7-78
Maintenance
vehicle, pay particular attention to
the components under the fenders
and other areas that are hidden
from view. Do a thorough job; just
dampening the accumulated mud
rather than washing it away will
accelerate corrosion rather than
prevent it. Water under high pres-
sure and steam are particularly
effective in removing accumulated
mud and corrosive materials.
When cleaning lower door panels,
rocker panels and frame members,
be sure that drain holes are kept
open so that moisture can escape
and not be trapped inside to accel-
erate corrosion.
Keep your garage dry
Don’t park your vehicle in a damp,
poorly ventilated garage. This cre-
ates a favorable environment for cor-
rosion. This is particularly true if you
wash your vehicle in the garage or
drive it into the garage when it is still
wet or covered with snow, ice or
mud. Even a heated garage can con-
tribute to corrosion unless it is well
ventilated so moisture is dispersed.
Keep paint and trim in good condition
Scratches or chips in the finish
should be covered with "touch-up"
paint as soon as possible to reduce
the possibility of corrosion. If bare
metal is showing through, the atten-
tion of a qualified body and paint
shop is recommended.
Bird droppings are highly corrosive
and may damage painted surfaces in
just a few hours. Always remove bird
droppings as soon as possible.
Interior care
Interior general precautions
Prevent caustic solutions such as
perfume and cosmetic oil, from con-
tacting the interior parts because
they may cause damage or dis-
colouration. If they do contact the
interior parts, wipe them off immedi-
ately. See the instructions for the
proper way to clean vinyl.
Never allow water or other liq-
uids to come in contact with
electrical/electronic compo-
nents inside the vehicle as this
may damage them.
When cleaning leather products
(steering wheel, seats etc.), use
neutral detergents or low alco-
hol content solutions. If you use
high alcohol content solutions
or acid/ alkaline detergents, the
colour of the leather may fade or
the surface may get stripped off.
NOTICE
7-80
Maintenance
Caring for the leather seats
- Vacuum the seat periodically to
remove dust and sand on the
seat. It will prevent abrasion or
damage of the leather and main-
tain its quality.
- Wipe the natural leather seat
cover often with dry or soft cloth.
- Use of proper leather protector
may prevent abrasion of the
cover and helps maintain the
colour. Be sure to read the
instructions and consult a spe-
cialist when using leather coating
or protective agent.
- Light coloured (beige, cream
beige) leather is easily contami-
nated and the stain is noticeable.
Clean the seats frequently.
- Avoid wiping with wet cloth. It may
cause the surface to crack. Cleaning the leather seats
- Remove all contaminations instant-
ly. Refer to instructions below for
removal of each contaminant.
- Cosmetic products (sunscreen,
foundation, etc.)
Apply cleansing cream on a cloth
and wipe the contaminated spot.
Wipe off the cream with a wet cloth
and remove water with a dry cloth.
- Beverages (coffee, soft drink, etc.)
Apply a small amount of neutral
detergent and wipe until contami-
nations do not smear.
- Oil
Remove oil instantly with
absorbable cloth and wipe with
stain remover used only for natu-
ral leather.
- Chewing gum
Harden the gum with ice and
remove gradually.
Cleaning the seat belt webbing
Clean the belt webbing with any mild
soap solution recommended for
cleaning upholstery or carpet. Follow
the instructions provided with the
soap. Do not bleach or re-dye the
webbing because this may weaken
the seat belt.
Cleaning the interior window
glass
If the interior glass surfaces of the
vehicle become fogged (that is, cov-
ered with an oily, greasy or waxy
film), they should be cleaned with
glass cleaner. Follow the directions
on the glass cleaner container.
Do not scrape or scratch the
inside of the rear window. This
may result in damage to the rear
window defroster grid.
NOTICE
