Hyundai Accent (HC): Infotainment System / Special driving conditions

Contents:

• Hazardous Driving Conditions
• Rocking the Vehicle
• Smooth Cornering
• Driving at Night
• Driving in the Rain
• Driving in Flooded Areas
• Highway Driving

Hazardous Driving Conditions

When hazardous driving elements are encountered—such as water, snow, ice, mud, or sand—drive your Hyundai Accent with added care and follow these recommendations to help maintain control and traction:

• Drive cautiously and keep a longer braking distance than usual.
• Avoid abrupt braking, sudden acceleration, or sharp steering inputs that can reduce traction.
• When your vehicle is stuck in snow, mud, or sand, use second gear (if equipped). Accelerate slowly to reduce unnecessary wheel spin.
• Place sand, rock salt, tire chains, or other non-slip materials under the drive wheels to provide additional traction when the vehicle becomes stuck in ice, snow, or mud.

WARNING

Downshifting with an intelligent variable transmission (IVT) while driving on slippery surfaces can cause an accident. A sudden change in tire speed could cause the tires to skid. Be careful when downshifting on slippery surfaces.

Rocking the Vehicle

If it is necessary to rock the vehicle to free it from snow, sand, or mud, first turn the steering wheel right and left to help clear the area around your front wheels. Then shift back and forth between R (Reverse) and a forward gear, using gentle throttle inputs.

Try to avoid excessive wheel spin, and do not race the engine. Smooth, controlled movements are more effective and reduce stress on the Hyundai Accent powertrain.

To prevent transmission wear, wait until the wheels stop spinning before shifting gears. Release the accelerator pedal while shifting, and press lightly on the accelerator pedal while the transmission is in gear. Slowly spinning the wheels in forward and reverse directions creates a rocking motion that may help free the vehicle.

WARNING

If the vehicle is stuck and excessive wheel spin occurs, the temperature in the tires can increase very quickly. If the tires become damaged, a tire blowout or tire explosion can occur. This condition is dangerous—you and others may be injured. Do not attempt this procedure if people or objects are anywhere near the vehicle.

If you attempt to free the vehicle, the vehicle can overheat quickly, possibly causing an engine compartment fire or other damage. Try to avoid spinning the wheels as much as possible to prevent overheating of either the tires or the engine. DO NOT allow the vehicle to spin the wheels above 35 mph (56 km/h).

Information

The ESC system must be turned OFF before rocking the vehicle.

NOTICE

If you are still stuck after rocking the vehicle a few times, have the vehicle pulled out by a tow vehicle to avoid engine overheating, possible damage to the transmission, and tire damage. See "Towing" in chapter 6.

Smooth Cornering

Avoid braking or changing gears in corners, especially when roads are wet. Ideally, corners should be taken with steady steering and gentle acceleration to help keep the Hyundai Accent balanced.

Driving at Night

Night driving presents more hazards than driving in daylight. Keep these important points in mind when driving your Hyundai Accent after dark:

• Slow down and increase following distance, since visibility is reduced at night—especially on roads without street lighting.
• Adjust your mirrors to reduce glare from other drivers' headlamps and to improve rear visibility.
• Keep your headlamps clean and properly aimed. Dirty or misaligned headlamps reduce how far you can see ahead.
• Avoid staring directly at oncoming headlamps. You could be temporarily blinded, and it may take several seconds for your eyes to readjust to the darkness.

Driving in the Rain

Rain and wet roads can make driving dangerous. Consider the following when driving your Hyundai Accent in the rain or on slick pavement:

• Slow down and allow extra following distance. Heavy rainfall reduces visibility and increases the distance needed to stop.
• Turn OFF your Cruise Control to reduce the risk of loss of traction or hydroplaning.
• Replace windshield wiper blades when they show signs of streaking or missing areas on the windshield.
• Maintain tires with at least 2/32nds of an inch of tread depth. Worn tread increases the chance of skidding on wet pavement. See "Tire Tread" in chapter 7.
• Turn on your headlamps so other drivers can see you more easily in low-visibility conditions.
• Driving too fast through large puddles can affect your brakes. If you must go through puddles, drive through them slowly and steadily.
• If you suspect your brakes are wet, apply them lightly while driving until normal braking operation returns.

Hydroplaning

If the road is wet enough and you are traveling fast enough, your vehicle may have little or no contact with the road surface and can begin to ride on top of the water. The best advice is to SLOW DOWN when the road is wet.

The risk of hydroplaning increases as tire tread depth decreases; refer to "Tire Tread" in chapter 7.

Driving in Flooded Areas

Avoid driving through flooded areas unless you are sure the water is no higher than the bottom of the wheel hub. Drive through any water slowly and allow extra stopping distance, because brake performance may be reduced.

After driving through water, dry the brakes by gently applying them several times while the vehicle is moving slowly.

Highway Driving

Tires

Adjust the tire inflation to the specified pressure for your Hyundai Accent. Under-inflation may cause overheating and can damage the tires over time.

Do not install worn-out or damaged tires, which may reduce traction or adversely affect vehicle handling. This could lead to sudden tire failure and loss of vehicle control, resulting in an accident.

Information

Never over-inflate your tires above the maximum inflation pressure, as specified on your tires.

Small addition: Before long trips, it is a good habit to check tire pressures when the tires are cold and remove heavy, unsecured items from the cabin or trunk so your Hyundai Accent remains stable during highway driving.

Fuel, engine coolant and engine oil

Driving at higher speeds on the highway in your Hyundai Accent consumes more fuel and is generally less efficient than cruising at a slower, more moderate pace. For better fuel economy, keep a steady speed, maintain safe following distance to avoid repeated braking, and accelerate smoothly whenever traffic conditions allow. These simple habits can improve highway efficiency in the Hyundai Accent while also supporting calmer, more predictable driving.

Before driving, especially before a longer trip, be sure to check both the engine coolant level and the engine oil level. Correct coolant and oil levels help the Hyundai Accent maintain proper operating temperature and lubrication, which supports reliable performance in both hot and cold weather.

Information

If you notice an unusual smell, steam, a rising temperature gauge, or any warning message, stop in a safe place and inspect the vehicle for low fluids or leaks before continuing.

Drive belt

A loose, worn, or damaged drive belt may contribute to engine overheating and can reduce accessory performance. If you hear squealing or chirping noises, or if you see cracking, fraying, glazing, or missing ribs on the belt, have your Hyundai Accent inspected and serviced promptly to help prevent overheating and avoid unexpected breakdowns.

WARNING

In a rollover crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seat belt. Make sure all passengers are wearing their seat belts correctly, and ensure children are properly secured before the Hyundai Accent begins moving.