789
Maintenance
• When cleaning lower door panels,
rocker panels and frame mem-
bers, be sure that drain holes are
kept open so that moisture can
escape. If these areas are not kept
clear, moisture could become
trapped and accelerate corrosion.
Keep your garage dry
Don't park your car in a damp or
poorly ventilated garage. This cre-
ates a favorable environment for cor-
rosion. This is particularly true if you
wash your car 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 contribute to
corrosion unless it is well ventilated
so moisture can dispersed.
Keep paint and trim in good con-
dition
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, the attention of a
qualified body and paint shop is rec-
ommended.
Bird droppings : Bird droppings are
highly corrosive and may damage
painted surfaces in just a few hours.
Always remove bird droppings as
soon as possible.
Don't neglect the interior
Moisture can collect under the floor
mats and carpeting to cause corro-
sion. Check under the mats periodi-
cally to be sure the carpeting is dry.
Use particular care if you carry fertil-
izers, cleaning materials or chemi-
cals in the car.
These should be carried only in prop-
er containers and any spills or leaks
should be cleaned up, flushed with
clean water and thoroughly dried.
Interior care
Interior general precautions
Prevent caustic solutions such as
perfume and cosmetic oil from con-
tacting the dashboard because they
may cause damage or discoloration.
If they do contact the dashboard,
clean immediately. See the instruc-
tions that follow for the proper way to
clean vinyl.
CAUTION
Never allow water or other liq-
uids to come in contact with
electrical/electronic components
inside the vehicle as this may
damage them.
CAUTION
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
color of the leather may fade or
the surface may get stripped off.
