Attention. The manufacturer's warranty obligations regarding the paintwork are valid only if all recommendations in the "Body Care" section of this manual are followed and the activities specified in the service book are regularly carried out.
To avoid scratches on the paintwork of the car body, do not remove dust and dirt with a dry wiping material. It is better to wash the car in specialized car washes, where modern equipment and detergents are used that are gentle on the paintwork of the car body. In extreme cases, washing with a low-pressure water jet using a soft sponge and special car shampoo is allowed.
Attention: Do not wash your car with the engine running!
After washing, wipe the washed surfaces dry immediately, as when water drops dry on the painted surface, stains form. In winter, after washing the car in a warm room, wipe the body and door seals dry before leaving, as when the remaining drops freeze, cracks may form on the paintwork and the seals will freeze to the body. It is not recommended to use soda and alkaline solutions, as well as waste water, to wash the car, so that the coating does not fade.
Before washing the car, clean the drainage holes of the doors and thresholds, Fig. 59. When washing the car, avoid direct water jets on electrical equipment, 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 out the detachable connections with compressed air and treat them with a water-repellent car preparation to protect the contacts from oxidation.
When washing, thoroughly wash the door flanges, hood, welded seams and joints of the engine compartment and door openings, since accumulated dirt in these areas will lead to the destruction of the protective and decorative coating and to metal corrosion.
If signs of corrosion are detected - corrosion deposits, local paint blisters, chips, etc. - remove loose and sheet rust with fine sandpaper and treat the cleaned area with a rust converter, according to the converter instructions. Then apply a primary primer and touch up with enamel. Apply bitumen anti-noise mastic to the primer on the underbody and wheel arches.
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 joints of body parts are superficial in nature and can be removed with polishing pastes at the initial stage. If measures are not taken in a timely manner to eliminate defects in the protective and decorative coating of an operational nature, this will lead to the development of corrosion under the coating layer, its peeling and swelling.
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, we recommend restoring the protective coating of the hidden cavities of the body at maintenance facilities during the first year of operation and then periodically once a year.
During vehicle operation, the underbody coating is exposed to gravel, sand, and salt. As a result of this exposure, the mastic and primer wear off, and the exposed metal rusts. Therefore, regularly monitor the condition of the underbody coating and promptly restore the coating on damaged areas.
To maintain the shine of the painted surfaces of the car, especially in cars stored outdoors, polish them regularly using polishing pastes. These pastes close microcracks and pores that have appeared in the paintwork during operation, which prevents corrosion 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.
Wipe plastic parts with a damp cloth. It is not recommended to use gasoline or solvents, otherwise the plastic parts will lose their shine.
Remove dust from cushion and seat upholstery with a vacuum cleaner. Use universal interior cleaners to remove greasy stains from the upholstery. At the same time, thoroughly wipe the rubber seals and the surfaces of the doors and trunk lid that come into contact with them with a damp cloth.
Clean the glass with a soft linen cloth or chamois. Wash very dirty glass first with water and windshield washer fluid (30 cm³ per 1 l of water).
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 changes in the color of the external paintwork, local destruction of the enamel coating of the body.
The cause of the appearance of 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. 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 washing or rain.
Local changes in colour – spots – of the external paintwork and local destruction of the enamel coating of the body are the result of exposure to acidic industrial emissions after their combination with atmospheric moisture. Such effects, depending on the severity, are eliminated by polishing or repainting the body.
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