2020 Hyundai Sonata Owner's Manual

06
6-133
Hazardous Driving Conditions
When hazardous driving elements
are encountered such as water, snow,
ice, mud and sand, take the below
suggestions:
• Drive cautiously and keep a longer braking distance.
• Avoid abrupt braking or steering.
• When your vehicle is stuck in snow, mud, or sand, use second
gear. Accelerate slowly to avoid
unnecessary wheel spin.
• Put sand, rock salt, tire chains or other non-slip materials under the wheels to
provide additional traction while the
vehicle becomes stuck in ice, snow,
or mud.
WARNING
Downshifting with an automatic
transmission while driving on slippery
surfaces can cause an accident. The
sudden change in tire speed could
cause the tires to skid. Be careful when
downshifting on slippery surfaces.
Rocking the Vehicle
If it is necessary to rock the vehicle to
free it from snow, sand, or mud, first turn
the steering wheel right and left to clear
the area around your front wheels. Then,
shift back and forth between R (Reverse)
and a forward gear.
Try to avoid spinning the wheels, and do
not race the engine.
To prevent transmission wear, wait until
the wheels stop spinning before shifting
gears. Release the accelerator pedal
while shifting, and press lightly on the
accelerator pedal while the transmission
is in gear. Slowly spinning the wheels in
forward and reverse directions causes a
rocking motion that may free the vehicle.
WARNING
If the vehicle is stuck and excessive
wheel spin occurs, the temperature
of the tires can increase very quickly.
If the tires become damaged, a tire
blow out or tire explosion can occur.
This condition is dangerous - you and
others may be injured. Do not attempt
this procedure if people or objects are
anywhere near the vehicle.
If you attempt to free the vehicle, the
vehicle can overheat quickly, possibly
causing an engine compartment fire
or other damage. Try to avoid spinning
the wheels as much as possible to
prevent overheating of either the tires
or the engine. DO NOT allow the vehicle
to spin the wheels above 35 mph (56
km/h).
Information
The ESC system must be turned OFF
before rocking the vehicle.
NOTICE
If you are still stuck after rocking the
vehicle a few times, have the vehicle
pulled out by a tow vehicle to avoid
engine overheating, possible damage to
the transmission, and tire damage. See
"Towing" in chapter 7.
SPECIAL DRIVING CONDITIONS

While Driving6-134
Smooth Cornering
Avoid braking or gear changing in
corners, especially when roads are wet.
Ideally, corners should always be taken
under gentle acceleration.
Driving at Night
Night driving presents more hazards than
driving in the daylight. Here are some
important tips to remember:
• Slow down and keep more distance between you and other vehicles, as it
may be more difficult to see at night,
especially in areas where there may
not be any street lights.
• Adjust your mirrors to reduce the glare from other driver's headlamps.
• Keep your headlamps clean and properly aimed. Dirty or improperly
aimed headlamps will make it much
more difficult to see at night.
• Avoid staring directly at the headlamps of oncoming vehicles. You
could be temporarily blinded, and it
will take several seconds for your eyes
to readjust to the darkness.
Driving in the Rain
Rain and wet roads can make driving
dangerous. Here are a few things to
consider when driving in the rain or on
slick pavement:
• Slow down and allow extra following distance. A heavy rainfall makes
it harder to see and increases the
distance needed to stop your vehicle.
• Turn OFF your Cruise Control.
• Replace your windshield wiper blades when they show signs of streaking or
missing areas on the windshield.
• Tires should be properly maintained with at least 2/32nds of an inch of
tread depth. If your tires do not have
enough tread, making a quick stop on
wet pavement can cause a skid and
possibly lead to an accident. See "Tire
Tread" in chapter 8.
• Turn on your headlamps to make it easier for others to see you.
• Driving too fast through large puddles can affect your brakes. If you must go
through puddles, try to drive through
them slowly.
• If you believe your brakes may be wet, apply them lightly while driving until
normal braking operation returns.
Hydroplaning
If the road is wet enough and you are
going fast enough, your vehicle may
have little or no contact with the road
surface and actually ride on the water.
The best advice is SLOW DOWN when
the road is wet.
The risk of hydroplaning increases as
the depth of tire tread decreases, refer
to "Tire Tread" in chapter 8.

06
6-135
Driving in Flooded Areas
Avoid driving through flooded areas
unless you are sure the water is no
higher than the bottom of the wheel hub.
Drive through any water slowly. Allow
adequate stopping distance because
brake performance may be reduced.
After driving through water, dry the
brakes by gently applying them several
times while the vehicle is moving slowly.
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 adversely
affect vehicle handling. This could lead
to sudden tire failure that may cause
loss of vehicle control resulting in an
accident.
Information
Never over-inflate your tires above the
maximum inflation pressure, as specified
on your tires.
Fuel, engine coolant and engine oil
Driving at higher speeds on the highway
consumes more fuel and is less efficient
than driving at a slower, more moderate
speed. Maintain a moderate speed in
order to conserve fuel when driving on
the highway.
Be sure to check both the engine coolant
level and the engine oil before driving.
Drive belt
A loose or damaged drive belt may
overheat the engine.

While Driving6-136
The severe weather conditions of winter
quickly wear out tires and cause other
problems. To minimize winter driving
problems, you should take the following
suggestions:
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 the
vehicle to skid.
To drive your vehicle in deep snow, it
may be necessary to use snow tires or to
install tire chains on your tires.
Always carry emergency equipment.
Some of the items you may want to carry
include tire 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 tires
WARNING
Snow tires should be equivalent in size
and type to the vehicle’s standard tires.
Otherwise, the safety and handling of
your vehicle may be adversely affected.
If you mount snow tires on your vehicle,
make sure to use radial tires of the same
size and load range as the original tires.
Mount snow tires on all four wheels
to balance your vehicle’s handling in
all weather conditions. The traction
provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your vehicle's
original equipment tires. Check with
the tire dealer for maximum speed
recommendations.
Information
Do not install studded tires without
first checking local, state and municipal
regulations for possible restrictions against
their use.
Tire chains
ODN8069077LODN8069077L
Since the sidewalls of radial tires are
thinner than other types of tires, they
may be damaged by mounting some
types of tire chains on them. Therefore
the use of snow tires is preferred over the
use of tire chains.
If the road and weather conditions
require the use of tire chains, be sure to
use tire chains that have been properly
selected for the size of tire on your
HYUNDAI vehicle.
Be sure to follow the guidelines and
installation instructions provided from
the tire chain manufacturer.
Damage to your vehicle caused by
improper tire chain use is not covered by
your vehicle manufacturer’s warranty.
WINTER DRIVING

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WARNING
The use of tire chains may adversely
affect vehicle handling:
• Drive less than 20 mph (30 km/h)
or the chain manufacturer's
recommended speed limit,
whichever is lower.
• Drive carefully and avoid bumps,
holes, sharp turns, and other road
hazards, which may cause the
vehicle to bounce.
• Avoid sharp turns or locked wheel
braking.
Information
• Install tire chains on both left and right
front tires. It should be noted that
installing tire chains on the tires will
provide a greater driving force, but will
not prevent side skids.
• Do not install studded tires without
first checking local, state and municipal
regulations for possible restrictions
against their use.
Chain installation
When installing tire chains, follow the
manuf
acturer’s instructions and mount
them as tightly possible. Drive slowly
(less than 20 mph (30 km/h)) with
chains installed. If you hear the chains
contacting the body or chassis, stop and
tighten them. If they still make contact,
slow down until the noise stops. Remove
the tire chains as soon as you begin
driving on cleared roads.
When mounting snow chains, park the
vehicle on level ground away from traffic.
Turn on the vehicle Hazard Warning
Flasher and place a triangular emergency
warning device behind the vehicle (if
available). Always place the vehicle in P
(Park), apply the parking brake and turn
off the engine before installing snow
chains.
NOTICE
When using tire chains:
• Wrong size chains or improperly
installed chains can damage your
vehicle's brake lines, suspension,
body and wheels.
• Use SAE "S" class or wire chains.
• If you hear noise caused by chains
contacting the body, retighten the
chain to prevent contact with the
vehicle body.
• To prevent body damage, retighten
the chains after driving 0.3~0.6 miles
(0.5~1.0 km).
• Do not use tire chains on vehicles
equipped with aluminum wheels. If
unavoidable, use a wire type chain.
• Use wire chains less than 0.59 inch
(15mm) wide to prevent damage to
the chain’s connection.
Winter Precautions
Use high quality ethylene glycol
coolant
Your vehicle is delivered with high
quality 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 schedule in
chapter 8. Before winter, have your
coolant tested to assure that its freezing
point is sufficient for the temperatures
anticipated during the winter.

While Driving6-138
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 chapter 8
for recommendations. If you aren't sure
what weight oil you should use, consult
an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.
Check battery and cables
Winter puts additional burdens on the
battery system. Visually inspect the
battery and cables as described in
chapter 8. The level of charge in your
battery can be checked by an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer or a service station.
Check spark plugs and ignition
system
Inspect your spark plugs as described in
chapter 8 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.
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 instructions on the
container. Window washer anti-freeze is
available from an authorized HYUNDAI
dealer and most auto parts outlets. Do
not use engine coolant or other types
of antifreeze as these may damage the
paint finish.
Do not let your parking brake freeze
Under 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 and block the
rear wheels so the car cannot roll. Then
release the parking brake.
Do not 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 car to be sure the
movement of the front wheels and the
steering components is not obstructed.
Don't place foreign objects
or materials in the engine
compartment
Placement of foreign object or materials
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.
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 heated key with care to avoid injury.

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Two labels on your driver's door sill show
how much weight your vehicle was
designed to carry: the Tire and Loading
Information Label and the Certification
Label.
Before loading your vehicle, familiarize
yourself with the following terms for
determining your vehicle’s weight
ratings, from the vehicle's specifications
and the Certification Label:
Base Curb Weight
This is the weight of the vehicle
including a full tank of fuel and all
standard equipment. It does not
include passengers, cargo, or optional
equipment.
Vehicle Curb Weight
This is the weight of your new vehicle
when you picked it up from your dealer
plus any aftermarket equipment.
Cargo Weight
This figure includes all weight added to
the Base Curb Weight, including cargo
and optional equipment.
GAW (Gross Axle Weight)
This is the total weight placed on each
axle (front and rear) - including vehicle
curb weight and all payload.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)
This is the maximum allowable weight
that can be carried by a single axle (front
or rear). These numbers are shown on
the Certification Label. The total load on
each axle must never exceed its GAWR.
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight)
This is the Base Curb Weight plus actual
Cargo Weight plus passengers.GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)
This is the maximum allowable weight
of the fully loaded vehicle (including
all options, equipment, passengers
and cargo). The GVWR is shown on the
Certification Label located on the driver’s
door sill.
Tire Loading Information Label
ODN8A069205ODN8A069205
Type AType A
Type BType B
ODN8A069206ODN8A069206
Type CType C
ODN8A069207ODN8A069207
VEHICLE LOAD LIMIT

While Driving6-140
ODN8A069208ODN8A069208
Type DType D
Type EType E
ODN8A069209ODN8A069209
Type FType F
ODN8A069210ODN8A069210
The label located on the driver's door
sill gives the original tire size, cold
tire pressures recommended for your
vehicle, the number of people that can
be in your vehicle and vehicle capacity
weight.
Vehicle capacity weight
904 lbs. (410 kg)
Vehicle capacity weight is the maximum
combined weight of occupants and
cargo. If your vehicle is equipped with a
trailer, the combined weight includes the
tongue load.
Seating capacity
Total: 5 persons (Front seat : 2 persons,
Rear seat : 3 persons)
Seating capacity is the maximum
number of occupants including a driver,
your vehicle may carry. However, the
seating capacity may be reduced based
upon the weight of all of the occupants,
and the weight of the cargo being carried
or towed. Do not overload the vehicle as
there is a limit to the total weight, or load
limit including occupants and cargo, the
vehicle can carry.
Towing capacity
We do not recommend using this vehicle
for trailer towing.
Cargo capacity
The cargo capacity of your vehicle will
increase or decrease depending on the
weight and the number of occupants
and the tongue load, if your vehicle is
equipped with a trailer.