This was a common occurrence with other front wheel drive cars I have owned, quickly fixed with a weekly trip to a heated wand style car wash.

 

So is mine she will be back out in May by then it will be just like driving it for the first time.

 

I had this problem last year. Watch out for the ice buildup in the exposed insulation. With repeated freeze/thaws, it can get pretty significant. If you're not careful, you can actually bend the lower front corner of the door out trying to open it ( I almost did! and had to climb in the passenger side and slide across.) Wound up getting out there with a hair dryer to melt it down so I could open the driver's door. I was parked on a slight side slope at work when it happened. Needless to say I started parking facing the opposite way so it ran to the passenger side instead.

 

1st car with running boards, I have the mud flaps. I have to leave it outside when parking as there is no inside for it, lol. The sound made my heart leap when I first heard it.

 

Oh goodie! Something to look forward to!


I noticed when I test drove an HHR this past March that ice seemed to form in the area near the insulation...made a crunchy noise..thought I was gonna bend the door..no running boards either

I totally forgot about it since I bought my HHR in May..hence the "Oh Goodie"


Goose

 

This should become a "stickied? HOW TO.....

Move south!!

Problem fixed!!

 

Last winter I did not have the running boards or the splash guards. I still got a pile of slush in the wheel well, but it seems to be slightly worse with the splash guards - probably because of the way they are moulded.

 

This falls under "I read this on the internet", so take it for what that's worth. I rarely get snow so can't comment.

What I read is that many cars today have smooth plastic fender liners. Clean them well and just apply one of the common tire shine type products. Supposedly that will drastically reduce the tendency for ice or slush to stick and build up. Sounds like it might work.

 

Wax works just as well. The trick is, rather than sit around procrastinating, get out there with the wax and do it! (now, before it gets too cold!)

 

Thanks for that tip guys! I will do that...My matrix was horrible for having slush and snow etc stick there


Hey question for guys without the steelies...any problems with snow building up on the inside of the alloys? That was another real big problem with my alloys on the Matrix.....talk about having wheels unbalanced!!


Goose