Hyundai Matrix 2003 Owner's Manual page 111

kg (Lbs.)
Maximum Towable
Weight
Trailer Tongue
1,300
MANUAL
1.5 Diesel
With
(2,865)
TRANSAXLE
1.6/1.8 L
52
Brake
1,100
AUTO
(115)
1.6/1.8 L
Type
(2,424)
TRANSAXLE
Without Brake Type
550 (1,212)
WARNING:
Improperly loading your car and trailer can
serious affect its steering and braking perfor-
mance causing a crash in which could cause
serious injury or death.
C190F02A-GAT
Trailer or Vehicle Towing Tips
1. Before towing, check hitch and safety chain
connections as well as proper operation of
the trailer running lights, brake lights, and turn
signals.
2. Always drive your vehicle at a moderate
speed (Less than 100 km/h).
3. Trailer towing requires more fuel than normal
conditions.
4. To maintain engine braking efficiency and
electrical charging performance, do not use
fifth gear (manual transaxle) or overdrive
(automatic transaxle).
2- 14
DRIVING YOUR HYUNDAI
5. Always secure items in the trailer to prevent
load shift while driving.
6. Check the condition and air pressure of all
tires on the trailer and your car. Low tire
pressure can seriously affect the handling.
Also check the spare tire.
7. The vehicle/trailer combination is more af-
fected by crosswind and buffeting.
When being passed by a large vehicle, keep
a constant speed and steer straight ahead. If
there is too much wind buffeting slow down to
get out of the other vehicle's air turbulence.
8. When parking your car and trailer, especially
on a hill, be sure to follow all the normal
precautions. Turn your front wheel into the
curb, set the parking brake firmly, and put the
transaxle in 1st or Reverse (manual) or Park
(automatic). In addition, place wheel chocks
at each of the trailer's tires.
9. If the trailer has electric brakes, start your
vehicle and trailer moving, and then apply the
trailer brake controller by hand to be sure the
brakes are working. This lets you check your
electrical connection at the same time.
10.During your trip, check occasionally to be
sure that the load is secure, and that the
lights and any trailer brakes are still working.
11.Avoid jerky starts, sudden acceleration or
sudden stops.
12.Avoid sharp turns and rapid lane changes.
13.Avoid holding the brake pedal down too long
or too frequently. This could cause the brakes
to overheat, resulting in reduced braking effi-
ciency.
14.When going down a hill, shift into a lower gear
and use the engine braking effect.
When ascending a long grade, downshift the
transaxle to a lower gear and reduce speed to
reduce chances of engine overloading and/or
overheating.
15.If you have to stop while going uphill, do not
hold the vehicle in place by pressing on the
accelerator. This can cause the automatic
transaxle to overheat. Use the parking brake
or footbrake.
NOTE:
When towing check transaxle fluid more fre-
quently.
CAUTION:
If overheating should occur when towing,
(temperature gauge reads near red zone),
taking the following action may reduce or
eliminate the problem.
1. Turn off the air conditioner.
2. Reduce highway speed.
3. Select a lower gear when going uphill.
4. While in stop and go traffic, place the gear
selection in park or neutral and idle the engine
at a higher speed.