tires Hyundai Sonata 2009 Owner's Manual

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI54
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!
WARNING:
Significantly low tire pressure makes
the vehicle unstable and can contribute
to loss of vehicle control and increased
braking distances.
Continued driving on low pressure tires
will cause the tires to overheat and fail.
B260W02JM-GAT
Low tire pressure telltale
The low tire pressure telltale comes on for
3 seconds after the ignition key is turned to
the "ON" position.
If the warning light does not come on, the
Tire Pressure Monitoring System is not
working properly. If this occurs, have your
vehicle checked by an authorized Hyundai
dealer as soon as possible.
This warning light will also illuminate if one
or more of your tires are significantly under-
inflated. You should stop and check your
tires as soon as possible. If the warning
light illuminates while driving, reduce
vehicle speed immediately and stop the
vehicle. Avoid hard braking and overcor-
recting at the steering wheel. Inflate the
tires to the proper pressure as indicated on
the vehicle’s tire information placard.
After adjusting the tire pressure of each
wheel correctly, if the low pressure telltale
light stays “ON” continuously, the Tire
Pressure Monitoring System is not working
properly. If this occurs, have your vehicle
checked by an authorized Hyundai dealer
as soon as possible.
B265W02JM-GAT
TPMS (Tire Pressure Moni-
toring System) malfunction
indicator
TPMS malfunction indicator comes on for
3 seconds after the ignition key is turned to
the "ON" position. If the warning light does
not come on, or continuously remains on
after coming on for about 3 seconds when
you turned the ignition key to the "ON"
position, the Tire Pressure Monitoring
System is not working properly. If this
occurs, have your vehicle checked by an
authorized Hyundai dealer as soon as
possible.
The warning light also comes on and stays
on when there is a problem with the Tire
Pressure Monitoring System.
If this happens, the system may not monitor
the tire pressure. Have the system checked
by an authorized Hyundai dealer as soon
as possible.
WARNING:
o The TPMS cannot alert you to severe
and sudden tire damage caused by
external factors.
o If you feel any vehicle instability, im-
mediately take your foot off the
accelerator and slowly move to a safe
position off the road.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
3
!
BEFORE STARTING
THE ENGINEC020A01NF-AATBefore you start the engine, you should
always:
1. Look around the vehicle to be sure
there are no flat tires, puddles of oil,
water or other indications of possible
trouble.
2. After entering the car, check to be sure
the parking brake is engaged.
3. Check that all windows and lights are
clean.
4. Check that the interior and exterior
mirrors are clean and in position.
5. Check your seat, seatback and head-
rest to be sure they are in their proper
positions.
6. Lock all the doors.
7. Fasten your seat belt and be sure that all
other occupants have fastened theirs.
8. Turn off all lights and accessories that
are not needed.
9. When you turn the ignition switch to
"ON", check that all appropriate warning
lights are operating and that you have
sufficient fuel.
10. Check the operation of warning lights
and all bulbs when key is in the "ON"
position.
TO START THE ENGINEC030A01E-AATCOMBINATION IGNITION SWITCHo If your Hyundai is equipped with a
manual transaxle, place the shift lever
in neutral and depress the clutch pedal
fully.
o If your Hyundai has an automatic
transaxle, place the shift lever in "P"
(Park).
o To start the engine, insert the ignition
key and turn it to the "START" position.
Release it as soon as the engine starts.
Do not hold the key in the "START"
position for more than 15 seconds.NOTE:o For safety, the engine will not start if
the clutch pedal is not depressed fully
(Manual Transaxle) or the shift lever
is not in "P" or "N" Position (Automatic
Transaxle).
o The ignition key cannot be turned from
"ACC" position to "LOCK" position
unless the shift lever is in the "P"
(Park) position or the negative battery
terminal is disconnected from the bat-
tery. To remove the key, always
confirm that the shift lever is securely
positioned in "P" (Park) (For Automatic
Transaxle).
o For additional information about start-
ing, see page 2-5.
WARNING:
o All passengers must be properly
belted whenever the vehicle is moving.
Refer to pages: 1-21 through 1-33 for
more information on their proper use.
o Always check the surrounding areas
near your vehicle for people,
especially children, before putting a
car into 'drive'.
!
WARNING:
Always wear appropriate shoes when
operating your vehicle.
Unsuitable shoes (high heels, ski boots,
etc.) may interfere with your ability to
use the brake and accelerator pedal,
and the clutch (if installed).
!
WARNING:
When you intend to park or stop the
vehicle with the engine on, be careful not
to depress the accelerator pedal for a
long period of time. It may overheat the
engine or exhaust system and cause
fire.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
14
C310D01NF-AATIndicators and WarningThe indicators should illuminate when the
ignition key is turned to ON or START but
should go out after three seconds.
If the indicators do not illuminate, or the
ESC or ESC-OFF indicator does not go out
after 3 seconds, have the vehicle checked
by an authorized dealer.
Should there be any unusual operation of
the device while driving, the ESC-OFF
indicator illuminates as a warning.
If the ESC-OFF indicator illuminates, drive
your car to a safe place and stop the
engine.
Then, start the engine again to check if the
ESC-OFF indicator goes out.
If the indicator remains lit even after the
engine has been started, have your car
checked by an authorized Hyundai dealer.
C310B01NF-AATESC ON/OFF ModeWhen the ESC is operating, the ESC indi-
cator in the instrument cluster will blink.
If you turn the system off by pressing the
ESC switch, the ESC-OFF indicator will
come on and stay on. In the ESC-OFF
mode, the stability control will be
deactivated. Adjust your driving accord-
ingly. To turn the system back on, press the
switch again. The ESC-OFF indicator
should go off.NOTE:The ESC mode will automatically be
turned ON after the engine is turned off
and restarted.
CAUTION:
Driving with varying tire or wheel sizes
may cause the ESC system to
malfunction. When replacing tires, make
sure they are the same size as your
original tires.
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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
19
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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.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
22
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.
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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.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
23
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

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
27
!
!
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.

3
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY
5
TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM (TPMS)
ONF048131 C320A01JM-AAT
➀ TPMS Malfunction Indicator
➁ Low Tire Pressure Telltale
Each tire, including the spare (if pro-
vided), should be checked monthly when
cold and inflated to the inflation pres-
sure recommended by the vehicle manu-
facturer on the vehicle placard or tire
inflation pressure label. (If your vehicle
has tires of a different size than the size
indicated on the vehicle placard or tire
inflation pressure label, you should de-
termine the proper tire inflation pres-
sure for those tires.)As an added safety feature, your ve-
hicle has been equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS)
that illuminates a low tire pressure tell-
tale when one or more of your tires is
significantly under-inflated. Accord-
ingly, when the low tire pressure telltale
illuminates, you should stop and check
your tires as soon as possible, and
inflate them to the proper pressure.
Driving on a significantly under-inflated
tire causes the tire to overheat and can
lead to tire failure. Under-inflation also
reduces fuel efficiency and tire tread
life, and may affect the vehicle’s han-
dling and stopping ability.
Please note that the TPMS is not a
substitute for proper tire maintenance,
and it is the driver’s responsibility to
maintain correct tire pressure, even if
under-inflation has not reached the level
to trigger illumination of the TPMS low
tire pressure telltale.Your vehicle has also been equipped
with a TPMS malfunction indicator to
indicate when the system is not operat-
ing properly. The TPMS malfunction
indicator is provided by a separate tell-
tale, which displays the symbol "TPMS"
when illuminated. When the malfunc-
tion indicator is illuminated, the system
may not be able to detect or signal low
tire pressure as intended. TPMS mal-
functions may occur for a variety of
reasons, including the installation of
replacement or alternate tires or wheels
on the vehicle that prevent the TPMS
from functioning properly. Always
check the TPMS malfunction telltale
after replacing one or more tires or
wheels on your vehicle to ensure that
the replacement or alternate tires and
wheels allow the TPMS to continue to
function properly.