towing HYUNDAI TUCSON 2009 Owners Manual

1
FEATURES OF YOUR HYUNDAI
51
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B260H02A-AAT
Parking Brake/Low Brake
Fluid Level Warning Light
The brake fluid level warning light indi-
cates that the brake fluid level in the brake
master cylinder is low and hydraulic brake
fluid conforming to DOT 3 or DOT 4 speci-
fications should be added. After adding
fluid, if no other trouble is found, the car
should be immediately and carefully 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.
Your Hyundai is equipped with dual-di-
agonal 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
system or brake hydraulic system is
dangerous, and could result in a serious
injury or death.Warning Light OperationThe parking brake/brake fluid level warn-
ing 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 released.
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 run-
ning, there is a malfunction 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 6-23 by pushing
down on the center of the belt. Have the
system checked by your Hyundai dealer
as soon as possible.B260B01JM-AAT
Tail Gate Open Warning Light
This light remains on unless the tail gate
and/or tail gate window is completely
closed and latched.

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
2
Engine Exhaust Can Be Dangerous! ............................ 2-2
Before Starting the Engine ............................................ 2-4
Key Positions ................................................................ 2-5
Starting ..........................................................................2-6
Manual Transaxle ......................................................... 2-7
Automatic Transaxle ..................................................... 2-9
Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) ..................................2-13
Traction Control System (TCS) ..................................2-13
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)...............................2-15
Full-Time 4WD Operation...........................................2-16
4WD Lock System......................................................2-19
Good Braking Practices..............................................2-21
Driving for Economy...................................................2-22
Winter Driving.............................................................2-23
Trailer or Vehicle Towing ............................................2-26
Vehicle Load Limit.......................................................2-29
2

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
17
HJM1029
Roll tester(Speedometer)Temporary free rollero If the vehicle is towed with only two
wheels raised off the ground, the
4WD system could be damaged.
o In unavoidable cases, if the vehicle
is being towed with all four wheels
on the ground, it should only be
towed forward.
o While towing, check the following
items.
1. The ignition switch is in "ACC" or
"ON".
2. Place the shift lever in neutral (For
Automatic Transaxle, "N" position).
3. Release the parking brake.
NOTE:To avoid serious damage to your 4WD
vehicle, limit towing to 10 mph and not for
more than 1 mile at ANY TIME.
WARNING:
Your vehicle is equipped with tires de-
signed to provide for safe ride and han-
dling capability.
Do not use a size and type of tire and
wheel that is different from the one that
is originally installed on your vehicle. It
can affect the safety and performance
of your vehicle, which could lead to han-
dling failure or rollover and serious in-
jury.
When replacing the tires, be sure to equip
all four tires with the tire and wheel of the
same size, type, tread, brand and load-
carrying capacity. If you nevertheless
decide to equip your vehicle with any
tire/wheel combination not recom-
mended by Hyundai for off-road driving,
you should not use these tires for high-
way driving.
!
(6)The stopping distance of the full-time
4WD vehicle differs very little from that
of the 2WD vehicle.
When driving on a snow-covered road
or a slippery, muddy surface, make sure
that you keep a sufficient distance be-
tween your vehicle and the one ahead
of you.
(7)Since the driving torque is always ap-
plied to all 4 wheels, the performance of
the full-time 4WD vehicle is greatly af-
fected by the condition of the tires. Be
sure to equip it with four tires of the same
size and type.
o When replacement of any of the tires
or wheels is necessary, replace all
of them with tires or wheels of the
same size type.
o Rotate the tires and check the tire
pressure at regular intervals.
(8)The full-time 4WD vehicle cannot be
towed by an ordinary tow truck. Make
sure that the vehicle is towed with all
four wheels raised off the ground.
o Roadside Assistance Program:
Off-roading is not covered. To re-
ceive service, the vehicle must be on
a publicly maintained road.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
26
C190B01S-AATTrailer HitchesSelect the proper hitch and ball combina-
tion, making sure that its location is com-
patible with that of the trailer or vehicle
being towed.
Use a quality non-equalizing hitch which
distributes the tongue load uniformly
throughout the chassis.
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.C190C01Y-AATTrailer BrakesIf your trailer is equipped with a braking
system, make sure it conforms to federal
and/or local regulations and that it is prop-
erly 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
Under Severe Usage Conditions" on
page 5-6.
C190D01S-AATSafety ChainsShould the hitch connection between your
vehicle and the trailer or vehicle you are
towing fail, the trailer or vehicle could
wander dangerously across other lanes of
traffic and ultimately leave the roadway. To
eliminate this potentially dangerous situa-
tion, safety chains, attached between your
car and the trailer or towed vehicle, are
required in most states.
CAUTION:
o Never connect a trailer brake system
directly to the vehicle brake system.
o When towing a trailer on steep grades
(in excess of 6%) 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.
!
TRAILER OR VEHICLE TOWING!
C190A01S-AATIf you are considering towing with your car,
you should first check with your State's
Department of Motor Vehicles to deter-
mine their legal requirements.
Since laws vary from State to State the
requirements for towing trailers, cars, or
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.
Failure to heed this caution may result in
serious engine or transaxle damage.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
27
C190E01JM
x 100 = 10% (MAX)
C190E01JM-AATTrailer Weight Limito Keep the tongue load 10% of the total
trailer load.
o Tongue load
o Tongue loads can be increased or de-
creased by re-distributing the load in
the trailer.
This can be verified by checking the
total weight of the loaded trailer and
then checking the load on the tongue. Total trailer weight
Tongue load Total trailer weight
Lbs. (kg)Tongue
150 (68) Engine
2.0L
2.7L
2.0L
2.7L
Maximum Towable Weight
With
Brake
Without
Brake
Trailer
1500(680)
2,000(907)
1,000(454)
NOTE:1. Never load the trailer with more weight
in the back than in the front. About
60% of the trailer load should be in the
front half on the trailer and the remain-
ing 40% in the rear.
2. The total gross vehicle weight with
trailer must not exceed the Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) shown
on the vehicle identification plate (see
page 8-2). The total gross vehicle
weight is the combined weight of the
vehicle, driver, all passengers and
their luggage, cargo, hitch, trailer
tongue load and other optional equip-
ment.
3. The front or rear axle weight must not
exceed the Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) shown on the vehicle identi-
fication plate (see page 8-2). It is pos-
sible that your towing package does
not exceed the GVWR but exceeds
the GAWR.
Improper trailer loading and/or too
much luggage in the cargo area can
overload the rear axle. Redistribute
the load and check the axle weight
again.
!
CAUTION:
The following specifications are recom-
mended when towing a trailer. The loaded
trailer weight cannot safely exceed the
values in the chart.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
28
C190F01O-AATTrailer or Vehicle Towing Tips1. Before towing, check hitch and safety
chain connections as well as proper
operation of the trailer running lights,
brake lights, and turn signals.
2. Trailer towing requires more fuel than
normal conditions.
3. To maintain engine braking efficiency,
do not tow a trailer with the transaxle in
fifth gear (manual transaxle) or over-
drive (automatic transaxle).
4. Always secure items in the trailer to
prevent load shift while driving.
5. Check the condition and air pressure of
all tires on the trailer and your car. Low
tire pressure can seriously affect the
handling. Also check the spare tire.
6. The vehicle/trailer combination is more
affected by crosswind and buffeting.
When being passed by a large vehicle,
keep a constant speed and steer straight
ahead. If there is too much wind buffet-
ing, slow down to get out of the other
vehicle's air turbulence.
7. When parking your car and trailer, es-
pecially on a hill, be sure to follow all the
normal precautions. Turn your front
wheel into the curb, set the parking
brake firmly, and put the transaxle in 1st
or Reverse (manual) or Park (automatic).
In addition, place wheel chocks at each
of the trailer's tires.8. If the trailer has electric brakes, start
your vehicle and trailer moving, and
then apply the trailer brake controller by
hand to be sure the brakes are working.
This lets you check your electrical con-
nection at the same time.
9. During your trip, check occasionally to
be sure that the load is secure, and that
the lights and any trailer brakes are still
working.
10. Avoid jerky starts, sudden accelera-
tion or sudden stops.
11. Avoid sharp turns and rapid lane
changes.
12. Avoid holding the brake pedal down
too long or too frequently. This could
cause the brakes to overheat, resulting
in reduced braking efficiency.
13. When going down a hill, shift into a
lower gear and use the engine braking
effect.
When ascending a long grade, down-
shift the transaxle to a lower gear and
reduce speed to reduce chances of
engine overloading and/or overheat-
ing.
14. If you have to stop while going uphill,
do not hold the vehicle in place by
pressing on the accelerator. This can
cause the automatic transaxle to over-
heat. Use the parking brake or
footbrake.
15.If the transaxle shifts frequently while
going up a hill, shift down one gear.
!
WARNING:
o Improperly loading your vehicle and
trailer can seriously affect its steer-
ing and braking performance causing
a crash which could cause serious
injury or death.
o Towing a trailer affected vehicle han-
dling and braking.
o Drive more slowly when towing a trailer
and allow more distance when brak-
ing.
o Be careful when driving in slippery
and windy conditions.
o Be careful when turning and while
driving up and down hills.
o Do not exceed 45 mph or the posted
towing speed limit, whichever is lower.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
29
CAUTION:
If overheating should occur when tow-
ing, (the temperature gauge reads near
the red zone), taking the following ac-
tions may reduce or eliminate the prob-
lem.
1. Turn off the air conditioner.
2. Reduce highway speed.
3. Select a lower gear when going uphill.
4. While in stop and go traffic, place the
gear selector in park or neutral and
idle the engine at a higher speed.
!
VEHICLE LOAD LIMITC190F03JM-AATTire and Loading Information Label
I03A01JM-A
Type BThe tire label located on the driver's
side of the center pillar outer panel
gives the original tire size, cold tire
pressures recommended for your ve-
hicle, the number of people that can be
in your vehicle and vehicle capacity
weight.
Vehicle capacity weight:
860 lbs (390 kg)
Vehicle capacity weight is the maxi-
mum combined weight of occupants
and cargo. If your vehicle is equipped
with a trailer, the combined weight in-
cludes the tongue load.
I030A01JM
Type A
I030A02-A
Type C NOTE:
When towing check transaxle fluid more
frequently.

2
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
30
Cargo capacity:
The cargo capacity of your vehicle will
increase or decrease depending on the
weight and the number of occupants
and the tongue load, if your vehicle is
equipped with a trailer.
Steps for Determining Correct Load
Limit
(1)Locate the statement "The combined
weight of occupants and cargo should
never exceed XXX pounds'' on your
vehicle's placard.
(2)Determine the combined weight of
the driver and passengers that will be
riding in your vehicle.
(3)Subtract the combined weight of the
driver and passengers from XXX
kilograms or XXX pounds.(4)The resulting figure equals the avail-
able amount of cargo and luggage
load capacity. For example, if the
"XXX" amount equals 1400 lbs, and
there will be five 150 lb. passengers
in your vehicle, the amount of avail-
able cargo and luggage load capac-
ity is 650 lbs. (1400-750 (5 x 150) =
650 lbs.)
(5)Determine the combined weight of
luggage and cargo being loaded on
the vehicle. That weight may not
safely exceed the available cargo
and luggage load capacity calcu-
lated in Step 4.
(6)If your vehicle will be towing a trailer,
load from your trailer will be trans-
ferred to your vehicle. Consult this
manual to determine how this re-
duces the available cargo and lug-
gage load capacity of your vehicle. Seating capacity:
Total: 5 persons
(Front seat: 2 persons,
Rear seat: 3 persons)
Seating capacity is the maximum num-
ber of occupants including a driver,
your vehicle may carry.
However the seating capacity may be
reduced based upon the weight of all of
the occupants, and the weight of the
cargo being carried or towed. Do not
overload the vehicle as there is a limit
to the total weight, or load limit including
occupants and cargo, the vehicle can
carry.
Towing capacity:
Towing capacity is the maximum trailer
weight including its cargo weight, your
vehicle can tow. See the section "Trailer
or Vehicle Towing" for specifications
about the trailer weight.

If the Engine will not Start .............................................. 3-2
Jump Starting ................................................................ 3-3
If the Engine Overheats ................................................ 3-4
Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) .................... 3-5
Spare Tire ..................................................................... 3-9
If You Have a Flat Tire ................................................3-10
Changing a Flat Tire ....................................................3-11
If Your Car Must be Towed.........................................3-16
Emergency Towing.....................................................3-18
If You Lose Your Keys................................................3-19
3
3
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY

316
WHAT TO DO IN AN EMERGENCY
D080B01O-GATTowing the 2 Wheel Drive Vehicle
D080B03JM
Your vehicle can be towed by wheel lift
type truck (1), (2) or flatbed equipment (3).1)
2)
3)
dolly
After you have changed wheels, al-
ways secure the flat tire in its place and
return the jack and tools to their proper
storage locations.
IF YOUR VEHICLE MUST BE
TOWEDD080A01O-GATIf your vehicle has to be towed, it should be
done by your Hyundai dealer or a commer-
cial tow truck service. This will help assure
that your vehicle is not damaged in towing.
Also, professionals are generally aware of
local laws governing towing. In any case,
rather than risk damage to your car, it is
suggested that you show this information
to the tow truck operator. Be sure that a
safety chain system is used and that all
local laws are observed.
It is recommended that your vehicle be
towed with a wheel lift and dollies or flatbed
equipment with all the wheels off the
ground.
!
CAUTION:
o Your vehicle can be damaged if towed
incorrectly!
o Be sure the transaxle is in neutral.
o When the engine will not start, be sure
the steering is unlocked by placing
the key in the "ACC" position.