Maintenance
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7
APPEARANCE CARE
Exterior care
G230101AUN
Exterior general caution
It is very important to follow the label
directions when using any chemical
cleaner or polish. Read all warning andcaution statements that appear on thelabel. G230102CUN
Finish maintenance
Washing
To help protect your vehicle’s finish from
rust and deterioration, wash it thoroughlyand frequently at least once a month with
lukewarm or cold water.
If you use your vehicle for off-road driv-
ing, you should wash it after each off-
road trip. Pay special attention to the
removal of any accumulation of salt, dirt,
mud, and other foreign materials. Make
sure the drain holes in the lower edges of
the doors and rocker panels are keptclear and clean.
Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings,
industrial pollution and similar deposits
can damage your vehicle’s finish if not
removed immediately.
Even prompt washing with plain water
may not completely remove all these
deposits. A mild soap, safe for use on
painted surfaces, may be used. After washing, rinse the vehicle thor-
oughly with lukewarm or cold water. Do
not allow soap to dry on the finish.
WARNING -
Wet brakes
After washing the vehicle, test the
brakes while driving slowly to see if
they have been affected by water. If
braking performance is impaired,
dry the brakes by applying them
lightly while maintaining a slow for-
ward speed.
CAUTION
Do not use strong soap, chemical detergents or hot water, and donot wash the vehicle in direct
sunlight or when the body of the vehicle is warm.
Be careful when washing the side windows of your vehicle.
Especially, with high-pressurewater. Water may leak through thewindows and wet the interior.
To prevent damage to the plastic parts, do not clean with chemical
solvents or strong detergents.
CAUTION
Water washing in the engine com- partment including high pressurewater washing may cause the fail-
ure of electrical circuits located in the engine compartment.
Never allow water or other liquids to come in contact with electri-cal/electronic components inside
the vehicle as this may damage them.
OJB037800
Maintenance
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7
G230105AUN
Underbody maintenance
Corrosive materials used for ice and
snow removal and dust control may col-
lect on the underbody. If these materials
are not removed, accelerated rusting can
occur on underbody parts such as the
fuel lines, frame, floor pan and exhaust
system, even though they have been
treated with rust protection.
Thoroughly flush the vehicle underbody
and wheel openings with lukewarm or
cold water once a month, after off-road
driving and at the end of each winter. Payspecial attention to these areas because
it is difficult to see all the mud and dirt. It
will do more harm than good to wet down
the road grime without removing it. The
lower edges of doors, rocker panels, and
frame members have drain holes that
should not be allowed to clog with dirt;
trapped water in these areas can cause
rusting. G230106AUN
Aluminum wheel maintenance
The aluminum wheels are coated with a
clear protective finish.
Do not use any abrasive cleaner, pol-
ishing compound, solvent, or wire
brushes on aluminum wheels. They
may scratch or damage the finish.
Use only a mild soap or neutral deter- gent, and rinse thoroughly with water.
Also, be sure to clean the wheels after
driving on salted roads. This helps pre-
vent corrosion.
Avoid washing the wheels with high- speed car wash brushes.
Do not use any acid detergent. It may damage and corrode the aluminum
wheels coated with a clear protectivefinish.
WARNING
After washing the vehicle, test the
brakes while driving slowly to see if
they have been affected by water. If
braking performance is impaired,
dry the brakes by applying them
lightly while maintaining a slow for-
ward speed.
