2021 HYUNDAI SANTA FE engine overheat

06
6-57
OTMA060009
OTMA060010
Transmission overheated
• When driving on muddy and sandy
roads under the severe condition, the
transmission could be overheated.
• When the transmission is overheated,
the safe protection mode engages
and the “Transmission Hot! Park with
engine on: warning message will
appear on the LCD display with a
chime.
• If this occurs, pull over to a safe
location, stop the vehicle with the
engine running, apply the brakes and
shift the vehicle to P (Park), and allow
the transmission to cool.
• If you ignore this warning, the driving
condition may become worse.
You may experience abrupt shifts,
frequent shifts, or jerkiness. To return
to the normal driving condition, stop
the vehicle and apply the foot brake
or shift into P (Park). Then allow the
transmission to cool for a few minutes
with engine on, before driving off. •
When the message “Trans cooled.
Resume driving” appears you can
continue to drive your vehicle.
• If the warning messages in the LCD
display continue to blink, for your
safety, have the system checked
by a professional workshop. We
recommends to visit an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer.
Driving up or down hills
• Driving uphill
- Bef
ore starting off, check if it is
possible to drive uphill.
- Drive as s
traight as possible.
• Driving downhill
- Do not change gear while driving
do
wnhill. Select gear before driving
downhill.
- Drive slo
wly using engine braking
while driving downhill. - Drive s traight as possible.
WARNING
Exercise extreme caution driving up or
down steep hills. The vehicle may flip
over depending on the grade, terrain,
water and mud conditions.
WARNING
Do not drive across the contour of steep
hills. A slight change in the wheel angle
can destabilize the vehicle, or a stable
vehicle may lose stability if the vehicle
stops its forward motion. Your vehicle
may roll over and lead to a serious injury
or death.

Driving your vehicle
6-72
SPECIAL DRIVING CONDITIONS
Hazardous driving conditions
When hazardous driving elements
are encountered such as water, snow,
ice, mud and sand, take the following
precautions:
• Drive cautiously and maintain 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
in 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.

06
6-73
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” section in chapter 8.
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 drivers’ 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. (if
equipped)
• Replace your windshield wiper blades
when they show signs of streaking or
missing areas on the windshield.
• Be sure your tires have enough tread.
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” section
in chapter 9.
• 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” section in chapter 9.

Driving your vehicle
6 -74
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 fail the
braking operation.
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.
Reducing the risk of a rollover
Your multi-purpose passenger vehicle is
defined as a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV).
SUV’s have higher ground clearance
and a narrower track to make them
capable of performing in a wide variety
of off-road applications. The specific
design characteristics give them a higher
center of gravity than ordinary vehicles
making them more likely to roll over if
you make abrupt turns. Utility vehicles
have a significantly higher rollover rate
than other types of vehicles. Due to this
risk, driver and passengers are strongly
recommended to buckle their seat belts.
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person
is significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt.
There are steps that a driver can make
to reduce the risk of a rollover. If at all
possible, avoid sharp turns or abrupt
maneuvers, do not load your vehicle
with heavy cargo on the roof, and never
modify your vehicle in any way.
WARNING
Utility vehicles have a significantly
higher rollover rate than other types of
vehicles. To prevent rollovers or loss of
control:
• Take corners at slower speeds than
you would with a passenger vehicle.
• Avoid sharp turns and abrupt
maneuvers.
• Do not modify your vehicle in any
way that you would raise the center
of gravity.
• Keep tires properly inflated.
• Do not carry heavy cargo on the roof.
WARNING
In a rollover crash, an unbelted person
is significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt. Make sure
all passengers are wearing their seat
belts.

06
6-85
Backing up
Hold the bottom of the steering wheel
with one hand. Then, to move the trailer
to the left, move your hand to the left. To
move the trailer to the right, move your
hand to the right. Always back up slowly
and, if possible, have someone guide
you.
Making turns
When you’re turning with a trailer, make
wider turns than normal. Do this so your
trailer won’t strike soft shoulders, curbs,
road signs, trees, or other objects. Avoid
jerky or sudden maneuvers. Signal well in
advance.
Turn signals
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle has
to have a different turn signal flasher and
extra wiring. The green arrows on your
instrument panel will flash whenever you
signal a turn or lane change. Properly
connected, the trailer lights will also flash
to alert other drivers you’re about to turn,
change lanes, or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green arrows
on your instrument panel will flash for
turns even if the bulbs on the trailer
are burned out. Thus, you may think
drivers behind you are seeing your
signals when, in fact, they are not. It’s
important to check occasionally to be
sure the trailer bulbs are still working.
You must also check the lights every time
you disconnect and then reconnect the
wires.
WARNING
Do not connect a trailer lighting system
directly to your vehicle’s lighting
system. Use an approved trailer wiring
harness. Failure to do so could result in
damage to the vehicle electrical system
and/or personal injury. We recommend
that you consult an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer for assistance.
Driving on hills
Reduce speed and shift to a lower gear
before you start down a long or steep
downgrade. If you don’t shift down, you
might have to use your brakes so much
that they would get overheated and may
not operate efficiently.
On a long uphill grade, shift down and
reduce your speed to around 45 mph (70
km/h) to reduce the possibility of engine
and transmission overheating.
If your trailer weighs more than the
maximum trailer weight without trailer
brakes and you have a automatic
transmission, you should drive in D
(Drive) when towing a trailer.
Operating your vehicle in D (Drive)
when towing a trailer will minimize heat
build-up and extend the life of your
transmission.

Driving your vehicle
6-86
NOTICE
To prevent engine and/or transmission
overheating:
• When towing a trailer on steep
grades (in excess of 6%) pay close
attention to the engine coolant
temperature gauge to ensure the
engine does not overheat. If the
needle of the coolant temperature
gauge moves towards “H” (HOT),
pull over and stop as soon as it is
safe to do so, and allow the engine
to idle until it cools down. You may
proceed once the engine has cooled
sufficiently.
• If you tow a trailer with the maximum
gross vehicle weight and maximum
trailer weight, it can cause the
engine or transmission to overheat.
When driving in such conditions,
allow the engine to idle until it cools
down. You may proceed once the
engine or transmission has cooled
sufficiently.
• When towing a trailer, your vehicle
speed may be much slower than the
general flow of traffic, especially
when climbing an uphill grade. Use
the right hand lane when towing a
trailer on an uphill grade. Choose
your vehicle speed according to the
maximum posted speed limit for
vehicles with trailers, the steepness
of the grade, and your trailer weight.
Parking on hills
Generally, if you have a trailer attached
to your vehicle, you should not park your
vehicle on a hill.
However, if you ever have to park your
trailer on a hill, here’s how to do it:
1.
Pull the

vehicle into the parking space.
Turn the steering wheel in the
direction of the curb (right if headed
down hill, left if headed up hill).
2.
Shift the gear to P (P

ark).
3.
Set the parking br

ake and shut off the
vehicle.
4.
Place wheel chocks under the tr

ailer
wheels on the down hill side of the
wheels.
5.
Start the v

ehicle, hold the brakes, shift
to neutral, release the parking brake
and slowly release the brakes until the
trailer chocks absorb the load.
6.
Reapply the br

akes and parking
brakes.
7.
Shift the gear to P (P

ark) when the
vehicle is parked on a uphill grade and
in R (Reverse) on a downhill.
8.
Shut off the v

ehicle and release the
vehicle brakes but leave the parking
brake set.
WARNING
To prevent serious or fatal injury:
• Do not get out of the vehicle without
the parking brake firmly set. If you
have left the engine running, the
vehicle can move suddenly. You and
others could be seriously or fatally
injured.
• Do not apply the accelerator pedal to
hold the vehicle on an uphill.

06
6-87
Driving the vehicle after it has been
parked on a hill
1. With the gear in P (Park), apply your
brakes and hold the brake pedal down
while you:
• Start your engine;
• Shift into gear; and
• Release the parking brake.
2.
Slowly r

emove your foot from the
brake pedal.
3.
Drive slo

wly until the trailer is clear of
the chocks.
4.
St

op 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 trailer.
Important items to pay particular
attention to include engine oil,
transmission fluid, axle lubricant and
cooling system fluid. Brake condition
is another important item to frequently
check. If you’re trailering, it’s a good
idea to review these items before
you start your trip. Don’t forget to
also maintain your trailer and hitch.
Follow the maintenance schedule that
accompanied your trailer and check it
periodically. Preferably, conduct the
check at the start of each day’s driving.
Most importantly, all hitch nuts and bolts
should be tight.
NOTICE
To prevent vehicle damage:
• Due to higher load during trailer
usage, overheating might occur on
hot days or during uphill driving.
If the coolant gauge indicates
over-heating, switch off the air
conditioner and stop the vehicle in a
safe area to cool down the engine.
• Do not switch off the engine while
the coolant gauge indicates over-
heating.
(Keep the engine idle to cool down
the engine)
• When towing check transmission
fluid more frequently.
• If your vehicle is not equipped with
an air conditioner, you should install
a condenser fan to improve engine
performance when towing a trailer.

08
8 -7
If your temperature gauge indicates
overheating, you experience a loss of
power, or hear loud pinging or knocking,
the engine may be overheating. If this
happens, you should:
1.
Pull off the r
oad and stop as soon as it
is safe to do so.
2.
Shift the gear to P (P

ark) and set the
parking brake. If the air conditioning is
ON, turn it OFF.
3.
If engine coolant is running out under
the v

ehicle or steam is coming out
from the hood, stop the engine. Do
not open the hood until the coolant
has stopped running 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.
WARNING
While the engine is running,
keep hands, clothing and tools
away from the moving parts
such as the cooling fan and
drive belt to prevent serious
injury. 4.
Check for coolan

t leaking from the
radiator, hoses or under the vehicle. (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, s
top
the engine immediately and call the
nearest authorized HYUNDAI dealer
for assistance.
WARNING
Never remove the engine
coolant cap and/or water-
cooled intercooler coolant
cap or the drain plug while 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 removing the coolant cap. Wrap
a thick towel around it, and turn it
counterclockwise slowly to the first
stop. Step back while the pressure is
released from the cooling system. When
you are sure all the pressure has been
released, press down on the cap, using
a thick towel, and continue turning
counterclockwise to remove it.
IF THE ENGINE OVERHEATS