transmission Hyundai Sonata 2015 Owner's Guide

5-27
Driving your vehicle
5
Information - Kickdown
Mechanism
Use the kickdown mechanism for
maximum acceleration. Depress the
accelerator pedal beyond the pressure
point. The automatic transmission will
shift to a lower gear depending on the
engine speed. i
To reduce the risk of SERIOUS
INJURY or DEATH:
ALWAYS wear your seatbelt.
In a collision, an unbelted
occupant is significantly more
likely to be seriously injured
or killed than a properly belt-
ed occupant.
Avoid high speeds when cor-
nering or turning.
Do not make quick steering
wheel movements, such as
sharp lane changes or fast,
sharp turns.
The risk of rollover is greatly
increased if you lose control
of your vehicle at highway
speeds.
Loss of control often occurs if
two or more wheels drop off
the roadway and the driver
over steers to reenter the
roadway. (Continued)
(Continued)
In the event your vehicle
leaves the roadway, do not
steer sharply. Instead, slow
down before pulling back into
the travel lanes.
HYUNDAI recommends you
follow all posted speed limits.
WARNING

5-48
Driving your vehicle
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The drive mode may be selected
according to the driver’s preference
or road condition.
The system initializes to the NOR-
MAL mode (except for ECO mode)
after the engine has been turned off
and on.
Information
If there is a problem with the
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
system, the drive mode will be in
NORMAL mode and may not change
to ECO mode or SPORT mode. The mode changes whenever the
DRIVE MODE switch is pressed.
When NORMAL mode is selected, it
is not displayed on the instrument
cluster.
The selected mode is displayed on
the instrument cluster.
ECO mode (Active ECO)
Active ECO helps improve
fuel efficiency by control-
ling certain engine and
transmission system
operating parameters.
Fuel efficiency depends on the dri-
ver's driving habit and road condi-
tion.
When the DRIVE MODE switch is pressed and the ECO mode is
selected, the ECO indicator
(green) will illuminate to show that
the Active ECO is operating.
When the Active ECO is activated, and the engine is turned off and on
it will maintain ECO mode.
i
OLF054021N
NORMAL ECO SPORTECO

5-49
Driving your vehicle
5
When Active ECO is activated:
The acceleration response may beslightly reduced as the accelerator
pedal is depressed moderately.
The air conditioner performance may be limited.
The shift pattern of the automatic transmission may change.
The engine noise may get louder.
The above situations are normal
conditions when the Active ECO sys-
tem is activated to improve fuel effi-
ciency. Limitation of Active ECO opera-
tion:
If the following conditions occur while
Active ECO is operating, the system
operation is limited even though
there is no change in the ECO indi-
cator.
When the coolant temperature is
low:
The system will be limited until
engine performance becomes nor-
mal.
When driving up a hill: The system will be limited to gain
power when driving uphill because
engine torque is restricted.
When using the automatic trans- mission Sports mode:
The system will be limited accord-
ing to the shift location.SPORT mode
SPORT mode focuses ondynamic driving by auto-
matically controlling the
steering wheel, engine
and transmission system.
When the DRIVE MODE switch is pressed and the SPORT mode is
selected, the SPORT indicator
(yellow) will illuminate.
When the SPORT mode is activat- ed, and the engine is turned off
and on it will change to NORMAL
mode. To turn on the SPORT
mode, press the DRIVE MODE
switch again.
If the system is activated: - After accelerating and releasingthe accelerator pedal, the gear
and engine speed RPM may not
drop as soon as in NORMAL
mode.
- Up-shifting is delayed.
Information
In SPORT mode, the fuel efficiency
may decrease.
i
SPORT

5-84
Driving your vehicle
Hazardous Driving Conditions
When hazardous driving conditions
are encountered such as water,
snow, ice, mud or sand:
Drive cautiously and allow extra dis-
tance for braking.
Avoid sudden movements in braking
or steering.
If stuck in snow, mud, or sand, use
second gear. Accelerate slowly to
avoid spinning the drive wheels.
Use sand, rock salt, or other non-slip
material under the drive wheels to
provide traction when stuck in ice,
snow, or mud.
Rocking the Vehicle
If it is necessary to rock the vehicle
to free it from snow, sand, or mud,
first turn the steering wheel right and
left to clear the area around your
front wheels. Then, shift back and
forth between R (Reverse) and a for-
ward gear.
Try to avoid spinning the wheels, and
do not race the engine.
To prevent transmission wear, wait
until the wheels stop spinning before
shifting gears. Release the accelera-
tor pedal while shifting, and press
lightly on the accelerator pedal while
the transmission is in gear. Slowly
spinning the wheels in forward and
reverse directions causes a rocking
motion that may free the vehicle.If the tires spin at high speed the
tires can explode, and you or oth-
ers may be injured. Do not attempt
this procedure if people or objects
are anywhere near the vehicle.
The vehicle can overheat causing
an engine compartment fire or
other damage. Spin the wheels as
little as possible and avoid spin-
ning the wheels at speeds over 35
mph (56 km/h) as indicated on the
speedometer.
NOTICE
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Downshifting with an automatic
transmission while driving on
slippery surfaces can cause an
accident. The sudden change in
tire speed could cause the tires
to skid. Be careful when down-
shifting on slippery surfaces.
WARNING

5-85
Driving your vehicle
5
If you are still stuck after rocking
the vehicle a few times, have the
vehicle pulled out by a tow vehicle
to avoid engine overheating, pos-
sible damage to the transmission,
and tire damage. See “Towing” in
chapter 6.
To prevent damage to the trans-
mission, turn OFF the ESC prior to
rocking the vehicle.
Smooth Cornering
Avoid braking or gear changing in
corners, especially when roads are
wet. Ideally, corners should always
be taken under gentle acceleration.
Driving at Night
Night driving presents more hazards
than driving in the daylight. Here are
some important tips to remember:
Slow down and keep more dis-tance between you and other vehi-
cles, as it may be more difficult to
see at night, especially in areas
where there may not be any street
lights.
Adjust your mirrors to reduce the glare from other driver's head-
lamps.
Keep your headlamps clean and properly aimed. Dirty or improperly
aimed headlamps will make it
much more difficult to see at night.
Avoid staring directly at the head- lamps of oncoming vehicles. You
could be temporarily blinded, and it
will take several seconds for your
eyes to readjust to the darkness.
NOTICE

6-22
What to do in an emergency
Jack label
1. Model Name
2. Maximum allowable load
3. When using the jack, set yourparking brake.
4. When using the jack, stop the engine.
5. Do not get under a vehicle that is supported by a jack.
6. The designated locations under the frame
7. When supporting the vehicle, the base plate of jack must be vertical
under the lifting point.
8. Shift into Reverse gear on vehicles with manual transmission or move
the shift lever to the P (Park) posi-
tion on vehicles with automatic
transmission.
9. The jack should be used on firm level ground.
10. Jack manufacture
11. Production date
OHYK064001
OHYK064002
Type A■ Example
Type B
The actual Jack label in the vehicle may differ from the illustration.
For more detailed specifications, refer to the label attached to the jack.

6-31
What to do in an emergency
6
When towing your vehicle in an
emergency without wheel dollies :
1. Place the ignition switch in theACC position.
2. Place the shift lever in N (Neutral).
3. Release the parking brake.Emergency Towing
(if equipped)
If towing is necessary, we recom-
mend you to have it done by an
authorized HYUNDAI dealer or a
commercial tow truck service. If towing service is not available in an
emergency, your vehicle may be
temporarily towed using a cable or
chain secured to the emergency tow-
ing hook at the rear of the vehicle.
Use extreme caution when towing
the vehicle with a cable or chain. A
driver must be in the vehicle to steer
it and operate the brakes.
Towing in this manner may be done
only on hard-surfaced roads for a
short distance and at low speeds.
Also, the wheels, axles, power train,
steering and brakes must all be in
good condition.
Failure to place the transmis-
sion shift lever in N (Neutral)
may cause internal damage to
the transmission.
CAUTION
OLF064027
■Rear

6-32
What to do in an emergency
Always follow these emergency tow-
ing precautions:
Place the ignition switch in the ACC position so the steering
wheel is not locked.
Place the shift lever in N (Neutral).
Release the parking brake.
Depress the brake pedal with more force than normal since you will
have reduced braking perform-
ance.
More steering effort will be required because the power steer-
ing system will be disabled.
Use a vehicle heavier than your own to tow your vehicle.
The drivers of both vehicles should communicate with each other fre-
quently.
Before emergency towing, check that the hook is not broken or dam-
aged.
Fasten the towing cable or chain securely to the hook.
Do not jerk the hook. Apply steady and even force. Use a towing cable or chain less
than 16 feet (5 m) long. Attach a
white or red cloth (about 12 inches
(30 cm) wide) in the middle of the
cable or chain for easy visibility.
Drive carefully so the towing cable or chain remains tight during tow-
ing.
Before towing, check the automat- ic transmission for fluid leaks under
your vehicle. If the automatic trans-
mission fluid is leaking, flatbed
equipment or a towing dolly must
be used.
ODH063025
To avoid damage to your vehicle
and vehicle components when
towing:
Always pull straight ahead
when using the towing hooks.
Do not pull from the side or at
a vertical angle.
Do not use the towing hooks
to pull a vehicle out of mud,
sand or other conditions from
which the vehicle cannot be
driven out under its own
power.
Limit the vehicle speed to 10
mph (15 km/h) and drive less
than 1 mile (1.5 km) when tow-
ing to avoid serious damage
to the automatic transmis-
sion.
CAUTION

7
Maintenance
7
Maintenance
Engine Compartment ............................................7-3
Maintenance Services ...........................................7-6
Owner's Responsibility .....................................................7-6
Owner Maintenance Precautions..................................7-6
Owner Maintenance ..............................................7-7
Owner Maintenance Schedule .......................................7-8
Scheduled Maintenance Services........................7-9
Normal Maintenance Schedule ....................................7-10
Maintenance Under Severe Usage Conditions ........7-20
Explanation of Scheduled Maintenance Items ..7-21
Engine Oil and Filter.......................................................7-21
Drive Belts........................................................................\
.7-21
Fuel Filter ........................................................................\
..7-21
Fuel Lines, Fuel Hoses and Connections ..................7-21
Vapor Hose and Fuel Filler Cap ...................................7-21
Air Cleaner Filter .............................................................7-21
Spark Plugs .......................................................................7\
-21
Valve Clearance ...............................................................7-22
Cooling System ................................................................7-22
Engine Coolant .................................................................7-22
Automatic Transmission Fluid ......................................7-22
Dual Clutch Transmission Fluid ....................................7-22
Brake hoses and Lines ..................................................7-23
Brake Fluid ........................................................................\
7-23
Parking Brake...................................................................7-23Brake Discs, Pads, Calipers and Rotors .....................7-23
Exhaust Pipe and Muffler.............................................7-23
Suspension Mounting Bolts ..........................................7-23
Steering Gear Box, Linkage &
Boots/Lower Arm Ball Joint .........................................7-23
Drive Shafts and Boots .................................................7-23
Air Conditioning Refrigerant ........................................7-23
Engine Oil ..............................................................7-24
Checking the Engine Oil Level .....................................7-24
Checking the Engine Oil and Filter .............................7-26
Engine Coolant .....................................................7-27
Checking the Engine Coolant Level ............................7-27
Changing Engine Coolant ..............................................7-29
Brake Fluid ............................................................7-30
Checking the Brake Fluid Level ...................................7-30
Washer Fluid .........................................................7-31
Checking the Washer Fluid Level................................7-31
Parking Brake .......................................................7-31
Checking the Parking Brake .........................................7-31
Air Cleaner ............................................................7-32
Filter Replacement ..........................................................7-32
Climate Control Air Filter ....................................7-34
Filter Inspection ...............................................................7-34
7

7-7
7
Maintenance
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The following lists are vehicle checks
and inspections that should be per-
formed by the owner or an authorized
HYUNDAI dealer at the frequencies
indicated to help ensure safe,
dependable operation of your vehicle.
Any adverse conditions should be
brought to the attention of your deal-
er as soon as possible.
These Owner Maintenance vehicle
checks are generally not covered by
warranties and you may be charged
for labor, parts and lubricants used.
Performing maintenance work
on a vehicle can be dangerous.
If you lack sufficient knowledge
and experience or the proper
tools and equipment to do the
work, have it done by an author-
ized HYUNDAI dealer. ALWAYS
follow these precautions for
performing maintenance work:
Park your vehicle on level
ground, move the shift lever
into the P (Park, for automatic
transmission vehicle) posi-
tion, apply the parking brake,
place the ignition switch in
the LOCK/OFF position.
Block the tires (front and back)
to prevent the vehicle from
moving.
Remove loose clothing or jew-
elry that can become entan-
gled in moving parts.
(Continued)
WARNING (Continued)
If you must run the engine
during maintenance, do so
out doors or in an area with
plenty of ventilation.
Keep flames, sparks, or smok-
ing materials away from the
battery and fuel-related parts.