maintenance Hyundai Tiburon 2003 Owner's Manual

A010A02A-AAT
WARRANTIES FOR YOUR HYUNDAI VEHICLE
o New Vehicle 60 Months/60,000 Miles Limited Warranty
o New Vehicle 120 Months/100,000 Miles Limited Powertrain Warranty (first owner only)
o Anti-Perforation Limited Warranty
o Emission Defect Warranty - Federal Vehicle
o California Emission Control System Warranty (if applicable)
o Emission Performance Warranty - Federal Vehicle
o Replacement Parts and Accessories Limited Warranty
NOTE:
Detailed warranty information is provided in your Hyundai Owner's Handbook.
A020A01A-AAT
RESPONSIBILITY FOR MAINTENANCE
The maintenance requirements for your new Hyundai are found in Section 5. As the
owner, it is your responsibility to see that all maintenance operations specified by the
manufacturer are carried out at the appropriate intervals. When the vehicle is used in
severe driving conditions, more frequent maintenance is required for some operations.
Maintenance requirements for severe operating conditions are also included in Section
5.

OWNER’S MANUAL
A030A05F-AAT
Operation
Maintenance
Specifications
 
All information in this Owner's Manual is current at the time of publication. However, Hyundai reserves the right to make
changes at any time so that our policy of continual product improvement may be carried out.
This manual applies to all Hyundai Tiburon models and includes descriptions and explanations of optional as well as
standard equipment. As a result, you may find material in this manual that does not apply to your specific vehicle.
HGK037

A040A01A-AATFOREWORD
Thank you for choosing Hyundai. We are pleased to welcome you to the growing number of discriminating
people who drive Hyundais. The advanced engineering and high-quality construction of each Hyundai we
build is something of which we're very proud.
Your Owner's Manual will introduce you to the features and operation of your new Hyundai. It is suggested
that you read it carefully since the information it contains can contribute greatly to the satisfaction you
receive from your new car.
The manufacturer also recommends that all service and maintenance on your car be performed by an
authorized Hyundai dealer. Hyundai dealers are prepared to provide high-quality service, maintenance and
any other assistance that may be required.
A050A04A-AAT
HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
Note:Because future owners will also need the information included in this manual, if you sell this
Hyundai, please leave the manual in the vehicle for their use. Thank you.
CAUTION: Severe engine and transaxle damage may result from the use of poor quality fuels and
lubricants that do not meet Hyundai specifications. You must always use high quality fuels and
lubricants that meet the specifications listed on Page 9-3 in the Vehicle Specifications section of
the Owner's Manual and which also appear in the Service Station Information on the back cover
of the Owner's Manual.
Copyright 2002 Hyundai Motor Company. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in any retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior
written permission of Hyundai Motor Company.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION PAGE
1. FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI .......................................................................... 1-1
2. DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI .................................................................................... 2-1
3. WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY ...................................................................... 3-1
4. CORROSION PREVENTION & APPEARANCE CARE .......................................... 4-1
5. VEHICLE MAINTENANCE REQUIREMENTS ........................................................ 5-1
6. DO-IT-YOURSELF MAINTENANCE ...................................................................... 6-1
7. EMISSION CONTROL SYSTEMS ......................................................................... 7-1
8. CONSUMER INFORMATION & REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS ........................ 8-1
9. VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS ................................................................................. 9-1
10. INDEX ................................................................................................................. 10-1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
1- 1
1. FEATURES OF
YOUR HYUNDAI
B010A03A-AAT
FUEL RECOMMENDATIONS
Use Unleaded Gasoline
vice stations cannot be inserted into the fuel
tank opening of your Hyundai.
WARNING:o Do not "TOP-OFF" after the first nozzle
shut off when refueling.
o The fuel cap must be tightened at least 3
clicks, otherwise " " light may illumi-
nate.
Unleaded gasoline with a Pump Octane Rat-
ing of 87 (Research Octane Number 91) or
higher must be used in your Hyundai.
If leaded gasoline is used, it will cause the
catalytic converter to become ineffective and
the emission control system to malfunction.
This can also result in increased maintenance
expense.
To avoid accidental use of leaded fuel, the
larger nozzle used with leaded gasoline at ser-UNLEADED
FUEL ONLY
B010B01A-AAT
What 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 devel-
ops 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.
B010D01A-AAT
Do Not Use Methanol
Fuels 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.
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 containing
methanol or fuels containing MTBE (Methyl
B010F01A-AAT
Operation in Foreign Countries
If you are going to drive your Hyundai in another
country, be sure to:
o Observe all regulations regarding registra-
tion and insurance.
o Determine that acceptable fuel is available.
B010E01A-AAT
Gasolines for Cleaner Air
To help contribute to cleaner air, Hyundai rec-
ommends that you use gasolines treated with
detergent additives, which help prevent deposit
formation in the engine. These gasolines will
help the engine run cleaner and the Emission
Control System performance.
B010A02GK
Tertiary Butyl Ether) over 15.0% vol. (Oxy-
gen Content 2.7% weight.)
B010C01A-AAT
Use of MTBE
Hyundai 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 per-
formance and produce vapor lock or hard start-
ing.
1

FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
1- 22
WARNING:o Do not install a child restraint system in
the front passenger seat position. A
child restraint system must never be
placed in the front seat. The infant or
child could be severely injured or killed
by an airbag deployment in case of an
accident.
o Modification to SRS components or wir-
ing, including the addition of any kind of
badges to the pad covers or modifica-
tions to the body structure, can adversely
affect SRS performance and lead to pos-
sible injury.
o For cleaning the airbag pad covers, use
only a soft, dry cloth or one which has
been moistened with plain water. Sol-
vents or cleaners could adversely affect
the airbag covers and proper deploy-
ment of the system.
o No objects should be placed over or near
the airbag modules on the steering wheel,
instrument panel, and the front passen-
ger’s panel above the glove box, because
any such object could cause harm if the
vehicle is in a crash severe enough to
cause the airbags to inflate.
o If the airbags inflate, they must be re-
placed by an authorized Hyundai dealer.
o Do not tamper with or disconnect SRS
wiring, or other components of the SRS
system. Doing so could result in injury,
due to accidental firing of the airbags or
by rendering the SRS inoperative.
B240C02A-AAT
SRS Care
o The SRS is virtually maintenance free and
there are no parts you can safely service by
yourself. The entire SRS system must be
inspected by an authorized Hyundai dealer in
10 years after the date that the vehicle was
manufactured.
o Any work on the SRS system, such as re-
moving, installing, repairing, or any work on
the steering wheel must be performed by a
qualified Hyundai technician. Improper han-
dling of the airbag system may result in
serious personal injury.
B240C01A
9:00 and 3:00 o'clock positions. The
passenger's arms and hands should be
placed in their laps.
o Do not use any accessory seat covers.
o Use of seat covers could prevent or re-
duce the effectiveness of the system.
o Do not install any accessories on the
side or near the side impact airbag.
o Do not use excessive force on the side of
the seat.
o Do not place any objects over the airbag
or between the airbag and yourself.
o Do not place any objects (an umbrella,
bag, etc.) between the front door and the
front seat. Such objects may become
dangerous projectiles and cause injury if
the supplemental side impact airbag in-
flates.
o To prevent unexpected deployment of
the side impact airbag that may result in
personal injury,avoid impact to the side
airbag sensor when the ignition key is
on.

FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
1- 30
B340A01A-AATCOMBINATION TURN SIGNAL,
HEADLIGHT AND HIGH-BEAM
SWITCH
Turn Signal Operation
Pulling down on the lever causes the turn
signals on the left side of the car to blink.
Pushing upwards on the lever causes the turn
signals on the right side of the car to blink. As
the turn is completed, the lever will automati-
cally return to the center position and turn off
the turn signals at the same time. If either turn
signal indicator light blinks more rapidly than
usual, goes on but does not blink, or does not
go on at all, there is a malfunction in the system.
Check for a burned-out fuse or bulb or see your
Hyundai dealer.
B340B01A-AAT
Lane Change Signal
HGK038
1. Odometer
The odometer records the total driving distance
in kilometers or miles, and is useful for keeping
a record for maintenance intervals.
NOTE:Any alteration of the odometer may void your
warranty coverage.
2,3 Trip odometer
Records the distance of 2 trips in kilometers or
miles.
TRIP A: First distance you have traveled from
your origination point to a first destination.
TRIP B: Second distance from the first destina-
tion to the final destination.
To shift from TRIP A to TRIP B, press the reset
switch. When pressed for 1 second, it will reset
to 0.To indicate a lane change, move the lever up or
down to a point where it begins flashing.
The lever will automatically return to the center
position when released.
To operate the headlights, turn the barrel on the
end of the multi-function switch. The first posi-
tion turns on the parking lights, sidelights, tail
lights and instrument panel lights. The second
position turns on the headlights.
Parking light auto cut
If you do not turn the parking lights "OFF" after
driving, the parking light will automatically shut
"OFF" when the driver's door is opened.
To turn them "ON" again you must simply turn
the ignition key to the "ON" position.
B340C02E-AAT
Headlight Switch
HGK039
HGK055C
B Type

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
2- 7 SKIP : By rapidly moving the selector forward
or backward twice, it is possible to skip one
gear, i.e. 1st to 3rd or 3rd to 1st .
CAUTION:o In sports mode, the driver must execute
upward shifts in accordance with pre-
vailing road conditions, taking care to
keep the engine speed below the red
zone.
o For engine protection, upward shifts are
made automatically when the engine rpm
reaches the red zone.
o By rapidly moving the selector lever back-
wards (-) twice it is possible to skip one
gear by using the sports mode. Since
sudden engine braking and/or rapid ac-
celeration can cause a loss of traction,
however, downshifts must be made care-
fully in accordance with the vehicle's
speed.
NOTE:o In sports mode, only the four forward
gears can be selected. To reverse or park
the vehicle, move the selector lever to
the "R" or "P" position as required.
o In sports mode, downward shifts are
made automatically when the vehicle
slows down. When the vehicle stops, 1st
gear is automatically selected.
o To maintain the required levels of vehicle
performance and safety, the system 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.
C090H01L-GAT
NOTE: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”, “D” position to “P” position. The
vehicle must be fully stopped to avoid
transaxle damage.
C090I02L-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”, “D”position.
C090N01O-AATGood Driving Practices
o Never move the gear selector lever from “P”
or “N” to any other position with the acceler-
ator 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 be-
fore 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 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 igni-
tion when you leave the vehicle, even
momentarily. Never leave the vehicle
unattended while the engine is running.
o Check the automatic transaxle fluid level
regularly, and add fluid as necessary.
o See the maintenance schedule for the
proper fluid recommendation.

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
2- 11 o Remember, your Hyundai does not require
extended warm-up. As soon as the engine is
running smoothly, you can drive away. In
very cold weather, however, give your en-
gine 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 hap-
pens, shift to a lower gear. Over-revving is
racing the engine beyond its safe limit. This
can be avoided by shifting at the recom-
mended 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.
C150A01A-AAT
SMOOTH CORNERING
Avoid braking or gear changing in corners,
especially when roads are wet. Ideally, corners
should always be taken under gentle accelera-
tion. If you follow these suggestions, tire wear
will be held to a minimum.
C160A01A-AAT
WINTER DRIVING
The more severe weather conditions of winter
result in greater wear and other problems. To
minimize the problems of winter driving, you
should follow these suggestions: o Take care of your tires. Keep them inflated
to the recommended pressure. Incorrect in-
flation, either too much or too little, results in
unnecessary tire wear. Check the tire pres-
sures at least once a month.
o Be sure that the wheels are aligned correct-
ly. Improper alignment can result from hitting
curbs or driving too fast over irregular sur-
faces. 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.
C160C01A-AATUse High Quality Ethylene Glycol
Coolant
Your Hyundai 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 cool-
ing system, lubricates the water pump and
prevents freezing. Be sure to replace or replen-
ish your coolant in accordance with the main-
C160B01A-AATSnowy or Icy Conditions
To drive your vehicle in deep snow, it may be
necessary to use snow tires or to install tire
chains on your tires. If snow tires are needed,
it is necessary to select tires equivalent in size
and type to the original equipment tires. Failure
to do so may adversely affect the safety and
handling of your car. Speeding, rapid accelera-
tion, sudden brake applications, and sharp turns
are potentially very hazardous practices.
During deceleration, use engine braking to the
fullest extent. Sudden brake applications on
snowy or icy roads may cause skids to occur.
You need to keep sufficient distance between
the vehicle in front and your vehicle. Also, apply
the brake gently. It should be noted that install-
ing tire chains on the tire will provide a greater
driving force, but will not prevent side skids.
NOTE:Tire chains are not legal in all states. Check
state laws before fitting tire chains.

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
2- 13
C190B01S-AAT
Trailer Hitches
Select the proper hitch and ball combination,
making sure that its location is compatible with
that of the trailer or vehicle being towed. Use a
quality non-equalizing hitch which distributes
the tongue load uniformly throughout the chas-
sis.
The hitch should be bolted securely to the car
and installed by a qualified technician. DO NOT
USE A HITCH DESIGNED FOR TEMPORARY
INSTALLATION AND NEVER USE ONE THAT
ATTACHES ONLY TO THE BUMPER.
C190A02S-AATTRAILER OR VEHICLE TOWING
If you are considering towing with your car, you
should first check with your State's Department
of Motor Vehicles to determine their legal re-
quirements.
Since laws vary from State to State, the re-
quirements for towing trailers, cars, other types
of vehicles, or apparatus may differ. Ask your
Hyundai dealer for further details before towing.
CAUTION:Do not do any towing with your car during
its first 1,200 miles (2,000 km) in order to
allow the engine to properly break in. Fail-
ure to heed this caution may result in seri-
ous engine or transaxle damage.
C170A01A-AATHIGHER SPEED MOTORING
Pre-Trip Inspections
1. Tires:
Adjust the tire inflation pressures to specifica-
tion. Low tire inflation pressures will result in
overheating and possible failure of the tires.
Avoid using worn or damaged tires which may
result in reduced traction or tire failure.
NOTE:Never exceed the maximum tire inflation
pressure shown on the tires.
2. Fuel, engine coolant and engine oil: High
speed travel consumes 1.5 times more fuel
than urban motoring. Do not forget to check
both engine coolant and engine oil.
3. Drive belt:
A loose or damaged drive belt may result in
overheating of the engine.
C180A01A-AAT
USE OF LIGHTSCheck your lights regularly for correct operation
and always keep them clean. When driving
during the day in conditions of poor visibility, it
is helpful to drive with headlights on low beam.
This enables you to be seen as well as to see.
C190C02S-AATTrailer Brakes
If your trailer is equipped with a braking system,
make sure it conforms to federal and/or local
regulations and that it is properly installed and
operating correctly.
NOTE:If you tow a trailer or vehicle, your car will
require more frequent maintenance due to
the additional load. See "Maintenance Un-
der Severe Usage Conditions" on page 5-5.
CAUTION:o Never connect a trailer brake system di-
rectly to the vehicle brake system.
o When towing a trailer on steep grades (in
excess of 12%) 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.