Volvo PV 544 Instruction Book page 26

Body
Washing
When the vehicle is new it should be washed often to harden the surface finish.
Otherwise the vehicle should be washed as soon as it is dirty or dusty. If dust and
dirt are allowed to be in contact with the surface finish for some length of time,
damage can result.
While the vehicle is being washed it should stand where it is not in direct sunshine
since sunshine can cause drying patches. First rinse off the underside of the body
with a jet of water and use a soft brush if necessary. Then rinse down the entire
body with a fairly light jet until the dirt has loosened up. Do not be stingy with the
water. Then wash off the dirt with a sponge using plenty of water.
If washing with water alone is not sufficient, washing agents can be used. Be very
careful when choosing a washing agent since some of them are detrimental to the
surface finish.
Spots of tar, etc. can be removed by using kerosene. If the vehicle has white side-
wall tires, these can be cleaned by scrubbing them with washing agents, scouring
powder or, in the worse cases, a fine sandpaper. Whenever washing agents are
used, the tires must be carefully rinsed off afterwards with clean water. After
washing, clean the vehicle carefully with a soft, clean chamois leather.
Polishing (waxing)
The vehicle does not need polishing until the surface finish begins to appear a little
matt and normal washing is not sufficient to make it shine again. Polishing will also
remove any deposits on the surface finish. Under normal conditions it is sufficient
to polish the vehicle a couple of times a year on condition that it is carefully looked
after and thoroughly washed as soon as it has become dirty or dusty.
The vehicle should be carefully washed and dried before being polished. If polishing
is carried out on a dirty or dusty surface, the surface finish can easily be scratched.
Do not polish in direct sunshine since this can result in a smeary surface.
Polishing a couple of times a year is generally sufficient to give the surface finish
the maintenance it needs. If you want to wax the vehicle, be very careful to insure
that the surface is absolutely clean before a layer of wax is applied. Be very careful
when using solvents since these can damage the surface finish in many cases.
Waxing may not be carried out before at least one year has passed after the
vehicle has been delivered.
Use a good quality polish intended for synthetic finish. Never polish
the vehicle in direct sunshine since the result can be a smeary
j or wash
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Chromed parts
The bumpers, the radiator grille and the hub caps are chromed and should be
washed with clean water as soon as they are dirty. This is particularly important if
you drive a lot on gravel roads which are treated with chemicals to keep the dust
down or if you are driving near the sea. After washing you can apply wax or anti-
rust preparations.
Teaching up, gravel damage on the finish etc.
At the same time as the underside of the body is rinsed off, the underbody
protection should be examined. Should touching up be necessary, make sure that
this is done before it has a chance to rust.
The synthetic finish on your vehicle requires the use of workshop equipment and
specialized knowledge. For this reason you should always go to a Volvo workshop
for the repair of minor damage. Damage caused by gravel as well as scratches in
the surface can, however, be touched up by the owner and Volvo dealers supply
the original paint in 100 g (4 oz.) tins for this purpose. Do not use cellulose paint
for touching up since the difference in color may become apparent after some
time.
Always touch up minor damage as soon as possible since otherwise rusting
may occur.
38 Cleaning
Cleaning the upholstery
The upholstery in the vehicle should be cleaned with a vacuum cleaner at least
once a month. If you have no vacuum cleaner, a stiff brush should be used
instead.
If there are any stains on the upholstery these can be removed in accordance
with the instructions on the following page. Do not use gasoline or carbon
tetrachloride on the parts of the upholstery consisting of plastic material.
These parts should be cleaned with tepid soap solution or household cleaning
agents in severe cases.
To remove stains, use a clean rag moistened with a little of the recommended
cleaning agent. Start at the outer edges of the stain and work in towards the
centre. This will avoid a ring when the stain dries.
i
Clean the floor mats
The floor mats should be taken out at least twice a year and cleaned. Particularly
during the winter when there can be snow and ice on the mats, they should be
taken out and dried.
If the mats are stained they can be cleaned with methylated spirits which is then
rinsed off with water.