2021 HYUNDAI ELANTRA Owners Manual

09
9-59
appEaranCE CarE
Exterior Care
Exterior general caution
It is very important to follow the label
directions when using any chemical
cleaner or polish. Read all warning and
caution statements that appear on the
label.
High-pressure washing
• When using high-pressure washers,
make sure to maintain sufficient
distance from the vehicle. Insufficient
clearance or excessive pressure can
lead to component damage or water
penetration.
• Do not spray the camera, sensors or
its surrounding area directly with a
high pressure washer. Shock applied
from high pressure water may cause
the device to not operate normally.
• Do not bring the nozzle tip close to
boots (rubber or plastic covers) or
connectors as they may be damaged
if they come into contact with high
pressure water.
• Do not use any high-pressure nozzles,
which induce either one-direct water
stream or water swirling.
Protecting your vehicle’s finish
Washing
To help protect your vehicle’s finish from
rust and deterioration, wash it thoroughly
and frequently at least once a month
with lukewarm or cold water.
If you use your vehicle for off-road
driving, you should wash it after each
off-road trip. Pay special attention to the
removal of any accumulation of salt, dirt,
mud, and other foreign materials. Make
sure the drain holes in the lower edges
of the doors and rocker panels are kept
clear and clean.
Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial pollution and similar deposits
can damage your vehicle’s finish if not
removed immediately.
Even prompt washing with plain water
may not completely remove all these
deposits. A mild soap, safe for use on
painted surfaces, should be used.
After washing, rinse the vehicle
thoroughly with lukewarm or cold water.
Do not allow soap to dry on the finish.
High-pressure washing
• When using high-pressure washers,
make sure to maintain sufficient
distance from the vehicle. Insufficient
clearance or excessive pressure can
lead to component damage or water
penetration.
• Do not spray the camera, sensors or
its surrounding area directly with a
high pressure washer. Shock applied
from high pressure water may cause
the device to not operate normally.
• Do not bring the nozzle tip close to
boots (rubber or plastic covers) or
connectors as they may be damaged
if they come into contact with high
pressure water.

Maintenance
9-60
WARNING
After washing the vehicle, test the
brakes while driving slowly to see
if they have been affected by water
before getting on the road. If braking
performance is impaired, dry the
brakes by applying them lightly while
maintaining a slow forward speed.
NOTICE
• Do not use strong soap, chemical
detergents or hot water, and do not
wash the vehicle in direct sunlight
or when the body of the vehicle is
warm.
• Be careful when washing the side
windows of your vehicle.
Especially, with high-pressure water,
water may leak through the windows
and wet the interior.
• To prevent damage to the plastic
parts, do not clean with chemical
solvents or strong detergents.ODN8A089039
NOTICE
• Water washing in the engine
compartment including high
pressure water washing may cause
the failure of electrical circuits
located in the engine compartment.
• Never allow water or other liquids
to come in contact with electrical/
electronic components inside the
vehicle as this may damage them.
NOTICE
Matte paint finish vehicle (if equipped)
Automatic car wash which uses rotating
brushes should not be used as this can
damage the surface of your vehicle. A
steam cleaner which washes the vehicle
surface at high temperature may cause
oil to adhere and leave stains that is
difficult to remove.
Use a soft cloth (e.g. microfiber towel
or sponge) when washing your vehicle
and dry with a microfiber towel. When
you hand wash your vehicle, you should
not use a cleaner that finishes with wax.
If the vehicle surface is too dirty (sand,
dirt, dust, contaminant, etc.), clean the
surface with water before washing the
car.

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9-61
Waxing
A good coat of wax provides a barrier
between your paint and environmental
contamination.
Keeping a good coat of wax on your
vehicle will help protect it.
Wax the vehicle when water will no
longer bead 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. Wax all metal trim to protect
it and to maintain its luster.
Removing oil, tar, and similar materials
with a spot remover will usually strip the
wax from the finish. Be sure to re-wax
these areas even if the rest of the vehicle
does not yet need waxing.
NOTICE
• Wiping dust or dirt off 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 agents on chrome-plated or
anodized aluminum parts. This may
result in damage to the protective
coating and cause discoloration or
paint deterioration.
NOTICE
Matte paint finish vehicle (if equipped)
Do not use any polish protector such as
a detergent, an abrasive and a polish.
In case wax is applied, remove the wax
immediately using a silicon remover
and if any tar or tar contaminant is on
the surface use a tar remover to clean.
However, be careful not to apply too
much pressure on the painted area.
Repairing your vehicle’s finish
Deep scratches or stone chips in the
painted surface must be repaired
promptly. Exposed metal will quickly
rust and may develop into a major repair
expense.
NOTICE
If your vehicle is damaged and requires
any metal repair or replacement,
be sure the body shop applies anti-
corrosion materials to the parts
repaired or replaced.
NOTICE
Matte paint finish vehicle (if equipped)
In case of matte paint finish vehicles,
it is impossible to modify only the
damaged area and repair of the whole
part is necessary. If the vehicle is
damaged and painting is required,
we recommend that you have your
vehicle maintained and repaired by
an authorized HYUNDAI dealer. Take
extreme care, as it is difficult to restore
the quality after the repair.
Bright-metal maintenance
• To remove road tar and insects, use
a tar remover, not a scraper or other
sharp object.
• To protect the surfaces of bright metal
parts from corrosion, apply a coating
of wax or chrome preservative and rub
to a high luster.
• During winter weather or in coastal
areas, cover the bright metal parts
with a heavier coating of wax or
preservative. If necessary, coat the
parts with non-corrosive petroleum
jelly or other protective compound.

Maintenance
9-62
Underbody maintenance
Corrosive materials used for ice and
snow removal and dust control may
collect on the underbody. If these
materials are not removed, accelerated
rusting can occur on underbody parts
such as the fuel lines, frame, floor pan
and exhaust system, even though they
have been treated with rust protection.
Thoroughly flush the vehicle underbody
and wheel openings with lukewarm or
cold water once a month, after off-road
driving and at the end of each winter. Pay
special attention to these areas because
it is difficult to see all the mud and dirt.
It will do more harm than good to wet
down the road grime without removing
it. The lower edges of doors, rocker
panels, and frame members have drain
holes that should not be allowed to clog
with dirt; trapped water in these areas
can cause rusting.
WARNING
After washing the vehicle, test the
brakes while driving slowly to see if
they have been affected by water. If
braking performance is impaired, dry
the brakes by applying them lightly
while maintaining a slow forward
speed.
Aluminum wheel maintenance
The aluminum wheels are coated with a
clear protective finish.
NOTICE
• Do not use abrasive cleaner,
polishing compound, solvent, or wire
brushes on aluminum wheels.
• Clean the wheel when it has cooled.
• Use only a mild soap or neutral
detergent, and rinse thoroughly with
water. Also, clean the wheels after
driving on salted roads.
• Do not wash the wheels with high-
speed car wash brushes.
• Do not use any cleaners containing
acid or alkaline detergents.

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Corrosion protection
Protecting your vehicle from corrosion
By using the most advanced design
and construction practices to combat
corrosion, HYUNDAI produces vehicles
of the highest quality. However, this is
only part of the job. To achieve the long-
term corrosion resistance your vehicle
can deliver, the owner’s cooperation and
assistance is also required.
Common causes of corrosion
The most common causes of corrosion
on your vehicle are:
• Road salt, dirt and moisture that is
allowed to accumulate underneath
the vehicle.
• Removal of paint or protective
coatings by stones, gravel, abrasion
or minor scrapes and dents which
leave unprotected metal exposed to
corrosion.
High-corrosion areas
If you live in an area where your vehicle is
regularly exposed to corrosive materials,
corrosion protection is particularly
important. Some of the common causes
of accelerated corrosion are road salts,
dust control chemicals, ocean air and
industrial pollution. Moisture breeds corrosion
Moisture creates the conditions in
which corrosion is most likely to occur.
For example, corrosion is accelerated
by high humidity, particularly when
temperatures are just above freezing. In
such conditions, the corrosive material is
kept in contact with the car surfaces by
moisture that is slow to evaporate.
Mud is particularly corrosive because it is
slow to dry and holds moisture in contact
with the vehicle. Although the mud
appears to be dry, it can still retain the
moisture and promote corrosion.
High temperatures can also accelerate
corrosion of parts that are not properly
ventilated so the moisture can be
dispersed. For all these reasons, it is
particularly important to keep your
vehicle clean and free of mud or
accumulations of other materials. This
applies not only to the visible surfaces
but particularly to the underside of the
vehicle.

Maintenance
9-64
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
underside of the vehicle is particularly
important.
• If you live in a high-corrosion area —
where road salts are used, near the
ocean, areas with industrial pollution,
acid rain, etc.—, you should take extra
care to prevent corrosion. In winter,
hose off the underside of your vehicle
at least once a month and be sure to
clean the underside thoroughly when
winter is over.
• When cleaning underneath the
vehicle, pay particular attention to the
components under the fenders and
other areas that are hidden from view.
Do a thorough job; just dampening
the accumulated mud rather than
washing it away will accelerate
corrosion rather than prevent it. Water
under high pressure and steam are
particularly effective in removing
accumulated mud and corrosive
materials.
• When cleaning lower door panels,
rocker panels and frame members, be
sure that drain holes are kept open so
that moisture can escape and not be
trapped inside to accelerate corrosion. Keep your garage dry
Don’t park your vehicle in a damp,
poorly ventilated garage. This creates
a favorable environment for corrosion.
This is particularly true if you wash your
vehicle in the garage or drive it into the
garage when it is still wet or covered with
snow, ice or mud. Even a heated garage
can contribute to corrosion unless it is
well ventilated so moisture is dispersed.
Keep paint and trim in good condition
Scratches or chips in the finish should
be covered with “touch-up” paint as
soon as possible to reduce the possibility
of corrosion. If bare metal is showing
through, the attention of a qualified body
and paint shop is recommended.
Bird droppings are highly corrosive and
may damage painted surfaces in just a
few hours. Always remove bird droppings
as soon as possible.

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9-65
Interior Care
Interior general precautions
Prevent caustic solutions such as
perfume and cosmetic oil, from
contacting the interior parts because
they may cause damage or discoloration.
If they do contact the interior parts,
wipe them off immediately. See the
instructions for the proper way to clean
vinyl.
NOTICE
• Never allow water or other liquids
to come in contact with electrical/
electronic components inside the
vehicle as this may damage them.
• When cleaning leather products
(steering wheel, seats etc.), use
neutral detergents or low alcohol
content solutions. If you use high
alcohol content solutions or acid/
alkaline detergents, the color of the
leather may fade or the surface may
get stripped off.
Cleaning the upholstery and interior
trim
Vinyl (if equipped)
Remove dust and loose dirt from vinyl
with a whisk broom or vacuum cleaner.
Clean vinyl surfaces with a vinyl cleaner.
Fabric (if equipped)
Remove dust and loose dirt from
fabric with a whisk broom or vacuum
cleaner. Clean with a mild soap solution
recommended for upholstery or carpets.
Remove fresh spots immediately with
a fabric spot cleaner. If fresh spots do
not receive immediate attention, the
fabric can be stained and its color can be
affected. Also, its fire-resistant properties
can be reduced if the material is not
properly maintained.
NOTICE
Using anything but recommended
cleaners and procedures may affect the
fabric’s appearance and fire-resistant
properties.

Maintenance
9-66
Leather (if equipped)
• Features of seat leather
- Lea

ther is made from the outer skin
of an animal, which goes through a
special process to be available for
use. Since it is a natural product,
each part differs in thickness or
density.
Wrinkles may appear as a natural
result of stretching and shrinking
depending on the temperature and
humidity.
- The seat is made o

f stretchable
fabric to improve comfort.
- The parts contacting the body ar

e
curved and the side supporting
area is high which provides driving
comfort and stability.
- Wrinkles ma

y appear naturally
from usage. It is not a fault of the
products.
CAUTION
• Wrinkles or abrasions which appear
naturally from usage are not covered
by warranty.
• Belts with metallic accessories,
zippers or keys inside the back
pocket may damage the seat fabric.
• Make sure not to wet the seat. It may
change the nature of natural leather.
• Jeans or clothes which could bleach
may contaminate the surface of the
seat covering fabric. •
Caring for the leather seats
- Vacuum the sea
t periodically to
remove dust and sand on the seat. It
will prevent abrasion or damage of
the leather and maintain its quality.
- Wipe the natur
al leather seat cover
often with dry or soft cloth.
- Use o
f proper leather protector may
prevent abrasion of the cover and
helps maintain the color. Be sure to
read the instructions and consult
a specialist when using leather
coating or protective agent.
- Light color
ed (beige, cream beige)
leather is easily contaminated and
the stain is noticeable. Clean the
seats frequently.
- Av
oid wiping with wet cloth. It may
cause the surface to crack.
• Cleaning the leather seats
- Remo
ve all contaminations
instantly. Refer to instructions below
for removal of each contaminant. - Cosmetic pr oducts (sunscreen,
foundation, etc.)
Apply cleansing cream on a cloth
and wipe the contaminated spot.
Wipe off the cream with a wet cloth
and remove water with a dry cloth.
- Bev

erages (coffee, soft drink, etc.)
Apply a small amount of neutral
detergent and wipe until
contaminations do not smear.
- Oil Remo

ve oil instantly with
absorbable cloth and wipe with
stain remover used only for natural
leather.
- Chewing gum
Har

den the gum with ice and
remove gradually.