2005 Hyundai Santa Fe Owner's Manual - Page 166

2 DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI 16 FULL-TIME 4WD OPERATION C350A03O-AAT (If installed) Engine power can be delivered to all wheels. Full-time 4WD is useful when good traction is required, such as, when driving on slippery, wet or snow-covered roads and when moving out of mud. Your vehicle is not designed for challenging off-road use. Full-time 4WD vehicles are designed primarily to improve traction and performance on paved roads and highways in wet and/or slippery conditions. Occasional offroad use such as established unpaved roads and trails is considered normal use. It is always important when traveling off-highway that the driver carefully reduce their speed to a level that does not exceed the safe operating speed for those conditions. In general, off-road conditions provide less traction and braking effectiveness than on road conditions. These factors must be carefully considered when driving off-road. Keeping the vehicle in contact with the driving surface and under control in these conditions is always the driver's responsibility for the safety of him/herself and his or her passengers. ! WARNING: This vehicle is designed primarily for on road use. Driving the vehicle in challenging off-road conditions may result in damage to the vehicle. Driving in conditions that exceed the vehicle's intended design or the driver's experience level may result in severe injury or death. Driving 4WD Safely (1) As always, be sure to wear the seat belt. (2) Do not drive in challenging off-road conditions or areas that exceed the vehicle's basic design intent or the driver's experience level. (3) Drive at lower speeds in strong crosswinds. Because of your vehicle's higher center of gravity, its stability will be affected in crosswinds. Slower speeds ensure better vehicle control. (4) Check the brake condition after driving in wet or muddy conditions. Press the brake several times as you move slowly until you feel normal braking forces return. (5) Do not drive the vehicle through water. (i.e. streams, rivers, lakes, etc.) (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 between your vehicle and the one ahead of you. (7) Since the driving torque is always applied to all 4 wheels, the performance of the full-time 4WD vehicle is greatly affected 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.