Windshield and Wiper Blades
Clean the outside of the windshield
with glass cleaner.
Clean the rubber blades using a
lint free cloth or paper towel soaked
with windshield washer fluid or a mild
detergent. Wash the windshield
thoroughly when cleaning the blades.
Bugs, road grime, sap, and a buildup
of vehicle wash/wax treatments may
cause wiper streaking. Replace the
wiper blades if they are worn or
damaged.
Wipers can be damaged by:
•Extreme dusty conditions
•Sand and salt
•Heat and sun
•Snow and ice, without proper
removal
Tires
Use a stiff brush with tire cleaner to
clean the tires.
Notice:Using petroleum-based
tire dressing products on the
vehicle may damage the paint
nish and/or tires. When applying
a tire dressing, always wipe off
any overspray from all painted
surfaces on the vehicle.
Sheet Metal Damage
If the vehicle is damaged and
requires sheet metal repair or
replacement, make sure the body
repair shop applies anti-corrosion
material to parts repaired or
replaced to restore corrosion
protection.
Original manufacturer replacement
parts will provide the corrosion
protection while maintaining
the vehicle warranty.
Finish Damage
Any stone chips, fractures or deep
scratches in the finish should be
repaired right away. Bare metal will
corrode quickly and may develop into
major repair expense.
Minor chips and scratches can be
repaired with touch-up materials
available from your dealer/retailer.
Larger areas of finish damage can be
corrected in your dealer’s/retailer’s
body and paint shop.
Underbody Maintenance
Chemicals used for ice and snow
removal and dust control can collect
on the underbody. If these are not
removed, corrosion and rust can
develop on the underbody parts such
as fuel lines, frame, floor pan, and
exhaust system even though they
have corrosion protection.
Vehicle Care 9-79
Cleaners can contain solvents that
can become concentrated in the
vehicle’s interior. Before using
cleaners, read and adhere to all
safety instructions on the label.
While cleaning the vehicle’s interior,
maintain adequate ventilation by
opening the vehicle’s doors and
windows.
Do not clean the interior using the
following cleaners or techniques:
•Never use a knife or any
other sharp object to remove a
soil from any interior surface.
•Never use a stiff brush. It can
cause damage to the vehicle’s
interior surfaces.
•Never apply heavy pressure or
rub aggressively with a cleaning
cloth. Use of heavy pressure can
damage the interior and does not
improve the effectiveness of soil
removal.
•Use only mild, neutral-pH soaps.
Avoid laundry detergents
or dishwashing soaps with
degreasers. Using too much
soap will leave a residue that
leaves streaks and attracts dirt.
For liquid cleaners, about
20 drops per gallon (3.78 L)
of water is a good guide.
•Do not heavily saturate the
upholstery while cleaning.
•Damage to the vehicle’s interior
may result from the use of many
organic solvents such as naptha,
alcohol, etc.
Fabric/Carpet
Use a vacuum cleaner with a soft
brush attachment to remove dust
and loose dirt. A canister vacuum
with a beater bar in the nozzle may
only be used on floor carpet and
carpeted floor mats. For soils, always
try to remove them first with plain
water or club soda. Before cleaning,
gently remove as much of the soil as
possible using one of the following
techniques:
•For liquids: gently blot the
remaining soil with a paper towel.
Allow the soil to absorb into the
paper towel until no more can be
removed.
•For solid dry soils: remove as
much as possible and then
vacuum.
Vehicle Care 9-81
