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APPEARANCE CARE
76MH1-74E
76MH1-74E
APPEARANCE CARE
Corrosion Prevention
It is important to take good care of your vehicle to protect it from corrosion. Listedbelow 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-reachareas of the vehicle underbody or frame. 2) Chipping, scratches and any damage totreated or painted metal surfaces resulting from minor accidents or abra- sion by stones and gravel.
Environmental conditions which accel- erate corrosion1) 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 the vehicle which are not well ventilated topermit 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 damageto the paint or protective coatings as soon as possible.
How to Help Prevent Corrosion
Wash your vehicle frequentlyThe best way to preserve the finish on your vehicle and to help avoid corrosion is tokeep it clean with frequent washing. Wash your vehicle at least once during the winter and once immediately after the win-ter. Keep your vehicle, particularly the underside, as clean and dry as possible. If you frequently drive on salted roads, yourvehicle should be washed at least once a month during the winter. If you live near the ocean, your vehicle should be washed atleast once a month throughout the year.
For washing instructions, refer to the “Vehi- cle Cleaning” section.
Remove foreign ma terial depositsForeign material such as salts, chemicals, road oil or tar, tree sap, bird droppings andindustrial fall-out may damage the finish of your vehicle if it is left on painted surfaces. Remove these types of deposits as quicklyas possible. If these deposits are difficult to wash off, an additional cleaner may be required. Be sure that any cleaner you use
is not harmful to painted surfaces and is specifically intended for your purposes. Fol- low the manufacturer’s directions when using these special cleaners.
Repair finish damage Carefully examine your vehicle for damage to the painted surfaces. Should you findany chips or scratches in the paint, touch them up immediately to prevent corrosion from starting. If the chips or scratches havegone through to the bare metal, have a qualified body shop make the repair.
Keep passenger and luggage compart- ments cleanMoisture, dirt or mud can accumulate under the floor mats and may cause corrosion. Occasionally, check under these mats toensure 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 betransported in sealed containers. If a spill or leak does occur, clean and dry the area immediately.
Store your vehicle in a dry, well-venti- lated area Do not park your vehicle in a damp, poorlyventilated area. If you often wash your vehicle in the garage or if you frequently drive it in when wet, your garage may bedamp. The high humidity in the garage may cause or accelerate corrosion. A wet vehicle may corrode even in a heatedgarage if the ventilation is poor.
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