2003 Hyundai Elantra Owner's Manual - Page 105

DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI C070A02A-AAT OPERATING THE MANUAL TRANSAXLE o If you 've come to a complete stop and it's hard to shift into 1st or R(Reverse), put the shift lever in N(Neutral) position and release the clutch. Press the clutch pedal back down, and then shift into 1st or R(Reverse) gear position. o Do not use the shift lever as a handrest during driving, as this can result in premature wear of the transaxle shift forks. C070E03A-AAT Recommended Shift Points Shift from-to 1-2 2-3 3-4 4-5 Recommended mph (km/h) 15 (20) 25 (40) 35 (55) 45 (75) CAUTION: When downshifting from fifth gear to fourth gear, caution should be taken not to inadvertently press the gear shift lever sideways in such a manner that second gear is engaged. Such a drastic downshift may cause the engine speed to increase to the point that the tachometer will enter the red zone. Such over-revving of the engine may possibly cause engine damage. C070B01A-AAT SSA2090A Your Hyundai's manual transaxle has a conventional shift pattern. This shift pattern is imprinted on the shift knob. The transaxle is fully synchronized in all forward gears so shifting to either a higher or a lower gear is easily accomplished. The shift points as shown above are recommended for optimum fuel economy and performance. C070D03A-AAT Good Driving Practices o Never take the car out of gear and coast down a hill. This is extremely hazardous. Always leave the car in gear. o Don't "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. This will help avoid over-revving the engine, which can cause damage. o Slow down when you encounter cross winds. This gives you much better control of your car. NOTE: o To shift into reverse, rest the lever in neutral for at least 3 seconds after your car is completely stopped. Then move the lever into the reverse position. o During cold weather, shifting may be difficult until the transaxle lubricant has warmed up. This is normal and not harmful to the transaxle. Using the Clutch The clutch should be pressed all the way to the floor before shifting, then released slowly. The clutch pedal should always be used after fully returning to the original position. 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 car on an incline. This causes unnecessary wear. Use the parking brake to hold the car on an incline. Do not operate the clutch pedal rapidly and repeatedly. 2- 4