weight Hyundai Sonata

13
Introduction
Petrol containing alcohol andmethanol
Ethanol [E-10], a mixture of petrol and
ethanol (also known as grain alcohol),and petrol or ethanol containing
methanol (also known as wood alcohol)
are being marketed along with or insteadof leaded petrol. Do not use ethanol containing more than 10% ethanol, and do not use petrol or
ethanol containing any methanol. Either
of these fuels may cause drivability prob-lems and damage to the fuel system.
Discontinue using ethanol of any kind if
drivability problems occur.
Vehicle damage or driveability problems
may not be covered by the manufactur-
er’s warranty if they result from the useof:
1. Ethanol containing more than 10%.
2. Petrol or ethanol containing methanol.
3. Leaded fuel or leaded ethanol.
Use of MTBE
We recommend that fuels containing
MTBE (Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether) over
15.0% vol. (Oxygen Content 2.7%
weight) should not be used in your vehi-
cle.
Fuel containing MTBE over 15.0% vol.
(Oxygen Content 2.7% weight) may
reduce vehicle performance and produce
vapour lock or hard starting.WARNING
Do not "top off" after the nozzle automatically shuts off when refuelling.
Always check that the fuel cap is installed securely to prevent fuel
spillage in the event of an acci-dent.
CAUTION
Never use gasohol which contains
methanol. Discontinue use of any
gasohol product which impairs dri-vability.
CAUTION
Your New Vehicle Limited Warrantymay not cover damage to the fuelsystem and any performance prob- lems that are caused by the use of
fuels containing methanol or fuels containing MTBE (Methyl TertiaryButyl Ether) over 15.0% vol. (Oxygen Content 2.7% weight.)

Safety features of your vehicle
26
3
WARNING
All occupants of the vehicle must wear their seat belts at all times.
Seat belts and child restraintsreduce 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 air bag, strike the interior
structure or be thrown from the
vehicle. Properly worn seat belts
greatly reduce these hazards.
Always follow the precautions
about seat belts, air bags and occu-
pant seat contained in this manual.
WARNING
Every person in your vehicle needs
to be properly restrained at all
times, including infants and chil-
dren. Never hold a child in yourarms or lap when riding in a vehi-
cle. The violent forces created dur-
ing 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.
Seat belt precautionsInfant or small child
You should be aware of the specific
requirements in your country. Child
and/or infant seats must be properly
placed and installed in the rear seat. For
more information about the use of these
restraints, refer to “Child restraint sys-
tem” in this section.(Continued)
Improper handling of the pre-ten- sioner seat belt assemblies, and failure to heed the warnings not
to strike, modify, inspect, replace,
service or repair the pre-tension-
er seat belt assemblies may lead
to improper operation or inadver-
tent activation and serious injury.
Always wear the seat belts when driving or riding in a motor vehi-
cle.
If the vehicle or pre-tensioner seat belt must be discarded, con-
tact an authorised HYUNDAI deal-
er.

327
Safety features of your vehicle
✽✽NOTICE
Small children are best protected from
injury in an accident when properly
restrained in the rear seat by a child
restraint system that meets the require-
ments of the Safety Standards of your
country. Before buying any child
restraint system, make sure that it has a
label certifying that it meets Safety
Standards of your country. The restraint
must be appropriate for your child's
height and weight. Check the label on
the child restraint for this information.
Refer to “Child restraint system” in this
section.Larger children
Children 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 12) must be seated in the frontseat, the child should be securely
restrained by the available lap/shoulderbelt and the seat should be placed in the
rearmost position. Children age 12 and
under should be restrained securely in
the rear seat. NEVER place a child age
12 and under in the front seat. NEVER
place a rear facing child seat in the front
seat of a vehicle. If the shoulder belt portion slightly touch-
es the child’s neck or face, try placing the
child closer to the centre of the vehicle. If
the shoulder belt still touches their face
or neck they need to be returned to a
child restraint system.
WARNING
- Shoulder belts
on small children
Never allow a shoulder belt to be in contact with a child’s neck or
face whilst the vehicle is inmotion.
If seat belts are not properly worn and adjusted on children, there is
a risk of death or serious injury.

347
Safety features of your vehicle
Important safety notes for curtainairbag systems
Following is a number of safety points
concerning this system which should
always be observed to ensure risk of
injury is reduced in an accident.
WARNING
Before installing child restraints, always refer to "Child Restraint System" to ensure correct instal-
lation and occupant protection ismaximised.
Make sure that the occupant does not have any body parts
(head, arms & legs) protruding
outside the restraining system. If
an inflating airbag was to strike
an infant child on the head, it may
cause serious injury.
Ensure the opening for the Curtain Airbag System remains
unobstructed at all times, so that
the airbags can inflate properly ifneeded.
(Continued)
(Continued)
The built in coat hooks shouldonly be used for light weight
clothing, ensure that pockets are
free of any heavy or sharp
objects. When using coat hooks,
do not hang clothes on coat
hangers.
The space between the occupant and the curtain airbag must never
be occupied by children, passen-
gers or pets. Occupants should
never lean out or have any parts
of their body protruding from the
window whilst the engine is run-ning.
Do not move the sun visor out to cover the side window if there is
an item attached to it such as
garage door remote control,
pens, air fresheners or the like.
These objects may cause injury if
the Curtain Airbag is deployed.
(Continued)(Continued)
Where sun blinds are fitted to therear doors, these must not
obstruct or impair the airbag in
any way.
Do not install any accessories or children’s toys in the Curtain
Airbag deployment zones, as this
may impair the operation of the
system or throw parts of them
into the vehicle cabin causing
injury to occupants if the system
is deployed.
To maintain the integrity of the Curtain Airbag system, any work,
removal or installation of the
airbag and associated compo-
nents (such as roof lining and
side trims) should always be per-
formed by a qualified vehicle
repairer.

5
Before driving / 5-3
Key / 5-4
Engine Start/Stop button / 5-7
Manual transaxle / 5-11
Automatic transaxle / 5-14
Brake system / 5-21
Cruise control system / 5-31
Economical operation / 5-35
Special driving conditions / 5-37
Winter driving / 5-41
Trailer towing / 5-45
Vehicle weight / 5-53
Driving your vehicle

Driving your vehicle
20
5
Moving up a steep grade from a stand-
ing start
To move up a steep grade from a stand-
ing start, depress the brake pedal, shift
the shift lever to D (Drive). Select the
appropriate gear depending on load
weight and steepness of the grade, and
release the parking brake. Depress the
accelerator gradually whilst releasing the
service brakes.
WARNING
If your vehicle becomes stuck in
snow, mud, sand, etc., then you
may attempt to rock the vehicle free
by moving it forward and backward.
Do not attempt this procedure if
people or objects are anywhere
near the vehicle. During the rocking
operation the vehicle may suddenly
move forward of backward as it
becomes unstuck, causing injury
or damage to nearby people orobjects.WARNING
Always buckle-up! In a collision, an unbelted occupant is signifi-
cantly more likely to be seriously
injured or killed than a properlybelted occupant.
Avoid high speeds when corner- ing 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.
In the event your vehicle leaves the roadway, do not steer sharply.
Instead, slow down before pulling
back into the travel lanes.
Never exceed posted speed lim- its.

535
Driving your vehicle
Your vehicle's fuel economy depends
mainly on your style of driving, where you
drive and when you drive.
Each of these factors affects how many
kilometers (miles) you can get from a litre
(gallon) of fuel. To operate your vehicle
as economically as possible, use the fol-
lowing driving suggestions to help save
money in both fuel and repairs:
Drive smoothly. Accelerate at a moder-ate rate. Don't make "kangaroo" 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
possible. Always maintain a safe dis-
tance from other vehicles so you can
avoid unnecessary braking. This also
reduces brake wear.
Drive at a moderate speed. The faster you drive, the more fuel your car uses.
Driving at a moderate speed, especial-
ly on the highway, is one of the most
effective ways to reduce fuel consump-tion. Don't "ride" the brake pedal. This can
increase fuel consumption and also
increase wear on these components.
In addition, driving with your foot rest-
ing on the brake pedal may cause the
brakes to overheat, which reduces
their effectiveness and may lead to
more serious consequences.
Take care of your tyres. Keep them inflated to the recommended pressure.
Incorrect inflation, either too much or
too little, results in unnecessary tyre
wear. Check the tyre pressures at leastonce a month.
Be sure that the wheels are aligned correctly. Improper alignment can
result from hitting kerbs or driving too
fast over irregular surfaces. Poor align-
ment causes faster tyre wear and may
also result in other problems as well as
greater fuel consumption. Keep your car in good condition. For
better fuel economy and reduced
maintenance costs, maintain your carin accordance with the maintenance
schedule in section 7. If you drive your
car in severe conditions, more frequentmaintenance is required (see section 7
for details).
Keep your car clean. For maximum service, your vehicle 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 con-
sumption and also contribute to corro-sion.
Travel lightly. Don't carry unnecessary weight in your car. Weight reduces fuel
economy.
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.
ECONOMICAL OPERATION

543
Driving your vehicle
Use high quality ethylene glycol coolant
Your vehicle 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, lubri-
cates the water pump and prevents
freezing. Be sure to replace or replenish
your coolant in accordance with themaintenance schedule in section 7.
Before winter, have your coolant tested toassure that its freezing point is sufficient
for the temperatures anticipated during
the winter.
Check battery and cables
Winter puts additional burdens on the
battery system. Visually inspect the bat-
tery and cables as described in section
7. The level of charge in your battery can
be checked by an authorised HYUNDAI
dealer or a service station.Change to "winter weight" oil if
necessary In some climates it is recommended that
a lower viscosity "winter weight" oil be
used during cold weather. See section 8
for recommendations. If you aren't sure
what weight oil you should use, consult
an authorised HYUNDAI dealer.
Check spark plugs and ignition system
Inspect your spark plugs as described in
section 7 and replace them if necessary.
Also check all ignition wiring and compo-
nents to be sure they are not cracked,
worn or damaged in any way.
WARNING
- Tyre chains
The use of chains may adversely affect vehicle handling.
Do not exceed 30 km/h (20 mph) or the chain manufacturer’s rec-
ommended speed limit, whichev-
er is lower.
Drive carefully and avoid bumps, holes, sharp turns, and other
road hazards, which may cause
the vehicle to bounce.
Avoid sharp turns or locked- wheel braking.
CAUTION
Chains that are the wrong size or
improperly installed can damage
your vehicle's brake lines, sus-pension, body and wheels.
Stop driving and retighten the chains any time you hear themhitting the vehicle.

545
Driving your vehicle
If you are considering towing with your
vehicle, you should first check with your
country's Department of Motor Vehicles
to determine their legal requirements.
Since laws vary the requirements for tow-
ing trailers, cars, or other types of vehi-
cles or apparatus may differ. Ask an
authorised HYUNDAI dealer for further
details before towing.Your vehicle can tow a trailer. To identify
what the vehicle trailering capacity is for
your vehicle, you should read the infor-
mation in “Weight of the trailer” thatappears later in this section.
Remember that trailering is different than
just driving your vehicle by itself.
Trailering means changes in handling,
durability, and fuel economy. Successful,
safe trailering requires correct equip-
ment, and it has to be used properly.
This section contains many time-tested,
important trailering 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. Load-pulling components such as the
engine, transaxle, wheel assemblies, and
tyres are forced to work harder against
the load of the added weight. The engine
is required to operate at relatively higher
speeds and under greater loads. This
additional burden generates extra heat.
The trailer also adds considerably to
wind resistance, increasing the pulling
requirements.
TRAILER TOWING
CAUTION
Pulling a trailer improperly can
damage your vehicle and result in costly repairs not covered by your
warranty. To pull a trailer correctly,follow the advice in this section.
WARNING - Towing a trail-
er
If you don't use the correct equip-
ment and/or drive improperly, you
can lose control when you pull a
trailer. For example, if the trailer is
too heavy, the brakes may not work
well - or even at all. You and your
passengers could be seriously or
fatally injured. Pull a trailer only if
you have followed all the steps inthis section.
WARNING - Weight limits
Before towing, make sure the total
trailer weight, GCW (gross combi-
nation weight), GVW (gross vehicle
weight), GAW (gross axle weight )and trailer tongue load are all with-in the limits.

Driving your vehicle
46
5
Towbars
It's important to have the correct towbar
equipment. Crosswinds, large trucks
going by, and rough roads are a few rea-
sons why you’ll need the right towbar.
Here are some rules to follow:
Will 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, deadly 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.
HYUNDAI trailer towbar accessory is available at an authorised HYUNDAI
dealer.
✽✽ NOTICE
We recommend only genuine
HYUNDAI towbars (the towbars are
made and tested in Australia/NZ for
local conditions).
Safety chains
You should always attach chains
between your vehicle and your trailer.
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 manufacturer or
by the 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 braking
system, make sure it conforms to your
country’s regulations and that it is prop-
erly installed and operating correctly.
If your trailer weight exceeds the maxi-
mum allowed weight without trailer
brakes, then the trailer will also require its
own brakes as well. Be sure to read and
follow the instructions for the trailer
brakes so you’ll be able to install, adjust
and maintain them properly.
Don’t tap into or modify your vehicle's
brake system.
WARNING - Trailer brakes
Do not use a trailer with its own
brakes unless you are absolutely
certain that you have properly set
up the brake system. This is not a
task for amateurs. Use an experi-
enced, competent trailer shop for
this work.