehicle on level ground
away from other vehicles. Press
ON the Hazard Warning flasher
and place a warning triangle
behind your vehicle, if available.
Place the shift lever in P(Park),
set the parking brake and turn
OFF the engine, before
installing the AutoSock.
WARNING
- Tire chains
The use of the AutoSock may
adversely affect vehicle han-
dling.
Do not drive faster than the lower of the two - 20 mph (30
km/h) and the AutoSock manu-
facturer’s recommended
speed limit.
Drive carefully and avoid bumps, holes, sharp turns, and
other road hazards, which may
bounce the vehicle.
Avoid turning sharply or lock- ing the wheel brake.
WARNING

If engine stalls while driving
1.Gradually reduce your drivingspeed while driving straight ahead.
Cautiously drive off the road to a
safe place.
2.Press the emergency hazard flash- er.
3.Try to re-start the engine again. When your vehicle does not re-
start, contact an authorized
EQUUS dealer for the qualified
assistance.When the engine does not
revolve, or slowly revolves
1.Make sure that the shift lever is inN(Neutral) or P (Park), and the
emergency brake is set.
2.Check that the battery connections are clean and tight.
3.Turn ON the interior light. When the light dims or goes out upon operat-
ing the starter, the battery is dis-
charged.
4.Check that the starter connections are securely tightened.
5.Do not push or pull the vehicle to start it. Follow instructions provided
in "Jump starting".
When the engine normally
revolves, but does not start
1.Check the fuel level.
2.With the Engine Start/Stop Buttonin the OFF position, check all con-
nectors of the ignition coils and the
spark plugs. Reconnect any dis-
connected or loose parts.
3.If the engine still does not start, contact an authorized EQUUS
dealer for the qualified assistance
6-3
What to do in an emergency06
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When the engine does not start,
do not push or pull the car to
start it. This may result in a col-
lision or cause other damage.
CAUTION

Maintenance
Engine compartment .............................................7-4
Maintenance services ...........................................7-5
Owner's responsibility ......................................................7-5
Owner's maintenance precautions ...............................7-6
Owner's maintenance ...........................................7-7
Owner's maintenance schedule ....................................7-7
Scheduled maintenance service ..........................7-8
Normal maintenance schedule .......................................7-9
Maintenance under severe usage conditions ..........7-22
Explanation of scheduled maintenance
items.......................................................................7\
-23
Engine oil ..............................................................7-25
Checking the engine oil level ....................................7-25
Changing the engine oil and filter ..............................7-26
Engine coolant......................................................7-27
Checking the coolant level ...........................................7-27
Changing the coolant .....................................................7-29
Brake fluid ............................................................7-30
Checking the brake fluid level .....................................7-30
Power steering fluid ............................................7-31
Checking the power steering fluid level ...................7-31
Checking the power steering hose.............................7-31
Washer fluid .........................................................7-32
Checking the washer fluid level ..................................7-32
Air cleaner ............................................................7-33
Filter replacement ...........................................................7-33

The following lists are about the vehi-
cle inspection and maintenance that
should be performed by the owner or
an authorized EQUUS dealer, as
indicated. This will ensure your safety
and dependable driving.
Any adverse conditions should imme-
diately be checked by your EQUUS
dealer.
These Owner Maintenance Checklists
are mostly uncovered by your vehicle
warranties. Thus, you may charges
you for expenses of labor, parts or
lubricants.
Owner's maintenance sched-
ule
While refueling:
Check the engine oil level.
Check coolant level in coolantreservoir.
Check the windshield washer fluid level.
Check for any low or under-inflated tires.
While driving:
Check for any changes in theexhaust sounds or the smells.
Check for any steering wheel vibra- tion. Check whether you feel more
tightness or looseness of the steer-
ing wheel.
Check for any slight tilting, or “pulls” to one side, while driving on
a flat surface.
Check for any unusual sounds, tilt- ing, a braking distance, or “hard-to-
push” brake pedal while stopping.
Check the transmission fluid level upon experiencing a skid or a sud-
den transmission gear change.
Check the P(Park) function of the auto transmission.
Check the parking brake.
Check for any fluid leak (water dripping from the A/C while or after
the normal driving).
At least once a month:
Check the coolant level in theengine coolant reservoir.
Check the operation of all exterior lights, such as the stoplights, turn
signals and hazard warning flash-
ers.
Check the inflation pressures of all tires including the spare.
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7-7
Maintenance07
Carefully check your engine
coolant level, when the engine
is hot. The hot coolant or steam
may blow out under pressure.
This may cause a skin burn or
other serious injuries.
WARNING

7-23
Maintenance07
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Engine oil and filter
The engine oil and filter should be
changed at the interval, as specified
in the maintenance schedule. After
driving in severe conditions, you
should more frequently change oil
and filters.
Drive belts
Inspect all belts for any cut, crack,
excessive wear-out, or oil saturation.
If necessary, replace it.
Fuel filter
A clogged filter may limit the acceler-
ating function, damage the emission
system and cause other problems,
such as hard starting. When an
excessive amount of foreign sub-
stances accumulate in the fuel tank,
you should more frequently replace
the filter. After installing a new filter,
run the engine for several minutes,
and check for any leakage from the
connections. Fuel filters should be
installed by an authorized EQUUS
dealer.
Fuel lines, fuel hoses and con-
nections
Check the fuel lines, fuel hoses and
connections for any leakage and
damage. Immediately have an
authorized EQUUS dealer replace
any damaged or leaking parts.
Vapor hose and fuel filler cap
Check the fuel lines, fuel hoses and
connections for any leakage and
damage. Immediately have an
authorized EQUUS dealer replace
any damaged or leaking parts.
Air cleaner filter
An authorized HYUNDAI air cleaner
filter is recommended.
Spark plugs
Make sure to install new spark plugs
of the correct heat range.
Cooling system
Check the cooling system compo-
nents, such as radiator, coolant
reservoir, hoses and connections, for
any leakage and damage. If neces-
sary, replace any damaged parts.
Coolant
The coolant should be changed at
the interval, as specified in the main-
tenance schedule.
Automatic transmission fluid
You do not need to check the auto-
matic transmission fluid, when driv-
ing under normal conditions.
However, after driving in severe con-
ditions, the fluid should be changed
by an authorized EQUUS dealer in
accordance with the maintenance
schedule, as specified in the begin-
ning of this chapter.
Information
The original color of the automatic
transmission fluid is red. However, as
you drive the vehicle, the color will
become darker. This is normal, and
you do not need to change the fluid
due to the changed color.
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7-24
Maintenance
The use of an unauthorized fluid
may result in transmission mal-
function and failure. Use only the
authorized automatic transmis-
sion fluid. (Refer to “Recommended
lubricants and capacities” in the
chapter 8.)
Brake hoses and lines
Confirm the proper installation, and
check for any frictions, cracks, dete-
rioration and leakage. If necessary,
immediately replace any deteriorated
or damaged parts.
Brake fluid
Check the brake fluid level. The level
should be between “MIN” and “MAX”
marks on the reservoir. Use only the
hydraulic brake fluid, which meet the
requirements of the DOT3/DOT4
specifications.
Brake discs, pads, calipers
and rotors
Check the pads and the disc for any
excessive wear-out, and inspect
calipers for any fluid leakage.
Exhaust pipe and muffler
Inspect the exhaust pipes, muffler
and hangers for any cracks, deterio-
rations, or damages. Start the
engine, and listen carefully for any
gas leaking noise. If necessary, tight-
en connections or replace the dam-
aged parts.
Suspension mounting bolts
Check the suspension connections
for any looseness or damage. If nec-
essary, retighten the bolt to the spec-
ified torque.
Steering gear box, linkage &
boots/lower arm ball joint
After stopping the vehicle and turn-
ing off the engine, confirm the steer-
ing locking (tightening).
Check the bends for any linkage or
damage. Check the dust boots and
ball joints for any deterioration,
cracks, or damage. If necessary,
replace the damaged parts.
Power steering pump, belt and
hoses
Check the power steering pump and
hoses for any leakage or damage. If
necessary, immediately replace any
damaged or leaking parts. Inspect
the power steering belt (or drive belt)
for any cuts, cracks, excessive wear-
out, oil saturation or looseness. If
necessary, replace or adjust the
damaged part.
Drive shafts and boots
Check the drive shafts, boots and
clamps for any cracks, deterioration,
or damage. If necessary, replace or
grease the damaged part.
Air conditioning refrigerant
Check the air conditioning lines and
connections for any leakage or dam-
age.
NOTICE

7-25
Maintenance07
Checking the engine oil level
1. Be sure the vehicle is on levelground.
2. Start the engine and allow it to reach a normal operating temper-
ature.
3. Turn the engine off and wait for the oil fluctuation to stabilize in the oil
pan (approximately 5 minutes).
4. Pull the dipstick out, wipe it clean, and re-insert it fully.
5. Pull the dipstick out again and check the level. The level should
be between F and L. Do not overfill the engine oil.
This may damage the engine.
while adding or changing it. If
you spill out the engine oil in the
engine compartment, immedi-
ately wipe it off.
When it is near to or at L, add the
engine oil to bring it up to F. Do not
overfill it.
Use a funnel to prevent oil spillage
over the engine components.
Use only the authorized engine oil. (Refer to “Recommended lubricantsand capacities” in the chapter 8.)
NOTICE
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- Radiator hose
Do not touch the radiator hose
while checking or adding the
engine oil. This may burn your
skin.
WARNING
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