Body care

Protection against corrosive agents

Although your vehicle benefits from very effective anti-corrosion technology, it is still subject to:

• corrosive atmospheric agents
• atmospheric pollution (towns and industrial areas),
• salinity of the atmosphere (mainly in coastal areas in hot weather),
• seasonal and humidity-related weather conditions (salt spread on the road in winter, water used to clean the streets...).
• abrasive action: atmospheric dust and sand blown by the wind, mud, and stones thrown up by other vehicles...
• road incidents. To keep the benefit of these technologies, a minimum of precautions is essential to fully protect your vehicle against these risks.

What you must not do

• Degrease or clean mechanical parts (e.g. engine compartment), underbody, hinged parts (e.g. inside of the fuel filler flap) and painted exterior plastic parts (e.g. bumpers) using high-pressure cleaners or sprays not approved by our technical departments. Without proper precautions, this may cause oxidation or malfunction.
• Wash the vehicle in full sun or when it is freezing.
• Scrape off mud or dirt without soaking it.
• Allow exterior soiling to build up.
• Letting rust develop from accidental damage.
• Remove stains with solvents not approved by our departments, as these may attack the paintwork.
• Driving often in snow and mud without washing the vehicle, especially the wheel arches and underbody.

What you should do

• Wash your vehicle frequently, engine off, with shampoos approved by our departments (never abrasive products), and rinse thoroughly with a jet of water:
• tree resin or industrial pollution;
• Bird droppings, which cause a chemical reaction with the paint leading to rapid discoloration that can go as far as paint peeling; it is essential to wash the vehicle immediately to remove these stains, as they cannot be removed by polishing;
• salt, especially in the wheel arches and underbody, after driving in areas where chemical de-icers have been spread;
• mud, which forms wet deposits in the wheel arches and underbody.
• Keep your distance from other vehicles when driving on gravel roads to avoid damaging your paintwork.
• Have paint damage touched up promptly to prevent corrosion from spreading.
• If your vehicle is covered by an anti-corrosion warranty, do not forget the periodic inspections.

  Refer to the maintenance document.

• Observe local laws regarding vehicle washing (e.g., do not wash your vehicle on public roads).
• Before driving through a brush car wash, turn the wiper/washer control lever to the Off position (refer to the "Front wiper/washer" section in Chapter 1). Check that exterior fittings, auxiliary lights and mirrors are secure, and be sure to tape down the wiper blades.

  Remove the radio antenna mast if the vehicle has one.

  Remember to remove the adhesive tape and refit the antenna once washing is complete.

• If mechanical components, hinges, etc. have been cleaned, they must be re-protected by spraying them with products approved by our technical departments.

We have selected special products for maintenance, which are available at brand outlets.