HYUNDAI TUCSON 2009 Owners Manual

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
6
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4. Turn the ignition key to the "START"
position and release it when the engine
starts.
After the engine has started, allow the
engine to run for 10 to 20 seconds prior
to placing the vehicle in gear.
The starter should not be operated for
more than 15 seconds at a time. Wait
15-30 seconds between starting at-
tempts to protect the starter from over-
heating.
C050B02JM-AATNormal Conditions:The Starting Procedure:
1. Insert key, and fasten the seat belt.
2. Depress the clutch pedal fully and place
the gearshift lever (manual transaxle)
in neutral or the selector lever (auto-
matic transaxle) in "P" (park) position.
3. After turning the ignition key to the "ON"
position, make certain all warning lights
and gauges are functioning properly
before starting the engine.
WARNING:
Be sure that the clutch is fully depressed
when starting a manual transaxle ve-
hicle. Your manual transaxle equipped
vehicle will not start unless the clutch
pedal is fully depressed.
!
C050A01E-1
STARTING!
C050A01A-AAT
WARNING:
Never run the engine in a closed or poorly
ventilated area any longer than is needed
to move your car in or out of the area. The
carbon monoxide gas emitted is odor-
less and can cause serious injury or
death.
WARNING:
Always fully depress the brake pedal
before and while shifting out of the "P"
Park position into another position to
avoid inadvertent motion of the vehicle
which could injure persons in or around
the car.

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
7
OPERATING THE MANUAL
TRANSAXLE
NOTE:
o To shift into reverse, rest the lever in
neutral for at least 3 seconds after
your car is completely stopped. Then
move the lever into the reverse posi-
tion.
o During cold weather, shifting may be
difficult until the transaxle lubricant
has warmed up. This is normal and not
harmful to the transaxle.
o If you've come to a complete stop and
it's hard to shift into 1st or R(Reverse),
put the shift lever in N(Neutral) posi-
tion and release the clutch. Press the
clutch pedal down, and then shift into
1st or R(Reverse) gear position.
o Do not use the shift lever as a handrest
during driving, as this can result in
premature wear of the transaxle shift
forks.
CAUTION:
When downshifting from fifth gear to
fourth gear, caution should be taken not
to inadvertently press the gear lever
sideways in such a manner that second
gear is engaged. Such a drastic down-
shift may cause the engine speed to
increase to the point that the tachometer
will enter the red-zone. Such over-rev-
ving of the engine may cause engine
damage.
!
C070A02A-AATYour Hyundai's manual transaxle has a
conventional shift pattern. This shift pat-
tern is imprinted on the shift knob. The
transaxle is fully synchronized in all for-
ward gears so shifting to either a higher or
a lower gear is easily accomplished.
HJM3017C070B02A-AAT
Using the ClutchThe clutch should be pressed all the way
to the floor before shifting, then released
slowly. The clutch pedal should always be
fully returned to the original position. Do
not rest your foot on the clutch pedal while
driving. This can cause unnecessary wear.
Do not partially engage the clutch to hold
the car on an incline. This causes unnec-
essary wear. Use the foot brake or parking
brake to hold the car on an incline. Do not
operate the clutch pedal rapidly and re-
peatedly.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
8
!
WARNING:
o Always buckle-up! In a collision, an
unbelted occupant is significantly
more likely to be seriously injured or
killed than a properly belted occu-
pant.
o Avoid high speeds when cornering or
turning.
o Do not make quick steering wheel
movements, such as sharp lane
changes or fast, sharp turns.
o The risk of rollover is greatly in-
creased if you lose control of your
vehicle at highway speeds.
o Loss of control often occurs if two or
more wheels drop off the roadway
and the driver oversteers to reenter
the roadway.
o In the event your vehicle leaves the
roadway, do not steer sharply. In-
stead, slow down before pulling back
into the travel lanes.
o Never exceed posted speed limits.
C070D02O-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
mph (km/h)
15 (20)
25 (40)
35 (55)
45 (75)
C070D04O-AATGood Driving Practiceso Never take the car out of gear and coast
down a hill. This is extremely hazard-
ous. Always leave the car in gear.
o Don't "ride" the brakes. This can cause
them to overheat and malfunction. In-
stead, 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 con-
trol 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 vehicle speed can
cause the drive wheels to lose traction
and the vehicle to go out of control.o Optimum vehicle performance and
economy is obtained by smoothly de-
pressing and releasing the accelerator
pedal.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
9
HJM3018
OPERATING THE AUTOMATIC
TRANSAXLEC090A01O-GATThe highly efficient Hyundai automatic
transaxle has four forward speeds and
one reverse speed. The individual speeds
are selected automatically, 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 opera-
tion, refer to "Sports Mode".
In the main gate, the selector lever has 4
positions, and is equipped with a button to
avoid inadvertent selection.
NOTE:
Depress the brake pedal and push
the button when shifting.
Push the button when shifting.
The selector lever can be shifted
freely.
The first few shifts on a new vehicle, or
if the battery has been disconnected,
may be somewhat abrupt. This is a nor-
mal condition, and the shifting sequence
will adjust after shifts are cycled a few
times by the T.C.M (Transaxle Control
Module).
C090A01JM
The indicator lights in the instrument clus-
ter indicate the selector lever position when
the ignition is switched "ON". During "D"
range operation, green lights indicate the
gear currently in use.
CAUTION:
Never shift into "R" or "P" position while
the vehicle is moving.
!

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
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C090E02O-AATo D (Drive):Use for normal driving. Bring the car to a
complete stop before shifting the selector
to "D" position. The transaxle will automati-
cally shift through a four gear sequence.C090D02O-AATo N (Neutral):In the "N" position, the transaxle is in neu-
tral, which means that no gears are en-
gaged. The engine can be started with the
shift lever in "N" position, although this is
not recommended except if the engine
stalls while the car is moving.
C090B02A-AATThe function of each position is as
follows:
o P (Park):Use to hold the vehicle in place when
parked or while starting the engine. When-
ever parking the car, apply the parking
brake and shift the selector lever to the "P"
(Park) position.
C090C01A-AATo R (Reverse):Use for backing up the vehicle. Bring the
car to a complete stop before shifting the
selector lever to "R" position.
CAUTION:
Never place the selector lever in the "P"
(Park) position unless the vehicle is fully
stopped. Failure to observe this caution
will cause severe damage to the
transaxle.
C090F01JM-GATSports ModeWhether the vehicle is stationary or in
motion, sports mode is selected by push-
ing the selector lever from the "D" position
into the manual gate. To return to "D" range
operation, push the selector lever back
into the main gate.
In sports mode, moving the selector lever
backwards and forwards can make gear-
shifts simple.
UP (+) : Push the lever forward once to shift
up one gear.
DOWN (-) : Pull the lever backwards once
to shift down one gear.
SKIP : By rapidly moving the selector for-
wards or backwards twice, it is possible to
skip one gear, i.e. 1st to 3rd or 3rd to 1st.
HJM3020

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DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
11
!
o To maintain the required levels of ve-
hicle performance and safety, the sys-
tem may not execute certain gear-
shifts when the selector lever is oper-
ated.
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 driv-
ing away on a slippery road. Push the
selector lever to the -(DOWN) side to
shift back to 1st gear.
CAUTION:
o In sports mode, The driver must ex-
ecute shifts in accordance with pre-
vailing road conditions, taking care to
keep the engine speed below the red
zone. For engine protection, upward
shifts are made automatically when
the engine rpm reaches the red zone.
o By rapidly moving the selector lever
backwards (-) twice, it is possible to
skip one gear, i.e., 3rd to 1st, 4th to
2nd. Since sudden engine braking
and/or rapid acceleration can cause a
loss of traction, however, downshifts
must be made carefully in accordance
with the vehicle's speed.NOTE:o In sports mode, only the four forward
gears can be selected. To select re-
verse or park, move the selector le-
ver to the "R" or "P" position as re-
quired.
o In sports mode, downward shifts are
made automatically when the vehicle
slows down. When the vehicle stops,
1st gear is automatically selected.
C090H01L-GATNOTE:o For smooth and safe operation, de-
press the brake pedal when shifting
from "Neutral" 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.
!
C090I04L-GAT
CAUTION:
o Shift into "R", "D" and "P" position
only when the vehicle has completely
stopped.
o Do not accelerate the engine in re-
verse or any of the forward positions
with the brakes applied.
o Always apply the footbrake when
shifting 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
tendency to roll backwards. Shifting
the shift lever into 2nd gear while in
Sport mode will help prevent the ve-
hicle from rolling backwards.
o Check the automatic transaxle fluid
level regularly, and add fluid as nec-
essary.
o See the maintenance schedule for
the proper fluid recommendation.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
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!
C090N05O-AATGood Driving Practiceso Never move the gear selector lever
from "P" or "N" to any other position with
the accelerator 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" or "D".
o Never take the car out of gear and coast
down a hill. This may be extremely
hazardous. Always leave the car in gear
when moving.
o Do not "ride" the brakes. This can cause
them to overheat and malfunction. In-
stead, 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 engaged.
o Always use the parking brake. Do not
depend 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 vehicle speed can
cause the drive wheels to lose traction
and the vehicle to go out of control.
WARNING:
o Always buckle-up! In a collision, an
unbelted occupant is significantly
more likely to be seriously injured or
killed than a properly belted occu-
pant.
o Avoid high speeds when cornering or
turning.
o Do not make quick steering wheel
movements, such as sharp lane
changes or fast, sharp turns.
o The risk of rollover is greatly in-
creased if you lose control of your
vehicle at highway speeds.
o Loss of control often occurs if two or
more wheels drop off the roadway
and the driver oversteers to reenter
the roadway.
o In the event your vehicle leaves the
roadway, do not steer sharply. In-
stead, slow down before pulling back
into the travel lanes.
o Never exceed posted speed limits. o Optimum vehicle performance and
economy is obtained by smoothly de-
pressing and releasing the accelerator
pedal.
CAUTION:
If your vehicle becomes stuck in snow,
mud, sand, etc., then you may attempt to
rock the vehicle free by moving it for-
ward and backward. Do not attempt this
procedure if people or objects are any-
where near the vehicle. During the rock-
ing operation the vehicle may suddenly
move forward of backward as it becomes
unstuck, causing injury to nearby people
or damage to objects.
!

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
13
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WARNING:
ABS / TCS / ESC will not prevent acci-
dents due to improper or dangerous driv-
ing maneuvers. Even though vehicle
control is improved during emergency
braking, always maintain a safe distance
between you and objects ahead. Vehicle
speeds should always be reduced dur-
ing extreme road conditions.
The braking distance for cars equipped
with an anti-lock braking system / TCS /
ESC may be longer than for those with-
out 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
pitted or has different surface height.
The safety features of an ABS / TCS /
ESC equipped vehicle should not be
tested by high speed driving or corner-
ing. 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 pro-
vide sufficient driving force and steering
performance as the car turns.SLIP ControlLimits the drive wheels from spinning ex-
cessively during starting or while making
accelerated turns on slippery roads to avoid
losing the driving force of the front wheels.
ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM
(ABS)C120A01JM-AAT(If installed)The Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) is de-
signed to prevent wheel lock-up during
sudden braking or on hazardous road
surfaces. The ABS control module moni-
tors the wheel speed and controls the
pressure applied to each brake. Thus, in
emergency situations or on slick roads,
ABS will increase vehicle control during
braking.NOTE:o A click sound may be heard in the
engine compartment when the ve-
hicle begins to move after the engine
is started. These conditions are nor-
mal and indicate that the anti-lock
brake system / Traction Control Sys-
tem / Electronic Stability Control is
functioning properly.
o During ABS / TCS / 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 indi-
cate that the anti-lock brake system
/ Traction Control System / Electronic
Stability Control System is function-
ing properly.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
14
!
Driving HintsTCS does not actively apply brakes. Be
sure to decelerate the car sufficiently be-
fore entering curves.
CAUTION:
When the TCS indicator blinks, SLIP
control function has been activated. It
also means that the road is slippery or
your car is accelerating excessively. In
this situation, gently release foot pres-
sure from the accelerator pedal and
maintain moderate speed.
!
WARNING:
Traction control is a driving aid; all nor-
mal precautions for driving in inclement
weather and on slippery driving surfaces
should be observed.
C310B02O-AATTCS ON/OFF ModeWhen the TCS is operating, the TCS indi-
cator 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 accordingly. 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
operating 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 compart-
ment; 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
increase due to TCS operation.
C310D01JM-AATIndicators and WarningThe indicators should illuminate when the
ignition 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
!
CAUTION:
Driving with varying tire or wheel size
may cause the ESC system to malfunc-
tion. When replacing tires, make sure
they are the same size as your original
tires.
!
ELECTRONIC STABILITY
CONTROL (ESC) SYSTEMC310A03JM-AAT(If installed)
C310A01JM-U
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) sys-
tem is designed to stabilize the vehicle
during cornering 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 sta-
bilize the vehicle.
The Electronic Stability Control (ESC) sys-
tem is an electronic system designed to
help the driver maintain vehicle control
under adverse conditions. It is not a substi-
tute for safe driving practices. Factors in-
cluding speed, road conditions and driver
steering input can all affect whether ESC
will be effective in preventing 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:
Never drive too fast for the road condi-
tions or too quickly when cornering. Elec-
tronic stability control (ESC) will not pre-
vent accidents. Excessive speed in
turns, abrupt maneuvers and hydroplan-
ing on wet surfaces can still result in
serious accidents. Only a safe and at-
tentive driver can prevent accidents by
avoiding maneuvers that cause the ve-
hicle to lose traction. Even with ESC
installed, always follow all the normal
precautions for driving - including driv-
ing at safe speeds for the conditions.
C310B01JM-AATESC ON/OFF ModeWhen the ESC is operating, the ESC indi-
cator 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 deacti-
vated. 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 restarted.