traction control HYUNDAI TUCSON 2005 Owners Manual

1. Panel Brightness Control Knob (Rheostat Switch)
2. 4WD Lock Switch (If installed)
3. Traction Control System (TCS) Switch (If installed) /
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) Switch (If installed)
4. Instrument Cluster
5. Multi-Function Light Switch (If installed)
6. Front Window Defroster (If installed)
7. Hazard Warning Light Switch
8. Digital Clock
9. Windshield Wiper/Washer Switch10. Rear Defroster and Outside Rearview Mirror Heater Switch
(If installed)
11. Front Fog Light Switch (If installed)
12. Passenger's Airbag
13. Hood Release Lever
14. Horn and Driver's Airbag
15. Small Article Tray / Ashtray (If installed)
16. Cruise Control Switch (If installed)
17. Heating/Air Conditioning Control Panel (If installed)
18. Shift Lever (If installed)
19. Glove Box
CAUTION:
When installing a container of liquid air freshener inside the vehicle, do not place it near the instrument cluster nor
on the instrument panel surface. If there is any leakage from the air freshener onto these areas (Instrument cluster,
instrument panel or air ventilator), it may damage these parts. If the liquid from the air freshener does leak onto these
areas, wash them with water immediately.
!

YOUR VEHICLE AT A GLANCE
SRS (Airbag) Service Reminder Indicator (SRI)
B255A01JM-AATINDICATOR SYMBOLS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL
Turn Signal Indicator LightsHigh Beam Indicator Light
Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
Charging System Warning LightSeat Belt Reminder Light and Chime
* More detailed explanations of these items will be found beginning on page 1-44.
Parking Brake/Brake Fluid Level Warning Light
Malfunction Indicator Light
Tail Gate Open Warning Light
Low Fuel Level Warning LightDoor Ajar Warning Light and Chime (If installed)Traction Control Indicator Light
(If installed)
ABS Service Reminder Indicator (If installed)
Electronic Stability Program Indicator
Lights (If installed)
Cruise Indicator (If installed)
4WD Lock Indicator Light (If installed)4WD System Warning Light (If installed)SET Indicator Light (If installed)

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
43
1. Tachometer
2. Turn Signal Indicator Light
3. Seat Belt Warning Light
4. Supplemental Restraint (AirBag) System
Service Reminder Indicator (SRI)
5. Speedometer
6. Parking Brake/Low Brake Fluid Level Warning Light
7. Low Oil Pressure Warning Light
8. High Beam Indicator Light
9. Fuel Gauge
10. Low Fuel Warning Light
11. Tail Gate Open Warning Light
12. Traction Control Indicator Light (If installed)/
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) Indicator Light (If installed)13. ABS Service Reminder Indicator (If installed)
14. Immobilizer Warning Light (If installed)
15. Door Ajar Warning Light
16. Automatic Transaxle Position Indicator Light (If installed)
17. Odometer/ Trip odmeter
18. Trip Computer (If installed)
19. Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)
20. Charging System Warning Light
21. Coolant Temperature Gauge
22. Cruise Indicator (If installed)
23. 4WD Lock Indicator Light
24. 4WD System Warning Light (If installed)

1FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI46
B260L02HP-GAT
Door ajar warning light and chime
(If Installed)
The door ajar warning light warns you that a door
is not completely closed and the chime warns
you that the key is in the ignition switch.NOTE :The warning chime only sounds whenever
the key is in the ignition switch and the
driver's side front door is open simulta-
neously. The chime sounds until the key is
removed from the ignition switch or the
driver's side front door is closed.
!
B260M01A-AAT
Low Fuel Level Warning Light
The low fuel level warning light comes on when
the fuel tank is approaching empty. When it
comes on, you should add fuel as soon as
possible. Driving with the fuel level warning light
on or with the fuel level below "E" can cause the
engine to misfire and damage the catalytic
converter.
B260N01A-AAT
Malfunction Indicator Light
This light illuminates when there is a malfunction
of an exhaust gas related component, and the
system is not functioning properly so that the
exhaust gas regulation values are not satisfied.
This light will also illuminate when the ignition key
is turned to the "ON" position, and will go out in
a few seconds. If it illuminates while driving, or
does not illuminate when the ignition key is
turned to the "ON" position, take your car to your
nearest authorized Hyundai dealer and have
the system checked.B260P02Y-GAT
ABS Service Reminder
Indicator (If installed)
When the key is turned to the "ON" position, the
Anti-Lock Brake System indicator will come on
and then go off in a few seconds. If the ABS SRI
remains on, comes on while driving, or does not
come on when the key is turned to the "ON"
position, this indicates that there may be a
problem with the ABS.
If this occurs, have your vehicle checked by
your Hyundai dealer as soon as possible. The
normal braking system will still be operational,
but without the assistance of the anti-lock brake
system.
WARNING:
If both the ABS SRI and Parking Brake/
Brake fluid level warning lights remain "ON"
or come on while driving, there may be a
problem with E.B.D. (Electronic Brake Force
Distribution).
If this occurs, avoid sudden stops and have
your vehicle checked by your Hyundai dealer
as soon as possible.B265C01O-AAT
Traction Control Indicator
Lights (If installed)
The traction control indicators change opera-
tion according to the ignition switch position and
whether the system is in operation or not.
They will illuminate when the ignition key is
turned to the "ON" position, but should go out
after three seconds. If the TCS or TCS-OFF
indicator stays on, take your car to your autho-
rized Hyundai dealer and have the system
checked. See section 2 for more information
about the TCS.

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
2
Engine Exhaust Can Be Dangerous! ............................ 2-2
Before Starting the Engine ............................................ 2-4
Key Positions ................................................................ 2-4
Starting ..........................................................................2-5
Manual Transaxle ......................................................... 2-6
Automatic Transaxle ..................................................... 2-8
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ..................................2-12
Traction Control System (TCS) ..................................2-12
Electronic Stability Program (ESP) .............................2-14
Full-Time 4WD Operation...........................................2-15
4WD Lock System......................................................2-18
Good Braking Practices..............................................2-18
Driving for Economy...................................................2-19
Winter Driving.............................................................2-21
Trailer or Vehicle Towing ............................................2-23
Vehicle Load Limit.......................................................2-27
2

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
8
HJM3018
OPERATING THE AUTOMATIC
TRANSAXLE
!
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, unbelted person is signifi-
cantly more likely to be seriously injured
or killed than a person wearing a seatbelt.
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.
C090A01O-GATThe highly efficient Hyundai automatic transaxle
has four forward speeds and one reverse
speed. The individual speeds are selected au-
tomatically, depending on the position of the
speed selector lever. The selector lever has 2
gates; the main gate and the manual gate.NOTE:For information on manual gate operation,
refer to "Sports Mode".
In the main gate, the selector lever has 4
positions, and is equipped with a button to avoid
inadvertent selection.
C070D03O-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.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
11
!
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" 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 Check the automatic transaxle fluid level
regularly, and add fluid as necessary.
o See the maintenance section for the
proper fluid recommendation.
!
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 crash, un unbelted person
is significantly more likely to die than a
person wearing a seatbelt.
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.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
12
!
WARNING:
ABS will not prevent accidents due to im-
proper 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 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 equipped
vehicle should not be tested by high speed
driving or cornering. This could endanger
the safety of yourself or others.
TRACTION CONTROL
SYSTEM (TCS)C300A03Y-GAT(If installed)
C300A01JM-U
On slippery road surfaces, the traction control
system (TCS) limits the drive wheels from
spinning excessively, thus helping the car to
accelerate. It also helps to provide sufficient
driving force and steering performance as the
car turns.SLIP ControlLimits the drive wheels from spinning exces-
sively during starting or while making acceler-
ated turns on slippery roads to avoid losing the
driving force of the front wheels.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS)C120A02A-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 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 is functioning prop-
erly.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
13
!
Driving HintsTCS does not actively apply brakes. Be sure to
decelerate the car sufficiently before entering
curves.
CAUTION:
When the TCS indicator blinks, SLIP con-
trol function has been activated. It also
means that the road is slippery or your car
is accelerating excessively. In this situa-
tion, gently release foot pressure from the
accelerator pedal and maintain moderate
speed.
!
WARNING:
Traction control is a driving aid; all normal
precautions for driving in inclement weath-
er and on slippery driving surfaces should
be observed.
C310B02O-AATTCS ON/OFF ModeWhen the TCS is operating, the TCS indicator
in the instrument cluster will blink.
If you turn the system off by pressing the TCS
switch, the TCS-OFF indicator will come on and
stay on. In the TCS-OFF mode, the SLIP control
will be deactivated. Adjust you driving accord-
ingly. To turn the system back on, press the
switch again. The TCS-OFF indicator should go
off.NOTE:1) The TCS mode will automatically be
turned ON after the engine is turned off
and restarted.
2) When the traction control system is op-
erating properly, you can feel a slight
pulsation in the vehicle. This is only the
effect of brake control and indicates
nothing unusual.
3) When the engine starts, a click may be
heard from the engine compartment;
this is the sound of the traction control
being checked.
4) When moving out of the mud or fresh
snow, pressing the accelerator pedal
may not cause the engine speed to in-
crease due to TCS operation.
C310D01JM-AATIndicators and WarningThe indicators should illuminate when the igni-
tion key is turned to ON or START but should
go out after approximately three seconds.
If the indicators do not illuminate, or the TCS or
TCS-OFF indicator does not go out after 3
seconds, have the system checked by an
authorized dealer.
Should there be any unusual conditions in the
TCS System while driving, TCS-OFF indicator
illuminates as a warning.
If TCS-OFF indicator illuminates, pull your car
to a safe place and stop the engine.
Then, start the engine again to check if the TCS-
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.NOTE:When the TCS-OFF indicator illuminates,
traction control is automatically deacti-
vated.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
15
C310D01JM-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 ESP or
ESP-OFF indicator does not go out after 3
seconds, have the vehicle checked by an
authorized dealer.
Should there be any unusual conditions in the
device while driving, ESP-OFF indicator illumi-
nates as a warning.
If ESP-OFF indicator illuminates, pull your car
to a safe place and stop the engine.
Then, start the engine again to check if the ESP-
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.
FULL-TIME 4WD OPERATION
!
WARNING:
This vehicle is designed primarily for on
road use. Driving the vehicle in challenging
off-road conditions may result in damage
to the vehicle. Driving in conditions that
exceed the vehicle's intended design or the
driver's experience level may result in se-
vere injury or death.Driving 4WD Safely(1) As always, be sure to wear the seat belt.
(2) Do not drive in challenging off-road condi-
tions or areas that exceed the vehicle's
basic design intent or the driver's experi-
ence level.
(3) Drive at lower speeds in strong crosswinds.
Because of your vehicle's higher center of
gravity, its stability will be affected in cross-
winds. Slower speeds ensure better vehicle
control.
(4) Check the brake condition after driving in wet
or muddy conditions. Press the brake sev-
eral times as you move slowly until you feel
normal braking forces return.
(5) Do not drive the vehicle through water. (i.e.
streams, rivers, lakes, etc.)
C350A02JM-AAT(If installed)Engine power can be delivered to all wheels.
Full-time 4WD is useful when good traction is
required, such as, when driving on slippery, wet
or snow-covered roads and when moving out
of mud. Your vehicle is not designed for chal-
lenging off-road use. Full-time 4WD vehicles
are designed primarily to improve traction and
performance on paved roads and highways in
wet and/or slippery conditions. Occasional off-
road use such as established unpaved roads
and trails is considered normal use. It is always
important when traveling off-highway that the
driver carefully reduce their speed to a level that
does not exceed the safe operating speed for
those conditions. In general, off-road conditions
provide less traction and braking effectiveness
than on road conditions. These factors must be
carefully considered when driving off-road.
Keeping the vehicle in contact with the driving
surface and under control in these conditions is
always the driver's responsibility for the safety
of him/herself and his or her passengers.