4WD Hyundai Santa Fe 2003 Owner's Manual

YOUR VEHICLE AT A GLANCE
B255A03O-AAT
INDICATOR SYMBOLS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL
* A more detailed explanations of these items will be found beginning on page 1-37.
SRS (Airbag) Service Reminder Indicator
Turn Signal Indicator Lights
High Beam Indicator Light
Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
Parking Brake/Low Brake Fluid Level Warning
Light
Charging System Warning Light
Tail Gate Open Warning LightDoor Ajar Warning Light and Chime
Low Fuel Level Warning Light
Malfunction Indicator Light Seat Belt Reminder Light and Chime
Traction Control Indicator Light (If installed)
Cruise Indicator (If installed)
ABS Service Reminder Indicator (If installed)
4WD System Warning Light (If installed)
Traction Control Off Indicator Light (If installed)

1- 36 FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
B260A03O-AATINSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND INDICATOR LIGHTS
1. Coolant Temperature Gauge
2. Tachometer
3. Turn Signal Indicator Light
4. High Beam Indicator Light
5. Speedometer
6. Odometer / Trip Odometer
7. Fuel Gauge
8. Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
9. Cruise Indicator (If installed)10. 4WD System Warning Light (If installed)
11. Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
12. Supplemental Restraint System (Airbag)
Service Reminder Indicator (SRI)
13. Seat Belt Warning Light
14. Tail Gate Open Warning Light
15. Door Ajar Warning Light
16. Automatic Transaxle Position Indicator Light
(If installed)17. Charging System Warning Light
18. Parking Brake/Low Brake Fluid Level
Warning Light
19. ABS Service Reminder Indicator
(If installed)
20. Traction Control Off indicator Light
(If installed)
21. Low Fuel Warning Light
22. Traction Control Indicator Light (If installed)
B260A01O
12334
567
8910
11 12 13 1416
17 18 19 20
152122

1- 40 FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
B270A01A-AAT
BRAKE PAD WEAR WARNING SOUND
The front disc brake pads have wear indicators
that should make a high-pitched squealing or
scraping noise when new pads are needed. The
sound may come and go or be heard all the time
when the vehicle is moving. It may also be heard
when the brake pedal is pushed down firmly.
Excessive rotor damage will result if the worn
pads are not replaced. See your Hyundai dealer
immediately.
B270B01O-AATPARKING START WARNING SOUND
If the vehicle driven at over 2mph(3km/h) more
2~3 seconds, the warning chime will sound
continuously when the parking brake engaged.
B280A01A-AAT
FUEL GAUGE
The needle on the gauge indicates the approxi-
mate fuel level in the fuel tank. The fuel capacity
is given in Section 9.
B280A01O B260T01O-GAT
4WD System Warning Light
(If installed)
When the key is turned to the "ON" position, the
4WD(Four Wheel Drive) system warning light
will come on and then go off in a few seconds.
B260Q03O-DATCruise Indicator
(If installed)
The cruise indicator light in the instrument clus-
ter is illuminated when the cruise control
ON
OFF switch is pushed on the steering
wheel.
The indicator light does not illuminate when the
cruise control ON
OFF switch is pushed again.
Information about the use of cruise control is
beginning on page 1-66.
B265C01O-AATTraction Control Indicator
Lights (3.5 L only) (If installed)
The traction control indicators change opera-
tion according to the ignition switch position and
whether the system is in operation or not.
They will illuminate when the ignition key is
turned to the "ON" position, but should go out
after three seconds. If the TCS or TCS-OFF
indicator stays on, take your car to your autho-
rized Hyundai dealer and have the system
checked. See section 2 for more information
about the TCS.
CAUTION:If the 4WD system warning light ( )
blinks while driving, this indicates that there
is a malfunction in the 4WD system. If this
occurs, have your vehicle checked by an
authorized Hyundai dealer as soon as pos-
sible.
!

2. DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
Before Starting the Engine ............................................................... 2-3
Key Positions ................................................................................... 2-4
Starting ............................................................................................. 2-5
Operating the Manual Transaxle ...................................................... 2-5
Automatic Transaxle ........................................................................ 2-7
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ..................................................... 2-10
Brake Traction Control System (BTCS) ........................................ 2-11
Full Traction Control System (FTCS) ............................................. 2-12
Full-Time 4WD Operation ............................................................... 2-13
Limited-Slip Differential ................................................................... 2-15
Good Braking Practices ................................................................. 2-15
Driving for Economy ...................................................................... 2-16
Winter Driving ................................................................................. 2-17
Trailer or Vehicle Towing ................................................................ 2-19
2

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI 2- 3
!!WARNING:o The 2WD Santa Fe is not designed for
off-road use. The 4WD Santa Fe is de-
signed primarily for use on paved roads.
However, occasional use in off-highway
conditions such as established unpaved
roads and non-challenging off-road
trails is allowed. The 4WD Santa Fe is not
designed for blazing new trails, chal-
lenging off-road conditions, or unpaved
hill climbing. Exceeding the conditions
that were intended for the vehicle's pri-
mary design may result in injury or death.
o Utility vehicle has a significantly higher
collision rate than other type of vehicles.
o Utility vehicle have higher ground clear-
ance and a narrower track to make them
capable of performing in a wide variety
of off-road applications. Specific design
characteristics give them a higher center
of gravitiy than ordinary cars. An advan-
tage of the higher ground clearance is a
better view of the road allowing you to
anticipate problem. They are not de-
signed for cornering at the same speeds
as conventional 2-wheel drive vehicles
any more than low-slung sports cars are
designed to perform satisfactorily un-
der off-road conditions. If at all possible,
avoid sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers.
As with other vehicles of this type, fail-
ure to operate this vehicle correctly may
result in loss of control or vehicle rollover.
C020A01A-AATBEFORE STARTING THE ENGINE
Before you start the engine, you should always:
1. Look around the vehicle to be sure there are
no flat tires, puddles of oil, water or other
indications of possible trouble.
2. After entering the car, check to be sure the
parking brake is engaged.
3. Check that all windows, and lights are clean.
4. Check that the interior and exterior mirrors
are clean and in position.
5. Check your seat, seatback and headrest to
be sure they are in their proper positions.
6. Lock all the doors.
7. Fasten your seat belt and be sure that all
other occupants have fastened theirs.
8. Turn off all lights and accessories that are
not needed.
9. When you turn the ignition switch to "ON",
check that all appropriate warning lights are
operating and that you have sufficient fuel.
10.Check the operation of warning lights and all
bulbs when key is in the "ON" position.
C030A01E-AATCOMBINATION IGNITION SWITCH
To Start the Engine
o If your Hyundai is equipped with a manual
transaxle, place the shift lever in neutral and
depress the clutch pedal fully.
o If your Hyundai has an automatic transaxle,
place the shift lever in "P" (park).
o To start the engine, insert the ignition key and
turn it to the "START" position. Release it as
soon as the engine starts. Do not hold the
key in the "START" position for more that 15
seconds.
NOTE:o For safety, the engine will not start if the
clutch pedal is not depressed fully
(Manual Transaxle) or the shift lever is
not in "P" or "N" Position (Automatic
Transaxle).
o The ignition key cannot be turned from
"ACC" position to "LOCK" position un-
less the shift lever is in the "P" (Park)
position or the negative battery terminal
is disconnected from the battery. To
remove the key, always confirm that the
shift lever is securely positioned in "P"
(Park) (For Automatic Transaxle)
o For additional information about start-
ing, see page 2-5.
WARNING:o In a collision crash, an unbelted person
is significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seatbelt.

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI 2- 13
C310D01O-AATIndicators and Warning
The indicators should illuminate when the igni-
tion key is turned to ON or START but should
go out after three seconds.
If the indicators do not illuminate, or the TCS or
TCS-OFF indicator does not go out after 3
seconds, have it checked by an authorized
dealer.
Should there be any unusual conditions in the
device while driving, TCS-OFF indicator illumi-
nates as a warning.
If TCS-OFF indicator illuminates, pull your car
to a safe place and stop the engine.
Then, start the engine again to check if the TCS-
OFF indicator goes out.
If the indicator remains lit even after the engine
has been started, have your car checked by an
authorized Hyundai dealer.
NOTE:1) When TCS-OFF indicator illuminates,
traction control is automatically deacti-
vated for safety.
2) This warning function is not provided
when the driver selects the TCS-OFF
mode.
C310B01O-AATTCS ON/OFF Mode
In the TCS-ON mode, the TCS indicator light in
the instrument cluster will blink.
If you turn the system off by pressing the TCS
switch, the TCS-OFF indicator light will come on
and stay on. In the TCS-OFF mode, the SLIP
control will be deactivated. Adjust you driving
accordingly. To turn the system back on, press
the switch again. The TCS-OFF indicator light
should go off.
NOTE:1) Turn off the engine. Then restart the
engine, and the TCS mode will automati-
cally turn ON.
2) When the traction control system is op-
erating properly, you can feel a slight
pulsation in the vehicle. This is only the
effect of brake control and indicates
nothing unusual.
3) When the engine starts, a click is heard
from the engine compartment; however,
this is only the sound of traction control
being checked.
4) When moving out of the mud or fresh
snow, pressing the accelerator pedal
may not cause the engine speed to in-
crease.
C350A02O-AATFull-Time 4WD Operation (If installed)
Engine power can be delivered to all front and
rear wheels for maximum power. Full-time 4WD
is useful when good traction is required, such
as, when driving on slippery, wet or snow-
covered roads and when moving out of mud.
These vehicles, however, are not designed for
challenging off-road use. Full-time 4WD ve-
hicles are designed primarily to improve traction
and performance on paved roads and high-
ways in wet and/or slippery conditions. Occa-
sional off-road use such as established un-
paved roads and trails is OK. It is always
important when traveling off-highway that the
driver carefully reduce their speed to a level that
does not exceed the safe operating speed for
those conditions. In general, off-road conditions
provide less traction and braking effectiveness
than on road conditions. These factors must be
carefully considered when driving off-road.
Keeping the vehicle in contact with the driving
surface and under control in these conditions is
always the driver's responsibility for the safety
of him/herself and his or her passengers.

2- 14 DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
When driving on a snow-covered road or a
slippery, muddy surface, make sure that
you keep a sufficient distance between your
vehicle and the one ahead of you.
(7) Since the driving torque is always applied to
the 4 wheels, the performance of the full-time
4WD vehicle is greatly affected by the con-
dition of the tires. Be sure to equip it with all
four tires of the same size and type.
o When replacement of any of the tires or
disc wheels is necessary, replace all of
them.
o Rotate the tires and check the tire pres-
sure at regular intervals.
(8)The full-time 4WD vehicle cannot be
towed by an ordinary tow truck. Make
sure that the vehicle is towed with its
four wheels raised off the ground.
o Roadside Assistance Program:
Off-roading is not covered. To receive
service, the vehicle must be on a publicly
maintained road.
o If the vehicle is towed with its only two
wheels raised off the ground, the 4WD
system could be damaged.
o In unavoidable case, if the vehicle is
being towed with all four wheels on the
ground, it should be towed only forward
direction with rope.
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" position).
3. Release the parking brake.NOTE:To avoid serious damage to your 4WD ve-
hicle, limit towing to 10 mph and not for
more than 1 mile at ANY TIME.
(9)For speedometer test or inspection/mainte-
nance (I/M) program of SANTA FE 4WD,
use a four wheel chassis dynamometer.
HSM281Roll tester(Speedometer)Temporary free roller
o In rare cases when it's unavoidable that
a 4WD vehicle is to be inspected for
speedometer test on 2WD roll tester,
strictly follow the procedures next.
CAUTION:Never engage the parking brake while per-
forming these tests.
!
!WARNING:This vehicle is designed primarily for on
road use. Driving the vehicle in challenging
off-road conditions for which it was not
designed may result in damage to the ve-
hicle. Driving in conditions that exceed the
vehicle's intended design or the driver's
experience level may result in severe injury
or death.
Driving 4WD Safely
(1) Be sure to wear the seat belt.
(2) Do not drive in challenging off-road condi-
tions or areas that exceed the vehicle's
basic design intent or the driver's experi-
ence level.
(3) Drive at lower speeds in strong crosswinds.
Because of your vehicle's high center of
gravity, its stability will be affected in cross-
winds. Slower speeds ensure better vehicle
control.
(4) Check the brake condition after driving in wet
or muddy conditions. Press the brake sev-
eral times as you move slowly until you feel
normal braking forces return.
(5) Do not drive the vehicle through water. (i.e.
streams, rivers, lakes, etc.)
(6) The stopping distance of the full-time 4WD
vehicle differs very little from that of the 2WD
vehicle.

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI 2- 15
!
1. Check the tire pressures recom-
mended for your vehicle.
2. Place the front wheels on the roll
tester for speedometer as shown in
the illustration.
3. Release the parking brake.
4. Place the rear wheels on the tempo-
rary free roller as shown in the illustra-
tion.
!CAUTION:o While the full-time 4WD vehicle is being
raised on a jack, never start the engine or
cause the tires to rotate.
There is the danger that rotating tires
touching the ground could cause the
vehicle to go off the jack and to jump
forward.
WARNING:Keep away from the front of the vehicle
while inspecting. This is very dangerous as
the vehicle can jump forward and cause
serious injury or death.
(10)When using tire chains, always attach them
to the front wheels.
(11)If the front or rear wheels get stuck in the
mud, do not spin them recklessly. The 4WD
system could be damaged.
!
C130A01A-AATGOOD BRAKING PRACTICES
WARNING:
Nothing should be carried on top of the
cargo area cover behind the rear seat. If
there were an accident or a sudden stop,
such objects could move forward and cause
damage to the vehicle or injure the occu-
pants.
!
D190A01O-GATLimited-Slip Differential (If installed)
A limited-slip differential, if equipped, is for the
rear wheel differential only. The features of this
limited-slip differential are described below:
Just as with a conventional differential, the
wheel on one side is allowed to turn at a different
speed from the wheel on the other side when the
vehicle is cornering. The difference between
the limited-slip differential and a conventional
differential is that if the wheel on one side of the
vehicle loses traction, a greater amount of
torque is applied to the rear wheel on the other
side to improve traction.
WARNING:o Avoid high cornering speeds.
o Do not make quick steering wheel move-
ments, such as sharp lane charges or
fast, sharp turns.
o The risk of rollover is greatly increased if
you lose control of your vehicle at high-
way speeds.
o In a collision crash, an unbelted person
is significantly more likely to die a per-
son weara seatbelt.
o Loss of control often occurs if two or
more wheels drop off the roadway and
the driver oversteers to reenter the road-
way.
o In the event your vehicle leaves the road-
way, do not steer sharply. Instead, slow
down before pulling back into the travel
lanes. o If one of the front or rear wheels begins
to spin in mud, snow, etc., the vehicle
can sometimes be driven out by de-
pressing the accelerator pedal further;
however, avoid running the engine con-
tinuously at high rpm because doing so
could damage the 4WD system.

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI 2- 21
2.4(2WD)
2.7(2WD)
2.7(4WD)
3.5(2WD)
3.5(4WD)Tongue
170(77.1)
120(54.4)
320(145.2)
270(122.5)
270(122.5)
220(99.8)
330(149.7)
280(127)
280(127)
230(104.3)
100(45.3)
120(54.4)
120(54.4)
150(68.0)
Lbs. (kg)
Trailer
1700(771)
1200(544)
3200(1452)
2700(1225)
2700(1225)
2200(998)
3300(1497)
2800(1270)
2800(1270)
2300(1043)
1000(453)
1200(544)
1200(544)
1500(680) Maximum Towable Weight
Type A
Type B
Type A
Type B
Type A
Type B
Type A
Type B
Type A
Type B With
Brake
Without
Brake
Without
Brake
+ABSEngine
2.4(2WD)
2.7(2WD)
2.7(4WD)
3.5(2WD)
3.5(4WD)
2.4(2WD)
2.7(2WD)
2.7(4WD)
3.5(2WD)
3.5(4WD)
Type A : Vehicle carrying 2 passengers
Type B : Vehicle carrying 5 passengers
!
C190F01O-AATTrailer or Vehicle Towing Tips
1. 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 and
electrical charging performance, do not use
fifth gear (manual transaxle) or overdrive
(automatic 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 af-
fected 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 buffeting slow down
to get out of the other vehicle's air turbulence.
7. When parking your car and trailer, especially
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. 4. The gross combination weight (sum of
your vehicle weight plus its load and the
total trailer weight) must not exceed the
following.
4WD
-
7400(3357)
7500(3402)Lbs. (kg)
2WD
6000(2721)
7700(3493)
7800(3538)Combination WeightEngine
2.4
2.7
3.5
WARNING:o Improperly loading your car and trailer
can seriously affect its steering and brak-
ing performance causing a crash which
could cause serious injury or death.
o Do not exceed 45 mph or the posted
towing speed limit, whichever is lower.

3- 10 WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY
!
D080B02O-AATTowing a Car With Manual Transaxle
D080C02A-AATTowing a Car With Automatic Transaxle
o If the car is being towed with the rear wheels
on the ground, be sure the parking brake is
released.
o If the car is being towed with the front wheels
on the ground, be sure that the transaxle is
in neutral. Also, be sure that the ignition key
is in the "ACC" position. This is necessary to
prevent damage to the steering lock mecha-
nism, which is not designed to hold the front
wheels straight while the car is being towed.
o If any of the loaded wheels or suspension
components are damaged, a towing dolly
must be used.
CAUTION:o When towing the 2WD vehicle with the
rear wheels on the ground, the vehicle
should be towed with wheel lift type
truck.
Otherwise, the CV joint boot can inter-
fere with the towing hook caused by
insufficient clearance resulting in CV
joint boot damage.
o 4 Wheel Drive cannot be towed with a
tow truck. It must be towed by lifting all
4 wheels.CAUTION:A car with an automatic transaxle should
never be towed from the rear with the front
wheels on the ground. This can cause se-
rious damage to the transaxle. If the car
must be towed from the rear, a towing dolly
must be used under the front wheels.
If the car is being towed with the rear wheels on
the ground, be sure the parking brake is re-
leased.
NOTE:Before towing, check the level of the
transaxle fluid. If it is below the "HOT" mark
on the dipstick, add fluid. If you cannot add
fluid, a towing dolly must be used as de-
scribed above.
D080B01O-1
D080C01OD080C02O
o DO NOT TOW 4WD
o OK FOR AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL
TRANSAXLE EQUIPPED VEHICLE
WITH NO DAMAGE (except 4WD)
o DO NOT TOW 4WD
o NOT OK FOR AUTOMATIC
TRANSAXLE EQUIPPED VEHICLE
o OK FOR MANUAL TRANSAXLE
(except 4WD)o OK FOR AUTOMATIC OR MANUAL
TRANSAXLE EQUIPPED VEHICLE
!