towing Hyundai Santa Fe 2008 Owner's Manual

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
67
The brake fluid level warning light indi-
cates that the brake fluid level in the brake
master cylinder is low and hydraulic brake
fluid conforming to DOT 3 or DOT 4 speci-
fications should be added. After adding
fluid, if no other trouble is found, the car
should be immediately and carefully driven
to a Hyundai dealer for inspection. If further
trouble is experienced, the vehicle should
not be driven at all but taken to a dealer by
a professional towing service.
Your Hyundai is equipped with dual-di-
agonal braking systems. This means you
still have braking on two wheels even if
one of the dual systems should malfunc-
tion. With only one of the dual systems
working, more than normal pedal travel
and greater pedal pressure are required to
stop the car. Also, the car will not stop in as
short a distance with only half of the brake
system working. If the brakes malfunction
while you are driving, shift to a lower gear
for additional engine braking and stop the
car as soon as it is safe to do so.
B260J02TG-AAT
Charging System Warning
Light
The charging system warning light should
illuminate when the ignition is turned on,
then go out when the engine is running. If
the light stays on while the engine is run-
ning, there is a malfunction in the electrical
charging system. If the light illuminates
while you are driving, have the system
checked by your Hyundai dealer as soon
as possible.Parking brake warning chime
(if installed)The parking brake warning chime sounds
to remind you that the parking brake is
applied when your are driving above
6mph(10km/h). Always release the park-
ing brake before you drive.
B260G02A-AAT
Low Oil Pressure Warning
Light
CAUTION:
If the low oil pressure warning light stays
on while the engine is running, serious
engine damage may result. The oil pres-
sure warning light comes on whenever
there is insufficient oil pressure. In nor-
mal operation, it should illuminate when
the ignition switch is turned on, then go
out when the engine is started. If the oil
pressure warning light stays on while
the engine is running, there is a serious
malfunction.
If this happens, stop the car as soon as
it is safe to do so, turn off the engine and
check the oil level. If the oil level is low,
fill the engine oil to the proper level and
start the engine again. If the light stays
on with the engine running, turn the en-
gine off immediately. In any instance
where the oil light stays on when the
engine is running, the engine should be
checked by a Hyundai dealer before the
car is driven again.
!

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
2
Engine Exhaust Can Be Dangerous! ............................ 2-2
Before Starting the Engine ............................................ 2-4
Key Positions ................................................................ 2-5
Starting ..........................................................................2-6
Manual Transaxle ......................................................... 2-7
Automatic Transaxle...................................................2-10
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ..................................2-15
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)...............................2-16
Full-Time AWD Operation ...........................................2-17
AWD Lock System.....................................................2-20
Good Braking Practices..............................................2-21
Driving for Economy...................................................2-23
Winter Driving.............................................................2-24
Trailer or Vehicle Towing ............................................2-27
Trailer Connector........................................................2-31
Vehicle Load Limit.......................................................2-32
2

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
19
o In rare cases when it's unavoidable
that a AWD vehicle is to be inspected
on a 2WD roll tester, strictly follow the
procedures.
1. Check the tire pressures recom-
mended for your vehicle.
2. Place the front wheels on the roll
tester as shown in the illustration.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Place the rear wheels on the tem-
porary free roller as shown in the
illustration.!
WARNING:
Keep away from the front of the vehicle
while inspecting.
OCM051013
Roll tester(Speedometer)Temporary free roller(9)For a speedometer test or inspection/
maintenance (I/M) program of a Santa
Fe AWD vehicle, use a four wheel chas-
sis dynamometer.
!
CAUTION:
Never engage the parking brake while
performing these tests. (8)The full-time AWD vehicle cannot be
towed by an ordinary tow truck. Make
sure that the vehicle is towed with all
four wheels raised off the ground.
o Roadside Assistance Program:
Off-roading is not covered. To re-
ceive service, the vehicle must be on
a publicly maintained road.
o If the vehicle is towed with only two
wheels raised off the ground, the
AWD system could be damaged.
o In unavoidable cases, if the vehicle
is being towed with all four wheels on
the ground, it should only be towed
forward.
o While towing, check the following
items.
1. The ignition switch is in "ACC" or
"ON".
2. Place the shift lever in neutral (For
Automatic Transaxle, "N" posi-
tion).
3. Release the parking brake.
NOTE:To avoid serious damage to your AWD
vehicle, limit towing to 10 mph and not for
more than 1 mile at ANY TIME.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
27
TRAILER OR VEHICLE TOWING!
C190A01S-AATIf you are considering towing with your car,
you should first check with your State's
Department of Motor Vehicles to deter-
mine their legal requirements.
Since laws vary from State to State the
requirements for towing trailers, cars, or
other types of vehicles or apparatus may
differ. Ask your Hyundai dealer for further
details before towing.
CAUTION:
Do not do any towing with your car during
its first 1,200 miles (2,000 km) in order to
allow the engine to properly break in.
Failure to heed this caution may result in
serious engine or transaxle damage.
USE OF LIGHTSC180A01A-AATCheck your lights regularly for correct op-
eration and always keep them clean. When
driving during the day in conditions of poor
visibility, it is helpful to drive with head-
lights on low beam. This enables you to be
seen as well as to see.
!
o Driving on tires with no or insufficient
tread is dangerous. Worn-out tires
can result in loss of vehicle control,
collisions, injury, and even death.
Worn-out tires should be replaced as
soon as possible and should never be
used for driving. Always check tire
tread before driving your car. Refer to
8-12 for further information and tread
limits.
WARNING:
2. Fuel, engine coolant and engine oil:
High speed travel consumes more fuel
than urban motoring. Do not forget to check
both engine coolant and engine oil.
3. Drive belt:
A loose or damaged drive belt may result
in overheating of the engine.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
28
C190C02Y-AATTrailer BrakesIf your trailer is equipped with a braking
system, make sure it conforms to federal
and/or local regulations and that it is prop-
erly installed and operating correctly.NOTE:If you tow a trailer or vehicle, your car will
require more frequent maintenance due
to the additional load. See Maintenance
Under Severe Usage Conditions" on
page 5-6.
CAUTION:
o Never connect a trailer brake system
directly to the vehicle brake system.
o 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 across the
dial 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.
!
C190D01S-AATSafety ChainsShould the hitch connection between your
vehicle and the trailer or vehicle you are
towing fail, the trailer or vehicle could
wander dangerously across other lanes of
traffic and ultimately leave the roadway. To
eliminate this potentially dangerous situa-
tion, safety chains, attached between your
car and the trailer or towed vehicle, are
required in most states.
C190B01S-AATTrailer HitchesSelect the proper hitch and ball combina-
tion, making sure that its location is com-
patible with that of the trailer or vehicle
being towed.
Use a quality non-equalizing hitch which
distributes the tongue load uniformly
throughout the chassis.
The hitch should be bolted securely to the
car and installed by a qualified technician.
DO NOT USE A HITCH DESIGNED FOR
TEMPORARY INSTALLATION AND
NEVER USE ONE THAT ATTACHES
ONLY TO THE BUMPER.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
29
Lbs. (kg)Tongue
280(127)
350(159)
165(75) Engine
2.7L
3.3L
2.7L
3.3L
Maximum Towable Weight
With
Brake
Without
Brake
Trailer
2,800(1,270)
3,500(1,588)
1,650(748)
!
CAUTION:
The following specifications are recom-
mended when towing a trailer. The loaded
trailer weight cannot safely exceed the
values in the chart.
NOTE:1. Never load the trailer with more weight
in the back than in the front. About
60% of the trailer load should be in the
front half on the trailer and the remain-
ing 40% in the rear.
2. The total gross vehicle weight with
trailer must not exceed the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) shown
on the vehicle identification plate (see
page 8-2). The total gross vehicle
weight is the combined weight of the
vehicle, driver, all passengers and
their luggage, cargo, hitch, trailer
tongue load and other optional equip-
ment.
3. The front or rear axle weight must not
exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) shown on the vehicle identi-
fication plate (see page 8-2). It is pos-
sible that your towing package does
not exceed the GVWR but exceeds
the GAWR.
Improper trailer loading and/or too
much luggage in the cargo area can
overload the rear axle. Redistribute
the load and check the axle weight
again.
C190E01JM C190E01CM-AAT
Trailer Weight Limito Keep the tongue load 10% of the total
trailer load.
o Tongue load
o Tongue loads can be increased or de-
creased by re-distributing the load in
the trailer.
This can be verified by checking the
total weight of the loaded trailer and
then checking the load on the tongue. Total trailer weight
Tongue load Total trailer weight
4. When towing a trailer, be sure to con-
sult your Hyundai dealer for further
information on additional require-
ments such as a towing kit, etc.
- Without Trailer Package : Towable
Weight is 2,000 lbs(907.4kg)
- Boat Trailer Weight : Maximum towable
weight + 1,000 lbs(453.7kg)
- Maximum Towable Weight : 2
person(Driver and 1 passenger) x 100 = 10% (MAX)

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
30
C190F01CM-AATTrailer or Vehicle Towing Tips1. Before towing, check hitch and safety
chain connections as well as proper
operation of the trailer running lights,
brake lights, and turn signals.
2. Trailer towing requires more fuel than
normal conditions.
3. To maintain engine braking efficiency,
do not tow a trailer with the transaxle in
fifth gear (manual transaxle).
4. Always secure items in the trailer to
prevent load shift while driving.
5. Check the condition and air pressure of
all tires on the trailer and your car. Low
tire pressure can seriously affect the
handling. Also check the spare tire.
6. The vehicle/trailer combination is more
affected by crosswind and buffeting.
When being passed by a large vehicle,
keep a constant speed and steer straight
ahead. If there is too much wind buffet-
ing, slow down to get out of the other
vehicle's air turbulence.7. When parking your car and trailer, es-
pecially on a hill, be sure to follow all the
normal precautions. Turn your front
wheel into the curb, set the parking
brake firmly, and put the transaxle in 1st
or Reverse (manual) or Park (automatic).
In addition, place wheel chocks at each
of the trailer's tires.
8. If the trailer has electric brakes, start
your vehicle and trailer moving, and
then apply the trailer brake controller by
hand to be sure the brakes are working.
This lets you check your electrical con-
nection at the same time.
9. During your trip, check occasionally to
be sure that the load is secure, and that
the lights and any trailer brakes are still
working.
10. Avoid jerky starts, sudden accelera-
tion or sudden stops.
11. Avoid sharp turns and rapid lane
changes.
12. Avoid holding the brake pedal down
too long or too frequently. This could
cause the brakes to overheat, resulting
in reduced braking efficiency.
!
WARNING:
o Improperly loading your vehicle and
trailer can seriously affect its steer-
ing and braking performance causing
a crash which could cause serious
injury or death.
o Towing a trailer affects vehicle han-
dling and braking.
o Drive more slowly when towing a trailer
and allow more distance when brak-
ing.
o Be careful when driving in slippery
and windy conditions.
o Be careful when turning and while
driving up and down hills.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
31
TRAILER CONNECTOR
CAUTION:
If overheating should occur when tow-
ing, (the temperature gauge reads near
the red zone), taking the following ac-
tions may reduce or eliminate the prob-
lem.
1. Turn off the air conditioner.
2. Reduce highway speed.
3. Select a lower gear when going uphill.
4. When stopping, place the gear selec-
tor in park or neutral and idle the
engine at a higher speed.
!
13. When going down a hill, shift into a
lower gear and use the engine braking
effect.
When ascending a long grade, down-
shift the transaxle to a lower gear and
reduce speed to reduce chances of
engine overloading and/or overheat-
ing.
14. If you have to stop while going uphill,
do not hold the vehicle in place by
pressing on the accelerator. This can
cause the automatic transaxle to over-
heat. Use the parking brake or
footbrake.
15.If the transaxle shifts frequently while
going up a hill, shift down one gear.NOTE:When towing check transaxle fluid more
frequently.
OCM057100L C200A01CM-AAT
A : Power connector
B : Signal connector
C : Connector Cap
1 : Power supply for trailer lamp (30A/B+)
2 : Ground
3 : Signal (Right turn signal light)
4 : Signal (Tail light)
5 : Signal (Left turn signal light)
6 : Signal (Stop light)CLIP CONNECTING PART CLIP CONNECTING PART
CONNECTOR-A CONNECTOR-B

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
33
The tire label located on the driver's
side of the center pillar outer panel
gives the original tire size, cold tire
pressures recommended for your ve-
hicle, the number of people that can be
in your vehicle and vehicle capacity
weight.
Vehicle capacity weight:o 5 passenger vehicle : 930 lbs (420 kg)
o 7 passenger vehicle : 1120 lbs (506 kg)Vehicle capacity weight is the maxi-
mum combined weight of occupants
and cargo. If your vehicle is equipped
with a trailer, the combined weight in-
cludes the tongue load.Seating capacity:
o 5 passenger vehicle
Total: 5 persons
(Front seat: 2 persons,
Rear seat: 3 persons)
o 7 passenger vehicle
Total: 7 persons
(Front seat: 2 persons,
Rear seat: 3 persons
Third row seat: 2 persons)
Seating capacity is the maximum num-
ber 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:
Towing capacity is the maximum trailer
weight including its cargo weight, your
vehicle can tow. See the section "Trailer
or Vehicle Towing" for specifications
about the trailer weight.
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.
Steps for Determining Correct Load
Limit
(1)Locate the statement "The combined
weight of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX pounds'' on your
vehicle's placard.
(2)Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
34
C190F02JM
Example 2
Total
1400 lbs
(635 kg)
750 lbs
(340 kg)
650 lbs
(295 kg) Item
A
B
CDescription
Vehicle Capacity Weight
Subtract Occupant Weight
150 lbs (68 kg) x 5
Available Cargo and
Luggage Weight
ABC
C190F01JMTotal
1400 lbs
(635 kg)
300 lbs
(136 kg)
1100 lbs
(498 kg)
Example 1Item
A
B
CDescription
Vehicle Capacity Weight
Subtract Occupant Weight
150 lbs (68 kg) × 2
Available Cargo and
Luggage weight
ABC
(3)Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from XXX
kilograms or XXX pounds.
(4)The resulting figure equals the avail-
able amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity. For example, if the
"XXX" amount equals 1400 lbs, and
there will be five 150 lb. passengers
in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capac-
ity is 650 lbs. (1400-750 (5 x 150) =
650 lbs.)
(5)Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity calcu-
lated in Step 4.
(6)If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,
load from your trailer will be trans-
ferred to your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this re-
duces the available cargo and lug-
gage load capacity of your vehicle.