To avoid scratches on the paintwork of the car body, do not remove dust and dirt with a dry wiping material. It is recommended to wash the car before the dirt dries with a stream of water at low pressure using a soft sponge and car shampoos that create protective films from environmental influences.
ATTENTION! Do not wash your car with soda or alkaline solutions, or waste water.
Before washing your car, clean the drainage holes in the doors and sills (Fig. 49).
ATTENTION! Due to the presence of car wash machines with different brush unit designs on the market, washing a car using brush wash machines may result in the loss of gloss of the paintwork and a decrease in its protective properties. Therefore, before washing, ask the car wash operator about the design, technical condition of the brushes and the degree of their impact on the paintwork of your car.
In summer, wash your car outdoors in the shade. If this is not possible, then immediately wipe the washed surfaces dry, as when water droplets dry in the sun, stains form on the painted surface. In winter, after washing your car in a warm room, wipe the body and door seals dry before driving out, as when the remaining drops freeze, cracks may form in the paintwork and the seals may freeze to the body.
CAUTION! Do not wash your car with the engine running.
When washing your car, avoid direct water jets on electrical components, electronic devices, sensors and detachable connections in the engine compartment. Monitor the condition of the protective covers of the detachable connections of electronic units and sensors. If moisture gets in, blow the detachable connections with compressed air and treat them with a water-repellent car preparation to protect the contacts from oxidation.
During washing, thoroughly wash the door flanges, hood, trunk lid, welded seams and joints of the engine compartment, trunk and door openings, including under the rubber seals, since accumulated dirt in these places will lead to the destruction of the protective and decorative coating and corrosion of the metal. If signs of corrosion and damage to paint and other protective coatings appear, it is necessary to take measures to prevent further development of corrosion and repair the protective coating at PTO certified by the manufacturer.
Remember that timely measures to prevent the development of the corrosion process on the body and other parts of the car will extend its service life and preserve its marketable appearance for a long time. If you fail to take timely measures to eliminate corrosion processes on the body, the manufacturer is not responsible for the further condition of your car body.
Chips and scratches on the paintwork, chipped mastic on the wheel arches and on the bottom are associated with mechanical impact of an operational nature. Traces of corrosion on welded joints and junctions are superficial in nature and can be removed.
To increase the corrosion resistance of the body, a special anti-corrosion compound is applied to the closed box-shaped cavities of the thresholds, side members, cross members and other elements of the body base. When operating the car, it is necessary to carry out anti-corrosion treatment of the body at the PTO certified by the manufacturer during the first year of operation and periodically once a year according to the technology developed by the manufacturer.
During vehicle operation, the underbody coating is exposed to gravel, sand, and salt. As a result of this exposure, the mastic and primer wear out, and the exposed metal rusts. Regularly monitor the condition of the underbody coating and promptly restore damaged areas.
In winter, aggressive chemical materials, as well as sand, small gravel and crushed stone material, are used to improve the grip of the car wheels on the road surface. These materials have a negative effect on the paintwork of the thresholds and the lower part of the body, causing its accelerated destruction. Therefore, if the car is used in winter, it is recommended to install front mudguards (not included in the factory package).
ATTENTION! When operating a car in winter, carefully monitor the condition of the paintwork of the body. If damage is detected, immediately contact a certified PTO for its prompt elimination.
To maintain the shine of painted surfaces of the car (especially for vehicles stored outdoors) polish them regularly using polishing pastes. These pastes close microcracks and pores that have appeared in the paint coating during use, which prevents corrosion from occurring under the paint layer.
To ensure that the car body surface retains its shine for a long time, do not leave the car in the sun for a long time, and do not allow acids, soda solutions, brake fluid and gasoline to come into contact with the car body surface.
To prevent stains on the paintwork under the fuel filler flap from gasoline, wipe the surface with a clean cloth before and after refueling.
Due to the unfavorable environmental conditions in some areas, there are cases of aggressive impact of individual components from the environment on the protective and decorative coatings of the car. These impacts are manifested in the form of a red rash, local color change of the external paint coating, local destruction of the enamel coating of the body.
(The article is copied from the website: VAZbook)
The cause of the appearance of the red rash is the deposition of tiny particles of airborne metal dust on the horizontal surfaces of the body, which is glued to the body by corrosion products during wetting with dew. If this phenomenon occurs, it is necessary to contact a certified PTO. The red rash can be removed with a 5% solution of oxalic acid, followed by abundant rinsing with clean water, after which the body must be polished. Without special measures, it is gradually removed by subsequent washes or rain.
Local changes in color (spots) of the external paintwork and local destruction of the enamel coating of the body are a consequence of the influence of external factors (GOST 26883) and chemically active industrial emissions after their combination with atmospheric moisture. Such impacts, depending on the severity, are eliminated by polishing or repainting the body.
Wipe plastic parts with a damp cloth. Do not use gasoline or solvents, as the plastic parts will lose their shine.