9-1
APPEARANCE CARE
53MH0-74E
Corrosion Prevention
It is important to take good care of your
vehicle to protect it from corrosion. Listed
below are instructions for how to maintain
your vehicle to prevent corrosion. Please
read and follow these instructions carefully.
Important Information About
Corrosion
Common causes of corrosion
1) Accumulation of road salt, dirt, mois-
ture, or chemicals in hard-to-reach
areas of the vehicle underbody or
frame.
2) Chipping, scratches and any damage to
treated or painted metal surfaces
resulting from minor accidents or abra-
sion by stones and gravel.
Environmental conditions which accel-
erate corrosion
1) Road salt, dust control chemicals, sea
air or industrial pollution will all acceler-
ate the corrosion of metal.
2) High humidity will increase the rate of
corrosion particularly when the tem-
perature range is just above the freez-
ing point.
3) Moisture in certain areas of a vehicle
for an extended period of time may pro-
mote corrosion even though other body
sections may be completely dry.
4) High temperatures will cause an accel-
erated rate of corrosion to parts of thevehicle which are not well ventilated to
permit quick drying.
This information illustrates the necessity of
keeping your vehicle (particularly 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 under-
side, as clean and dry as possible. If you
frequently drive on salted roads, your vehi-
cle 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 “Vehi-
cle Cleaning” section.
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 finish 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 berequired. Be sure that any cleaner you use
is not harmful to painted surfaces and is
specifically intended for your purposes.
Follow the manufacturer’s directions when
using these special cleaners.
Repair finish damage
Carefully examine your vehicle for damage
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.
Keep passenger and luggage compart-
ments clean
Moisture, dirt or mud can accumulate
under 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 vehicle 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.
9-2
APPEARANCE CARE
53MH0-74E
Store your vehicle in a dry, well-venti-
lated area
Do not park your vehicle in a damp, poorly
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
vehicle may corrode even in a heated
garage if the ventilation is poor.Vehicle Cleaning
76G044S
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, repeat this
procedure.
Fabric upholstery
Remove loose dirt with a vacuum cleaner.
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 fab-
ric cleaner for tougher stains. If you use a
fabric cleaner, carefully follow the manu-
facturer’s instructions and precautions.
Seat belts
Clean seat belts with a mild soap and
water. 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.
WA R N I N G
Do not apply additional undercoating
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.
WA R N I N G
When cleaning the interior or exterior
of the vehicle, NEVER USE flammable
solvents such as lacquer thinners,
gasoline, benzene or cleaning materi-
als such as bleaches or strong
household detergents. The materials
could cause personal injury or dam-
age to the vehicle.
EXAMPLE
11-4
SPECIFICATIONS
53MH0-74E
*1: When tire replacement is necessary and if the specified load index and speed rated tire is not available, then use a tire of higher load
index and speed rating.ITEM: Wheels and Tires
ALTO 800 ALTO K10
Tire size, front and rear145/80R12 74S*1 155/65 R13 73S*1
145/80R12 74H*1 155/65 R13 73T*1
145/80R12 74T*1 —
Rim size145/80R12 74S*1: 12 × 3.50B 155/65 R13 73S*1 : 13X4 1/2J
145/80R12 74H*1: 12 × 3.50B 155/65 R13 73T*1 : 13X4 1/2J
145/80R12 74T*1: 12 × 3.50B —
Tire pressuresFor the specified tire pressure, see the Tire Information Label located the driver’s door
lock pillar.
ITEM: Capacities (approx.)
ALTO 800 ALTO K10
Coolant (including reservoir tank) 3.5 L
4.5 L
Fuel tank 35 L35 L
Engine oil 3.0 L (replacement with oil filter)2.8 L (replacement with oil filter)
Transaxle oil 1.5 L
1.45 L
