weight Hyundai Sonata 2009 Owner's Manual

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI2
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B010A01NF-A
FUEL RECOMMENDATIONS
CAUTION:
Your Hyundai's New Vehicle Limited War-
ranty may not cover damage to the fuel
system and any performance problems
that are caused by the use of fuels con-
taining methanol or fuels containing
MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) over
15.0% vol. (Oxygen Content 2.7% weight.)
B010B01A-AATWhat About Gasohol?Gasohol (a mixture of 90% unleaded
gasoline and 10% ethanol or grain alcohol)
may be used in your Hyundai. However, if
your engine develops driveability
problems, the use of 100% unleaded
gasoline is recommended. Fuels with
unspecified quantities of alcohol, or
alcohols other than ethanol, should not be
used.
B010A02NF-AATUse Unleaded GasolineUnleaded gasoline with a Pump Octane
Rating of 87 (Research Octane Number
91) or higher must be used in your
Hyundai.
B010C01A-AATUse of MTBEHyundai recommends that fuels
containing MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl
Ether) over 15.0% vol. (Oxygen Content
2.7% weight) should not be used in your
Hyundai.
Fuel containing MTBE over 15.0% vol.
(Oxygen Content 2.7% weight) may reduce
vehicle performance and produce vapor
lock or hard starting.
B010D01A-AATDo Not Use MethanolFuels containing methanol (wood alcohol)
should not be used in your Hyundai. This
type of fuel can reduce vehicle
performance and damage components of
the fuel system.
!
UNLEADED
FUEL ONLY
WARNING:
o Do not "top off" after the nozzle auto-
matically shuts off when refueling.
o Tighten the cap until it clicks, otherwise
the "
" light will illuminate.
o Always check that the fuel cap is
installed securely to prevent fuel
spillage in the event of an accident.

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
15
B080C02A-AATAdjusting Seatback AngleTo recline the seatback, lean forward to
take your weight off it, then pull up on the
recliner control lever at the outside edge of
the seat. Now lean back until the desired
seatback angle is achieved. To lock the
seatback into position, release the recliner
control lever.
ONF038003
!
WARNING:
Riding with a reclined seatback
increases your chance of serious or
fatal injuries in the event of a collision or
sudden stop. The protection of your
restraint system (seat belts and airbags)
is greatly reduced by reclining your seat.
Seat belts must be snug against your
hips and chest to work properly. The
more the seatback is reclined, the greater
the chance that an occupant's hips will
slide under the lap belt or the occupant's
neck will strike the shoulder belt. Drivers
and passengers should always sit well
back in their seats, properly belted, and
with the seatbacks upright.
B080D02JM-AATAdjustable HeadrestsHeadrests are designed to help reduce
the risk of neck injuries.
To raise the headrest, pull it up. To lower
the headrest, push it down while pressing
the lock knob. To remove the headrest,
raise it as far as it can go then press the lock
knob while pulling upward. This should
only be done when the seat is not occupied.
B080D01NF
Lock knob

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
21
SEAT BELTSB150B04Y-AATInfant or Small ChildAll 50 states have child restraint laws. You
should be aware of the specific
requirements in your state. Child and/or
infant safety seats must be properly placed
and installed in the rear seat. Information
about the use of these restraints begins on
page 1-26.
!
B150A02S-AATSEAT BELT PRECAUTIONS
WARNING:All occupants of the vehicle must wear
their seat belts at all times. Seat belts
and child restraints reduce the risk of
serious or fatal injuries for all occupants
in the event of a collision or sudden stop.
Without a seat belt, occupants could be
shifted too close to a deploying airbag,
strike the interior structure or be thrown
from the vehicle. Properly worn seat
belts greatly reduce these hazards. Even
with advanced airbags, unbelted
occupants can be severely injured by a
deploying airbag. Always follow the
precautions about seat belts, airbags
and occupant safety contained in this
manual.
!
WARNING:
Every person in your vehicle needs to be
properly restrained at all times, including
infants and children. Never hold a child
in your arms or lap when riding in a
vehicle. The violent forces created
during a crash will tear the child from
your arms and throw the child against
the interior. Always use a child restraint
appropriate for your child's height and
weight, see page 1-26.NOTE:Small children are best protected from
injury in an accident when properly re-
strained in the rear seat by a child
restraint system that meets the
requirements of the Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards. Before buying
any child restraint system, make sure
that it has a label certifying that it meets
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard
213. The restraint must be appropriate
for your child's height and weight. Check
the label on the child restraint for this
information. See information beginning
on page 1-28.
B150C02A-AATLarger ChildrenChildren who are too large for child restraint
systems should always occupy the rear
seat and use the available lap/shoulder
belts. The lap portion should be fastened
snug on the hips and as low as possible.
Check belt fit periodically. A child's
squirming could put the belt out of position.
Children are afforded the most safety in the
event of an accident when they are
restrained by a proper restraint system in
the rear seat. If a larger child (over age 13)
must be seated in the front seat, the child
should be securely restrained by the
available lap/shoulder belt and the seat
should be placed in the rearmost position.
Children under the age of 13 should be
restrained securely in the rear seat. NEVER
place a child under the age of 13 in the front
seat. NEVER place a rear facing child seat
in the front seat of a vehicle.

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
41
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position, centered on the seat cushion with
their seat belt on, legs comfortably extended
and their feet on the floor), the
"PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF" indicator
will be turned off and the front passenger's
air bag will be able to inflate, if necessary,
in frontal crashes.
You will find the "PASSENGER AIR BAG
OFF" indicator on the center facia panel.
This system detects the conditions 1~4 in
the following table and activates or
deactivates the front passenger air bag
based on these conditions.
Condition and operation in the front pas-
senger occupant classification system*1) The system judges a person of adult
size as an adult. When a smaller adult
sits in the front passenger seat, the
system may recognize him/her as a
child depending on his/her physique
and posture.
*2) Do not allow children to ride in the front
passenger seat. When a larger child
who has outgrown a child restraint
system sits in the front passenger seat,
the system may recognize him/her as
an adult depending on his/her phy-
sique or posture.
*3) Never install a child restraint system on
the front passenger seat.
WARNING:
Riding in an improper position or placing
weight on the front passenger's seat
when it is unoccupied by a passenger
adversely affects the occupant
classification system (OCS).
o Never place feet on the front
passenger seatback.
OVQ036014N
o Never put a heavy load in the front
passenger seat or seatback pocket.
OVQ036013N
Front
passenger
airbag
Activated
Deactivated
Deactivated
Activated Condition
detected by
the occupant
classification
system
1. Adult*
1
2. Child*
2 or
child restraint
system*3
3. Unoccupied
4. There is a
malfunction
in the
systemSRS
warning
light
Off
Off
Off
On
"Passenger
air bag off"
indicator light
Off
On
On
Off

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI44
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WARNING:
o Even though your vehicle is equipped
with the occupant classification sys-
tem, never install a child restraint
system in the front passenger's seat.
A deploying air bag can forcefully
strike a child resulting in serious
injuries or death. Any child age 12 and
under should ride in the rear seat.
Children too large for child restraints
should use the available lap/shoulder
belts. No matter what type of crash,
children of all ages are safer when
restrained in the rear seat.
o If the "PASSENGER AIR BAG OFF"
indicator is illuminated when the front
passenger's seat is occupied by an
adult and he/she sits properly (sitting
upright with the seatback in an upright
position, centered on the seat cushion
with their seat belt on, legs comfortably
extended and their feet on the floor),
have that person sit in the rear seat.
o Do not modify or replace the front
passenger seat. Don't place anything
on or attach anything such as a blanket
or after market seat heater to the
front passenger seat. This can
adversely affect the occupant
classification system.
o Do not sit on sharp objects such as tools
when occupying the front passenger
seat. This can adversely affect the occu-
pant classification system.
o Do not use accessory seat covers on
the front seats.
o Accident statistics show that children
are safer if they are restrained in the
rear, as opposed to the front seat. It is
recommended that child restraints be
secured in a rear seat, including an infant
riding in a rear-facing infant seat, a child
riding in a forward-facing child seat and
an older child riding in a booster seat.
o Air bags can only be used once – have
an authorized Hyundai dealer replace
the air bag immediately after
deployment.
o A smaller-stature adult who is not seated
correctly (for example: seat excessively
reclined, leaning on the center console,
or hips shifted forward in the seat) can
cause a condition where the advanced
frontal air bag system senses less
weight than if the occupant were seated
properly (sitting upright with the seatback
in an upright position, centered on the
seat cushion with their seat belt on, legs
comfortably extended and their feet on
the floor). This condition can result in an
adult potentially being misclassified and
illumination of the "PASSENGER AIR
BAG OFF" indicator.
B990B05Y-AATSide Impact AirbagYour Hyundai is equipped with a side
impact airbag in each front seat. The
purpose of the airbag is to provide the
vehicle's driver and/or the front passenger
with additional protection than that offered
by the seat belt alone. The side impact
airbags are designed to deploy only during
certain side-impact collisions, depending
on the crash severity, angle, speed and
point of impact. The side impact airbags
are not designed to deploy in all side
impact situations.
B990B02LZ

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
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.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
21
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.

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
24
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.