Hyundai | Laser Wheel Alignment

How to Change Your Air Filter

Obtain the correct replacement filter. It should be the same as the one you will replace. Consult your owner's manual or auto parts store if you need assistance finding the right part.

1. Secure the vehicle. Park the car on level ground and apply the parking brake. Shift into first gear (manual transmission) or Park (automatic transmission), and turn off the ignition.
   
   
2. 
   
   Open the bonnet (hood). Release the bonnet with the lever inside the car. Move the exterior bonnet catch for final release. Lift the bonnet and secure it with the prop rod.
   
   
3. 
   
   Locate the air filter unit. The air filter unit is usually situated on top of the engine.
   
   
   • On older cars with carburettors the filter is usually under a bulky, round cover made of plastic or metal.
   • Newer, fuel-injected cars tend to have a square or rectangular air filter housing can be found slightly off centre between the front grill and the engine.
4. 
   
   Remove the air filter cover. Loosen the hose clamp that seals the air conduct. Undo all the screws holding the air filter cover. Some models have wing nuts; other air filters are just clamped on with a quick release system. Keep screws and other parts together and in a safe location so you can find them later. Pull the cover out of the air conduit and lift it up so it comes off the lower part of the housing. Consult a mechanic if you don't know how to lift the cover.
   
   
5. 
   
   Take out the air filter. Now you can see a round or rectangular filter made of cotton, paper or gauze. Filters have a rubber rim that seals off the unit's interior. Simply lift the filter out of the housing.
   
   
6. 
   
   Clean the air filter housing.Connect the air hose to the compressor and use the compressed air to blow out the dust, or use a vacuum cleaner to suck up any dirt.
   
   
   • Seal the air conduit with removable adhesive tape. It only takes a minute and that way you won't get any dirt into the engine whilst cleaning.
7. 
   
   Replace the filter. Replace the old filter with a new one. Simply insert it into the housing with the rubber rim facing up. Make sure the edges are sealed by the rubber rim.
   
   
8. 
   
   Replace the cover. Carefully insert the cover back into the air conduit and then press the entire piece down onto the lower half of the air filter unit.
   
   
   • Make sure it's on straight and securely; otherwise you could alter engine performance. Tighten all the screws or clamps and recheck that you have put everything firmly back together by rocking the unit gently with both hands. Shut the bonnet securely.
9. 
   
   Check the filter regularly to keep your car breathing at maximum efficiency by keeping the dust out.
   
   
10.  
     
    
    
    Change the filter every 50,000 km (30,000 miles), or about once a year. If you drive in a dusty area, it will need replacement more often. Your owner's manual or periodic maintenance guide should have recommendations for your car.
    
    

Hyundai: with limited infrastructure, fuel cells will be 'one of' future green technologies

In the US, Hyundai started a fuel cell vehicle demonstration fleet in 2005. However, infrastructure during demonstration fleet testing is important and the fuel cell station infrastructure in the US still needs the government's financial support. Infrastructure development in the US has been slow, thereby limiting any potential demand. Hyundai strongly believes fuel cells will be one of the important future vehicle technologies globally and we are targeting mass production for consumer retail with an affordable price beyond 2015. Currently Hyundai is investigating potential demand for the Tucson Fuel Cell Vehicle in the US market, particularly in California, where most of the H2 refueling infrastructure development has taken place.

Recently, the European Community (EC) has made plans for infrastructure and vehicle deployment. Many EC municipalities are funding the H2 refueling stations as well as vehicle development. Many municipalities are providing significant amounts of tax exemptions and incentives. In January, Hyundai became the first automaker to begin assembly-line production of fuel cell vehicles, largely targeted for the EU market.

In Korea, the government has initiated fuel cell incentives amounting to around half of the vehicle upgrade cost. Even though the budget is minimal this year, it will be extended to encompass large-scale volume.

Fuel Cell vehicle is a type of electric vehicle that uses hydrogen fuel to generate electricity, rather than using stored electricity from batteries. The generation of electricity from hydrogen requires several major systems including a Fuel Cell Stack, Air Processing Unit, Fuel Processing Unit, Thermal Management System, High Voltage Unit, and other driveline components. Modularization is taking place in all these systems and is allowing for improvements in assembly productivity. Unification of systems allows for a more compact, lighter design, which can also improve overall system efficiency. Modularization also allows for application on different vehicle platforms, from passenger car applications to commercial busses. Hyundai continues to refine and improve its fuel cell system to optimize overall design and modularity.

The Tucson Fuel Cell and the ix35 Fuel Cell rely entirely on hydrogen for propulsion. However, an on-board 24kW lithium polymer battery assists the fuel cell during brisk acceleration, similar to a hybrid vehicle. There are four different driving modes on the Tucson Fuel Cell Vehicle. 1) Fuel Cell Mode: Vehicle is powered only by the fuel cell (such as when cruising). 2) Assist Mode: Vehicle is powered by both fuel cell and battery (such as when accelerating). 3) Charge Mode: Fuel cell charges battery when its charge level is low. 4) Regeneration Mode: Battery is charged by electric motor during vehicle braking.

Hyundai recently became the first automaker to begin assembly-line production of fuel cell vehicles. We plan to make about 1,000 units over the next two years. One of the challenges of this program is the relatively high vehicle cost due to its small scale production. High development costs per unit drive the vehicle price up. If Hyundai produced fuel cell vehicles in larger volumes, the price would be significantly reduced. However, H2 infrastructure in various regions still limits potential sales, thus large scale production will be tempered until the infrastructure catches up with technology development. In the mean time, Hyundai is investigating methods to reduce the vehicle cost further by developing break-through technology, such as low Pt or non-Pt catalyst technology, system simplification, and upgraded system efficiencies.

How To Wash and Wax Your Car

It may seem counter-intuitive, but frequently washing and waxing your vehicle is the best way to maintain its exterior paint finish for years to come, regardless of the constant wiping and rubbing it entails — but only as long as you're using the right products in the correct order. All major brands of car washes, car waxes and related detailing products are specially formulated to work gently on the clear-coat paint finishes found on every car built since the mid-1990s. They're ideal for removing dirt above and below the surface, eliminating swirls and other imperfections and leaving a high-gloss shine.
Such obsessive-compulsive labor need not be arduous, however. While there are multiple procedures involved in washing and waxing a car to perfection, it's not necessary to do them all at once. Some steps should be taken weekly. Others can be employed every few months or annually. If you want to watch some pros using the techniques described in this story, check out the instructional videos from car-care product companies Meguiar's and Mothers.
At all times, there are some simple car wash rules to keep in mind:

• No matter which stage you're at in the car wash and wax process, it's always best to have the car parked in a cool, shady place.

If the water you're using to wash the car is hard — meaning that it contains a lot of minerals — it will leave spots on the paint's finish when it evaporates. That happens more quickly in hot sunlight. And although many modern, synthetic polymer-based car waxes are sun-friendly since they won't dry too quickly and become difficult to remove, you'll expend less effort if you use them on a cool surface. For best results, the car's surface should be no more than warm to the touch.

• Be sure to have a good stock of microfiber towels on hand for washing and drying the car, and for applying and removing car wax and related car-care products.

A microfiber towel is gentler to a car's finish than a cotton towel or chamois, which could mar the finish, creating slight scratches or ruts that accumulate over time. Microfiber towels require special care, however. Wash them separately from all other laundry and especially not with linty cotton towels. Use hot water and don't use fabric softener. Run them through at least one additional rinse cycle in the washing machine. Then dry them on a low-heat setting. Finally, stop using them on painted or glass surfaces when they begin to show their age by, for example, shedding lint. Instead, use them for polishing wheels and, later, for polishing stainless steel exhaust pipe tips.

• Keep the car's paint in showroom condition through a four-step process: washing, cleaning, polishing and waxing.

It's important to use the correct products at the correct stages. This will prevent unnecessary damage to your car's finish.
Washing
The most critical of the four steps is washing, which removes the loose contaminants that gradually accumulate on the surface of the finish, creating a gritty residue that could cause scratches in later steps if it's not removed properly first. This requires a genuine car wash product (such as Meguiar's Gold Class Car Wash, Mothers California Gold Carnauba Wash and Wax or Turtle Wax ICE Premium Care Car Wash). These products are pH-balanced and formulated to loosen and lift surface contaminants without stripping away waxes.
You should avoid normal dish soap, laundry soap and household cleaners. They are designed to remove and dissolve grease and oil, and they will strip away the waxes and in some instances could damage the car's finish.
Wash the car thoroughly, working from the top down and utilizing a lamb's wool or microfiber washing mitt. Professional car detailers prefer these because the nap of the lamb's wool or microfiber draws the dirt particles away from the paint. Re-dip the mitt in the bucket after each panel of the car is washed. That cleans the mitt and ensures that you're again working with fresh suds.
For soft convertible tops, dip a soft bristle brush in the suds and work the dirt out of the grain using small, circular strokes. If the top is heavily soiled or stained, use a product designed for convertible tops, such as Meguiar's Convertible Top Cleaner. These products are pH-balanced to safely lift dirt from cloth and vinyl tops without damaging the stitching.
Dry the car thoroughly with a soft, absorbent waffle-weave microfiber drying towel. Do not store the top in the down position if it is still wet, says the Haartz Corporation, a leading manufacturer of convertible tops. Make sure the top is completely dry before storing.
Experts recommend washing a car this way weekly.
For casual touch-ups between washes, you can use a spray-on product called a detailer (such as Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Detailer, Mothers California Gold Showtime Instant Detailer and Turtle Wax ICE Premium Care Spray Detailer). Detailer products slough off light surface dirt, but don't offer any protection.
Cleaning the Gunk
Next, inspect the paint, searching for above-the-surface bonded contaminants such as a thin film of tree sap, bird droppings or pollen and below-the-surface defects such as swirls, oxidation caused by the sun's ultraviolet radiation or etching from acid rain.
Lightly sweep your flat hand along the paint. If it does not feel as smooth as glass, you have above-the-surface contaminants. A clay bar designed for car care (such as the one included in Meguiar's Smooth Surface Clay Kit or in Mothers California Gold Clay Bar Kit) is mildly abrasive to shear off and remove these contaminants. It should be the first product you use to try to remove them. Rub it over the affected area, kneading and turning it to expose a clean area when necessary.
For below-the-surface defects, you can use a cleaner with mild abrasives (such as Meguiar's Ultimate Compound or Mothers California Gold Pure Polish). Use a microfiber-covered or foam applicator pad to apply it, using small circular, overlapping strokes. Never use hard pressure.
Cleaning a section of the vehicle at a time, remove the cleaner with a microfiber towel that you've folded into fourths. Use one side to break up and wipe away the hazy product, then flip the towel over to a clean side to remove any additional residue. Your paint should now feel smooth and should be free of swirls and defects.
If upon the initial inspection you do not find any defects — either above or below the surface — you can skip the cleaning step altogether and go straight to polishing and waxing. However, experts say that use of a clay bar probably will be necessary every six months.
Polishing
Polishes and glazes add luster but do not protect the finish, so using them is entirely optional, especially since clear-coat finishes are highly resistant to oxidation. Even years-old cars generally retain their shine today.
Nevertheless, products such as Meguiar's Ultimate Polish and Mothers California Gold Micro-Polishing Glaze can restore the natural oils your paint once had, making the car's surface more reflective and shiny. Using a polish or glaze once a year may be helpful. Although light-colored paints such as white, silver and tan may not display much change, darker colors such as black, burgundy and navy blue will reflect light like a mirror after proper polishing.
As you did during the cleaning process, apply the polish or glaze by hand, using small circular, overlapping strokes with a microfiber-covered or foam applicator pad on one section of the car at a time, removing the polish with a microfiber towel after the product becomes hazy. Don't allow the polish to dry completely. Trying to remove dry polish will almost certainly result in scratches to the finish.
Waxing
For protection, you need to apply a car wax, and experts recommend that this be done at least every three months. However, there are varieties of wax that can be used much more frequently. If you're really obsessive, some can be used as often as every few days.
The newest synthetic polymer-based waxes (such as Meguiar's Ultimate Wax, Mothers California Gold Synthetic Wax and Turtle Wax ICE Premium Care Liquid Wax) generally provide longer-lasting protection and are easier to use in the sun than older-style carnauba-based waxes (such as Meguiar's Gold Class Carnauba Plus Wax and Mothers California Gold Pure Brazilian Carnauba Wax).
Normally, the newer liquid or paste waxes provide the longest-lasting protection — usually three or four months if the car is kept in a garage and not exposed to a harsh environment.
When applying a liquid or paste wax, you'll use the same technique: small, circular, overlapping strokes, using a microfiber-covered or foam applicator pad and working one section of the vehicle at a time. As in the other steps, remove the wax with a microfiber towel that you've folded into fourths, using one side to break the waxy surface, then flipping the towel over to a clean side to remove any additional residue.
Spray waxes (such as Meguiar's Ultimate Quik Wax, Mothers California Gold Spray Wax and Turtle Wax ICE Premium Care Spray Wax) are designed for quick application but generally don't offer the same long-lasting protection as the liquids or pastes. Experts say that spray waxes should be used as a booster between the quarterly applications of the liquid or paste waxes. Some car-care experts recommend using these spray waxes as often as twice per week. Some say once a month is sufficient.
A Special Caution on Matte Finishes
Except for washing with a car wash product, nothing should be done to or applied to a car covered in a matte paint with a flat finish, such as Mercedes-Benz's "designo Magno" series. These matte paints also can be cleaned in a brushless automated car wash as long as the machine does not apply any shine agents. And as with a car that sports a glossy finish, it is important to clean bird droppings, tree sap and other surface contaminants from a matte paint finish immediately.
Your Car Wax Mileage May Vary
Despite their suggestions for how often owners should clean and wax, product manufacturers won't make any firm promises for how long any of their products will actually protect a vehicle.
"How long a wax lasts on Car A is not necessarily true how long it lasts on Car B," says Michael Deddo, senior research chemist at Turtle Wax in Willowbrook, Illinois. "Every car is like its own paint canvas. Every one is different."

2013 Hyundai Elantra | "Fluidic"

Hyundai Motorsports | Rhys Millen Racing | Sculpting a Winning Shape

Hyundai Azera makes luxury more common

It’s hard to know what to think about Hyundai. The Azera only makes it harder.

All of the large and influential car companies sell luxury lines. But their luxury models are sold as separate brands, apart from their mass-consumer models. We have the Lexus brand of luxury autos from Toyota, the Infiniti brand from Nissan, the Cadillac brand from General Motors, and others.
The reasoning holds that a stately Lincoln MKS sedan, for example, will seem less stately if it wears the same Ford badge you see on every-day models like the little Ford Fiesta and Ford Escort. Therefore Ford operates its Lincoln unit as an entity wholly apart from the Ford brand. The separation gives Lincoln more luster.

Hyundai is a medium-sized auto company striving to get larger. It is rapidly gaining influence from some stunning models it produces. It sells luxury autos, too, just like the really big guns in the auto biz. But Hyundai does not separate its luxury line from its consumer models. They all wear a Hyundai badge, and are sold side by side at Hyundai dealerships. Hyundai is the only auto company doing that.
“They’re defying the industry,” said Mike Palmer, sales manager at Salem Ford Hyundai in Salem, N.H.

The Azera sedan is such an appealing and alluring luxury sedan that it makes Hyundai’s unique approach stand out all the more. The Hyundai Azera is a front-drive, four-door sedan that seats five and falls into the government’s large-car category because of its roomy interior.
Azera is the first of three high-level sedans from Hyundai. Azera starts at a list price of $33,145. Next up is the Hyundai Genesis four-door sedan, starting at $35,095. The Hyundai Equus sedan lists for $60,170 at the base level.
Azera is solidly built, showing the sheen and high gloss you expect from an upper-priced auto. It is seductively shaped, with a gracefully undulating body that sets it apart from other cars. The model’s interior is well-finished, showing high-grade materials tastefully arranged in a refined design that is aesthetically pleasing, comfortable and functionally useful.
Azera is also well-powered, with a V6 engine that puts out just under 300 horsepower, attached to a six-speed automatic transmission that steps through its gears with calm efficiency. The transmission’s six speeds, along with engine upgrades made to the 2013 model, help make the Azera notably efficient for a sedan its size. The car’s fuel-economy rating is 20 miles per gallon in city driving, and 30 mpg on the highway.

All told, Azera’s sophistication and stand-out design are so apparent that I felt distinguished driving the car through a one-week evaluation. In fact, I felt as distinctive in the Hyundai Azera as I feel when driving many models from recognized luxury brands. The car seemed to shine brightly on its merits alone, so that a common family name cannot dim it.
While its premium qualities are unmistakable, the Azera’s more-for-the-money price remains a primary selling point, observed Palmer, the sales manager at Salem Ford Hyundai. Many shoppers find that the features and equipment installed in the Azera top the starting-level features that come in other luxury models. To get many of them in competing cars, you pay extra, he said.
“For everything that you get in Azera, you’re looking at a $40,000 to $50,000 Infiniti,” Palmer illustrated.
Notable standard features in the Hyundai Azera are leather upholstery, a navigation system with touch screen, back-up camera, heated outside mirrors with integrated turn signals, heated front and rear seats, automatic two-zone climate control, 10-way power driver seat and eight-way power front passenger seat, high-grade audio system, and large, 18-inch allow wheels. The only primary option you can purchase with Azera is a $4,000 “technology package,” which adds such features as power rear-window shade, panoramic sun roof, ventilated front seats, parking sensors, an upgraded audio system and larger alloy wheels.

Hyundai Motor America – the U.S. arm of Korea-based Hyundai Motor Co. – reports that nearly two-thirds of Azera buyers are new to the brand. They’re what the auto industry calls “conquests,” or buyers defecting from another car maker. Conquest sales are highly prized, because they indicate that a company is growing.
In Salem, Palmer sees the same pattern.
“We’re taking a lot of Toyotas and Hondas, and even Mercedes and BMWs as trade-ins,” he said.
Palmer recounted a recent sale to a lawyer who traded an Infiniti. “He told me that, bang for the buck, he couldn’t beat the Azera. He said it has a very nice ride. It has all the power. It’s better on gas mileage. And it has all the features.”
In another case, a couple with children visited Salem Ford Hyundai for service on a Ford Expedition, a big SUV with loads of space for family hauling. The couple happened to be sizing up sedans, and the wife was set on buying a Mercedes, Palmer said.
“I let them take an Azera out for the day. She loved the car and went and bought it,” he said.
Palmer summarized Hyundai’s approach to the car market with the motto “Defy, design and delight.”
“They’re defying the industry, they’re designing good cars, and they’re delighting a lot of people,” he stated. With its luxury cars, said Palmer, Hyundai is showing new thinking and exploring new possibilities.

It’s impossible to argue with that. It’s also impossible to predict where Hyundai’s bold and unique approach to mixed-luxury sales will bring it. But I think that a company so willing to think freshly and freely, to depart from the norm, take risks and innovate is headed toward big rewards.
Jeffrey Zygmont is an author of fiction and non-fiction books, and a long-time auto writer. Contact him at www.jeffreyzygmont.com.

2013 Hyundai Azera Sedan Vehicle type: 4-door, 5-passenger, front-wheel-drive full-size sedan Price: $33,145 (plus options) Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles basic warranty; 10 years/100,000 miles powertrain warranty; 7 years/unlimited miles corrosion warranty; 5 years/60,000 miles roadside assistance Engine: 3.3-liter V6 Power: 293 horsepower at 6,400 rpm; 255 lb.-ft. torque at 5,200 rpm Transmission: 6-speed automatic Fuel economy: 20 mpg city; 30 mpg highway Wheelbase: 112 inches Length: 193 inches Width: 73 inches Height: 58 inches Weight: 3,605 pounds Fuel capacity: 18.5 gallons Turning circle: 36.5 feet

Source: Eagle Tribune

5 Tips for the Perfect Summer Road Trip

Summer has practically become synonymous with road trips, both as a way to save money on airfare and to have some fun-filled adventures on the road. Whether you're traveling with a minivan full of kids or you're taking a trip up the coast with your girlfriends, here are five top tips from travel bloggers to help ensure a road trip to remember.

Bring a Paper Map

Before you see the dreaded "no service" pop up on your smartphone, which will keep MapQuest or Siri from getting you where you need to go, make sure to bring along a paper map or a print-out from your go-to site for directions, just in case. Marissa Willman of His & Her Travels admits that maps are "old fashioned," but she says, "you'll definitely appreciate the back-up if your travel tech fails you on the open road. After the trip, you can always get crafty and turn those maps into coasters or add them into scrapbooking pages."

Juice Up Your Go-To Gadgets

We all have our must-bring gadgets for road trips, like smartphones and tablets, but don't forget the accessories that go along with them, like the iGo Power Trip, which lets you power up your cell phone, digital camera, or iPad from wherever you are. Another must-have is a universal car inverter to keep laptops and DVD players juiced since they often don't hold more than two to three hours of battery power. Also, grab a headphone splitter so two can share the audio of a DVD and a Stashcord to keep earbuds tangle-free.

Don't Forget Plates, Bowls, and Utensils

Just because you're away from your home—and your kitchen—doesn't mean you need to eat fast food or camp out in restaurants at meal times. Laura Walker of A Wandering Sole suggests bringing along plates, bowls, napkins, and utensils, then taking short excursions to the grocery store for foods you can easily prep on your own, like sandwiches and salads (be sure to bring a cooler, too). Even picking up oatmeal packets and cereal bars is better than getting mini donuts for breakfast at a gas station, and it's a lot healthier and economical, too.

App Up Your Phone

There are so many apps out there that are lifesavers, as well as fun-makers, to have on road trips. iExit is a great one since it shows gas stations, restaurants, and grocery stores at upcoming exits on the interstate, suggests Karon Clark Warren of All Things Lifestyle. Or, check out the Roadside America app for quirky roadside attractions or Roadside Presidents for help finding historical landmarks on your journey. Need a bathroom (ahem, a clean one)? Then, grab the free SitOrSquat app. How about WiFi access? Then, get WiFi Finder, which will tell you the location of the closest WiFi hotspot.

Set Expectations

When traveling with a group, whether beloved family members or favorite friends, rendezvous beforehand (in-person or on the phone) to talk about what each person wants to do and see in order to manage expectations during the trip. Laurence Norah of Finding the Universe suggests such a pre-trip pow-wow in order to avoid potential tensions that may arise when visiting the "97th giant ball of twine the driver wants to see." Also, be flexible to ensure everyone in the car has a good time and gets to do many of the things they want to along the way.

Source: Fodors