CLEANING
5
Bodywork maintenance
A well-maintained vehicle will last
longer. It is therefore recommended to
maintain the exterior of the vehicle reg-
ularly.
Your vehicle has been treated with
very effective anti-corrosion products.
It is nevertheless subject to various
outside influences.
Corrosive agents in the atmosphere
– atmospheric pollution (in built-up and
industrial areas);
– saline atmospheres (near the sea,
particularly in hot weather);
– seasonal and damp climatic condi-
tions, (e.g.: road salt in winter, water
from road cleaners, etc.).
Minor impacts
Abrasive action
Dust and sand in the air, mud, road grit
thrown up by other vehicles, etc.
You should take a number of minor
precautions in order to safeguard your
vehicle against such risks.
You should do the following
Wash your car frequently, with the en-
gine off, with cleaning products rec-
ommended by the manufacturer (never
use abrasive products). Rinse thor-
oughly beforehand using a jet washer:
– spots of tree resin and industrial pol-
lution;
– mud in the wheel arches and under-
neath the body which forms damp
patches;
– bird droppings, which cause a
chemical reaction with the paint that
rapidly discolours paintwork and
may even cause the paint to peel
off;
Wash the vehicle immediately to re-
move these marks as it is impossible
to remove them by polishing;
– salt, particularly in the wheel arches
and underneath the body after driving
in areas where the roads have been
gritted.
Remove any plant matter (resin,
leaves, etc.) from the vehicle regularly.
Observe local regulations about wash-
ing vehicles (e.g. do not wash your ve-
hicle on a public highway).
Observe the vehicle stopping dis-
tances when driving on gravelled sur-
faces to prevent paint damage.
Repair, or have repaired quickly, areas
where the paint has been damaged, to
prevent corrosion spreading.
Remember to visit the body shop peri-
odically in order to maintain your anti-
corrosion warranty. Refer to the main-
tenance document.
When washing the vehicle with a high-
pressure cleaning device, please take
the following precautions:
– make sure that your vehicle's paint-
work, the area or the component that
you want to clean is compatible with
this type of washing;
– the pressure delivered by the device
must be less than 100 bar;
– when washing, position the spray
nozzle at least 15 cm from the vehicle
and check that the water flow rate is
less than 3.30 gal (15 l) per minute;
– do not persist in washing the same
area, impacted points or the seals (risk
of damage to the paint, seals becom-
ing detached, etc.).
If mechanical components, hinges, etc.
have been cleaned, they must be pro-
tected again by spraying with products
approved by our Technical Depart-
ment.
We have selected special
products to care for your
vehicle and you can obtain
these from the manufacturer's ac-
cessory outlets.
288 - Maintenance
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