tow Hyundai Sonata 2008 Owner's Manual

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
3
KEYS
BREAKING IN YOUR NEW HYUNDAI
B010F01A-AATOperation in Foreign CountriesIf you are going to drive your Hyundai in another
country, be sure to:
o Observe all regulations regarding registra-
tion and insurance.
o Determine that acceptable fuel is available.B010E01A-AATGasolines for Cleaner AirTo help contribute to cleaner air, Hyundai rec-
ommends that you use gasolines treated with
detergent additives, which help prevent deposit
formation in the engine. These gasolines will
help the engine run cleaner and enhance per-
formance of the Emission Control System.
B020A01S-AATDuring the First 1,200 Miles (2,000 Km)No formal "break-in" procedure is required with
your new Hyundai. However, you can contrib-
ute to the economical operation and durability of
your Hyundai by observing the following recom-
mendations during the first 1,200 miles (2,000
km).
o Don't drive faster than 55 MPH (88 km/h).
o While driving, keep your engine speed (rpm,
or revolutions per minute) between 2,000
rpm and 4,000 rpm.
o Use moderate acceleration. Don't start
quickly or depress the accelerator pedal
fully.
o For the first 200 miles (300 km), try to avoid
hard stops.
o Don't lug the engine (in other words, don't
drive so slowly in too high a gear that the
engine "bucks":shift to a lower gear).
o Whether going fast or slow, vary your speed
from time to time.
o Don't let the engine idle longer than 3 minutes
at one time.
o Don't tow a trailer during the first 1,200 miles
(2,000 km) of operation.
B030A01NF-GATFor greater convenience, your Hyundai has
two master keys and a sub key. The master
keys will open all locks on your vehicle. The sub
key will only function in the ignition and the door
locks.
Leaving your sub key with a parking attendant
will ensure that your vehicle's trunk, trunk lid
release, glove box compartment and rear trunk
access may not be unlocked in your absence.NOTE:Before leaving your sub key with a parking
attendant, make sure that the lock knobs of
the rear seatback lock and the trunk lid lock
are switched to the "LOCK" position.
B030A01NF-A
Master key Sub key

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FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
5
B040B01NF-AATLocking, unlocking front doors with a
keyo The door can be locked or unlocked with a
key.
o Lock the door by turning the key toward the
front of the vehicle and unlock it by turning the
key toward the rear.NOTE:The driver's door can be unlocked by turn-
ing the key once toward the rear. If you wish
to unlock all doors, turn the key again
toward the rear within 4 seconds.
B040C02Y-AATLocking from the OutsideThe doors can be locked without a key. To lock
the doors from the outside, first push the inside
lock switch to the "LOCK" position, so that the
red mark on the switch is not visible, then close
the door.
The door will not lock if the key is left in the ignition
switch when the front doors are closed. This is
normal operation.NOTE:o When locking the door this way, be care-
ful not to lock the door with the key left
in the vehicle.
o To discourage theft, always remove the
ignition key, close all windows and lock
all doors when leaving your vehicle un-
attended.
HNF2007
LOCKUNLOCK
B040C01NF-A
B040D01NF-AATLocking from the InsideTo lock the doors from the inside, simply close
the door and push the lock switch to the "LOCK"
position.NOTE:o When the door is locked, the red mark on
the switch is not visible.
o The driver's and front passenger's doors
can be opened by pulling the inside door
handle even if the inside lock switch is
pushed to the "LOCK" position.
HNF2008
LOCK
UNLOCK

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI14
!
B080B03A-AATAdjusting Seat Forward and RearwardTo move the seat toward the front or rear, pull
the lock release lever upward. This will release
the seat on its track so you can move it forward
or rearward to the desired position. When you
find the position you want, release the lever and
slide the seat forward or rearward on its track
until it locks into the desired position and cannot
be moved further.
WARNING:
After adjusting the seat, always check that
it is securely locked into place by attempt-
ing to move the seat forward or reverse
without using the lock release lever. Sud-
den or unexpected movement of the driver's
seat could cause you to lose control of the
vehicle resulting in an accident.
SEATSB080A02A-AATADJUSTABLE FRONT SEATS
!
WARNING:
o Never adjust the driver’s seat while the
vehicle is moving. Any sudden or unex-
pected movement of the seat could cause
you to lose control of the vehicle result-
ing in an accident. Only adjust the
driver’s seat when the vehicle is station-
ary.
o Do not sit or lean unnecessarily close to
the airbag. Position the seat so that you
can sit as far back as possible from the
airbag and still comfortably reach all
controls.
HNF2032

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FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
17
B080E01Y-AATLumbar Support Control
(Driver's Seat Only) (If Installed)To adjust the lumbar support, turn the handle on
the outboard or left side of the seat. To increase
the amount of lumbar support, pull the lever
forward. To decrease it, push the lever toward
the rear.
1. Minimum support
2. Maximum support
HNF20391
2
!
B090A02Y-AATPOWER DRIVER'S SEAT (If Installed)The driver's seat can be adjusted by using the
control knobs on the left side of the seat. Before
driving, adjust the seat to the proper position so
as to easily control the steering wheel, pedals
and switches on the instrument panel.
CAUTION:
Do not operate two knobs at the same time.
WARNING:
o Never adjust a driver’s seat while the
vehicle is moving. Any sudden or unex-
pected movement of the seat could cause
you to lose control of the vehicle result-
ing in an accident. Only adjust the
driver’s seat when the vehicle is station-
ary.
o Do not sit or lean unnecessarily close to
the airbag. Position the seat so that you
can sit as far back as possible from the
airbag and still comfortably reach all
controls.
!
B080F01NF-GATSeat Height Adjustment
(Driver's Seat Only)To raise or lower the seat, raise or lower the
control lever to the desired seat height.
HNF2034

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FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
33
B230G04Y-AATChild Restraint System Installation on
Rear Seats
B230G01NF-B
On outboard rear seats
B235G02NF
On rear seat center positionTo install a child restraint system in the rear
seats, extend the shoulder/lap belt entirely from
its retractor until a "click" is felt. This will engage
the seat belt retractor automatic locking feature,
which allows the seat belt to retract but not
extend. Install the child restraint system, buckle
the seat belt and allow the seat belt to take up
any slack. Make sure that the lap portion of the
belt is tight around the child restraint system and
the shoulder portion of the belt is positioned so
that it cannot interfere with the child's head or
neck. Also, double check to be sure that the
retractor has engaged the Automatic Locking
feature by trying to extend webbing out of the
retractor. If the retractor is in the Automatic
Locking mode, the belt will be locked. After
installation of the child restraint system, try to
move it in all directions to be sure the child
restraint system is securely installed. If you need
to tighten the belt, pull more webbing toward the
retractor. When you unbuckle the seat belt and
allow it to retract, the retractor will automatically
revert back to its normal seated passenger
Emergency Locking usage condition.
!
WARNING:
o If the retractor is not in the Automatic
Locking mode, the child restraint can
move when your vehicle turns or stops
suddenly. A child can be seriously in-
jured or killed if the child restraint is not
properly anchored to the car, including
setting the retractor to the Automatic
Locking mode.
o Do not install any child restraint system
in the front passenger seat. Should an
accident occur and cause the passenger
side airbag to deploy, it could severely
injure or kill an infant or child seated in
an infant or child seat. Therefore, only
use a child restraint system in the rear
seat of your vehicle.NOTE:o Before installing the child restraint sys-
tem in any seating position, read the
instructions supplied by the child re-
straint system manufacturer.
o If the seat belt does not operate as de-
scribed, have the system checked imme-
diately by your authorized Hyundai dealer.

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI44
When an adult is seated in the front passenger
seat, if the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indica-
tor is on, turn the ignition key to "LOCK" and ask
the passenger to sit properly (sitting upright with
the seat back in an upright position, centered on
the seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs
comfortably extended and their feet on the
floor). Restart the engine and have the person
remain in that position for about 30 seconds. This
will allow the system to detect the person and to
enable the passenger airbag. If the "PASSEN-
GER AIR BAG OFF" indicator is still on, turn the
ignition key to "LOCK" and ask the passenger to
sit properly and restart the engine again.
If the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator is
still on, ask the passenger to move to the rear
seat.
- NEVER place feet on the dashboard.
B990A07O
B990A05O
- NEVER lean on the center console.
- NEVER
sit on one side of the front passen-
ger seat.
o NEVER sit with hips shifted towards the
front of the seat.
B990A02O
Proper position
B990A01O

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI48
o If the airbags inflate, they must be re-
placed 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 precautions and can give
you the necessary information. Failure
to follow these precautions and proce-
dures could increase 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 remains on,
have your vehicle immediately inspected by
your Hyundai dealer.
Any work on the SRS system, such as remov-
ing, 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 acci-
dent.
o Modification to SRS components or wir-
ing, including the addition of any kind of
badges to the pad covers or modifica-
tions to the body structure, can ad-
versely affect SRS performance 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. Sol-
vents or cleaners could adversely affect
the airbag covers and proper deploy-
ment 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.
!
HSM393

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI54
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 simulta-
neously. 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 In-
dicator 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 care-
fully 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 malfunc-
tion in the electrical charging system. If the light
comes on while you are driving, have the sys-
tem 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
63
B340D01A-AATHigh-beam Switch
B340B01A-AATLane Change SignalTo indicate a lane change, move the lever up or
down to a point where it begins flashing.
The lever will automatically return to the center
position when released.
B340C04A-AATHeadlight SwitchTo operate the headlights, turn the barrel on the
end of the multi-function switch. The first posi-
tion turns on the parking lights, sidelights, tail
lights and instrument panel lights. The second
position turns on the headlights.NOTE:The ignition must be in the "ON" position
to turn on the headlights.Parking Light Auto Offo The purpose of this feature is to prevent the
battery from being discharged. The system
automatically turns off the headlights and
parking lights when the driver removes the
ignition key and opens the driver- side door.
B340B01NFB340C01NF
To turn on the headlight high beams, push the
lever forward (away from you). The High Beam
Indicator Light will come on at the same time. For
low beams, pull the lever back toward you.
B340D01NF-A
o With this feature, the parklight will be turned
off automatically if the driver parks on the
side of road at night.
If necessary, to keep the lights on when the
ignition key is removed, perform the follow-
ing :
1) Open the driver-side door.
2) Turn the parking lights OFF and ON again
using the light switch on the steering
column.

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI64
B340E01A-AATHeadlight FlasherTo flash the headlights, pull the switch lever
toward you, then release it. The headlights can
be flashed even though the headlight switch is
in the "OFF" position.
B340E01NFB340G01LZ-AAT
Auto Light (If Installed)
HNF2094
To operate the automatic light feature, turn the
barrel on the end of the multi-function switch. If
you set the multi-function switch to "AUTO", the
tail lights and headlights will be turned automati-
cally on or off according to external illumination
conditions.NOTE:Turn the lights manually in foggy, cloudy
and rainy conditions.
NOTE:o Never place anything over the sensor
located on the instrument panel to en-
sure better auto light system control.
o Don't clean the sensor using a window
cleaner.
o If your vehicle has window tint or other
types of coating on the windshield, the
AUTO light system may not work prop-
erly.
Auto light
sensor
B340G02NF-A