Hyundai Santa Fe 2006 Owner's Manual

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
10
CAUTION:
o In sports mode the driver must execute
shifts in accordance with prevailing road
conditions, taking care to keep the en-
gine speed below the red zone. For en-
gine protection, upward shifts are made
automatically when the engine rpm
reaches the red zone.
o By rapidly moving the selector lever
backwards (-) twice, it is possible to skip
one gear, i.e., 3rd to 1st, 4th to 2nd or 5th
to 3rd. Since sudden engine braking
and/or rapid acceleration can cause a
loss of traction, however, downshifts
must be made carefully in accordance
with the vehicle's speed.
!
C090C01A-AATo R(Reverse):Use for backing up the vehicle. Bring the car to
a complete stop before shifting the selector
lever to "R" position.C090D02A-AATo N (Neutral):In the "N" position, the transaxle is in neutral,
which means that no gears are engaged. The
engine can be started with the shift lever in "N"
position, although this is not recommended
except if the engine stalls while the car is
moving.C090E01L-AATo D (Drive):Use for normal driving. This position is used for
most city and highway driving, for starting from
a full stop to maximum speed. The transaxle will
automatically shift through a five gear sequence.
C095F01O-GATSports Mode
C090F01O
Whether the vehicle is stationary or in motion,
sports mode is selected by pushing the selector
lever from the "D" position into the manual gate.
To return to "D" range operation, push the
selector lever back into the main gate.
In sports mode, moving the selector lever back-
wards and forwards can make gearshifts simple.
UP (+) : Push the lever forward once to shift
up one gear.
DOWN (-) : Pull the lever backward once to shift
down one gear.
SKIP : By rapidly moving the selector forwards
or backwards twice, it is possible to skip one
gear, i.e. 1st to 3rd or 3rd to 1st.

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
11
NOTE:o In sports mode, only the five forward
gears can be selected. To select reverse
or park, move the selector lever to the
"R" or "P" position as required.
o In sports mode, downward shifts are
made automatically when the vehicle
slows down. When the vehicle stops, 1st
gear is automatically selected.
o To maintain the required levels of ve-
hicle performance and safety, the sys-
tem may not execute certain gearshifts
when the selector lever is operated.
o Before driving away from a stop on a
slippery road, push the selector lever
forward into the +(UP) position. This
causes the transaxle to shift into 2nd
gear which is better for smooth driving
away on a slippery road. Push the selec-
tor lever to the -(DOWN) side to shift
back to 1st gear.
C090H01L-GATNOTE:o For smooth and safe operation, depress
the brake pedal when shifting from "Neu-
tral" position or "Park" position to a
forward or reverse gear.
o The ignition key must be in the "ON"
position and the brake pedal fully de-
pressed in order to move the shift lever
from the "P" (Park) position to any of the
other positions.
o It is always possible to shift from "R",
"N", "D" position to "P" position. The
vehicle must be fully stopped to avoid
transaxle damage.
C090I03L-GAT
CAUTION:
o Shift into "R" and "P" position only when
the vehicle has completely stopped.
o Do not accelerate the engine in reverse
or any of the forward positions with the
brakes applied.
o Always apply the footbrake when shift-
ing from "P" or "N", to "R" or "D" posi-
tion.
o Do not use the "P" (Park) position in
place of the parking brake. Always set
the parking brake, shift the transaxle
into "P" (Park) position and turn off the
ignition when you leave the vehicle, even
momentarily. Never leave the vehicle
unattended while the engine is running.
o When accelerating from a stop on a
steep hill, the vehicle may have a ten-
dency to roll backwards. Shifting the
shift lever into 2nd gear while in Sport
mode will help prevent the vehicle from
rolling backwards.
o Check the automatic transaxle fluid level
regularly, and add fluid as necessary.
o See the maintenance schedule for the
proper fluid recomendation.
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12
!
!
C090N04O-AATGood Driving Practiceso Never move the gear selector lever from "P"
or "N" to any other position with the accelera-
tor pedal depressed.
o Never move the gear selector lever into "P"
when the vehicle is in motion.
o Be sure the car is completely stopped before
you attempt to shift into "R".
o Never take the car out of gear and coast
down a hill. This may be extremely hazard-
ous. Always leave the car in gear when
moving.
o Do not "ride" the brakes. This can cause
them to overheat and malfunction. Instead,
when you are driving down a long hill, slow
down and shift to a lower gear. When you do
this, engine braking will help slow the car.
o Slow down before shifting to a lower gear.
Otherwise, the lower gear may not be en-
gaged.
o Always use the parking brake. Do not de-
pend on placing the transaxle in "P" to keep
the car from moving.
o Exercise extreme caution when driving on a
slippery surface. Be especially careful when
braking, accelerating or shifting gears. On a
slippery surface, an abrupt change in ve-
hicle speed can cause the drive wheels to
lose traction and the vehicle to go out of
control.
WARNING:
o Avoid high cornering speeds.
o Do not make quick steering wheel move-
ments, such as sharp lane changes or
fast, sharp turns.
o Always wear your seat belts.
In a collision crash, un unbelted person
is significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seatbelt.
o The risk of rollover is greatly increased if
you lose control of your vehicle at high-
way speeds.
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 Never exceed posted speed limits.o Optimum vehicle performance and economy
is obtained by smoothly depressing and
releasing the accelerator pedal.
o If your vehicle becomes stuck in snow,
mud, sand, etc., then you may attempt to
rock the vehicle free by moving it for-
ward and backward. Do not attempt this
procedure if people or objects are any-
where near the vehicle. During the rock-
ing operation the vehicle may suddenly
move forward of backward as it becomes
unstuck, causing injury or damage to
nearby people or objects.
WARNING:

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
13
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS)C120A02A-AAT(If installed)The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) is designed
to prevent wheel lock-up during sudden braking
or on hazardous road surfaces. The ABS con-
trol module monitors the wheel speed and con-
trols the pressure applied to each brake. Thus,
in emergency situations or on slick roads, ABS
will increase vehicle control during braking.NOTE:During ABS operation, a pulsation may be
felt in the brake pedal when the brakes are
applied. Also, a noise may be heard in the
engine compartment while braking. These
conditions are normal and indicate that the
anti-lock brake system is functioning prop-
erly.
BRAKE TRACTION CONTROL SYS-
TEM (BTCS)
!
WARNING:
ABS will not prevent accidents due to im-
proper or dangerous driving maneuvers.
Even though vehicle control is improved
during emergency braking, always main-
tain a safe distance between you and ob-
jects ahead. Vehicle speeds should always
be reduced during extreme road condi-
tions.
The braking distance for cars equipped
with an anti-lock braking system may be
longer than for those without it in the
following road conditions. During these
conditions the vehicle should be driven at
reduced speeds:
o Rough, gravel or snow-covered roads.
o With tire chains installed.
o On roads where the road surface is pit-
ted or has different surface height.
The safety features of an ABS equipped
vehicle should not be tested by high speed
driving or cornering. This could endanger
the safety of yourself or others.
C300A02O-AAT(If installed)On slippery road surfaces, the traction control
system (TCS) limits the drive wheels from
spinning excessively, thus helping the car to
accelerate. It also helps to provide sufficient
driving force and steering performance as the
car turns.SLIP ControlLimits the drive wheels from spinning exces-
sively during starting or while making acceler-
ated turns on slippery roads to avoid losing the
driving force of the driven wheels.Driving HintsTCS does not actively apply brakes. Be sure to
decelerate the car sufficiently before entering
curves.

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
14
C300D02O-AATIndicator and WarningThe TCS indicator should illuminate when the
ignition key is turned to ON or START but should
go out after approximately three seconds.
If the indicator does not illuminate, have the
system checked by an authorized dealer.
Should there be any unusual conditions in the
TCS system while driving, TCS illuminates as a
warning.
If TCS illuminates, pull your car to a safe place
and stop the engine. Then, start the engine
again to check if the TCS 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:When the TCS indicator illuminates, trac-
tion control is automatically deactivated.
C300B01O-AATTCS ON ModeWhen the TCS is operating, the TCS indicator
in the instrument cluster will blink.NOTE:1) The TCS mode will automatically be
turned ON after the engine is turned off
and restarted.
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 the brake control and indicates
nothing unusual.
3) When the engine starts, a click may be
heard from the engine compartment;
however, this is the sound of the 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 due to TCS operation.
!!
CAUTION:
When the TCS indicator blinks, SLIP func-
tion has been activated. It also means that
the road is slippery or your car is accelerat-
ing excessively. In this situation, gently
release foot pressure from the accelerator
pedal and maintain moderate speed.
WARNING:
Traction control is only a driving aid; all
normal precautions for driving in inclement
weather and on slippery road surfaces
should be observed.

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
15
FULL TRACTION CONTROL SYS-
TEM (FTCS)C310A01O-AAT(If installed)On slippery road surfaces, the traction control
system (TCS) limits the drive wheels from
spinning excessively, thus helping the car to
accelerate. It also helps to provide sufficient
driving force and steering performance as the
car turns.
HSM434
!
SLIP ControlLimits the drive wheels from spinning exces-
sively during starting or while making acceler-
ated turns on slippery roads to avoid losing the
driving force of the front wheels.Driving HintsTCS does not actively apply brakes. Be sure to
decelerate the car sufficiently before entering
curves.
CAUTION:
When the TCS indicator blinks, SLIP control
has been activated. It also means that the
road is slippery or your car is accelerating
excessively. In this situation, release foot
pressure from the accelerator pedal and
maintain moderate speed.
WARNING:
Traction control is only a driving aid; all
normal precautions for driving in inclement
weather and on slippery road surfaces
should be observed.
!
C310B02O-AATTCS ON/OFF ModeWhen the TCS is operating, the TCS indicator
in the instrument cluster will blink.
If you turn the system off by pressing the TCS
switch, the TCS-OFF indicator will come on and
stay on. In the TCS-OFF mode, the SLIP control
will be deactivated. Adjust you driving accord-
ingly. To turn the system back on, press the
switch again. The TCS-OFF indicator should go
off.NOTE:1) The TCS mode will automatically be
turned ON after the engine is turned off
and restarted.
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 may be
heard from the engine compartment;
this is the sound of the 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 due to TCS operation.

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
16
!
WARNING:
This vehicle is designed primarily for on
road use. Driving the vehicle in challenging
off-road conditions may result in damage
to the vehicle. Driving in conditions that
exceed the vehicle's intended design or the
driver's experience level may result in se-
vere injury or death.Driving 4WD Safely(1) As always, 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 higher 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.
FULL-TIME 4WD OPERATIONC350A03O-AAT(If installed)Engine power can be delivered to all wheels.
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. Your vehicle is not designed for chal-
lenging off-road use. Full-time 4WD vehicles
are designed primarily to improve traction and
performance on paved roads and highways in
wet and/or slippery conditions. Occasional off-
road use such as established unpaved roads
and trails is considered normal use. 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.
C310D01JM-AATIndicators and WarningThe indicators should illuminate when the igni-
tion key is turned to ON or START but should
go out after approximately three seconds.
If the indicators do not illuminate, or the TCS or
TCS-OFF indicator does not go out after 3
seconds, have the system checked by an
authorized dealer.
Should there be any unusual conditions in the
TCS System while driving, TCS-OFF indicator
illuminates 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:When the TCS-OFF indicator illuminates,
traction control is automatically deacti-
vated.

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
17
(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.
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
all 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 four
tires of the same size and type.
o When replacement of any of the tires or
wheels is necessary, replace all of them
with tires or wheels of the same size type.
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 all
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 only two
wheels raised off the ground, the 4WD
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" 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.
WARNING:
Your vehicle is equipped with tires de-
signed to provide for safe ride and handling
capability.
Do not use a size and type of tire and wheel
that is different from the one that is origi-
nally installed on your vehicle. It can affect
the safety and performance of your vehicle,
which could lead to handling failure or
rollover and serious injury.
When replacing the tires, be sure to equip
all four tires with the tire and wheel of the
same size, type, tread, brand and load-
carrying capacity. If you nevertheless de-
cide to equip your vehicle with any tire/
wheel combination not recommended by
Hyundai for off-road driving, you should
not use these tires for highway driving.

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
18
!
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 danger that rotating tires touch-
ing the ground could cause the vehicle
to go off the jack and to jump forward.
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.
(10)When using tire chains, be sure to install the
chains on all wheels.
(11)If the front or rear wheels get stuck in the
mud, do not spin them recklessly. The 4WD
system could be damaged. o In rare cases when it's unavoidable that
a 4WD vehicle is to be inspected on a
2WD roll tester, strictly follow the proce-
dures.
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 tempo-
rary free roller as shown in the illustra-
tion.
!
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.
HSM281
Roll tester(Speedometer)Temporary free roller
CAUTION:
Never engage the parking brake while per-
forming these tests.
!
(9)For a speedometer test or inspection/main-
tenance (I/M) program of a SANTA FE 4WD
vehicle, use a four wheel chassis dynamom-
eter.

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
19
!
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, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to be seriously
injured or killed than a person wearing a
seat belt.
o Loss of control may 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.
LIMITED-SLIP DIFFERENTIALD190A01HP-GAT(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.
CAUTION:
o Never start the engine with the gearshift
lever placed in the forward or reverse
while one of the rear wheels is jacked up
and the other in contact with the
ground; doing so may cause the vehicle
to jump forward.
o Use only recommended oil for LSD in
the rear axle.
See page 9-5 for the recommended oil
descriptions.
!
!GOOD BRAKING PRACTICESC130A01L-AAT
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.
o After being parked, check to be sure the
parking brake is not engaged and that the
parking brake indicator light is out before
driving away.
o Driving through water may get the brakes
wet. They can also get wet when the car is
washed. Wet brakes can be dangerous!
Your car will not stop as quickly if the brakes
are wet. Wet brakes may cause the car to
pull to one side. To dry the brakes, apply the
brakes lightly while driving slowly until the
braking action returns to normal, taking care
to keep the car under control at all times. If
the braking action does not return to normal,
stop as soon as it is safe to do so and call your
Hyundai dealer for assistance.