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APPEARANCE CARECorrosion PreventionIt 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 Corro-
sionCommon 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 the
vehicle 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 CorrosionWash 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 win-
ter. 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 “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 be
required. 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, contact
your Maruti Suzuki Authorized Dealer.
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 cargoes 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.
Corrosion Prevention: 5
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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 InteriorVinyl 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.
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 areas
again with a cloth dampened with water.
Repeat this until the stain is removed, or
use a commercial carpet cleaner for
tougher stains. If you use a carpet cleaner,
carefully follow the manufacturer’s instruc-
tions and precautions.
Instrument panel and console
NOTE:
Wipe up spills containing chemicals, alco-
hol, etc., immediately with a soft, damp
cloth. Use a mild soap solution if neces-
sary. Do not use cleaners or polishes con-
taining strong solvents or acidic solutions.
These chemicals may stain and discolor
the instrument panel and console.
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.
Corrosion Prevention: 5
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“touch-up” the damage following the
procedure below:
1. Clean all damaged spots and allow
them to dry.
2. Stir the paint and “touch-up” the
damaged spots lightly using a small
brush.
3. Allow the paint to dry completely.
Waxing
60B211S
After washing the vehicle, waxing and pol-
ishing are recommended to further protect
and beautify the paint. Only use waxes and polishes of good
quality.
When using waxes and polishes,
observe the precautions specified by the
manufacturers.
NOTICE
If you use an automatic car wash,
make sure that your vehicle’s body
parts, such as spoilers, cannot be
damaged. If you are in doubt, consult
the car wash operator for advice.
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