I drove the fit in near blizzard conditions this weekend, handled pretty well even with an inch of snow/slush on the ground. Only problem I had was the engine not starting on the first try, but as kenchan said, I probably just didn't crank long enough. Hopefully, it was just user error.

Anyway, I popped the hood when I got home, and to my surprise the engine looked almost as dirty as the outside. It wasn't all over, but there were splashes of water stains and dirt all over the front parts, like the top of the "VTEC" cover, side of the battery, and more. I know there's a hole at the bottom of the engine, but these stains came from the front, not the bottom. I'm thinking the water/dirt is getting pass the water seal on the hood. Anyone have this happen?

Another thing I noticed is that some of the radiator fins are bent and some still even have small rocks lodged between them. Isn't there supposed to be a grill or something in front of the radiator to protect it? It seems pretty easy to damage and cause a radiator leak this way. Is this normal?

Sorry if these are noob questions, but it's my first time driving so long in such conditions and also first time I cared about my car enough to check (first new car).

 

The radiator on my Fit(along with every other car I've owned)is also beat up.You just can't win against those tiny rock's,but don't worry it will hold up fine,I mean it is a Honda. As for the liquid/dirt on the engine,I get the same thing every few day's,or when it rain's pretty hard,it's normal.

 

Radiator might hold up, but the a/c compressor is exposed and it won't hold up. Mine got hit by a rock and they quote $800 to fix and not under warranty.

 

Just FYI...if your A/C condenser ever begins leaking and the dealer says it was "due to road debris or rocks," make sure they show you the damage. A dealer tried to make me pay for an entirely new condenser ($600) just a few months after I bought the car. I asked them to show me and they couldn't do it...it was actually a manufacturing defect covered under warranty. It was not a pleasant ordeal, so hopefully I can save someone from else from having to go through it.

 

Engine compartments are not sealed, and engines get dirty. That's life here in the rust belt. I wash down my engine bay every spring.

 

Just wait, when the car's ten years old, the front of the radiator where the big bottom bumper opening is will be essentially flat from all the rocks/bugs. It still works, the top half is still unbent and passes air just fine, but still it looks terrible.

It's impossible to keep the motor clean in winter... all of everything turns (salt) white.