maintenance Hyundai Santa Fe 2008 Owner's Manual

A010A02A-AAT
WARRANTIES FOR YOUR HYUNDAI VEHICLE
Please consult your Owner's Handbook & Warranty Information booklet for your vehicle's
specific warranty coverage.A020A01A-AAT
RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTENANCE
The maintenance requirements for your new Hyundai are found in Section 5. As the owner, it is your
responsibility to see that all maintenance operations specified by the manufacturer are carried out
at the appropriate intervals. When the vehicle is used in severe driving conditions, more frequent
maintenance is required for some operations. Maintenance requirements for severe operating
conditions are also included in Section 5.

F1
All information in the Owner's Manual is current at the time of publication.
However, Hyundai reserves the right to make changes at any time as part of our
policy of continual product improvement may be carried out.
This manual applies to all Hyundai models and includes descriptions and expla-
nations of optional as well as standard equipment. As a result, you may find
material in this manual that does not apply to your specific vehicle.
OWNER'S MANUALA030A01A-AATOperation
Maintenance
Specifications

F5
A040A01A-AAT
FOREWORD
Thank you for choosing Hyundai. We are pleased to welcome you to the growing number of discriminating
people who drive Hyundais. The advanced engineering and high-quality construction of each Hyundai we
build is something of which we're very proud.
Your Owner's Manual will introduce you to the features and operation of your new Hyundai. It is suggested
that you read it carefully because the information it contains can contribute greatly to the satisfaction you
receive from your new car.
The manufacturer also recommends that all service and maintenance on your car be performed by an
authorized Hyundai dealer. Hyundai dealers are prepared to provide high-quality service, maintenance and
any other assistance that may be required.A050A04A-AAT
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Note: Because future owners will also need the information included in this manual, if you sell this Hyundai,
please leave the manual in the vehicle for their use. Thank you.
CAUTION:
Severe engine and transaxle damage may result from the use of poor quality fuels and lubricants that
do not meet Hyundai specifications. You must always use high quality fuels and lubricants that meet
the specifications listed on Page 9-4 in the Vehicle Specifications section of the Owner's Manual and
which also appear in the Service Station Information on the back cover of the Owner's Manual.
Copyright 2008 Hyundai Motor Company. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission
of Hyundai Motor Company.
!

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION
5 1
2
3
4
6
7
8
9
10
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY
CORROSION PREVENTION & APPEARANCE CARE
VEHICLE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS
DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE
EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS
CONSUMER INFORMATION, REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS &
BINDING ARBITRATION OF WARRANTY CLAIMS
VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS
INDEX

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
59
!
B240C01CM-AATSRS CareThe SRS is virtually maintenance free and
there are no parts you can safely service by
yourself. If the SRS SRI (Service Reminder
Indicator) does not illuminate, or continu-
ously remains on, have your vehicle im-
mediately inspected by your Hyundai
dealer.
Any work on the SRS system, such as
removing, installing, repairing, or any work
on the steering wheel must be performed
by a qualified Hyundai technician. Improper
handling of the air bag system may result
in serious personal injury.
!
!
WARNING:
o The built in coat hooks should only be
used for light weight clothing. Ensure
that clothing pockets are free of any
heavy or sharp objects. When using
coat hooks, do not hang clothes on
coat hangers.
o The space between the occupant and
the curtain air bag must never be
occupied by children, passengers or
pets. Occupants should never lean
out or have any parts of their body
protruding from the window while the
engine is running.
o Do not move the sun visor out to cover
the side window if there is an item
attached to it such as garage door
remote control, pens, compact disc
pocket, air fresheners or the like.
These objects may cause injury if the
Curtain Air Bag is deployed.
o Where sun blinds are fitted to the rear
doors, these must not obstruct or
impair the air bag in any way.o Do not install any accessories or
children’s toys in the Curtain Air Bag
deployment zones, as this may im-
pair the operation of the system or
throw parts of them into the vehicle
cabin causing injury to occupants if
the system is deployed.
o To maintain the integrity of the Cur-
tain Air Bag system, any work, re-
moval or installation of the air bag and
associated components (such as roof
lining and side trims) should always
be performed by an authorized
Hyundai dealer.
WARNING:
WARNING:
Never tamper with or disconnect the air
bag system sensors & wiring. You could
cause the air bag to inflate or the system
may fail to operate which may result in
fatal personal injury.

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
71
B310B01CM-AATOdometer/Tripmeter
1. OdometerThe odometer records the total driving
distance in miles, and is useful for keeping
a record for maintenance intervals.NOTE:Federal law forbids alteration of the odom-
eter of any vehicle with the intent to
change the number of the odometer. The
alteration may void your warranty cov-
erage.
OCM052203R
B330A03A-AATTachometerThe tachometer registers the speed of
your engine in revolutions per minute (rpm).
CAUTION:
The engine should not be raced to such
a speed that the needle enters the red
zone on the tachometer face. This can
cause severe engine damage and may
void your warranty.
!
B300A01A-AATSpeedometerYour Hyundai's speedometer is calibrated
in miles per hour (on the outer scale) and
kilometers per hour (on the inner scale).
OCM051016L OCM015014L

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
13
C090I01CM-GAT
CAUTION:
o Shift into "R", "D" and "P" position
only when the vehicle has completely
stopped.
o Do not accelerate the engine in re-
verse or any of the forward positions
with the brakes applied.
o Always apply the footbrake when
shifting from "P" or "N", to "R" or
"D"position.
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 Check the automatic transaxle fluid
level regularly, and add fluid as nec-
essary.
o See the maintenance schedule for
the proper fluid recommendation.
!
C090J01NF-GATShift Lock ReleaseIf you cannot move the shift lever from the
"P" (Park) position to any other position
with the brake pedal fully depressed and
the ignition key in the "ON" position, re-
move the cap on the console and with a
thin object such as a flat-head screwdriver,
push the shift lock release button down.
OCM053005
Then, with the brake pedal depressed,
move the shift lever to the desired position,
and then the shift lock release button will
automatically return to its original position
after shifting from the "P" (Park) position.
Then, reinstall the cap.
If you need to use the shift lock release, it
could mean your car is developing a prob-
lem. Have the car checked by your Hyundai
dealer.

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
23
DRIVING FOR ECONOMYC140A02A-AATYou can save fuel and get more miles from
your car if you follow these suggestions:
o Drive smoothly. Accelerate at a moder-
ate rate. Don't make "jack-rabbit" starts
or full-throttle shifts and maintain a
steady cruising speed. Don't race be-
tween stoplights. Try to adjust your
speed to that of the other traffic so you
don't have to change speeds unneces-
sarily. Avoid heavy traffic whenever pos-
sible. Always maintain a safe distance
from other vehicles so you can avoid
unnecessary braking. This also reduces
brake wear.
o Drive at a moderate speed. The faster
you drive, the more fuel your car uses.
Driving at a moderate speed, espe-
cially on the highway, is one of the most
effective ways to reduce fuel consump-
tion.
o Don't "ride" the brake or clutch pedal.
This can increase fuel consumption and
also increase wear on these compo-
nents. In addition, driving with your foot
resting on the brake pedal may cause
the brakes to overheat, which reduces
their effectiveness and may lead to more
serious consequences.o Take care of your tires. Keep them in-
flated to the recommended pressure.
Incorrect inflation, either too much or
too little, results in unnecessary tire
wear. Check the tire pressures at least
once a month.
o Be sure that the wheels are aligned
correctly. Improper alignment can re-
sult from hitting curbs or driving too fast
over irregular surfaces. Poor alignment
causes faster tire wear and may also
result in other problems as well as
greater fuel consumption.
o Keep your car in good condition. For
better fuel economy and reduced main-
tenance costs, maintain your car in ac-
cordance with the maintenance sched-
ule in Section 5. If you drive your car in
severe conditions, more frequent main-
tenance is required (see Section 5 for
details).
o Keep your car clean. For maximum
service, your Hyundai should be kept
clean and free of corrosive materials. It
is especially important that mud, dirt,
ice, etc. not be allowed to accumulate
on the underside of the car. This extra
weight can result in increased fuel con-
sumption and also contribute to corro-
sion.o Travel lightly. Don't carry unnecessary
weight in your car. Weight reduces fuel
economy.
o Don't let the engine idle longer than
necessary. If you are waiting (and not in
traffic), turn off your engine and restart
only when you're ready to go.
o Remember, your Hyundai does not re-
quire extended warm-up. After the en-
gine has started, allow the engine to run
for 10 to 20 seconds prior to placing the
vehicle in gear. In very cold weather,
however, give your engine a slightly
longer warm-up period.
o Don't "lug" or "over-rev" the engine.
Lugging is driving too slowly in too high
a gear resulting in the engine bucking.
If this happens, shift to a lower gear.
Over-revving is racing the engine be-
yond its safe limit. This can be avoided
by shifting at the recommended speeds.
o Use your air conditioning sparingly. The
air conditioning system is operated by
engine power so your fuel economy is
reduced when you use it.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
25
C160D01A-AATCheck Battery and CablesWinter puts additional burdens on the
battery system. Visually inspect the battery
and cables as described in Section 6. The
level of charge in your battery can be
checked by your Hyundai dealer or a ser-
vice station.
C160F01A-AATCheck Spark Plugs and Ignition
SystemInspect your spark plugs as described in
Section 6 and replace them if necessary.
Also check all ignition wiring and compo-
nents to be sure they are not cracked, worn
or damaged in any way.C160E01A-AATChange to "Winter Weight" Oil if
NecessaryIn some climates it is recommended that a
lower viscosity "winter weight" oil be used
during cold weather. See Section 9 for
recommendations. If you aren't sure what
weight oil you should use, consult your
Hyundai dealer.
C160G01A-GATTo Keep Locks from FreezingTo 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 inter-
nally, you may be able to thaw it out by
using a heated key. Handle the heated key
with care to avoid injury.NOTE:The proper temperature for using the
immobilizer key is from -40°F (-40°C) to
176°F (80°C). If you heat the immobilizer
key over 80°C to open the frozen lock, it
may cause damage to the transponder
in its head.
C160C01A-AATUse High Quality Ethylene Glycol
CoolantYour Hyundai is delivered with high qual-
ity 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 sched-
ule in Section 5. Before winter, have your
coolant tested to assure that its freezing
point is sufficient for the temperatures an-
ticipated during the winter.