Audi TT 2012 Owner's Manual page 86

168 Cleaning and protection
Automatic car wash
The vehicle can be washed in almost any
modern automatic car wash.
The vehicle paint is so durable that the vehicle
can normally be washed without problems in
an automatic car wash. However, the effect on
the paint depends to a large extent on the de-
sign of the facility, the filtering of the wash
water, the type of wash and care material, etc.
If the paint has a dull appearance after going
through the car wash or is scratched, bring
this to the attention of the operator immedi-
ately. If necessary, use a different car wash.
Before going through a car wash, be sure to
take the usual precautions su ch as closing the
windows. Remove antenna if applicable.
Ifyou have instaLLed additional accessories on
the vehicle - such as spoiLers, etc. - it is best to
ask the car wash operator if these should be
removed.
A
WARNING
Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
the information
q
page 167.
Washing the vehicle by hand
A lot of water is needed when washing a vehi-
cle byhand.
~ Before you start washing, make sure you
have read and understood the WARNINGS
q
8.
in General information on page 167.
~
First soak all dried dirt until it is soft, then
ri nse it off.
~
As you clean your vehicle, start with the
roof and work your way down to the bottom,
using a sponge, a sponge gLove or a clean
brush.
~
Rinse the sponge or the sponge gLove often,
flushing it clean each time.
~ Use speciaL car shampoo only for very per-
sistent dirt.
~
Rinse the car thoroughly with water.
~
Use a chamois leather to gently wipe the ex-
terior dry.
Use a separate sponge for cleaning the
wheels, door sills and other regions exposed
to road dirt. In this way, you will not scratch
the paint with coarse particles imbedded in
the sponge the next time you wash the car.
A
WARNING
- Do not clean the underside of the chas-
sis, fenders, wheel covers, or other hard
to reach parts without protecting your
ha nds and arms. You may cut yourself on
sharp-edged metal parts.
- Always read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information
q
page 167.
CD
Note
- Never try to rem ove dirt, mud or dust if
the surface of the vehicle is dry. Never
use a dry cloth or sponge, since this
could scratch your vehicle's paint or win-
dows.
- Never wash your car in bright sunlight.
Drops ofwater act as magnifying lenses
and may damage your paint.
- When you wash your car in the winter: if
you rinse your vehicle with a hose, be
careful not to aim the stream ofwater
directly at locks, or al: door or hatch
openings - they can freeze shut.
- Never use sponges designed to remove
insects, or any kitchen scouring sponges
or similar products. Tliey can damage
your paint finish. "\.
- You should remove de bris (such as in-
sectsl from the headlight lenses on a
regular basis, for example when refuel-
ling your vehicle.
- Never use a dry cloth or sponge to clean
the headlights. Only use wet cloths or
sponges to prevent scratches. It is best
to use soapy water.
~
For the sake of the environ ment
In the interest of the environ ment, the ve-
hicle should only be washed in special
wash bays.
Washing your vehicle with a power
washer
Cleaning the exterior ofyour car with a high-
pressure power washer is safe as long as you
observe a few simple rules.
~ Before using the power washer, make sure
you have read and understood the WARN-
INGS
q
8.
in General information on
page 167.
~
Always follow the operating instructions for
the power washer.
~ Make sure that the jet on the spray hose
produces a "fan shaped spray".
~
Do
not
hold the spray nozzle
too close
to
50ft materials.
When cleaning the vehicle with a power wash-
er always foLlow the operating instructions.
This applies particuLarly to the operating
pressure and the spraying distance. Maintain
a sufficient distance to 50ft materiaLs such as
rubber hoses and sound/vibration deadening
materials (particularly on the underside of the
engine hoodl. Do not use a jet which sprays
water in a direct stream or one that has a ra-
tating jet.
Water temperature should not exceed 140 OF
(60
oC).
A
WARNING
Never wash tires with a jet that sprays wa-
ter in a direct stream. This could cause in-
visible damage to the tires and weaken
them, even if the spray is from a relatively
long distance and for a short time. Dam-
aged and weakened tires can fail and cause
accidents and personal injury.
CD
Note
J
To avoid damaging your vehicle, always
make sure that there is sufficient distance
between the spray head and soft materials
like rubber hoses, plastic parts and sound-
deadening materials. Never aim the spray
head at the same point for a Long time.
This also applies to cleaning headlights
and painted bumpers. Remember: the
Cleaning and protection 16
closer the nozzle is to the surface of the
material, the greater the stress on the ma-
terial.
Waxing and Polishing
Waxing
A good wax coating protects the vehicle paint
to a large extent against the environmental
factorslisted under
q
page 167, Washing and
even against slight scratches.
You can use a liquid car wax to protect your
paint as soon as one week after your vehicle
has been deLivered.
Even if you regularly use a waxing process in
automatic car washes, we recommend that
you manualLy appLy a coat of wax to give the
paint extra protection, particularLy if water no
Longer beads on the clean paint.
Pratect plastic body parts with car wax in the
same way as the vehicle body.
During warm weather dead insects tend to
collect on the front bumper and on the for-
ward area of the hood. They are much easier
to remove from paint that is waxed
often.
Polishing
Polish your vehicle onLy if the paint has lost its
shine and the gloss cannot be brought back
with wax.
If the polish used does not contain preserva-
tive compounds, the paint must be waxed af-
terwards.
A
WARNING
ALways read and heed all WARNINGS and
other information
q
page 167.
ICD
Note
Do not use car wax on
- matte or anodized metal trim
- rubber or rubber-like trim.