brakes Hyundai Sonata

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
53
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B260H02A-AAT
Parking Brake/Low Brake Fluid
Level Warning Light
The brake fluid level warning light indicates that
the brake fluid level in the brake master cylinder
is low and hydraulic brake fluid conforming to
DOT 3 or DOT 4 specifications should be
added. After adding fluid, if no other trouble is
found, the car should be immediately and care-
fully driven to a Hyundai dealer for inspection.
If further trouble is experienced, the vehicle
should not be driven at all but taken to a dealer
by a professional towing service or some other
safe method.
Your Hyundai is equipped with dual-diagonal
braking systems. This means you still have
braking on two wheels even if one of the dual
systems should fail. With only one of the dual
systems working, more than normal pedal travel
and greater pedal pressure are required to stop
the car. Also, the car will not stop in as short a
distance with only half of the brake system
working. If the brakes fail while you are driving,
shift to a lower gear for additional engine braking
and stop the car as soon as it is safe to do so.
WARNING:
If you suspect brake trouble, have your
brakes checked by a Hyundai dealer as
soon as possible. Driving your car with a
problem in either the brake electrical sys-
tem or brake hydraulic system is danger-
ous, and could result in a serious injury or
death.Warning Light OperationThe parking brake/brake fluid level warning light
should come on when the parking brake is
applied and the ignition switch is turned to "ON"
or "START". After the engine is started, the light
should go out when the parking brake is re-
leased.
If the parking brake is not applied, the warning
light should come on when the ignition switch is
turned to "ON" or "START", then go out when
the engine starts. If the light comes on at any
other time, you should slow the vehicle and bring
it to a complete stop in a safe location off the
roadway.
B260J02A-AAT
Charging System Warning Light
The charging system warning light should come
on when the ignition is turned on, then go out
when the engine is running. If the light stays on
while the engine is running, there is a malfunc-
tion in the electrical charging system. If the light
comes on while you are driving, stop, turn off the
engine and check under the hood. First, make
certain the generator drive belt is in place. If it is,
check the tension of the belt. Do this as shown
on page 6-19 by pushing down on the center of
the belt. Have the system checked by your
Hyundai dealer as soon as possible.B260K01S-AAT
Trunk Lid Open Warning Light
This light remains on unless the trunk lid is
completely closed and latched.

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
87
REMOTE FUEL-FILLER LID RELEASEB560A03Y-AATThe fuel-filler lid may be opened from inside the
vehicle by pushing the fuel-filler lid opener switch
located on the driver's door.NOTE:If the fuel-filler lid will not open because ice
has formed around it, tap lightly or push on
the lid to break the ice and release the lid. Do
not pry on the lid. If necessary, spray around
the lid with an approved de-icer fluid (do
not use radiator anti-freeze) or move the
vehicle to a warm place and allow the ice to
melt.
B560A02NF
HNF2012 B540C01Y-AAT
To unlock using the keyTo open the trunk lid, insert the key and turn it
clockwise to unlock. The trunk compartment
light illuminates when the trunk lid is opened.
HIGH-MOUNTED REAR STOP LIGHTB550A02Y-AATIn addition to the lower-mounted rear stop lights
on either side of the car, the high mounted rear
stop light in the center of the rear window also
lights when the brakes are applied.
B550A01NF

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
95
MUTE Switcho Press the MUTE switch to slience the sound.
o Once again press the MUTE switch to re-
store the sound.VOL ( / ) Switcho Press the VOL ( ) switch to increase
volume.
o Press the VOL ( ) switch to decease
volume. RADIO (FM1 → FM2 → AM) → CD → CDC
→
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AUDIO REMOTE CONTROL
SWITCHB610A01NF-AAT(If Installed)
NOTE:Do not operate audio remote control
switches simultaneously.MODE SwitchPress the MODE switch to select Radio, CD
(Compact Disc) and CDC (Compact Disc
Changer).
Each press of the switch changes the display
as follows:
B610A01NF-A
WARNING:
o Keep the cruise control ON/OFF switch
off when not using the cruise control.
o Use the cruise control system only when
traveling on open highways in good
weather.
o Do not use the cruise control when it
may not be safe to keep the car at a
constant speed, for instance, driving in
heavy or varying traffic, or on slippery
(rainy, icy or snow-covered) or winding
roads or over 6% up-hill or down-hill
roads.
o Pay particular attention to the driving
conditions whenever using the cruise
control system.
o During cruise-speed driving of a manual
transaxle vehicle, do not shift into neu-
tral without depressing the clutch pedal,
since the engine will be overrevved. If
this happens, depress the clutch pedal
or release the cruise control ON/OFF
switch.
o During normal cruise control operation,
when the "SET" switch is activated or
reactivated after applying the brakes,
the cruise control will energize after ap-
proximately 3 seconds. This delay is
normal.

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
7
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WARNING:
o Avoid high cornering speeds.
o Do not make quick steering wheel move-
ments, such as sharp lane changes or
fast, sharp turns.
o Always wear your seat belts.
In a collision, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt.
o The risk of rollover is greatly increased if
you lose control of your vehicle at high-
way speeds.
o Loss of control often occurs if two or
more wheels drop off the roadway and
the driver oversteers to reenter the road-
way.
o In the event your vehicle leaves the road-
way, do not steer sharply. Instead, slow
down before pulling back into the travel
lanes.
o Never exceed posted speed limits.
C070D02O-AATGood Driving Practiceso Never take the car out of gear and coast
down a hill. This is extremely hazardous.
Always leave the car in gear.
o Don't "ride" the brakes. This can cause them
to overheat and malfunction. Instead, when
you are driving down a long hill, slow down
and shift to a lower gear. When you do this,
engine braking will help slow the car.
o Slow down before shifting to a lower gear.
This will help avoid over-revving the engine,
which can cause damage.
o Slow down when you encounter cross winds.
This gives you much better control of your
car.
o Be sure the car is completely stopped before
you attempt to shift into reverse. The
transaxle can be damaged if you do not. To
shift into reverse, depress the clutch, move
the shift lever to neutral, wait three seconds,
then shift to the reverse position.
o Exercise extreme caution when driving on a
slippery surface. Be especially careful when
braking, accelerating or shifting gears. On a
slippery surface, an abrupt change in ve-
hicle speed can cause the drive wheels to
lose traction and the vehicle to go out of
control.
C070E02O-AATRECOMMENDED SHIFT POINTSThe shift points as shown on the chart are
recommended for optimum fuel economy and
performance.
Shift from-to
1-2
2-3
3-4
4-5Recommended
15 mph (20 km/h)
25 mph (40 km/h)
35 mph (55 km/h)
45 mph (75 km/h)

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
10
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C090I03L-GAT
CAUTION:
o Shift into "R" 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 ten-
dency 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 "Neu-
tral" 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 driving
away on a slippery road. Push the selec-
tor lever to the -(DOWN) side to shift
back to 1st gear.
C090J01NF-GATSHIFT LOCK RELEASE (If Installed)If 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 de-
pressed, 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.
C090J01NF

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
11
POWER ADJUSTABLE PEDALS
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C090N03O-AATGood Driving Practiceso Never move the gear selector lever from "P"
or "N" to any other position with the accelera-
tor pedal depressed.
o Never move the gear selector lever into "P"
when the vehicle is in motion.
o Be sure the car is completely stopped before
you attempt to shift into "R".
o Never take the car out of gear and coast
down a hill. This may be extremely hazard-
ous. Always leave the car in gear when
moving.
o Do not "ride" the brakes. This can cause
them to overheat and malfunction. Instead,
when you are driving down a long hill, slow
down and shift to a lower gear. When you do
this, engine braking will help slow the car.
o Slow down before shifting to a lower gear.
Otherwise, the lower gear may not be en-
gaged.
o Always use the parking brake. Do not de-
pend on placing the transaxle in "P" to keep
the car from moving.
o Exercise extreme caution when driving on a
slippery surface. Be especially careful when
braking, accelerating or shifting gears. On a
slippery surface, an abrupt change in ve-
hicle speed can cause the drive wheels to
lose traction and the vehicle to go out of
control.
WARNING:
o Avoid high cornering speeds.
o Do not make quick steering wheel move-
ments, such as sharp lane changes or
fast, sharp turns.
o Always wear your seat belts.
In a collision, an unbelted person is
significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seat belt.
o The risk of rollover is greatly increased if
you lose control of your vehicle at high-
way speeds.
o Loss of control often occurs if two or
more wheels drop off the roadway and
the driver oversteers to reenter the road-
way.
o In the event your vehicle leaves the road-
way, do not steer sharply. Instead, slow
down before pulling back into the travel
lanes.
o Never exceed posted speed limits.
o Excessive depressing of the accelerater
pedal in slippery driving conditions such
as pulling out of deep snow or mud may
cause severe damage to the transaxle.
Rocking the vehicle is not recommended.
Rather, use an appropriate towing
method.
C100A01NF-AAT(With Automatic Transaxle) (If Installed)To adjust the position of the accelerator and
brake pedals, turn the ignition key to the "ON"
position with the selector lever in the "P" position
and push the switch.
If you push the " " portion of the switch, the
pedals move rearward.
If you push the " " portion of the switch, the
pedals move forward.
HNF2115-A

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
12
!
!
WARNING:
ABS (ESC) will not prevent accidents due to
improper or dangerous driving maneuvers.
Even though vehicle control is improved
during emergency braking, always main-
tain a safe distance between you and ob-
jects ahead. Vehicle speeds should always
be reduced during extreme road condi-
tions.
The braking distance for cars equipped
with an anti-lock braking system (ESC) may
be longer than for those without it in the
following road conditions.
During these conditions the vehicle should
be driven at reduced speeds:
o Rough, gravel or snow-covered roads.
o With tire chains installed.
o On roads where the road surface is pit-
ted or has different surface height.
The safety features of an ABS (ESC)
equipped vehicle should not be tested by
high speed driving or cornering. This could
endanger the safety of yourself or others.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS)C120A03A-AAT(If Installed)The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) is designed
to prevent wheel lock-up during sudden braking
or on hazardous road surfaces. The ABS con-
trol module monitors the wheel speed and con-
trols the pressure applied to each brake. Thus,
in emergency situations or on slick roads, ABS
will increase vehicle control during braking.NOTE:During ABS (ESC) operation, a pulsation
may be felt in the brake pedal when the
brakes are applied. Also, a noise may be
heard in the engine compartment while
braking. These conditions are normal and
indicate that the anti-lock brake system
(Electronic Stability Control System) is func-
tioning properly.
Setting the driver's position1) Be sure the parking brake is engaged.
2) Move the accelerator and brake pedals to
the front most position by pushing the " "
portion of the switch.
3) Adjust the seat position and the steering
wheel angle properly.
4) Move the pedals toward you until you can
fully depress the brake pedal by pushing the
" " portion of the switch.
5) Depress the pedals a few times to get used
to the feel after adjusting.
WARNING:
o Adjust the pedals after parking the ve-
hicle on level ground. Never attempt to
adjust the pedals while the vehicle is
moving.
o Never adjust the pedals with your foot
on the accelerator pedal as this may
result in increasing the engine speed
and acceleration.
o Make sure that you can fully depress the
brake pedal before driving. Otherwise,
you may not be able to hold down the
brake pedal firmly in an emergency stop.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
13
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.
!
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL
(ESC) SYSTEMC310A01NF-AAT(If Installed)The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system
is designed to stabilize the vehicle during cor-
nering manuevers. ESC checks where you are
steering and where the vehicle is actually going.
ESC applies the brakes at individual wheels and
intervenes in the engine management system
to stabilize the vehicle.
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) system
is an electronic system designed to help the
driver maintain vehicle control under adverse
conditions. It is not a substitute for safe driving
practices. Factors including speed, road con-
ditions and driver steering input can all affect
whether ESC will be effective in preventing a
B310A01NF-A
loss of control. It is still your responsibility to
drive and corner at reasonable speeds and to
leave a sufficient margin of safety.
!
WARNING:
Electronic stability control is only a driving
aid; all normal precautions for driving in
inclement weather and on slippery road
surfaces should be observed.
C310B01NF-AATESC ON/OFF ModeWhen the ESC is operating, the ESC indicator
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
accordingly. 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 re-
started.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
14
!GOOD BRAKING PRACTICESC130A01A-AAT
WARNING:
Nothing should be carried on top of the
shelf panel behind the rear seat. If there
were an accident or a sudden stop, such
objects could move forward and cause
damage to the vehicle or injure the occu-
pants.
o After being parked, check to be sure the
parking brake is not engaged and that the
parking brake indicator light is out before
driving away.
o Driving through water may get the brakes
wet. They can also get wet when the car is
washed. Wet brakes can be dangerous!
Your car will not stop as quickly if the brakes
are wet. Wet brakes may cause the car to
pull to one side. To dry the brakes, apply the
brakes lightly until the braking action returns
to normal, taking care to keep the car under
control at all times. If the braking action does
not return to normal, stop as soon as it is safe
to do so and call your Hyundai dealer for
assistance.o Don't coast down hills with the car out of gear.
This is extremely hazardous. Keep the car
in gear at all times, use the brakes to slow
down, then shift to a lower gear so that engine
braking will help you maintain a safe speed.
o Don't "ride" the brake pedal. Resting your
foot on the brake pedal while driving can be
dangerous because it can result in the brakes
overheating and losing their effectiveness. It
also increases the wear of the brake com-
ponents.
o If a tire goes flat while you are driving, apply
the brakes gently and keep the car pointed
straight ahead while you slow down. When
you are moving slowly enough for it to be safe
to do so, pull off the road and stop in a safe
place.
o If your car is equipped with an automatic
transaxle, don't let your car creep forward.
To avoid creeping forward, keep your foot
firmly on the brake pedal when the car is
stopped.
o Use caution when parking on a hill. Engage
the parking brake and place the gear selec-
tor lever in "P" (automatic transaxle) or in first
or reverse gear (manual transaxle). If your
car is facing downhill, turn the front wheels
into the curb to help keep the car from rolling.
If your car is facing uphill, turn the front
wheels away from the curb to help keep the
car from rolling. If there is no curb or if it is
required by other conditions to keep the car
from rolling, block the wheels.
C310D01NF-AATIndicators and WarningThe indicators should illuminate when the igni-
tion 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.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
15
o Be sure that the wheels are aligned cor-
rectly. 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 impor-
tant 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 corro-
sion.
o Travel lightly. Don't carry unnecessary
weight in your car. Weight reduces fuel
economy.
o Don't let the engine idle longer than neces-
sary. If you are waiting (and not in traffic),
turn off your engine and restart only when
you're ready to go.
DRIVING FOR ECONOMYC140A01A-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 unnec-
essarily. Avoid heavy traffic whenever pos-
sible. Always maintain a safe distance from
other vehicles so you can avoid unneces-
sary 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 high-
way, 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 over-
heat, which reduces their effectiveness and
may lead to more serious consequences.
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 Under 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 that 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.
o Do not hold the vehicle on the upgrade with
the accelerator pedal. This can cause the
transaxle to overheat. Always use the brake
pedal or parking brake.