Maintaining your vehicle yourself regularly is important. Here are some handy tips to get the most out of your maintenance.
CLEANING THE INTERIOR
A few handy tips for cleaning the interior of your Car:
Clean plastic, vinyl, leather, fabric and flocked parts with a soft cloth soaked in lukewarm water and a small amount of neutral detergent.
Don’t use cleaners, conditioners or protectants that contain silicone or wax. These products may cause annoying reflections that obscure your vision.
Clean the carpet with a vacuum cleaner and remove any stains with carpet cleaner.
Oil and grease can be removed from carpets by lightly dabbing with a clean, colourfast cloth and stain remover.
CLEANING THE EXTERIOR
Keep the exterior of your Car looking clean and new by ensuring the following:
If the exterior of your vehicle comes into contact with saltwater, anti-freeze, soot or dust, iron powder, bird droppings or any corrosive chemical substances, be sure to wash it immediately.
After washing your vehicle, make sure all traces of soap or detergent are removed, and wipe it dry with a soft cloth.
After washing, also carefully clean the joints and flanges of the doors and engine hood where dirt is likely to hide from view.
If you live in a coastal area, it’s particularly important to wash your car regularly. Wind-born spray from the sea can distribute salt for a distance of up to 20 kilometres from the shore.
CLEANING THE UNDERSIDE
For 4WD vehicles, it’s important to keep the underside clean – particularly if you drive off-road. This will remove corrosive dirt, dust and salt water.
When washing the underside:
Be sure to wear a pair of rubber gloves and exercise caution.
Be careful not to spray water onto any electrical components in the engine compartment.
PAINTWORK – POLISHING
When it comes to polishing your paintwork:
Only polish your vehicle if the paintwork has become stained or lost its luster.
Matt-finish parts and plastic bumpers mustn’t be polished as this may stain them or damage their finish.
PAINTWORK – WAXING
Applying wax to your vehicle can help prevent the build up of dust and road chemicals on your paintwork. When doing so, be mindful that:
You should apply a wax solution after washing your vehicle, at least once every three months.
You shouldn’t wax your vehicle in direct sunlight and should only apply wax after the surfaces have cooled.
PAINTWORK - DAMAGED PAINT
Often, your paintwork may be damaged due to flying stones or corrosion. If this is the case:
Small cracks and scratches can be touched up with Car touch-up paint to prevent corrosion – and to keep your vehicle looking new.
The paint code number for your vehicle can be found on the vehicle information code plate in the engine compartment.
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