tow HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2021 Owner's Guide

Driving your vehicle
6-52
Four Wheel Drive (4WD) delivers engine
power to front and rear wheels for
maximum traction. 4WD is useful when
extra traction is required, such as when
driving on, muddy, wet, or snow-covered
roads.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of SERIOUS INJURY
or DEATH:
• Do not drive in conditions that
exceed the vehicles intended
design such as challenging off-road
conditions.
• Avoid high speeds when cornering or
turning.
• Do not make quick steering wheel
movements, such as sharp lane
changes or fast, sharp turns.
• The risk of a rollover is greatly
increased if you lose control of your
vehicle at highway speeds.
• Loss of control often occurs if two or
more wheels drop off the roadway
and the driver over steers to reenter
the roadway.
• In the event your vehicle leaves
the roadway, do not steer sharply.
Instead, slow down before pulling
back into the travel lanes.
NOTICE
• Do not drive in water if the level
is higher than the bottom of the
vehicle.
• Check your brake condition once
you are out of mud or water. Depress
the brake pedal several times as you
move slowly until you feel normal
braking return.
• Shorten your scheduled
maintenance interval if you drive in
off-road conditions such as sand,
mud or water (see "Maintenance
Under Severe Usage Conditions"
section in chapter 9).
• Always wash your vehicle thoroughly
after off road use, especially the
bottom of the vehicle.
• Be sure to equip the vehicle with four
tires of the same size and type.
• Make sure that a full time 4WD
vehicle is towed by a flat bed tow
truck.
FOUR WhEEL DRIVE (4 WD) (IF E QUIppED)

06
6-59
Towing
4WD vehicles must be towed with
a wheel lift and dollies or flatbed
equipment with all the wheels off the
ground. For more details, refer to
"Towing" section in chapter 8.
Vehicle inspection
• If the vehicle needs to be operated on
a vehicle lift do not attempt to stop
any of the four wheels from turning.
This could damage the 4WD system.
• Never engage the parking brake while
running the engine on a car lift. This
may damage the 4WD system.
Dynamometer testing
An 4WD vehicle must be tested on a
special four wheel chassis dynamometer.
OTM060016L[A] : Roll tester (Speedometer),
[B] : Temporary free roller
An 4WD vehicle should not be tested
on a 2WD roll tester. If a 2WD roll tester
must be used, perform the following
procedure:
1.
Check the tire pr

essures
recommended for your vehicle.
2.
Place the rear wheels on the r

oll tester
for a speedometer test as shown in
the illustration.
3.
Release the parking br

ake.
4.
Place the fron

t wheels on the
temporary free roller as shown in the
illustration.
WARNING
Keep away from the front of the vehicle
while the vehicle is in gear on the
dynamometer. The vehicle can jump
forward and cause serious injury or
death.
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 roof rack
with heavy cargo, and never modify your
vehicle in any way.

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.

06
6-75
The severe weather conditions of winter quickly wear out tires and cause other
problems. To minimize winter driving problems, you should take the following
suggestions:
Snow or icy conditions
You need to keep sufficient distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of
you.
Apply the brakes gently. Speeding, rapid acceleration, sudden brake applications, and
sharp turns are potentially very hazardous practices. During deceleration, use engine
braking to the fullest extent. Sudden brake applications on snowy or icy roads may
cause the vehicle to skid.
To drive your vehicle in deep snow, it may be necessary to use snow tires or to install
tire chains on your tires.
Always carry emergency equipment. Some of the items you may want to carry include
tire chains, tow straps or chains, a flashlight, emergency flares, sand, a shovel, jumper
cables, a window scraper, gloves, ground cloth, coveralls, a blanket, etc.
Snow tires
WARNING
Snow tires should be equivalent in size and type to the vehicle’s standard tires.
Otherwise, the safety and handling of your vehicle may be adversely affected.
We recommend that you use snow tires when road temperature is below 45°F (7°C).
Refer to the below chart, and mount the recommended snow tire for your vehicle.
If you mount snow tires on your vehicle, make sure to use the same Inflation pressure
as the original tires. Mount snow tires on all four wheels to balance your vehicle’s
handling in all weather conditions. The traction provided by snow tires on dry roads
may not be as high as your vehicle’s original equipment tires. Check with the tire dealer
for maximum speed recommendations.
WINTER DRIVING

Driving your vehicle
6-78
Check spark plugs and ignition system
Inspect the spark plugs, as specified in
chapter 8. If necessary, replace them.
Also check all ignition wirings and
components for any cracks, wear-out,
and damage.
To prevent locks from freezing
To prevent the locks from being frozen,
spray approved de-icing fluid or glycerin
into key holes. When a lock opening is
already covered with ice, spray approved
de-icing fluid over the ice to remove it.
When an internal part of a lock freezes,
try to thaw it with a heated key. Carefully
use the heated key to avoid an injury.
Use approved window washer anti-
freeze solution in system
To prevent the window washer from
being frozen, add authorized window
washer anti-freeze solution, as specified
on the window washer container.
Window washer anti-freeze solution is
available from an authorized HYUNDAI
dealer, and most vehicle accessory
outlets. Do not use engine coolant or
other types of anti-freeze solution, to
prevent any damage to the vehicle paint.Do not let your parking brake freeze
Under some conditions your parking
brake can freeze in the engaged position.
This is most likely to happen when there
is an accumulation of snow or ice around
or near the rear brakes or if the brakes
are wet. When there is the risk that your
parking brake may freeze, temporarily
apply it with the gear in P (Park). Also,
block the rear wheels in advance, so the
vehicle may not roll. Then, release the
parking brake.
Do not let ice and snow accumulate
underneath
Under some conditions, snow and ice
can build up under the fenders and
interfere with the steering. When driving
in such conditions during the severe
winter, you should check underneath
the vehicle on a regular basis, to ensure
that the front wheels and the steering
components is unblocked.
Carry emergency equipment
In accordance with weather conditions,
you should carry appropriate emergency
equipment, while driving. Some of the
items you may want to carry include tire
chains, tow straps or chains, flashlight,
emergency flares, sand, shovel, jumper
cables, window scraper, gloves, ground
cloth, coveralls, blanket, etc.
Do not place objects or materials in the
engine compartment
Putting objects or materials in the engine
compartment may cause an engine
failure or combustion, because they may
block the engine cooling. Such damage
will not be covered by the manufacturer’s
warranty.

06
6-79
If you are considering to tow with
your vehicle, you should first know
your country’s legal requirements. As
laws vary the requirements for towing
trailers, cars, or other types of vehicles
or apparatus may differ. When you are
not sure about a type of winter weight
oil, we recommend that you consult an
authorized HYUNDAI dealer.
Remember that trailering is different
than just driving your vehicle by
itself. Trailering means changes in
handling, durability, and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailering requires
correct equipment, and it has to be used
properly. Damage to your vehicle caused
by improper trailer towing is not covered
by your vehicle manufacturer’s warranty.
This section contains time-tested,
important trailering tips and safety
rules. Many of these are important for
your safety and that of your passengers.
Please read this section carefully before
you pull a trailer. WARNING
Take the following precautions:
• If you don’t use the correct
equipment and/or drive improperly,
you can lose control of the vehicle
when you are pulling a trailer. For
example, if the trailer is too heavy,
the braking performance may be
reduced. You and your passengers
could be seriously or fatally injured.
Pull a trailer only if you have followed
all the steps in this section.
• Before towing, make sure the
total trailer weight, GCW (Gross
Combination Weight), GVW (Gross
Vehicle Weight), GAW (Gross Axle
Weight) and trailer tongue load are
all within the limits.
• When you tow a trailer, make sure to
turn off the Idle Stop and Go system.
TRAILER TOWING

Driving your vehicle
6-80
If you decide to pull a trailer?
Here are some important points if you
decide to pull a trailer:
• Consider using a sway control. You
can ask a trailer hitch dealer about
sway control.
• Do not do any towing with your
vehicle 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 transmission damage.
• When towing a trailer, we
recommend that you consult an
authorized HYUNDAI dealer for
further information on additional
requirements such as a towing kit, etc.
• Always drive your vehicle at a
moderate speed (less than 60 mph
(100 km/h)) or posted towing speed
limit.
• On a long uphill grade, do not exceed
45 mph (70 km/h) or the posted
towing speed limit, whichever is
lower.
• Carefully observe the weight and load
limits provided in the following pages.
Trailer weight
Tongue Load Total Trailer Weight
OOSH069129L
What is the maximum safe weight of a
trailer? It should never weigh more than
the maximum trailer weight with trailer
brakes. But even that can be too heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use your
trailer. For example, speed, altitude,
road grades, outside temperature and
how often your vehicle is used to pull a
trailer are all important. The ideal trailer
weight can also depend on any special
equipment that you have on your vehicle.

06
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Tongue load
Gross Axle Weight Gross Vehicle Weight
OOSH069130L
The tongue load is an important weight
to measure because it affects the
total Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of
your vehicle. The trailer tongue should
weigh a maximum of 10% of the total
loaded trailer weight, within the limits
of the maximum trailer tongue load
permissible.
After you’ve loaded your trailer,
weigh the trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
proper. If they aren’t, you may be able
to correct them simply by moving some
items around in the trailer.
WARNING
Take the following precautions:
• Never load a trailer with more weight
in the rear than in the front. The front
should be loaded with approximately
60% of the total trailer load; the rear
should be loaded with approximately
40% of the total trailer load.
• Never exceed the maximum weight
limits of the trailer or trailer towing
equipment. Improper loading can
result in damage to your vehicle and/
or personal injury. Check weights
and loading at a commercial scale or
highway patrol office equipped with
scales.
Information
With increasing altitude the engine
performance decreases. From 1,000 m
above sea level and for every 1,000 m
thereafter 10% of vehicle/trailer weight
(trailer weighter + gross vehicle weight)
must be deducted.

Driving your vehicle
6-82
Reference weight and distance when towing a trailer
ItemSmartstream
G2.5 GDI Smartstream
G2.5 TGDI
A/T DCT
Maximum trailer
weight
lbs. (kg)Without brake system
1,653 (750) 1,653 (750)
With brake system (PKG OPT) 2,000 (907) 2,000 (907)
With brake system (STD) 2,800 (1,270) 3,500 (1,588)
Maximum permissible static vertical load on the
coupling device lbs. (kg)280 (127)
350 (159)
Recommended distance from rear wheel center
to coupling point inch (mm)49.1 (1,248)

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6-83
Trailer towing equipment
Hitches
OTM060050L
Information
The mounting hole for hitches are located
on both sides of the underbody behind the
rear tires.
It’s important to have the correct hitch
equipment. Crosswinds, large trucks
going by, and rough roads are a few
reasons why you’ll need the right hitch.
Here are some rules to follow:
• Do you have to make any holes in
the body of your vehicle when you
install a trailer hitch? If you do, then
be sure to seal the holes later when
you remove the hitch. If you don’t seal
them, carbon monoxide (CO) from
your exhaust can get into your vehicle,
as well as dirt and water.
• The bumpers on your vehicle are not
intended for hitches. Do not attach
rental hitches or other bumper-type
hitches to them. Use only a frame-
mounted hitch that does not attach to
the bumper. •
Any part of the rear number plate or
lighting devices of the vehicle must
not be obscured by the mechanical
coupling device.
If the rear number plate and/or
lighting devices can be obscured
partially by any part of the mechanical
coupling device, mechanical coupling
devices that can not be easily
removed or repositioned without use
of any tools, except an easily operated
(i.e. an effort not exceeding 20Nm)
release key which is supplied by the
manufacturer of the coupling device,
are not permitted for use.
Please note that the mechanical
coupling device that is fitted and
not in use must always be removed
or repositioned if the rear number
plate and/or rear lighting devices
are obscured by any part of the
mechanical coupling device.
• A HYUNDAI trailer hitch accessory is
available at an authorized HYUNDAI
dealer.