Exterior Care

Exterior General Precautions

It is very important to follow the label instructions when using any chemical cleaner or polish. Read all warnings and cautions that appear on the label.

Complete the Maintenance

Car Wash

To protect your vehicle's paint from rust and wear, wash it thoroughly with warm or cold water at least once a month.

If you use your vehicle for off-road driving, you must wash it after every off-road trip. Pay special attention to removing any accumulations of salt, mud, dirt, and other foreign materials. Make sure the drain holes in the lower edges of the doors and rocker panels remain clear and clean.

Insects, resin, tree sap, bird droppings, industrial fallout, and similar deposits may damage your vehicle's finish if not removed immediately.

Even a quick wash with plain water cannot completely remove all of these deposits. Use a mild soap that is safe for painted surfaces.

After washing, rinse the vehicle thoroughly with warm or cold water. Do not allow soap to dry on the finish.

High-Pressure Washing

• When using a high-pressure washer, keep a sufficient distance from the vehicle. Insufficient or excessive pressure may cause component damage or water penetration.
• Do not spray the camera, sensors or their surroundings directly with a high-pressure washer. The impact of high-pressure water may cause the device to malfunction.
• Do not direct the nozzle tip close to boots (rubber or plastic covers) or gold connectors, as they may be damaged if they come into contact with high-pressure water.

WARNING

After washing the vehicle, check the brakes while driving slowly to see if they have been affected by water before proceeding. If braking performance is reduced, dry the brakes by lightly applying them while maintaining a slow forward speed.

NOTICE

• Do not use strong soap, chemical cleaners, or hot water, and do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight or when the body is warm.
• Be careful when washing the windows of your vehicle.
• Especially with high-pressure water, water may leak through the windows and wet the interior.
• To avoid damaging plastic parts, do not clean them with chemical solvents or strong cleaners.

NOTICE

• Washing the engine compartment with water, including high-pressure water washing, may cause electrical circuits located in the engine compartment to malfunction.
• Never allow water or other liquids to contact electrical/electronic components inside the vehicle, as this may cause damage to them.

NOTICE

Matte paint finish (if equipped)

Do not use an automatic car wash with rotating brushes, as this may damage the surface of your vehicle. A steam cleaner that washes the vehicle surface at high temperature may cause oil to adhere and leave stains that are difficult to remove.

Use a soft cloth (such as a microfiber towel or sponge) when washing the vehicle, and dry it with a microfiber towel. When washing the vehicle by hand, do not use a cleaner that contains wax. If the vehicle surface is very dirty (sand, mud, dust, contaminants, etc.), rinse the surface with water before washing the vehicle.

Waxing

A good layer of wax acts as a barrier between your paint and contamination. Maintaining a good layer of wax on your vehicle will help protect it.

Wax the vehicle when water no longer beads on the paint.

Always wash and dry the vehicle before waxing. Use a good-quality liquid or paste wax and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Apply wax to all metal trim to protect it and maintain its shine.

Removing oil, resin, and similar materials with a spot remover will usually remove wax from the finish. Be sure to reapply wax to these areas, even if the rest of the vehicle does not yet need waxing.

NOTICE

• Removing dust or dirt from the body with a dry cloth will scratch the finish.
• Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or strong detergents containing highly alkaline or caustic substances on chrome-plated parts or anodized aluminum parts. This may damage the protective coating and cause discoloration or damage to the paint.

NOTICE

Matte paint finish (if equipped)

Do not use polishing compounds such as cleaners, abrasives, and polishes. If wax is applied by mistake, remove it immediately with a silicone remover. If any resin or resin contamination is present, use a resin remover to clean the surface. However, be careful not to apply excessive pressure to the painted area.

Complete the Repair of Damage

Deep scratches or stone chips on painted surfaces must be repaired promptly. Exposed metal will quickly rust and may develop into costly major repairs.

NOTICE

If your vehicle is damaged and requires any repair or replacement of metal, make sure the body shop applies anti-corrosion treatment materials to the repaired or replaced parts.

NOTICE

Matte paint finish (if equipped)

On matte-painted vehicles, it is not possible to refinish only the damaged area; the entire panel must be repainted. If the vehicle is damaged and requires painting, have your vehicle serviced and repaired by an authorized HYUNDAI dealer. Use extreme caution, as it is difficult to restore the quality after repair.

Bright Metal Care

• To remove road tar and insects, use a tar remover, not a scraper or other sharp object.
• To protect bright metal surfaces from corrosion, apply a coating of wax or chrome protectant and polish to a high shine.
• In winter or in coastal areas, coat bright metal parts with a thick layer of wax or protectant. If necessary, cover the parts with non-aggressive petroleum jelly or other protective compound.

Underbody Maintenance

Corrosive materials used for ice and snow removal and dust control may collect on the underbody. If these materials are not removed, corrosion may accelerate and rust may appear on underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and exhaust system, even though they have been treated with rust protection.

Thoroughly wash the underbody and wheel wells with warm or cold water once a month, after driving off-road, and at the end of each winter. Pay special attention to these areas, since it is difficult to see all the dirt and mud. Wetting will do more harm than good if the road dirt is not removed. The lower edges of the doors, rocker panels, and frame members have drain holes that must not be clogged with dirt; standing water in these areas may cause rust.

WARNING

After washing the vehicle, check the brakes at low speed to make sure they are not affected by water. If braking efficiency is reduced, dry the brakes by lightly applying them while maintaining a slow forward speed.

Aluminum Wheel Care

Aluminum wheels are covered with a clear protective coating.

• Do not use abrasive cleaners, polishing compounds, solvents or wire brushes on aluminum wheels.
• Clean the wheel when it has cooled down.
• Use only mild soap or a neutral detergent and rinse thoroughly with water. Also clean the wheels after driving on salted roads.
• Do not wash the wheels with high-speed automatic car wash brushes.
• Do not use cleaners containing acidic or alkaline substances.

Corrosion protection

Protecting Your Vehicle from Corrosion

Using the most advanced design and construction methods to fight corrosion, HYUNDAI produces vehicles of the highest quality. However, this is only part of the job. To achieve long-term corrosion resistance, your vehicle requires cooperation and assistance from the owner.

Common Causes of Corrosion

The most common causes of corrosion on your vehicle are:

• Road salt, mud, and moisture are allowed to accumulate under the vehicle.
• Paint or protective coating removed by stones, gravel, abrasion, or minor scratches and chips that leave bare metal exposed to corrosion.

High-Corrosion Areas

If you live in an area where your vehicle is regularly exposed to aggressive materials, corrosion protection is especially important. Some common causes of accelerated corrosion are road salts, dust-control chemicals, ocean air, and industrial pollution.

Moisture Causes Corrosion

Moisture creates the conditions in which corrosion is most likely. For example, corrosion accelerates in high humidity, especially at temperatures slightly above freezing. Under these conditions, corrosive materials contact the vehicle surfaces with moisture that evaporates slowly.

Dirt is especially aggressive because it dries slowly and retains moisture in contact with the vehicle. Although dirt may appear dry, it can still retain moisture and promote corrosion.

High temperatures can also accelerate corrosion of parts that are not properly ventilated, so moisture may be trapped. For all these reasons, it is especially important to keep the vehicle clean and free of dirt or accumulated foreign materials. This applies not only to visible surfaces but especially to the underbody of the vehicle.

To help prevent corrosion

Keep your vehicle clean

The best way to prevent corrosion is to keep your vehicle clean and free of corrosive materials. Attention to the underbody of the vehicle is especially important.

• If you live in a high-corrosion area, where road salt is used, near the ocean, in areas with industrial pollution, acid rain, etc., you should take extra care to prevent corrosion. In winter, spray the underside of your vehicle at least once a month and be sure to thoroughly clean the underbody when winter is over.
• When cleaning the underbody of the vehicle, pay special attention to components behind the fenders and other areas that are hidden from view. Perform a thorough job; simply loosening accumulated dirt rather than washing it away will accelerate corrosion rather than prevent it. High-pressure water and steam are especially effective at removing accumulated dirt and corrosive materials.
• When cleaning the lower door panels, rocker panels and frame members, make sure the drain holes are open so that moisture can escape and not remain inside, where it can accelerate corrosion.

Keep your garage dry

Do not park the vehicle in a damp, poorly ventilated garage. This creates a favorable environment for corrosion. This is especially true if you wash the vehicle in the garage or drive it into the garage while it is still wet or covered with snow, ice or dirt. Even a warm garage can promote corrosion unless it is well ventilated so that moisture is dispersed.

Keep paint and finish in good condition

Scratches or chips in the finish should be touched up with touch-up paint as soon as possible to reduce the likelihood of corrosion. If bare metal is visible, consultation with a qualified service department or body shop is recommended.

Bird droppings are very acidic and can damage painted surfaces in just a few hours. Always remove bird droppings as soon as possible.