Hyundai Accent (HC): What to Do in an Emergency

Contents:

• Hazard Warning Flasher
• In Case of an Emergency While Driving
• If the Engine Will Not Start – Hyundai Accent
• Jump Starting Procedure – Hyundai Accent
• If the Engine Overheats – Hyundai Accent
• If the Engine Will Not Start
• Jump Starting
• If the Engine Overheats
• Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS)
• If You Have a Flat Tire
• Towing

Hazard Warning Flasher

The hazard warning flasher serves as a warning to other drivers to exercise extreme caution when approaching, overtaking, or passing your vehicle. Use it whenever emergency repairs are being made or when the Hyundai Accent is stopped near the edge of a roadway, especially in low visibility or heavy traffic.

To turn the hazard warning flasher on or off, press the hazard warning flasher button. The button is located in the center fascia panel. Both the left and right turn signal lights will flash simultaneously, making your Hyundai Accent more visible to surrounding traffic.

• The hazard warning flasher operates whether your vehicle is running or not.
• The turn signals do not work when the hazard flasher is on.

In Case of an Emergency While Driving ➤

If the Engine Will Not Start – Hyundai Accent ➤

Jump Starting Procedure – Hyundai Accent

Jump starting a vehicle can be hazardous if performed incorrectly. Carefully follow the jump starting procedure outlined below to prevent serious personal injury or damage to your Hyundai Accent. If you are unsure about any step, we strongly recommend having a professional service technician or roadside assistance perform the jump start for you.

WARNING

To help prevent SERIOUS INJURY or DEATH to yourself or others, always observe the following safety precautions when working with or near the battery:

Always read and strictly follow all instructions when handling any vehicle battery.

Use eye protection specifically designed to shield your eyes from possible acid splashes.

Keep all open flames, sparks, cigarettes, and any other ignition sources far away from the battery.

Hydrogen gas is present in battery cells. It is highly flammable and can explode if ignited.

Store and handle batteries out of reach of children at all times.

Batteries contain highly corrosive sulfuric acid. Avoid contact with eyes, skin, and clothing.

If acid contacts your eyes, immediately flush with clean water for at least 15 minutes and seek emergency medical attention. If acid touches your skin, wash thoroughly with water. Seek medical help immediately if you experience pain or burning sensation.

• When handling a plastic-cased battery, avoid applying excessive pressure to the case as it may cause acid leakage. Use a proper battery carrier or lift by holding opposite corners.
• Never attempt to jump start your Hyundai Accent if the battery is frozen.
• DO NOT try to recharge the battery while the battery cables remain connected to the vehicle.
• The ignition system operates with very high voltage. NEVER touch ignition components while the engine is running or when the ignition is in the ON position.

Information

Improper battery disposal can seriously harm the environment and human health. Always dispose of old batteries in accordance with local regulations and recycling requirements.

NOTICE

To avoid damaging your Hyundai Accent:

• Use only a 12-volt power source (battery or booster system) for jump starting.
• Never attempt to jump start the vehicle using push-starting method.

Jump Starting Procedure – Hyundai Accent

1. Position both vehicles close enough for the jumper cables to reach, but ensure the vehicles do not touch each other.
2. Keep hands, tools and clothing away from fans and any moving engine parts at all times — even when engines are off.
3. Turn off all electrical accessories (radio, lights, climate control, etc.). Place both vehicles in P (Park), apply parking brakes and turn both ignitions OFF.

CAUTION

Before starting, carefully identify the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals to prevent dangerous reverse polarity connections.

4. Connect the jumper cables exactly in the order shown: First attach one end of the positive (red) cable to the positive (+) jumper terminal of your Hyundai Accent (1).
5. Connect the other end of the positive (red) cable to the positive (+) terminal of the booster/assisting vehicle (2).
6. Attach the negative (black) cable to the negative (-) terminal of the assisting vehicle (3).
7. Connect the other end of the negative (black) cable to a solid, unpainted metal ground point on your Hyundai Accent engine/chassis (4) — away from the battery.

Avoid letting the jumper cable clamps touch anything except the intended terminals/ground points. Do not lean over the battery during connection.

WARNING

Never connect the negative jumper cable to the discharged battery's negative terminal. A spark at this point could cause the battery to explode, resulting in serious injury or vehicle damage.

8. Start the assisting vehicle and let it idle at approximately 2,000 rpm for several minutes. Then attempt to start your Hyundai Accent.

If your vehicle does not start after several attempts, further diagnosis is needed. Contact qualified assistance. If you cannot determine why the battery keeps discharging, have your Hyundai Accent inspected by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.

After successful starting, disconnect the jumper cables in the exact reverse order:

1. Remove cable from the chassis ground of your Hyundai Accent (4).
2. Remove cable from the negative terminal of the assisting vehicle (3).
3. Remove cable from the positive terminal of the assisting vehicle (2).
4. Finally, disconnect from the positive (+) jumper terminal of your Hyundai Accent (1).

WARNING

During the entire jump starting process, take extreme care to prevent the positive and negative cables from touching each other. A spark could cause serious personal injury.

If the Engine Overheats – Hyundai Accent

If the temperature gauge shows overheating, you notice a significant loss of power, or hear loud pinging/knocking noises, your Hyundai Accent engine may be overheating. If this occurs, follow these steps immediately:

1. Safely pull off the road and stop the vehicle as soon as possible.
2. Shift into P (Park) and firmly apply the parking brake. Turn off the air conditioning if it was on.
3. If you see coolant leaking under the vehicle or steam escaping from under the hood, immediately turn off the engine. Do not open the hood until all leaking and steaming have completely stopped.

WARNING

While the engine is running or immediately after shutdown, keep hands, clothing, and tools clear of rotating components such as the cooling fan and drive belts to avoid serious injury.

4. Look for signs of coolant leakage from the radiator, hoses, or underneath the vehicle. (Note: If air conditioning was used, water dripping from the AC system is normal when stopped.)
5. If significant coolant leakage is visible, turn off the engine immediately and arrange for assistance from the nearest authorized HYUNDAI dealer.

WARNING

Your Hyundai Accent is equipped with a pressurized cooling system. NEVER remove the radiator cap or coolant reservoir cap while the engine is hot. Hot coolant and steam under pressure may cause severe burns. Always turn the engine off and allow it to cool completely before opening. When removing the cap, wrap a thick towel around it and turn slowly counterclockwise to first release pressure. Step back during release. Only remove the cap fully after confirming pressure is gone.

6. If no obvious cause of overheating is found, wait until the engine temperature returns to normal. Then, if coolant level is low, carefully add the recommended coolant mixture to the reservoir until it reaches the halfway mark.
7. Continue driving cautiously while closely monitoring the temperature gauge. If overheating occurs again, stop immediately and contact an authorized HYUNDAI dealer for professional assistance.

CAUTION

Significant coolant loss usually indicates a leak in the cooling system. Have this checked by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer as soon as possible to prevent serious engine damage.

If the Engine Will Not Start ➤

Jump Starting

Jump starting can be dangerous if done incorrectly. Follow the jump starting procedure in this section to avoid serious injury or damage to your Hyundai Accent. If in doubt about how to properly jump start your vehicle, have a service technician or towing service do it for you. As a practical reminder, only use quality jumper cables and keep the clamps from touching each other.

WARNING

To prevent SERIOUS INJURY or DEATH to you or bystanders, always follow these precautions when working near or handling the battery:

Always read and follow instructions carefully when handling a battery.

Wear eye protection designed to protect the eyes from acid splashes.

Keep all flames, sparks, or smoking materials away from the battery.

Hydrogen is always present in battery cells, is highly combustible, and may explode if ignited.

Keep batteries out of reach of children.

Batteries contain sulfuric acid which is highly corrosive. Do not allow acid to contact your eyes, skin or clothing.

If acid gets into your eyes, flush your eyes with clean water for at least 15 minutes and get immediate medical attention. If acid gets on your skin, thoroughly wash the area. If you feel pain or a burning sensation, get medical attention immediately.

• When lifting a plastic-cased battery, excessive pressure on the case may cause battery acid to leak. Lift with a battery carrier or with your hands on opposite corners.
• Do not attempt to jump start your vehicle if your battery is frozen.
• NEVER attempt to recharge the battery when the vehicle's battery cables are connected to the battery.
• The electrical ignition system works with high voltage. NEVER touch these components with the engine running or when the ignition switch is in the ON position.

Information

An inappropriately disposed battery can be harmful to the environment and human health. Dispose of the battery according to your local law(s) or regulations.

NOTICE

To prevent damage to your vehicle:

• Only use a 12-volt power supply (battery or jumper system) to jump start your vehicle.
• Do not attempt to jump start your vehicle by push-starting.

Jump starting procedure

1. Position the vehicles close enough that the jumper cables will reach, but do not allow the vehicles to touch. Keep both vehicles stable to prevent accidental movement.

2. Avoid fans or any moving parts in the engine compartment at all times, even when the vehicles are turned off.

3. Turn off all electrical devices such as radios, lights, air conditioning, etc. Put the vehicles in P (Park) and set the parking brakes. Turn both vehicles OFF.

CAUTION

Before jump starting, make sure to correctly identify the positive (+) and negative (-) terminals to avoid reverse polarity connections.

4. Connect the jumper cables in the exact sequence shown in the illustration. First connect one jumper cable to the red, positive (+) jumper terminal of your vehicle (1).

5. Connect the other end of the jumper cable to the red, positive (+) battery/jumper terminal of the assisting vehicle (2).

6. Connect the second jumper cable to the black, negative (-) battery/jumper terminal of the assisting vehicle (3).

7. Connect the other end of the second jumper cable to the black, negative (-) chassis ground of your vehicle (4).

Do not allow the jumper cables to contact anything except the correct battery or jumper terminals or the correct ground. Do not lean over the battery when making connections, and keep hands and tools clear of the Hyundai Accent battery area.

WARNING

Do not connect the jumper cable to the negative (-) jumper terminal of the discharged battery. A spark could cause the battery to explode and lead to a personal injury or vehicle damage.

8. Start the engine of the assisting vehicle and let it run at approximately 2,000 rpm for a few minutes. Then start your vehicle.

If your vehicle will not start after a few attempts, it probably requires servicing. In this event please seek qualified assistance. If the cause of your battery discharging is not apparent, have your vehicle checked by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.

Disconnect the jumper cables in the exact reverse order you connected them:

1. Disconnect the jumper cable from the black, negative (-) chassis ground of your vehicle (4).

2. Disconnect the other end of the jumper cable from the black, negative (-) battery/chassis ground of the assisting vehicle (3).

3. Disconnect the second jumper cable from the red, positive (+) battery/jumper terminal of the assisting vehicle (2).

4. Disconnect the other end of the jumper cable from the red, positive (+) jumper terminal of your vehicle (1).

WARNING

While jump starting your vehicle, avoid the positive (+) and negative (-) cables to come in contact. A spark could cause personal injury. After starting, allow the Hyundai Accent to idle for a few minutes to help stabilize electrical power.

If the Engine Overheats

If your temperature gage indicates overheating, you experience a loss of power, or hear loud pinging or knocking, the engine may be overheating. If this happens in your Hyundai Accent, you should:

1. Pull off the road and stop as soon as it is safe to do so.

2. Place the shift lever in P (Park) and set the parking brake. If the air conditioning is ON, turn it OFF.

3. If engine coolant is running out under the vehicle or steam is coming out from the hood, stop the engine. Do not open the hood until the coolant has stopped running or the steaming has stopped. If there is no visible loss of engine coolant and no steam, leave the engine running and check to be sure the engine cooling fan is operating. If the fan is not running, turn the engine off.

WARNING

While the engine is running, keep hands, clothing and tools away from the moving parts such as the cooling fan and drive belt to prevent serious injury.

4. Check for coolant leaking from the radiator, hoses or under the vehicle. (If the air conditioning had been in use, it is normal for cold water to be draining from it when you stop.)

5. If engine coolant is leaking out, stop the engine immediately and call the nearest authorized HYUNDAI dealer for assistance.

WARNING

Your vehicle is equipped with a pressurized coolant reserve tank. NEVER remove the engine coolant reservoir tank/radiator cap or the drain plug while the engine and radiator are HOT. Hot coolant and steam may blow out under pressure, causing serious injury. Turn the engine off and wait until the engine cools down. Use extreme care when removing the engine coolant reservoir tank/radiator cap. Wrap a towel or thick rag around it, and turn it counterclockwise slowly to release some of the pressure from the system. Step back while the pressure is released. When you are sure all the pressure has been released, continue turning the cap counterclockwise to remove it. Do not rush this step in your Hyundai Accent.

6. If you cannot find the cause of the overheating, wait until the engine temperature has returned to normal. Then, if coolant has been lost, carefully add coolant to the reservoir to bring the fluid level in the reservoir up to the halfway mark.

7. Proceed with caution, keeping alert for further signs of overheating. If overheating happens again, call an authorized HYUNDAI dealer for assistance. For best results, have the cooling system inspected promptly after any overheating event.

CAUTION

Serious loss of coolant indicates a leak in the cooling system and should be checked as soon as possible by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) ➤

If You Have a Flat Tire ➤

Towing ➤