maintenance Hyundai Sonata 2009 Owner's Manual

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All information in this Owner's Manual is current at the time of publication.
However, Hyundai reserves the right to make changes at any time so that 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 MANUAL
Operation
Maintenance
Specifications

Please consult your Owner's Handbook & Warranty Information booklet for your vehicle's spe-
cific warranty coverage.The maintenance requirements for your new Hyundai are found in Section 7. 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 main-
tenance is required for some operations. Maintenance requirements for severe operating conditions
are also included in Section 7.
WARRANTIES FOR YOUR HYUNDAI VEHICLE
RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTENANCE
EN hma cover.qxd 11/27/2006 5:07 PM Page 2

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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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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

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

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI56
B300A02A-AATSPEEDOMETERYour Hyundai's speedometer is calibrated
in miles per hour and kilometers per hour.
ONF048040NB310B01NF-AAT
ODOMETER/TRIP ODOMETER
1. OdometerThe odometer records the total distance
traveled in miles. You will also find the
odometer useful to determine when
periodic maintenance should be
performed.NOTE:Federal law forbids alteration of the odom-
eter of any vehicle with the intent to
change the mileage registered on the
odometer. The alteration may void your
warranty coverage.
ONF048051N B330A03A-AAT
TACHOMETERThe 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 coverage.
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ONF048042N

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
10
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C090I03L-GAT
CAUTION:
o Shift into "R", "D" and "P" position
only when the vehicle has completely
stopped.
o Do not accelerate the engine in
reverse or any of the forward positions
with the brakes applied.
o Always apply the footbrake when shift-
ing 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 When accelerating from a stop on a
steep hill, the vehicle may have a
tendency to roll backwards. Shifting
the shift lever into 2nd gear while in
Sport mode will help prevent the
vehicle from rolling backwards.
o Check the automatic transaxle fluid
level regularly, and add fluid as
necessary.
o See the maintenance schedule for
the proper fluid recommendation.
C090H01L-GATNOTE:o For smooth and safe operation,
depress the brake pedal when shifting
from "Neutral" position or "Park"
position to a forward or reverse gear.
o The ignition key must be in the "ON"
position and the brake pedal fully de-
pressed in order to move the shift
lever from the "P" (Park) position to
any of the other positions.
o It is always possible to shift from "R",
"N", or "D" position to "P" position.
The vehicle must be fully stopped to
avoid transaxle damage. o To maintain the required levels of ve-
hicle performance and safety, the sys-
tem may not execute certain
gearshifts when the selector lever is
operated.
o Before driving away from a stop on a
slippery road, push the selector lever
forward into the +(UP) position. This
causes the transaxle to shift into 2nd
gear which is better for smooth driv-
ing away on a slippery road. Push the
selector lever to the -(DOWN) side to
shift back to 1st gear.
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, remove
the cap on the console and with a thin
object such as a flat-head screwdriver,
push the shift lock release button down.
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
problem. Have the car checked by your
Hyundai dealer.
ONF058008

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.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
20
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.