2003 Hyundai Elantra Owner's Manual - Page 108

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI C090N03A-AAT Good Driving Practices o 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". 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. Instead, 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. o Turn the overdrive switch on for good fuel economy and smooth driving. If engine braking is needed in the "D" range or if repeated upshifting and downshifting between the 3rd and 4th gear is needed when climbing a gentle slope, it is recommended that the overdrive switch be turned off. Turn the overdrive switch back on immediately afterward. WARNING: o The risk of rollover is greatly increased 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. Instead, slow down before pulling back into the travel lanes. o In a collision crash, an unbelted person is significantly more likely to die than a person wearing a seatbelt. o Never exceed posted speed limits. C130A01A-AAT GOOD BRAKING PRACTICES WARNING: Nothing should be carried on top of the shelf panel behind the rear seat. If there were an accident or a sudden stop, such objects could move forward and cause damage to the vehicle or injure the occupants. o After being parked, check to be sure the parking brake is not engaged and that the parking brake indicator light is out before driving away. o Driving through water may get the brakes wet. They can also get wet when the car is washed. Wet brakes can be dangerous! Your car will not stop as quickly if the brakes are wet. Wet brakes may cause the car to pull to one side. To dry the brakes, apply the brakes lightly until the braking action returns to normal, taking care to keep the car under control at all times. If the braking action does not return to normal, stop as soon as it is safe to do so and call your Hyundai dealer for assistance. o Don't coast down hills with the car out of gear. This is extremely hazardous. Keep the car in gear at all times, use the brakes to slow down, then shift to a lower gear so that engine braking will help you maintain a safe speed. o Don't "ride" the brake pedal. Resting your foot on the brake pedal while driving can be dangerous because it can result in the brakes overheating and losing their effectiveness. It also increases the wear of the brake components. o If a tire goes flat while you are driving, apply the brakes gently and keep the car pointed straight ahead while you slow down. When you are moving slowly enough for it to be safe to do so, pull off the road and stop in a safe place. o If your car is equipped with an automatic transaxle, don't let your car creep forward. To avoid creeping forward, keep your foot on the brake pedal when the car is stopped. 2- 7