2016 Hyundai Sonata warning lights

5-3
Driving your vehicle
5
Before entering the vehicle
• Ensure all windows, outside mir-
ror(s), and outside lights are clean
and unobstructed.
• Remove frost, snow, or ice.
• Visually check the tyres for uneven
wear and damage.
• Check under the vehicle for any
sign of leaks.
• Ensure there are no obstacles
behind you if you intend to reverse.
Before starting
• Ensure the bonnet, the boot, and
the doors are securely closed and
locked.
• Adjust the position of the seat and
steering wheel.
• Adjust the inside and outside
rearview mirrors.
• Verify all the lights work.
• Fasten your seat belt. Check that
all passengers have fastened their
seat belts.
• Check the gauges and indicators in
the instrument cluster and the
messages on the LCD display
when the ignition switch is in the
ON position.
• Check that any items you are car-
rying are stored properly or fas-
tened down securely.
BEFORE DRIVING
To reduce the risk of SERIOUS
INJURY or DEATH, take the fol-
lowing precautions:
•ALWAYS wear your seat belt.
All passengers must be prop-
erly restrained whenever the
vehicle is moving. For more
information, refer to “Seat
Belts” in chapter 2.
•Always drive defensively.
Assume other drivers or
pedestrians may be careless
and make mistakes.
•Stay focused on the task of
driving. Driver distraction can
cause accidents.
•Leave plenty of space
between you and the vehicle
in front of you.
WARNING

5-6
Driving your vehicle
Key ignition switch positions
Switch
PositionActionNotes
LOCK
To turn the ignition switch to the LOCK position, push the key in
slightly at the ACC position and turn the key towards the LOCK
position.
The ignition key can be removed in the LOCK position.The steering wheel locks to protect the vehi-
cle from theft. (if equipped)
ACC
Electrical accessories are usable.The steering wheel unlocks.
If difficulty is experienced turning the ignition
switch to the ACC position, turn the key
whilst turning the steering wheel right and
left to release tension.
ON
This is the normal key position when the engine has started.
All features and accessories are usable.
The warning lights can be checked when you turn the ignition
switch from ACC to ON.Do not leave the ignition switch in the ON
position when the engine is not running to
prevent the battery from discharging.
STARTTo start the engine, turn the ignition switch to the START position.
The switch returns to the ON position when you let go of the key.The engine will crank until you release the
key.

5-10
Driving your vehicle
- Vehicle with automatic transaxle
Button Position Action Notice
ON
Press the Engine Start/Stop button whilst it
is in the ACC position without depressing
the brake pedal.
The warning lights can be checked before
the engine is started.Do not leave the Engine Start/Stop button in
the ON position when the engine is not run-
ning to prevent the battery from discharging.
START
To start the engine, depress the brake pedal
and press the Engine Start/Stop button with
the shift lever in the P (Park) or in the N
(Neutral) position.
For your safety, start the engine with the
shift lever in the P (Park) position.If you press the Engine Start/Stop button
without depressing the brake pedal, the
engine does not start and the Engine
Start/Stop button changes as follows:
OFF
→ACC →ON →OFF or ACC

5-37
Driving your vehicle
5
Electronic Stability Control
(ESC)
The Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) system helps to stabilise the
vehicle during cornering manoeu-
vres.
ESC checks where you are steering
and where the vehicle is actually
going. ESC applies braking pressure
to any one of the vehicle’s brakes
and intervenes in the engine man-
agement system to assist the driver
with keeping the vehicle on the
intended path.It is not a substitute for safe driving
practices. Always adjust your speed
and driving to the road conditions.
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 3 seconds and goes off then
the ESC is turned on.
OLF054448R
Never drive too fast for the road
conditions or too quickly when
cornering. The ESC system will
not prevent accidents.
Excessive speed in turns, abrupt
manoeuvres, and hydroplaning
on wet surfaces can result in
severe accidents.
WARNING

5-39
Driving your vehicle
5
• State 2
Press the ESC OFF button for more
than 3 seconds. ESC OFF indicator
light and message illuminate and the
ESC OFF warning chime will sound.
In this state, the engine control func-
tion and brake control function do not
operate. In other words, the vehicle
stability control function does not
operate any more.
If the ignition switch is placed to the
LOCK/OFF position when ESC is off,
ESC remains off. Upon restarting the
engine, the ESC will automatically
turn on again.Indicator lights
When the ignition switch is pressed
to the ON position, the ESC indicator
light illuminates, then goes off if the
ESC system is operating normally.
The ESC indicator light blinks when-
ever the ESC is operating.
If the ESC indicator light stays on,
your vehicle may have a malfunction
with the ESC system. When this
warning light illuminates we recom-
mend that the vehicle be checked by
an authorised HYUNDAI dealer as
soon as possible.The ESC OFF indicator light comes
on when the ESC is turned off with
the button.
Driving with varying tyre or wheel
sizes may cause the ESC system
to malfunction. When replacing
tyres, make sure they are the
same size as your original tyres
for this vehicle.
NOTICE
■Type A■Type B
OLF054438N/OLF054100N
■ESC indicator light (blinks)
■ ESC OFF indicator light (comes on)
When the ESC is blinking, this
indicates the ESC is active:
Drive slowly and NEVER
attempt to accelerate. NEVER
turn the ESC off whilst the ESC
indicator light is blinking or you
may lose control of the vehicle
resulting in an accident.
WARNING

5-40
Driving your vehicle
ESC OFF usage
When Driving
The ESC OFF mode should only be
used briefly to help free the vehicle if
stuck in snow or mud, by temporarily
stopping operation of the ESC to
maintain wheel torque.
To turn ESC off whilst driving, press
the ESC OFF button whilst driving on
a flat road surface.To prevent damage to the
transaxle:
• Do not allow wheel(s) of one
axle to spin excessively whilst
the ESC, ABS, and brake warn-
ing lights are displayed. The
repairs would not be covered by
the vehicle warranty. Reduce
engine power and do not spin
the wheel(s) excessively whilst
these lights are displayed.
• When operating the vehicle on a
dynamometer, ensure the ESC is
turned off (ESC OFF light illumi-
nated).
Information
Turning the ESC off does not affect
ABS or standard brake system opera-
tion.
Vehicle Stability Management
(if equipped)
Vehicle Stability Management (VSM)
helps ensure the vehicle stays stable
when accelerating or braking sud-
denly on wet, slippery and rough
roads where traction over the four
tyres can suddenly become uneven.
i
NOTICE
Take the following precautions
when using the Vehicle Stability
Management (VSM):
•ALWAYS check the speed and
the distance to the vehicle
ahead. The VSM is not a sub-
stitute for safe driving prac-
tices.
•Never drive too fast for the
road conditions. The VSM sys-
tem will not prevent acci-
dents. Excessive speed in bad
weather, slippery and uneven
roads can result in severe
accidents.
WARNING

5-73
Driving your vehicle
5
Safety chains
You should always attach chains
between your vehicle and your trail-
er. Cross the safety chains under the
tongue of the trailer so that the
tongue will not drop to the road if it
becomes separated from the towbar.
Instructions about safety chains may
be provided by the towbar manufac-
turer or trailer manufacturer. Follow
the manufacturer's recommendation
for attaching safety chains. Always
leave just enough slack so you can
turn with your trailer. And, never
allow safety chains to drag on the
ground.
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a brak-
ing system, make sure it conforms to
your country's regulations and that it
is properly installed and operating
correctly.
If your trailer weighs more than the
maximum trailer weight without trail-
er brakes loaded, then it needs its
own brakes and they must be ade-
quate. Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for the trailer brakes so
you'll be able to install, adjust and
maintain them properly. Be sure not
to tap into your vehicle's brake sys-
tem.
Driving with a trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. Before setting
out for the open road, you must get
to know your trailer. Acquaint your-
self with the feel of handling and
braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep in mind that
the vehicle you are driving is now
longer and not nearly as responsive
as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer
towbar and platform, safety chains,
electrical connector(s), lights, tyres
and brakes.
During your trip, occasionally check
to be sure that the load is secure,
and that the lights and trailer brakes
are still working.
Do not use a trailer with its own
brakes unless you are absolute-
ly certain that you have proper-
ly set up the brake system. This
is not a task for amateurs. Use
an experienced, competent
trailer shop for this work.
WARNING

6-2
The hazard warning flasher serves as
a warning to other drivers to exercise
extreme caution when approaching,
overtaking, or passing your vehicle.
It should be used whenever emer-
gency repairs are being made or
when the vehicle is stopped near the
edge of a roadway.To turn the hazard warning flasher
on or off, press the hazard warning
flasher button with the Engine
Start/Stop button in any position. The
button is located in the centre fascia
panel. All turn signal lights will flash
simultaneously.
• The hazard warning flasher oper-
ates whether your vehicle is run-
ning or not.
• The turn signals do not work when
the hazard flasher is on.
HAZARD WARNING FLASHER
What to do in an emergency
OLF064001R