service Hyundai Sonata

F4
A110A01A-AAT
VEHICLE DATA COLLECTION AND EVENT DATA RECORDERS
Your Hyundai vehicle is equipped with many high technology, electronically controlled systems
that help to ensure your vehicle operates properly and provides the performance that you
expect. These systems utilize computers to monitor the operation of various systems and
components and help to control their operation. These computerized system operations are
wide-ranging and involve components to reduce emissions, to continuously evaluate the
readiness of the airbag and seat belt pretensioner systems, to determine when the airbag and
seat belt pre-tensioner systems should be deployed and then to activate the deployment, and
if equipped, to operate anti-lock braking, traction control and electronic stability control to assist
the driver to control the vehicle in difficult driving situations. These systems electronically store
information that is useful to service technicians when they need to diagnose and repair these
systems. Additional information is stored only when a crash occurs that results in the
deployment of the airbags or seat belt pre-tensioners. This type of data storage is done by
devices called event data recorders(EDR).
After a crash event, the airbag and seat belt pre-tensioner computer system, known as the
Supplemental Restraint System Control Module (SRSCM) or Airbag Control Unit (ACU), may
record some information about the condition of the vehicle and how it was being operated. This
information consists of data related to seat belt usage and if there was diagnostic information
in the airbag or seat belt systems at the time that a crash occurred, and if the ACU sensed that
a crash of sufficient severity occurred to require seat belt pre-tensioner or airbag deployment.
To retrieve this information, special equipment is needed and access to the vehicle or the device
that stores the data is required. Hyundai will not access information about a crash event or share
it with others except:
o in response to an official request of police or similar government office, or
o with the consent of the vehicle owner or, if the vehicle is leased, with the consent of the lessee,
or
o as part of Hyundai’s defense of litigation, or
o as required by law.

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.A050A07A-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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YOUR VEHICLE AT A GLANCE
F12
B255A02NF-AATINDICATOR SYMBOLS ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER
High Beam Indicator Light
Door Ajar Warning LightSeat Belt Reminder Light and ChimeTurn Signal Indicator Lights
ABS Service Reminder Indicator (If Installed)
Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
Parking Brake/Low Brake Fluid Level
Warning Light
Charging System Warning Light
SRS (Airbag) Warning Light
Cruise Indicator Light Check Engine - Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Indicator
Lights
Low Windshield Washer Fluid Level Warning LightFront Fog Light Indicator Light (If Installed)
Cruise SET Indicator LightLow Fuel Level Warning Light
Trunk Lid Open Warning Light
* More detailed explanations of these items will be found beginning on page 1-50.
Low Tire Pressure Telltale (If Installed)TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) Malfunction
Telltale (If Installed)

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
33
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o Be sure you and your passengers
always wear seat belts and wear them
properly.NOTE:o Both the driver's and front
passenger's pre-tensioner seat belts
will be activated in certain frontal col-
lisions. The pre-tensioner seat belts
can be activated alone or, where the
frontal collision is severe enough,
together with the airbags.
The pre-tensioners will not be
activated if the seat belts are not being
worn at the time of the collision.
o When the pre-tensioner seat belts are
activated, a loud noise may be heard
and fine dust, which may appear to be
smoke, may be visible in the
passenger compartment. These are
normal operating conditions and are
not hazardous.
o Although it is harmless, the fine dust
may cause skin irritation and should
not be breathed for prolonged periods.
Wash all exposed skin areas thor-
oughly after an accident in which the
pre-tensioner seat belts were acti-
vated.
WARNING:
!
CAUTION:
o Because the sensor that activates
the SRS airbag is connected with the
pre-tensioner seat belt, the SRS airbag
warning light
on the instrument
panel will illuminate for approximately
6 seconds after the ignition key has
been turned to the "ON" position, and
then it should turn off.
o If the pre-tensioner seat belt is not
working properly, this warning light
will illuminate even if there is no
malfunction of the SRS airbag. If the
SRS airbag warning light does not
illuminate when the ignition key is
turned to "ON", or if it blinks for a
second and remains illuminated after
illuminating for approximately 6 sec-
onds, or if it illuminates while the ve-
hicle is being driven, please have an
authorized Hyundai dealer inspect the
pre-tensioner seat belt or SRS airbag
system as soon as possible.
!
WARNING:
o Pre-tensioners are designed to oper-
ate only one time. After activation,
pre-tensioner seat belts must be re-
placed. All seat belts, of any type,
should always be replaced after they
have been worn during a collision.
o The pre-tensioner seat belt assembly
mechanisms become hot during acti-
vation. Do not touch the pre-tensioner
seat belt assemblies for several min-
utes after they have been activated.
o Do not attempt to inspect or replace
the pre-tensioner seat belts yourself.
This must be done by an authorized
Hyundai dealer.
o Do not strike the pre-tensioner seat
belt assemblies.
o Do not attempt to service or repair the
pre-tensioner seat belt system in any
manner.
o Improper handling of the pre-tensioner
seat belt assemblies, and failure to
heed the warnings not to strike, modify,
inspect, replace, service or repair the
pre-tensioner seat belt assemblies
may lead to improper operation or
inadvertent activation and serious
injury.
o Always wear the seat belts when driv-
ing or riding in a motor vehicle.

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI46
o If the airbags inflate, they must be
replaced by an authorized Hyundai
dealer.
o Do not tamper with or disconnect SRS
wiring, or other components of the
SRS system. Doing so could result in
injury, due to accidental inflation of
the airbags or by rendering the SRS
inoperative.
o If components of the airbag system
must be discarded, or if the vehicle
must be scrapped, certain safety
precautions must be observed. Your
Hyundai dealer knows these precau-
tions and can give you the necessary
information. Failure to follow these
precautions and procedures could in-
crease the risk of personal injury.
o If your car was flooded and has soaked
carpeting or water on flooring, you
shouldn't try to start the engine; have
the car towed to an authorized Hyundai
dealer.
!
WARNING:
B240C03NF-AATSRS CareThe SRS is virtually maintenance-free and
so there are no parts you can safely service
by yourself. If the SRS airbag warning light
does not illuminate, or continuously re-
mains on, have your vehicle immediately
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 SRS system may result in
serious personal injury.
WARNING:
o Do not install a child restraint system
in the front passenger seat position.
A child restraint system must never
be placed in the front seat. The infant
or child could be severely injured by
an airbag deployment in case of an
accident.
o Modification to SRS components or
wiring, including the addition of any
kind of badges to the pad covers or
modifications to the body structure,
can adversely affect SRS perfor-
mance and lead to possible injury.
o For cleaning the airbag pad covers,
use only a soft, dry cloth or one which
has been moistened with plain water.
Solvents or cleaners could adversely
affect the airbag covers and proper
deployment of the system.
o No objects should be placed over or
near the airbag modules on the
steering wheel, instrument panel, and
the front passenger's panel above
the glove box, because any such
object could cause harm if the vehicle
is in a crash severe enough to cause
the airbags to inflate.
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HSM393

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
49
1. Tachometer
2. Low Tire Pressure Telltale
3. TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) Malfunction Telltale
4. Door Ajar Warning Light
5. Seat Belt Warning Light (Driver's side)
6. High Beam Indicator Light
7. Turn Signal Indicator Lights
8. Speedometer
9. Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Indicator Lights
(If Installed)
10. Front Fog Light Indicator Light (If Installed)
11. ABS Service Reminder Indicator (SRI) (If Installed)
12. Coolant Temperature Gauge13. Fuel Gauge
14. Parking Brake/Low Brake Fluid Level Warning Light
15. Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
16. Charging System Warning Light
17. Low Windshield Washer Fluid Level Warning Light
18. Check Engine - Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
19. SRS (Airbag) Warning Light
20. Automatic Transaxle Position Indicator Light (If Installed)
21. Odometer/ Trip Odometer/ Trip Computer (If Installed)
22. CRUISE Indicator Light
23. Cruise SET Indicator Light
24. Trunk Lid Open Warning Light
25. Low Fuel Warning Light

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI52
B260L02HP-GAT
Door Ajar Warning Light and
Chime
The door ajar warning light warns you that
a door is not completely closed and the
chime warns you that the key is in the
ignition switch.NOTE :The warning chime only sounds
whenever the key is in the ignition switch
and the driver's side front door is open
simultaneously. The chime sounds until
the key is removed from the ignition
switch or the driver's side front door is
closed.
B260M01A-AAT
Low Fuel Level Warning Light
The low fuel level warning light comes on
when the fuel tank is approaching empty.
When it comes on, you should add fuel as
soon as possible. Driving with the fuel
level warning light on or with the fuel level
below "E" can cause the engine to misfire
and damage the catalytic converter.B260N02A-AAT
Check Engine - Malfunction
Indicator Light (MIL)
This light illuminates when there is a
malfunction of an exhaust gas related
component, and the system is not
functioning properly so that the exhaust
gas regulation values are not satisfied. This
light will also illuminate when the ignition key
is turned to the "ON" position, and will go out
in a few seconds after the engine is started.
If it illuminates while driving, or does not
illuminate when the ignition key is turned to
the "ON" position, take your car to your
nearest authorized Hyundai dealer and have
the system checked. The brake fluid level warning light indicates
that the brake fluid level in the brake master
cylinder is low and hydraulic brake fluid
conforming to DOT 3 or DOT 4 specifications
should be added. After adding fluid, if no
other trouble is found, the car should be
immediately and carefully driven to a
Hyundai dealer for inspection. If further
trouble is experienced, the vehicle should
not be driven at all but taken to a dealer by
a professional towing service.
Your Hyundai is equipped with dual-
diagonal braking systems. This means
you still have braking on two wheels even
if one of the dual systems should fail. With
only one of the dual systems working,
more than normal pedal travel and greater
pedal pressure are required to stop the
car. Also, the car will not stop in as short a
distance with only half of the brake system
working. If the brakes fail while you are
driving, shift to a lower gear for additional
engine braking and stop the car as soon as
it is safe to do so.
B260J01NF-AAT
Charging System Warning
Light
The charging system warning light should
come on when the ignition is turned on,
then go out when the engine is running. If
the light stays on while the engine is
running, there is a malfunction in the
electrical charging system. If the light comes
on while you are driving, have the system
checked by your Hyundai dealer as soon
as possible.
B260K01S-AAT
Trunk Lid Open Warning Light
This light remains on unless the trunk lid is
completely closed and latched.

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
53
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B260P02Y-GAT
ABS Service Reminder
Indicator (SRI) (If Installed)
When the key is turned to the "ON" position,
the Anti-Lock Brake System indicator will
come on and then go off in a few seconds.
If the ABS SRI remains on, comes on while
driving, or does not come on when the key
is turned to the "ON" position, this indicates
that there may be a problem with the ABS.
If this occurs, have your vehicle checked
by your Hyundai dealer as soon as
possible. The normal braking system will
still be operational, but without the
assistance of the anti-lock brake system.
WARNING:
If both the ABS SRI and Parking Brake/
Brake fluid level warning lights remain
"ON" or come on while driving, there
may be a problem with E.B.D. (Electronic
Brake Force Distribution).
If this occurs, avoid sudden stops and
have your vehicle checked by your
Hyundai dealer as soon as possible.
B265C01NF-AAT
Electronic Stability Control
(ESC) Indicator Lights
(If Installed)
The electronic stability control indicators
change operation 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 ESC or ESC-
OFF indicator stays on, take your car to
your authorized Hyundai dealer and have
the system checked. See section 2 for
more information about the ESC.B260Q02NF-GAT
CRUISE Indicator Light
The cruise indicator light in the instrument
cluster is illuminated when the cruise
control ON/OFF button on the steering
wheel is pulled.
The indicator light turns off when the cruise
control ON/OFF button is pushed again.
Information about the use of cruise control
begins on page 1-91.
B260R01NF-GAT
Cruise SET Indicator Light
The Cruise SET indicator light in the instru-
ment cluster is illuminated when the cruise
control "COAST/SET" or "RES/ACCEL" switch
is pushed. The Cruise SET indicator light
does not illuminate when the cruise control
"CANCEL" switch is pushed or the system is
disengaged. To disengage the cruise control
system, refer to "To cancel the cruise speed"
on page 1-92.B260S01NF-GAT
Low Windshield Washer Fluid
Level Warning Light
The low windshield washer fluid warning light
comes on when the washer fluid reservoir is
approaching empty. When it comes on, add
washer fluid at your earliest opportunity.B270A01O-AATBRAKE PAD WEAR WARNING
SOUNDThe front and rear 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 immedi-
ately.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
16
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
beyond 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. o Take care of your tires. Keep them
inflated 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 result
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
maintenance costs, maintain your car
in accordance with the maintenance
schedule in Section 5. If you drive your
car in severe conditions, more frequent
maintenance 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
consumption and also contribute to cor-
rosion.
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
moderate rate. Don't make "jack-rabbit"
starts or full-throttle shifts and maintain
a steady cruising speed. Don't race
between 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, especially
on the highway, is one of the most
effective ways to reduce fuel
consumption.
o Don't "ride" the brake or clutch pedal.
This can increase fuel consumption and
also increase wear on these
components. 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.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
17
SMOOTH CORNERINGC150A01A-AATAvoid braking or gear changing in corners,
especially when roads are wet. Ideally,
corners should always be taken under
gentle acceleration. If you follow these
suggestions, tire wear will be held to a
minimum.
C160A01A-AATThe more severe weather conditions of
winter result in greater wear and other
problems. To minimize the problems of
winter driving, you should follow these
suggestions:C160B01A-AATSnowy or Icy ConditionsTo drive your vehicle in deep snow, it may
be necessary to use snow tires or to install
tire chains on your tires. If snow tires are
needed, it is necessary to select tires
equivalent in size and type of the original
equipment tires. Failure to do so may
adversely affect the safety and handling of
your car. Furthermore, 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 skids to
occur. You need to keep sufficient distance
between the vehicle in operation in front
and your vehicle. Also, apply the brake
gently. It should be noted that installing tire
chains on the tire will provide a greater
driving force, but will not prevent side skids.NOTE:Tire chains are not legal in all states.
Check state laws before fitting tire
chains.WINTER DRIVING
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
service station.C160C01A-AATUse High Quality Ethylene Glycol
CoolantYour Hyundai is delivered with high quality
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
schedule in Section 5. Before winter, have
your coolant tested to assure that its
freezing point is sufficient for the
temperatures anticipated during the winter.