2007 FIAT SEDICI Owners Manual

232
NOTES
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233
B B
O O
D D
Y Y
W W
O O
R R
K K
C C
A A
R R
E E
60G412
CORROSION PREVENTION ........................................... 234
VEHICLE CLEANING ......................................................... 236
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Environmental conditions which
accelerate corrosion
❒Road salt, dust control chemicals, sea
air or industrial pollution will all ac-
celerate the corrosion of metal.
❒High humidity will increase the rate
of corrosion particularly when the
temperature range is just above the
freezing point.
❒Moisture in certain areas of a vehi-
cle for an extended period of time
may promote corrosion even though
other body sections may be com-
pletely dry.
❒High temperatures will cause an ac-
celerated rate of corrosion to parts
of the vehicle which are not well ven-
tilated to permit quick drying.
This information illustrates the neces-
sity of keeping your vehicle (particular-
ly the underbody) as clean and dry as
possible. It is equally important to repair
any damage to the paint or protective
coatings as soon as possible.
HOW TO HELP PREVENT
CORROSION
Wash your vehicle frequently
The best way to preserve the finish on
your vehicle and to help avoid corrosion
is to keep it clean with frequent washing.
Wash your vehicle at least once during the
winter and once immediately after the
winter. Keep your vehicle, particularly the
underside, as clean and dry as possible.
If you frequently drive on salted roads,
your vehicle should be washed at least
once a month during the winter. If you live
near the ocean, your vehicle should be
washed at least once a month throughout
the year.
For washing instructions, refer to the “Ve-
hicle Cleaning” section.CORROSION
PREVENTION
It is important to take good care of your
vehicle to protect it from corrosion. List-
ed below are instructions for how to
maintain your vehicle to prevent corro-
sion. Please read and follow these in-
structions carefully.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ABOUT CORROSION
Common causes of corrosion
❒Accumulation of road salt, dirt, mois-
ture, or chemicals in hard to reach ar-
eas of the vehicle underbody or frame.
❒Chipping, scratches and any damage to
treated or painted metal surfaces re-
sulting from minor accidents or abra-
sion by stones and gravel.
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235
Keep passenger and luggage
compartments clean
Moisture, dirt or mud can accumulate un-
der the floor mats and may cause corro-
sion.
Occasionally, check under these mats to
ensure that this area is clean and dry. More
frequent checks are necessary if the vehi-
cle is used off road or in wet weather.
Certain cargos such as chemicals, fertiliz-
ers, cleaners, salts, etc. are extremely cor-
rosive by nature. These products should
be transported in sealed containers. If a
spill or leak does occur, clean and dry the
area immediately.Store your vehicle in a dry, well-
ventilated area
Do not park your vehicle in a damp, poor-
ly ventilated area. If you often wash your
vehicle in the garage or if you frequently
drive it in when wet, your garage may be
damp. The high humidity in the garage may
cause or accelerate corrosion. A wet ve-
hicle may corrode even in a heated garage
if the ventilation is poor. Remove foreign material deposits
Foreign material such as salts, chemicals,
road oil or tar, tree sap, bird droppings
and industrial fall-out may damage the fin-
ish of your vehicle if it is left on painted
surfaces. Remove these types of deposits
as quickly as possible. If these deposits are
difficult to wash off, an additional cleaner
may be required. Be sure that any clean-
er you use is not harmful to painted sur-
faces and is specifically intended for your
purposes. Follow the manufacturer’s di-
rections when using these special clean-
ers.
Repair finish damage
Carefully examine your vehicle for dam-
age to the painted surfaces. Should you
find any chips or scratches in the paint,
touch them up immediately to prevent
corrosion from starting. If the chips or
scratches have gone through to the bare
metal, have a qualified body shop make the
repair.
Do not apply additional un-
dercoating or rust preventive
coating on or around exhaust system
components such as the catalytic
converter, exhaust pipes, etc. A fire
could be started if the undercoating
substance becomes overheated.
WARNING
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Fabric upholstery
Remove loose dirt with a vacuum clean-
er. Using a mild soap solution, rub stained
areas with a clean damp cloth. To remove
soap, rub the areas again with a cloth
dampened with water. Repeat this until
the stain is removed, or use a commercial
fabric cleaner for tougher stains. If you use
a fabric cleaner, carefully follow the man-
ufacturer’s instructions and precautions.
Seat belts
Clean seat belts with a mild soap and wa-
ter. Do not use bleach or dye on the belts.
They may weaken the fabric in the belts.Vinyl floor mats
Ordinary dirt can be removed from vinyl
with water or mild soap. Use a brush to
help loosen dirt. After the dirt is loosened,
rinse the mat thoroughly with water and
dry it in the shade.
Carpets
Remove dirt and soil as much as possible
with a vacuum cleaner. Using a mild soap
solution, rub stained areas with a clean
damp cloth. To remove soap, rub the ar-
eas again with a cloth dampened with wa-
ter. Repeat this until the stain is removed,
or use a commercial carpet cleaner for
tougher stains. If you use a carpet clean-
er, carefully follow the manufacturer’s in-
structions and precautions.
CLEANING THE EXTERIOR
IMPORTANT It is important that your ve-
hicle be kept clean and free from dirt. Fail-
ure to keep your vehicle clean may result
in fading of the paint or corrosion to var-
ious parts of the vehicle body.
VEHICLE CLEANING
When cleaning the interior
or exterior of the vehicle,
NEVER USE flammable solvents such
as lacquer thinners, gasoline, benzene
or cleaning materials such as bleach-
es or strong household detergents.
The materials could cause personal
injury or damage to the vehicle.
WARNING
CLEANING THE INTERIOR
Vinyl upholstery
Prepare a solution of soap or mild deter-
gent mixed with warm water. Apply the
solution to the vinyl with a sponge or soft
cloth and let it soak for a few minutes to
loosen dirt.
Rub the surface with a clean, damp cloth
to remove dirt and the soap solution. If
some dirt still remains on the surface, re-
peat this procedure.
76G044A
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When washing the vehicle, park it where
direct sunlight does not fall on it and fol-
low the instructions below:
Flush the underside of body and wheel
housings with pressurized water to remove
mud and debris. Use plenty of water.
IMPORTANT When washing the vehicle,
avoid directing steam or hot water of
more than 80°C (176°F) on plastic parts.
To avoid damaging engine components, do
not use pressurized water in the engine
compartment.Rinse the body to loosen the dirt. Remove
dirt and mud from the body exterior with
running water. You may use a soft sponge
or brush. Do not use hard materials which
can scratch the paint or plastic. Remem-
ber that the headlight covers or lenses are
made of plastic in many cases.
IMPORTANT To avoid damage to the
paint or plastic surface, do not wipe the
dirt off without ample water. Be sure to
follow above procedure.
Wash the entire exterior with a mild de-
tergent or vehicle wash soap using a
sponge or soft cloth. The sponge or cloth
should be frequently soaked in the soap
solution.
IMPORTANT When using a commercial
vehicle wash product, observe the cau-
tions specified by the manufacturer. Nev-
er use strong household detergents or
soaps.
– Never attempt to wash
and wax your vehicle with
the engine running.
– When cleaning the underside of the
body and fender, where there may
be sharp-edged parts, you should
wear gloves and a long sleeved shirt
to protect your hands and arms from
being cut.
– After washing your vehicle, care-
fully test the brakes before driving to
make sure they have maintained
their normal effectiveness.
WARNING
60B212S
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238
WAXING
After washing the vehicle, waxing and pol-
ishing are recommended to further pro-
tect and beautify the paint.
Only use waxes and polishes of good qual-
ity.
When using waxes and polishes, observe
the precautions specified by the manufac-
turers.
❒Once the dirt has been completely re-
moved, rinse off the detergent with
running water.
❒After rinsing, wipe off the vehicle body
with a wet chamois or cloth and allow
it to dry in the shade.
❒Check carefully for damage to painted
surfaces. If there is any damage, “touch-
up” the damage following the proce-
dure below:
– Clean all damaged spots and allow
them to dry.
– Stir the paint and “touch- up” the
damaged spots lightly using a small
brush.
– Allow the paint to dry completely.
IMPORTANT If you use an automatic ve-
hicle wash, make sure that your vehicle’s
body parts, such as spoilers, can not be
damaged. If you are in doubt, consult the
vehicle wash operator for advice.
60B211S
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G G
E E
N N
E E
R R
A A
L L
I I
N N
F F
O O
R R
M M
A A
T T
I I
O O
N N
VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION ........................................... 240
FUEL CONSUMPTION - CO
2EMISSIONS .................. 241
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