Bodywork - Fiat Idea Owner's Handbook Manual

BODYWORK

PROTECTION FROM
ATMOSPHERIC AGENTS
The main causes of corrosion are the fol-
lowing:
❒ atmospheric pollution;
❒ salty air and humidity (coastal areas,
or hot humid climates);
❒ seasonal environment conditions.
Not to be underestimated is also the abra-
sive action of wind-borne atmospheric du-
st and sand and mud and gravel raised by
other cars.
On your car, Fiat implemented the best
manufacturing technologies to effectively
protect the bodywork against corrosion.
These are the most important:
❒ painting products and systems which
give the car particular resistance to
corrosion and abrasion;
❒ use of galvanised (or pre-treated) steel
sheets, with high resistance to corro-
sion;
❒ spraying of plastic parts with a pro-
tective function in the more exposed
points: under door, inner wing parts,
edges, etc.;
❒ boxed parts are designed to prevent
condensation and pooling of water
which can cause corrosion from the
178
inside.
BODY AND UNDERBODY
WARRANTY
Your car is covered by warranty against
perforation due to rust of any original ele-
ment of the structure or body. For the ge-
neral terms of this warranty, refer to your
"FIAT SERVICE" Booklet.
ADVICE FOR PRESERVING THE
BODYWORK
Paint
Paintwork does not only serve an aesthe-
tic purpose, but also protects the un-
derlying sheet metal.
Touch up abrasions and scratches imme-
diately to prevent the formation of rust.
Only use genuine spare paint products for
touch-ups (see "Bodywork paint identifi-
cation plate" in the "Technical Specifica-
tions" section).
Normal maintenance of paintwork consi-
sts in washing the vehicle: the frequency
depends on the conditions and environ-
ment where the vehicle is used. For exam-
ple, it is advisable to wash the car more
often in areas with a high environmental
pollution or on roads sprinkled with salt.
To correctly wash the car:
❒ remove the aerial from the roof to
prevent damage to it if the car is wa-
shed in an automatic system;
❒ wash the body using a low pressure jet
of water;
❒ wipe a sponge with a slightly soapy so-
lution over the bodywork, frequently
rinsing with the sponge;
❒ rinse well with water and dry with a
jet of air or a chamois leather.
Dry the parts less in sight particularly ca-
refully, such as the door frames and the
headlight frames, where water may sta-
gnate more easily. It is a good idea to lea-
ve the car in the open for a while after wa-
shing it to give time for the water to eva-
porate.
Do not wash the car after it has been
parked in the sun or when the engine is
bonnet is hot: this could take the shine off
the paint.