Hyundai Sonata

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
18
C160J01A-AATDon't Let Ice and Snow Accumulate
UnderneathUnder some conditions, snow and ice can
build up under the fenders and interfere
with the steering. When driving in severe
winter conditions where this may happen,
you should periodically check underneath
the car to be sure the movement of the front
wheels and the steering components is
not obstructed.C160I01A-AATDon't Let Your Parking Brake FreezeUnder 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. If there is a risk the parking brake may
freeze, apply it only temporarily while you
put the gear selector lever in "P" (automatic)
or in first or reverse gear (manual transaxle)
and block the rear wheels so the car cannot
roll. Then release the parking brake.
C160H02A-AATUse Approved Window Washer Anti-
Freeze in SystemTo keep the water in the window washer
system from freezing, add an approved
window washer anti-freeze solution in
accordance with instructions on the
container. Window washer anti-freeze is
available from Hyundai dealers and most
auto parts outlets. Do not use engine coolant
or other types of anti-freeze as these may
damage the paint finish.C160G01A-AATTo 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 internally,
you may be able to thaw it out by using a
heated key. Handle the heated key with
care to avoid injury.
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
components 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.

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
19
!
C160K01A-AATCarry Emergency EquipmentDepending on the severity of the weather
where you drive your car, you should carry
appropriate emergency equipment. Some
of the items you may want to carry include
tire chains, tow straps or chains, flashlight,
emergency flares, sand, a shovel, jumper
cables, a window scraper, gloves, ground
cloth, coveralls, a blanket, etc.
HIGHER SPEED MOTORINGC170A02A-AATPre-Trip Inspections1. Tires:
Adjust the tire inflation pressures to speci-
fication. Low tire inflation pressures will
result in overheating and possible failure
of the tires.
Avoid using worn or damaged tires which
may result in reduced traction or tire failure.NOTE:Never exceed the maximum tire inflation
pressure shown on the tires.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.
WARNING:
o Underinflated or overinflated tires
can cause poor handling, loss of
vehicle control, and sudden tire failure
leading to accidents, injuries, and
even death. Always check tires are
properly inflated before driving. Refer
to pages 2-23 and 8-3 for proper tire
pressures and further information.
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 8-10 for further information and
tread limits.

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
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C190B01S-AATTrailer HitchesSelect the proper hitch and ball
combination, making sure that its location
is compatible 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.C190C01Y-AATTrailer BrakesIf your trailer is equipped with a braking
system, make sure it conforms to federal
and/or local regulations and that it is
properly 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.
TRAILER OR VEHICLE TOWING!
C190A01TG-AATIf you are considering towing with your car,
you should first check with your State's
Department of Motor Vehicles to determine
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:
o 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.
o 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.
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 headlights
on low beam. This enables you to be seen,
as well as to see.

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C190D01S-AATSafety ChainsShould the hitch connection between your
car 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
situation, safety chains, attached between
your car and the trailer or towed vehicle,
are required in most states.
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.
!
C190E02JM
Gross Axle WeightGross Vehicle
Weight2. 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
equipment.
C190E01NF-AATTrailer Weight Limit
Tongue Load Total Trailer Weight
o 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.
C190E01JM
x 100 = 10% (MAX)
Total trailer weight
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
remaining 40% in the rear.

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
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C190F01Y-GATTrailer 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. Always drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed. (Less than 60 mph)
3. Trailer towing requires more fuel than
normal conditions.
4. To maintain engine braking efficiency
and electrical charging performance,
do not tow a trailer with the transaxle in
fifth gear (manual transaxle).
5. Always secure items in the trailer to
prevent load shift while driving.
6. 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.
7. 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
buffeting, slow down to get out of the
other vehicle's air turbulence.
!
lbs(kg)
!
Tongue
100 (45)
- With3.3L
Brake 2.4L
Without BrakeMaximum Towable Weight
Trailer
1000 (450)
1000 (450)
500 (225)
CAUTION:
The following specifications are recom-
mended when towing a trailer. The loaded
trailer weight cannot safely exceed the
values in the chart below.
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
braking.
o Be careful when driving in slippery
and windy conditions.
o Be careful when turning and while
driving up and down hills. 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
possible that your towing package
does not exceed the GVWR but
exceeds the GAWR. Improper trailer
loading and/or too much luggage in
the trunk can overload the rear axle.
Redistribute the load and check the
axle weight again.

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8. 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.
9. 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
connection at the same time.
10. During your trip, check occasionally to
be sure that the load is secure, and that
the lights and any trailer brakes are still
working.
11. Avoid jerky starts, sudden acceleration
or sudden stops.
12. Avoid sharp turns and rapid lane
changes.
13. Avoid holding the brake pedal down
too long or too frequently. This could
cause the brakes to overheat, resulting
in reduced braking efficiency.
14. 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.
CAUTION:
If overheating should occur when tow-
ing, (the temperature gauge reads near
red zone), taking the following action
may reduce or eliminate the problem.
1. Turn off the air conditioner.
2. Reduce highway speed.
3. Select a lower gear when going uphill.
4. While in stop and go traffic, place the
gear selector in park or neutral and
idle the engine at a higher speed.
!
VEHICLE LOAD LIMITC190F02JM-AATTire and Loading Information Label
ONF058021N
15. 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.NOTE:When towing check transaxle fluid more
frequently.
Type A
Type B
ONF058022N

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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:
860 lbs (390 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:
Total: 5 persons
(Front seat: 2 persons,
Rear seat: 3 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 car-
ried 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 kg or XXX lbs'' on
your vehicle's placard.
(2)Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle.
(3)Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from XXX kg
or XXX lbs.

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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
(499 kg)
Example 1Item
A
B
CDescription
Vehicle Capacity Weight
Subtract Occupant Weight
150 lbs (68 kg) × 2
Available Cargo and
Luggage Weight
ABC
(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.

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C190F03JMTotal
1400 lbs
(635 kg)
860 lbs
(390 kg)
540 lbs
(245 kg) Item
A
B
CDescription
Vehicle Capacity Weight
Subtract Occupant Weight
172 lbs (78 kg) x 5
Available Cargo Weight
Example 3
ABC
Refer to your vehicle's tire and loading
information label for specific informa-
tion about your vehicle's capacity weight
and seating positions. The combined
weight of the driver, passengers and
cargo should never exceed your
vehicle's capacity weight.
C190G03JM-AATCompliance Label
The compliance label is located on the
driver's side center pillar outer panel.
The label shows the maximum allow-
able weight of the fully loaded vehicle.
This is called the GVWR (Gross Ve-
hicle Weight Rating). The GVWR in-
cludes the weight of the vehicle, all
occupants, fuel and cargo.
C190G01A

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!
!
WARNING:
o Overloading your vehicle can
cause heat buildup in your
vehicle's tires and possible tire
failure that could lead to a crash.
o Overloading your vehicle can
cause increased stopping dis-
tances that could lead to a crash.
o A crash resulting from poor han-
dling vehicle damage, tire failure,
or increased stopping distances
could result in serious injury or
death.
!
This label also tells you the maximum
weights that can be supported by the
front and rear axles, called Gross Axle
Weight Rating (GAWR). To find out the
actual loads on your front and rear
axles, you need to go to a weigh station
and weigh your vehicle. Your dealer can
help you with this. Be sure to spread out
your load equally on the left and right
sides of the centerline.
WARNING:
o Never exceed the GVWR for your
vehicle, the GAWR for either the
front or rear axle and vehicle ca-
pacity weight. Exceeding these rat-
ings can cause an accident or
vehicle damage. You can calcu-
late the weight of your load by
weighing the items (or people)
before putting them in the vehicle.
Be careful not to overload your
vehicle. WARNING:
o Do not load your vehicle any
heavier than the GVWR, either the
maximum front or rear GAWR and
vehicle capacity weight. If you do,
parts, including tires on your ve-
hicle can break, and it can change
the way your vehicle handles and
braking ability. This could cause
you to lose control and crash.
Also, overloading can shorten the
life of your vehicle.