Washing

Vehicle care / Cleaning the exterior of your vehicle / Washing

Chemicals contained in the dirt and dust picked up from the road surface can damage the paint coat and body of your vehicle if left in prolonged contact.

Frequent washing and waxing is the best way to protect your vehicle from this damage. This will also be effective in protecting it from environmental elements such as rain, snow, salt air, etc.

Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight. Park the vehicle in the shade and spray it with water to remove dust. Next, using an ample amount of clean water and a car washing brush or sponge, wash the vehicle from top to bottom.

Use a mild car washing soap if necessary. Rinse thoroughly and wipe dry with a soft cloth. After washing the vehicle, carefully clean the joints and flanges of the doors, bonnet, etc., where dirt is likely to remain.

Caution

► When washing the under side of your vehicle or wheel, be careful not to injure your hands.
► If your vehicle has rain sensor wipers, place the wiper switch lever in the “OFF” position to deactivate the rain sensor before washing the vehicle. Otherwise, the wipers will operate in the presence of water spray on the windscreen and may get damaged as a result.
► Refrain from excessively using a car wash as its brushes may scratch the paint surface, causing it to lose its gloss.
Scratches will be especially visible on darker coloured vehicles.
► Never spray or splash water on the electrical components in the engine compartment, as this may adversely affect engine starting.
Exercise caution also when washing the underbody; be careful not to spray water into the engine compartment.
► Some types of hot water washing equipment apply high pressure and heat to the vehicle. They may cause heat distortion and damage to the vehicle resin parts and may result in flooding of the vehicle interior.
Therefore;
• Maintain a distance of approx. 50 cm or more between the vehicle body and the washing nozzle.
• When washing around the door glass, hold the nozzle at a distance of more than 50 cm and at right angles to the glass surface.
► After washing the vehicle, drive the vehicle slowly while lightly depressing the brake pedal several times in order to dry out the brakes.
Leaving the brakes wet could result in reduced braking performance. Also, there is a possibility that they could freeze up or become inoperative due to rust, rendering the vehicle unable to move.
► When using an automatic car wash, pay attention to the following items, referring to the operation manual or consulting a car wash operator. If the following procedure is not followed, it could result in damage to your vehicle.
• The outside mirrors are retracted.
• The roof antenna is removed.
• If your vehicle is equipped with a rear spoiler, consult a car wash operator before using the car wash.
• If your vehicle has rain sensor wipers, place the wiper switch lever in the “OFF” position to deactivate the rain sensor.

During cold weather

Salt and other chemicals spread on the roads in some areas in winter can have a harmful effect on the vehicle body. You should therefore wash the vehicle as often as possible in accordance with our care-instructions. It is recommended to have a preservative applied and the underfloor protection checked before and after the cold weather season.

After washing your vehicle, wipe off all waterdrops from the rubber parts around the doors to prevent the doors from freezing.

Note