Exterior Care

Exterior General Precautions

It is very important to follow the label instructions when using any chemical cleaner or polish. Read all warnings and cautions that appear on the label.

Complete the Maintenance

Washing

To protect the vehicle's paint from rust and wear, wash it thoroughly and frequently, at least once a month, with warm or cold water. If you use your vehicle for off-road driving, you must wash it after every off-road trip. Pay special attention to removing 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 clean. Insects, tree sap, tree resin, bird droppings, industrial fallout, and similar deposits may damage your vehicle's finish if not removed immediately.

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 windows of your vehicle. Especially with high-pressure water, water may seep through the windows and wet the interior.
• To avoid damaging plastic parts and lenses, do not clean them with chemical solvents or strong cleaning agents.

WARNING

Wet Brakes

After washing the vehicle, check the brakes at low speed to make sure they are not affected by water. If braking efficiency is reduced, dry the brakes by lightly applying them while maintaining a slow forward speed.

High-Pressure Washing

• When using high-pressure washers, always keep a sufficient distance from the vehicle. Insufficient clearance or excessive pressure may cause component damage or water penetration.
• Do not spray the camera, sensors or their surroundings directly with a high-pressure washer. The impact of high-pressure water may cause the device to malfunction.
• Do not bring the nozzle tip close to boots (rubber or plastic covers) or connectors, as they may be damaged if they contact high-pressure water.

CAUTION

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

Waxing

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

Always wash and dry the vehicle before waxing. 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, tar, and similar materials with a spot remover usually removes wax from the finish. Be sure to re-wax these areas, even if the rest of the vehicle does not need waxing. Do not apply wax to raised unpainted blocks, as this may stain them.

CAUTION

• Removing dust or dirt from the body with a dry cloth will scratch the finish.
• Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, acid cleaners, or strong cleaners with high alkali or caustic content on chrome or anodized aluminum parts. This may damage the protective coating and cause paint discoloration or wear.

Complete the Repair of Damage

Deep scratches or stone chips on the painted surface must be repaired promptly. Exposed metal will quickly rust and may lead to costly major repairs.

NOTICE

If your vehicle is damaged and requires any repair or replacement of metal, 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 object.
• To protect bright metal surfaces from corrosion, apply a coating of wax or chrome preservative and rub to a shine.
• In winter or in coastal areas, cover bright metal parts with a thicker coat of wax or preservative. If necessary, coat parts with non-aggressive petroleum jelly or another 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, corrosion may accelerate and rust may appear 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 wells with warm or cold water once a month, after driving on unpaved roads, and at the end of each winter. Pay special attention to these areas, because it is difficult to see all the dirt and mud. Simply wetting road dirt without removing it does more harm than good. The lower edges of the doors, sills, and frame members have drain holes that must not become clogged with dirt; trapped water in these areas can cause rust.

WARNING

After washing the vehicle, check the brakes at low speed to make sure they are not affected by water. If braking efficiency has decreased, dry the brakes by lightly applying them while maintaining a slow forward speed.

Aluminum Wheel Care

Aluminum wheels are covered with a clear protective coating.

• Do not use abrasive cleaners, polishing compounds, solvents or wire brushes on aluminum wheels. They may scratch or damage the coating.
• Clean the wheel when it has cooled down.
• Use only a mild soap or neutral detergent, and rinse thoroughly with water. Also be sure to clean the wheels after driving on salted roads. This helps prevent corrosion.
• Avoid washing the wheels at high speed with car wash brushes.
• Do not use alkaline or acidic cleaners. They may damage and corrode aluminum wheels coated with a clear protective finish.

Corrosion Protection

Protecting Your Vehicle from Corrosion

Using the most advanced anti-corrosion design and construction methods, we produce vehicles of the highest quality. However, this is only part of the job. Long-term corrosion resistance also requires cooperation and assistance from the owner.

Common Causes of Corrosion

The most common causes of corrosion on your vehicle are:

• Road salt, mud, and moisture are allowed to accumulate under the vehicle.
• Paint or protective coatings removed by stones, gravel, abrasion, or minor scratches and dents leave bare metal exposed, which corrodes.

High-Corrosion Areas

If you live in an area where your vehicle is regularly exposed to aggressive materials, corrosion protection is especially important. Some common causes of accelerated corrosion are road salt, dust-control chemicals, sea air, and industrial pollution.

Moisture Causes Corrosion

Moisture creates the conditions in which corrosion is most likely. For example, corrosion is accelerated by high humidity, especially at temperatures slightly above freezing. Under these conditions, corrosive material is constantly in contact with the vehicle surfaces, and the moisture evaporates slowly.

Mud is especially aggressive because it dries slowly and keeps moisture in contact with the vehicle. Although mud may appear dry, it can still retain moisture and promote corrosion.

High temperatures can also accelerate corrosion of parts that are not properly ventilated so that moisture can dissipate.

For all these reasons, it is especially important to keep the vehicle clean and free of dirt or accumulated foreign materials. This applies not only to visible surfaces but especially to the underbody.

To help prevent corrosion

You can help prevent corrosion by observing the following:

Keep your vehicle clean

The best way to prevent corrosion is to keep your vehicle clean and free of corrosive materials. Attention to the underside of the vehicle is especially important.

• If you live in a high-corrosion area, where road salt is used, near the ocean, in areas with industrial pollution, acid rain, etc., take additional care to prevent corrosion. In winter, hose off the underbody of your vehicle at least once a month, and be sure to thoroughly clean the underbody when winter ends.
• When cleaning the underbody, pay special attention to components under the fenders and other areas that are hidden from view. Perform a thorough job; simply dampening accumulated dirt rather than washing it off will accelerate corrosion instead of preventing it. High-pressure water and steam are especially effective at removing accumulated dirt and corrosive materials.
• When cleaning the lower door panels, rocker panels, and frame members, make sure the drain holes remain open so that moisture can escape and does not become trapped inside, where it would accelerate corrosion.

Keep your garage dry

Do not park the vehicle in a damp, poorly ventilated garage. This creates a favorable environment for corrosion. This is especially true if you wash your vehicle in the garage or drive it into the garage while it is still wet or covered with snow, ice, or mud. Even a heated garage can promote corrosion if it is poorly ventilated, so moisture does not disperse.

Keep the paint and finish in good condition.

Scratches or chips in the finish should be touched up with touch-up paint as soon as possible to reduce the likelihood of corrosion. If bare metal is visible, consult a qualified body and paint shop. Bird droppings: Bird droppings are highly corrosive and can damage painted surfaces in just a few hours. Always remove bird droppings as soon as possible.

Do Not Neglect the Interior

Moisture can collect under floor mats and carpeting and cause corrosion. Check under the mats regularly to make sure the carpet is dry. Use special care if you transport fertilizers, detergents, or chemicals in the vehicle.

They should be carried only in proper containers. Any spills or leaks should be cleaned up, rinsed with clean water, and dried thoroughly.