09
9-63
Exterior Care
Exterior general caution
It is very important to follow the label
directions when using any chemical
cleaner or polish. Read all warning and
caution statements that appear on the
label.
Finish maintenance
Washing
To help protect your vehicle’s finish from
rust and deterioration, wash it thoroughly
and frequently at least once a month
with lukewarm or cold water.
If you use your vehicle for off-road
driving, 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 kept
clear 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, should be used.
After washing, rinse the vehicle
thoroughly with lukewarm or cold water.
Do not allow soap to dry on the finish.High-pressure washing
• When using high-pressure washers,
make sure to maintain sufficient
distance from the vehicle.
Insufficient clearance or excessive
pressure can lead to component
damage or water penetration.
• Do not spray the camera, sensors or
its surrounding area directly with a
high pressure washer. Shock applied
from high pressure water may cause
the device to not operate normally.
• Do not bring the nozzle tip close to
boots (rubber or plastic covers) or
connectors as they may be damaged
if they come into contact with high
pressure water.
WARNING
After washing the vehicle, test the
brakes while driving slowly to see
if they have been affected by water
before getting on the road. If braking
performance is impaired, dry the
brakes by applying them lightly while
maintaining a slow forward speed.
APPEARANCE CARE
Maintenance
9-66
Bright-metal maintenance
• To remove road tar and insects, use
a tar remover, not a scraper or other
sharp object.
• To protect the surfaces of brightmetal
parts from corrosion, apply a coating
of wax or chrome preservative and rub
to a high luster.
• During winter weather or in coastal
areas, cover the bright metal parts
with a heavier coating of wax or
preservative. If necessary, coat the
parts with non-corrosive petroleum
jelly or other protective compound.
Underbody maintenance
Corrosive materials used for ice and
snow removal and dust control may
collect 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.
Pay special attention to these areas
because it will do more harm than good
if the road grime becomes wet 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.
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 forward
speed.
Aluminum wheel maintenance
The aluminum wheels are coated with a
clear protective finish.
• Do not use abrasive cleaner, polishing
compound, solvent, or wire brushes
on aluminum wheels.
• Clean the wheel when it has cooled.
• Use only a mild soap or neutral
detergent, and rinse thoroughly with
water. Also, clean the wheels after
driving on salted roads.
• Do not wash the wheels with high-
speed car wash brushes.
• Do not use any cleaners containing
acid or alkaline detergents.
