Exterior Care

Exterior General Precautions

It is very important to follow the instructions on the label of any chemical cleaning or polishing product. Read all warnings and cautions printed on the label.

Complete the Maintenance

Washing

To protect your vehicle's paint from rust and wear, wash it thoroughly and often, at least once a month, with warm or cold water. If you use your vehicle for off-road driving, it should be washed after every off-road trip. Pay special attention to removing any accumulation of salt, mud, dirt and other foreign materials. Keep the drain holes in the lower edges of the doors and rocker panels clean.

Insects, tree sap, tree resin, bird droppings, industrial fallout and similar deposits may damage your vehicle's finish if not removed immediately. Even a quick wash with plain water cannot completely remove all of these deposits.

Use a mild soap that is safe for painted surfaces.

After washing, rinse the vehicle thoroughly with warm or cold water.

Do not allow soap to dry on the finish.

CAUTION

• Do not use strong soap, chemical cleaners, or hot water, and do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight or when the vehicle body is warm.
• Be careful when washing the side windows of the vehicle. Especially with high-pressure water, water may leak through the windows and wet the interior.
• To avoid damage to plastic parts and lamps, do not clean them with chemical solvents or strong detergents.

WARNING - Wet Brakes

After washing the vehicle, test the brakes at low speed to check whether they have been affected by water. If braking performance has decreased, dry the brakes by applying them lightly while maintaining a slow forward speed.

High-Pressure Washing

• When using a high-pressure washer, keep a sufficient distance from the vehicle. Insufficient clearance or excessive pressure may cause damage or water intrusion.
• Do not spray high-pressure water directly at the camera, sensors, or the area around them. Impact from high-pressure water may damage the device and prevent it from operating normally.
• Do not hold the spray nozzle close to boots (rubber or plastic covers) or connectors, as they may be damaged by high-pressure water.

CAUTION

• Washing the engine compartment with water, including high-pressure water washing, may cause failure of the electrical circuits located in the engine compartment.
• Never allow water or other liquids to contact electrical/electronic components and ducts inside the vehicle, as this may cause damage.

Waxing

Wax the vehicle when water no longer beads on the paint.

Always wash and dry the vehicle before applying wax. Use a quality liquid or paste wax and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Apply wax to all metal trim to protect it and maintain its shine.

Removing oil, resin and similar materials with a spot remover will usually remove wax from the finish. Be sure to re-wax these areas, even if the rest of the vehicle does not yet need waxing.

CAUTION

• Wiping dust or dirt from the body with a dry cloth may scratch the finish.
• Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or strong detergents containing strongly alkaline or caustic substances on chrome-plated or anodized aluminum parts. This may damage the protective coating and cause discoloration or wear of the paint.

Complete the Repair of Damage

Deep scratches or chips in the painted surface must be repaired immediately. Exposed metal rusts quickly and may lead to major repair costs.

✽ NOTICE

If your vehicle is damaged and requires repair or metal replacement, make sure the body shop applies anti-corrosion materials to the repaired or replaced parts.

Bright Metal Care

• To remove road tar and insects, use a tar remover, not a scraper or other sharp tool.
• To protect bright metal surfaces from corrosion, apply a coat of wax or chrome preservative and rub to a shine.
• In winter or in coastal areas, cover bright metal parts with a heavier coat of wax or preservative. If necessary, cover the parts with non-aggressive petroleum jelly or another protective compound.

Underbody Maintenance

Corrosive materials used for de-icing and dust control can accumulate on the underbody. If these materials are not removed, accelerated rusting may occur on underbody parts, such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan and exhaust system, even though they have been treated with rust protection.

Thoroughly wash the underbody and wheel housings with warm or cold water. Rinse once a month, after driving off-road, and at the end of each winter. Pay special attention to these areas, because it is difficult to see all the dirt and mud. Merely wetting road dirt without removing it will do more harm than good. The lower edges of doors, rocker panels and frame members have drain holes that must not be allowed to become clogged with dirt; water trapped in these areas may cause rusting.

WARNING

After washing the vehicle, test the brakes at low speed to check whether they have been affected by water. If braking performance has decreased, dry the brakes by applying them lightly while maintaining a slow forward speed.