Hyundai Sonata 2016 Owner's Manual - RHD (UK, Australia)

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Driving your vehicle
If you are considering towing with
your vehicle, you should first check
your country's legal requirements.
Since laws vary, the requirements for
towing trailers, cars, or other types of
vehicles or apparatus may differ. Ask
an authorised HYUNDAI dealer for
further details before towing.
Remember that towing is different
from just driving your vehicle by
itself. Towing means changes in han-
dling, durability, and fuel economy.
Successful, safe trailer towing
requires correct equipment, and it
has to be used properly. Damage to
your vehicle caused by improper
trailer towing is not covered by your
vehicle manufacturer's warranty.
This section contains many time-
tested, important towing tips and
safety rules. Many of these are
important for your safety and that of
your passengers. Please read this
section carefully before you pull a
trailer.
If you decide to pull a trailer?
Here are some important points if
you decide to pull a trailer:
• Do not do any towing with your
vehicle during its first 2,000 km to
allow the engine to properly break
in. Failure to heed this caution may
result in serious engine or
transaxle damage.
• When towing a trailer, be sure to
consult an authorised HYUNDAI
dealer for further information on
additional requirements such as a
towing kit, etc.
• Always drive your vehicle at a mod-
erate speed (less than 100 km/h)
or posted towing speed limit.
• On a long uphill grade, do not
exceed 70 km/h or the posted tow-
ing speed limit, whichever is lower.
TRAILER TOWING
Take the following precautions:
•If you don't use the correct
equipment and/or drive
improperly, you can lose con-
trol of the vehicle when you
are pulling a trailer. For exam-
ple, if the trailer is too heavy,
the braking performance may
be reduced. You and your pas-
sengers could be seriously or
fatally injured. Pull a trailer
only if you have followed all
the steps in this section.
•Before towing, make sure the
total trailer weight, GCW
(Gross Combination Weight),
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight),
GAW (Gross Axle Weight ) and
trailer tongue load are all with-
in the limits.
WARNING

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Driving your vehicle
5
Trailer weight
How heavy can a trailer safely be? It
should never weigh more than the
maximum trailer weight with trailer
brakes. But even that can be too
heavy.
It depends on how you plan to use
your trailer. For example, speed, alti-
tude, road grades, outside tempera-
ture and how often your vehicle is
used to pull a trailer are all important.
The ideal trailer weight can also
depend on any special equipment
that you have on your vehicle.
Tongue load
The tongue load is an important
weight to measure because it affects
the total Gross Vehicle Weight
(GVW) of your vehicle. The trailer
tongue should weigh within the limits
of the maximum trailer tongue load
permissible.
After you've loaded your trailer,
weigh the trailer and then the tongue,
separately, to see if the weights are
accurate. If they aren't, you may be
able to correct them simply by mov-
ing some items around in the trailer.Tongue loads can be increased or
decreased by redistributing 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.
OLMB053047
Tongue LoadTotal Trailer Weight
OLMB053048
Gross Axle WeightGross Vehicle Weight
Take the following precautions:
•Never load a trailer with more
weight in the rear than in the
front. The front should be
loaded with approximately
60% of the total trailer load;
the rear should be loaded with
approximately 40% of the total
trailer load.
•Never exceed the maximum
weight limits of the trailer or
trailer towing equipment.
Improper loading can result in
damage to your vehicle and/or
personal injury. Check
weights and loading at a
weighbridge.
WARNING

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Driving your vehicle
For Australia
Towing Trailer
The recommended towing capacity of this vehicle will be provided with the
Genuine
HYUNDAIApproved Tow Bar, which will meet the requirements of
Australian Standard: AS 4177.
For further information with regard to trailer towing:
• on Genuine HYUNDAI parts and accessories (including the Genuine
HYUNDAI Approved Tow Bar and its availability for purchase) please con-
sult your nearest authorised HYUNDAI dealeror visit
www
.hyundai.com.au.
• on Rules and Regulations please consult your State or Territory road
authorities.
It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that any tow bar used is compatible
with and suitable for your vehicle, and is within the towing capacity of your
vehicle. Your HYUNDAI vehicle should not be used to tow heavy loads as it
is not designed for such use.
Subject to applicable law, HYUNDAI Motor Company Australia Pty Ltd shall
not be liable for any losses, damages, costs, expenses (including but not lim-
ited to consequential and indirect losses, personal injury and deaths) caused
by towing which is not in compliance with the instructions set out in this
owner's manual and under relevant law, rules and regulation.
HYUNDAI DO NOT recommend
the use of load levelling devices
of any type. The use of load lev-
elling devices may place undue
stress on the chassis causing
chassis or mounting point fail-
ure.
WARNING

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Driving your vehicle
5
For New Zealand
Towing Capacity Note
The recommended towing capacity of this vehicle will be provided with the
Genuine HYUNDAI Approved Tow Bar.
• To enquire about the towing capacity of this vehicle, please visit
www
.hyundai.co.nz, or call us on 0800 HYUNDAI.
• To enquire about Genuine HYUNDAI parts and accessories (including the
Genuine HYUNDAI Approved Tow Bar and its availability for purchase)
please consult your nearest authorised HYUNDAI dealer/service agent,
call us on 0800 HYUNDAI or visit www
.hyundai.co.nz.
It is the owner's responsibility to ensure that any tow bar used is compatible
with and suitable for their vehicle, and is within the towing capacity of their
vehicle. Your HYUNDAI vehicle should not be used to tow heavy loads
beyond the recommended towing capacities displayed on
www
.hyundai.co.nzas it is not designed for such use.
Subject to applicable law, HYUNDAI Motors New Zealand Ltd shall not be
liable for any losses, damages, costs, expenses (including but not limited to
consequential and indirect losses, personal injury and deaths) caused by
towing which is not in compliance with instructions set out in the owner's
manual.
HYUNDAI DO NOT recommend
the use of load levelling devices
of any type. The use of load lev-
elling devices may place undue
stress on the chassis causing
chassis or mounting point fail-
ure.
WARNING

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Driving your vehicle
Trailer towing equipment
Towbars
Information
• The mounting holes for towbars are
located on both sides of the under-
body behind the rear tyres.
• Install a trailer after removing the
under cover on the left side of the
vehicle. After using the trailer, rein-
stall the under cover to its original
position.It is important to have the correct
towbar equipment. Crosswinds, large
trucks going by, and rough roads are
a few reasons why you'll need the
right towbar. Here are some rules to
follow:
• Do you have to make any holes in
the body of your vehicle when you
install a trailer towbar? If you do,
then be sure to seal the holes later
when you remove the towbar. If you
don't seal them, carbon monoxide
(CO) from your exhaust can get
into your vehicle, as well as dirt
and water.
• The bumpers on your vehicle are
not intended for towbars. Do not
attach rental towbars or other
bumper-type towbars to them. Use
only a frame-mounted towbar that
does not attach to the bumper.
• A HYUNDAI trailer towbar acces-
sory is available at an authorised
HYUNDAI dealer.We recommend only genuine
HYUNDAI towbars (the towbars
are made and tested in
Australia/NZ for local conditions).
NOTICE
i
OLF054999L

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Driving your vehicle
5
Safety chains
You should always attach chains
between your vehicle and your trail-
er. Cross the safety chains under the
tongue of the trailer so that the
tongue will not drop to the road if it
becomes separated from the towbar.
Instructions about safety chains may
be provided by the towbar manufac-
turer or trailer manufacturer. Follow
the manufacturer's recommendation
for attaching safety chains. Always
leave just enough slack so you can
turn with your trailer. And, never
allow safety chains to drag on the
ground.
Trailer brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a brak-
ing system, make sure it conforms to
your country's regulations and that it
is properly installed and operating
correctly.
If your trailer weighs more than the
maximum trailer weight without trail-
er brakes loaded, then it needs its
own brakes and they must be ade-
quate. Be sure to read and follow the
instructions for the trailer brakes so
you'll be able to install, adjust and
maintain them properly. Be sure not
to tap into your vehicle's brake sys-
tem.
Driving with a trailer
Towing a trailer requires a certain
amount of experience. Before setting
out for the open road, you must get
to know your trailer. Acquaint your-
self with the feel of handling and
braking with the added weight of the
trailer. And always keep in mind that
the vehicle you are driving is now
longer and not nearly as responsive
as your vehicle is by itself.
Before you start, check the trailer
towbar and platform, safety chains,
electrical connector(s), lights, tyres
and brakes.
During your trip, occasionally check
to be sure that the load is secure,
and that the lights and trailer brakes
are still working.
Do not use a trailer with its own
brakes unless you are absolute-
ly certain that you have proper-
ly set up the brake system. This
is not a task for amateurs. Use
an experienced, competent
trailer shop for this work.
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Driving your vehicle
Distance
Stay at least twice as far behind the
vehicle ahead as you would when
driving your vehicle without a trailer.
This can help you avoid situations
that require heavy braking and sud-
den turns.
Passing
You will need more passing distance
up ahead when you're towing a trail-
er. And, because of the increased
vehicle length, you'll need to go
much farther beyond the passed
vehicle before you can return to your
lane.
Reversing
Hold the bottom of the steering
wheel with one hand. Then, to move
the trailer to the left, move your hand
to the left. To move the trailer to the
right, move your hand to the right.
Always reverse slowly and, if possi-
ble, have someone guide you.
Making turns
When you are turning with a trailer,
make wider turns than normal. Do
this so your trailer won't strike soft
shoulders, kerbs, road signs, trees,
or other objects. Avoid jerky or sud-
den manoeuvres. Signal well in
advance.
Turn signals
When you tow a trailer, your vehicle
has to have a different turn signal
flasher and extra wiring. The green
arrows on your instrument cluster will
flash whenever you signal a turn or
lane change. Properly connected,
the trailer lights will also flash to alert
other drivers you're about to turn,
change lanes, or stop.
When towing a trailer, the green
arrows on your instrument cluster will
flash for turns even if the bulbs on
the trailer are burned out. Thus, you
may think drivers behind you are
seeing your signals when, in fact,
they are not. It's important to check
occasionally to be sure the trailer
bulbs are still working. You must also
check the lights every time you dis-
connect and then reconnect the
wires.

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Driving your vehicle
5
Driving on hills
Reduce speed and shift to a lower
gear before you start down a long or
steep downgrade. If you don't shift
down, you might have to use your
brakes so much that they would get
overheated and may not operate effi-
ciently.
On a long uphill grade, shift down
and reduce your speed to around 70
km/h to reduce the possibility of
engine and transaxle overheating.
If your trailer weighs more than the
maximum trailer weight without trail-
er brakes and you have an automat-
ic transaxle, you should drive in D
(Drive) when towing a trailer.
Operating your vehicle in D (Drive)
when towing a trailer will minimise
heat build-up and extend the life of
your transaxle.To prevent engine and/or
transaxle overheating:
• 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 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.
• You must decide your vehicle
speed according to the trailer
weight and uphill grade.
NOTICE
Do not connect a trailer lighting
system directly to your vehi-
cle's lighting system. Use an
approved trailer wiring harness.
Failure to do so could result in
damage to the vehicle electrical
system and/or personal injury.
Consult an authorised
HYUNDAI dealer for assistance.
WARNING

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Driving your vehicle
Parking on hills
Generally, if you have a trailer
attached to your vehicle, you should
not park your vehicle on a hill.However, if you ever have to park
your trailer on a hill, here's how to do
it:
1.Pull the vehicle into the parking
space.
Turn the steering wheel in the
direction of the kerb.
2.Shift the vehicle to P (Park, for
automatic transaxle vehicle) or
neutral (for manual transaxle vehi-
cle).
3.Set the parking brake and turn off
the vehicle.
4.Place wheel chocks under the trail-
er wheels on the down hill side of
the wheels.
5.Start the vehicle, hold the brakes,
shift to neutral, release the parking
brake and slowly release the
brakes until the trailer chocks
absorb the load.
6.Reapply the brakes and parking
brakes.7.Move the shift lever to P (Park, for
automatic transaxle vehicle) or 1st
gear when the vehicle is parked on
a uphill grade and in R (Reverse)
on a downhill (for manual transaxle
vehicle).
8.Turn off the vehicle and release the
vehicle brakes but leave the park-
ing brake set.
To prevent serious or fatal
injury:
Do not get out of the vehicle
without the parking brake firmly
set. If you have left the engine
running, the vehicle can move
suddenly. You and others could
be seriously or fatally injured.
WARNING

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Driving your vehicle
5
Ready to leave after parking on
a hill
1.With the shift lever to P (Park, for
automatic transaxle vehicle) or
neutral (for manual transaxle vehi-
cle), apply your brakes and hold
the brake pedal down whilst you:
• Start your engine;
• Shift into gear; and
• Release the parking brake.
2.Slowly remove your foot from the
brake pedal.
3.Drive slowly until the trailer is clear
of the chocks.
4.Stop and have someone pick up
and store the chocks.
Maintenance when towing a
trailer
Your vehicle will need service more
often when you regularly pull a trail-
er. Important items to pay particular
attention to include engine oil, auto-
matic transaxle fluid, axle lubricant
and cooling system fluid. Brake con-
dition is another important item to
frequently check. If you are planning
a trip with a trailer, it's a good idea to
review these items before you start
your trip. Don't forget to also maintain
your trailer and towbar. Follow the
maintenance schedule that accom-
panied your trailer and check it peri-
odically. Preferably, conduct the
check at the start of each day's driv-
ing. Most importantly, all towbar nuts
and bolts should be tight.To prevent vehicle damage:
• Due to higher load during trailer
usage, overheating might occur
on hot days or during uphill driv-
ing. If the coolant gauge indi-
cates over-heating, switch off
the air conditioner and stop the
vehicle in a safe area to cool
down the engine.
• When towing check automatic
transaxle fluid more frequently.
NOTICE