2013 Hyundai Sonata Owner's Manual - Page 254

Driving your vehicle • During cold weather, shifting may be difficult until the transaxle lubricant is warmed up. This is normal and not harmful to the transaxle. • If you've come to a complete stop and it's hard to shift into 1st or R (Reverse), leave the shift lever in the neutral position and release the clutch. Depress the clutch pedal back down, and then shift into 1st or R (Reverse) gear position. WARNING • Before leaving the driver's seat, always set the parking brake fully and shut the engine off. Then make sure the transaxle is shifted into 1st gear when the vehicle is parked on a level or uphill grade, and shifted into R (Reverse) on a downhill grade. Unexpected and sudden vehicle movement can occur if these precautions are not followed in the order identified. CAUTION • To avoid premature clutch wear and damage, do not drive with your foot resting on the clutch pedal. Also, don't use the clutch to hold the vehicle stopped on an uphill grade, while waiting for a traffic light, etc. • Do not use the shift lever as a handrest during driving, as this can result in premature wear of the transaxle shift forks. • When operating the clutch pedal, press the clutch pedal down fully. If you don't press the clutch pedal fully, the clutch may be damaged or noise may occur. Using the clutch The clutch should be depressed all the way to the floor before shifting, then released slowly. The clutch pedal should always be fully released while driving. Do not rest your foot on the clutch pedal while driving. This can cause unnecessary wear. Do not partially engage the clutch to hold the vehicle on an incline. This causes unnecessary wear. Use the foot brake or parking brake to hold the vehicle on an incline. Do not operate the clutch pedal rapidly and repeatedly. Downshifting It is important to downshift when you must slow down in heavy traffic or while driving up or down steep hills. Downshifting reduces the chance of stalling and gives better acceleration. When the vehicle is traveling down steep hills, downshifting helps maintain safe speed and prolongs brake life. 5 12