+ -

Manual transmission operation

The manual transmission has 6 forward gears. The transmission is fully synchronized in all forward gears so shifting to either a higher or a lower gear is easily accomplished.

Before leaving the driver's seat, always make sure the shift lever is in 1st gear when the vehicle is parked on a uphill and in R (Reverse) on a downhill, set the parking brake, and place the ignition switch in the OFF position. Unexpected vehicle movement may occur if these precautions are not followed.

To shift to R (Reverse), make sure the vehicle has completely stopped, and then move the shift lever to neutral before moving into R (Reverse).

When you have come to a complete stop and it's hard to shift into 1st gear or R (Reverse):

  1. Put the shift lever in neutral and release the clutch pedal.

  2. Depress the clutch pedal, and then shift into 1st gear or R (Reverse).

During cold weather, shifting may be difficult until the transmission lubricant has warmed up.

Using the clutch

The clutch pedal should be depressed all the way to the floor before:

  • Starting the engine: The engine is not start without depressing the clutch pedal.

  • Shifting the gear: up shifting to the next higher gear, or down shifting to the next lower gear.

When releasing the clutch pedal, release it slowly. The clutch pedal should always be released while driving.

To start or reverse the vehicle, release the clutch pedal slowly after shifting the gear. Sudden release of the clutch pedal may result in an abrupt accident.

To prevent unnecessary wear or damage to the clutch:

  • Do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal while driving.

  • Do not hold the vehicle with the clutch on an incline, while waiting for the traffic light, etc.

  • Always depress the clutch pedal down fully to prevent noise or damage.

  • Do not repeatedly depress the clutch pedal before the clutch pedal returns back to its original place when released.

  • Do not start with the 2nd gear engaged except when you start on a slippery road.

  • Do not drive with cargo loaded more than required loading capacity.

Downshifting

Downshift when you must slow down in heavy traffic or drive up a steep hill, to prevent engine load.

Also, downshifting reduces the chance of stalling and helps to accelerate when you need to increase your speed again.

When the vehicle is going downhill, downshifting helps maintain safe speed by providing brake power from the engine and results in less wear on the brakes.

To prevent damage to the engine, clutch and transmission:

  • When downshifting from 5th gear to 4th gear, be careful not to inadvertently push the shift lever sideways engaging the 2nd gear. A drastic downshift may cause the engine speed to increase to the point the tachometer enters the red zone and may cause engine, clutch and the transmission damage.

  • Do not downshift more than two gears at a time or downshift the gear when the engine is running at high speed (5,000 RPM or higher). Such a downshifting may damage the engine, clutch and the transmission.

Good driving practices

  • Never take the vehicle out of gear and coast down a hill. This is extremely dangerous.

  • Don't "ride" the brakes. This can cause the brakes and related parts to overheat and malfunction.

    When you are driving down a long hill, slow down and shift to a lower gear. Engine braking helps slow down the vehicle.

  • Slow down before shifting to a lower gear. This helps avoid over-revving the engine, which can cause damage.

  • Slow down when you encounter cross winds. This gives you much better control of your vehicle.

  • Be sure the vehicle is completely stopped before you shift into R (Reverse) to prevent damage to the transmission.

  • 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 may cause loss of vehicle control resulting in an accident.

Do not use aggressive engine braking (shifting from a higher gear to a lower gear) on slippery roads. This could cause the tires to slip and may result in an accident.

To reduce the risk of SERIOUS INJURY or DEATH:

  • ALWAYS wear your seat belt. In a collision, an unbelted occupant is significantly more likely to be seriously injured or killed than a properly belted occupant.

  • Avoid high speeds when cornering 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.

  • HYUNDAI recommends you to follow all posted speed limits.

Kickdown Mechanism

If you depress the accelerator pedal equipped with Kickdown device beyond the pressure point, it maximizes the engine power. You may feel when the Kickdown equipment starts to work and hear the sound of Kickdown operation. It is normal operation, not a failure.