Cleaning And Car Care; Washing Your Car; Removing Tar Spots; Body Protection - Caterham Seven Owner's Handbook Manual

Cleaning and car care

Washing your car

WARNING! Take care to avoid contact with a hot
exhaust system when washing the car.
Road dirt, oil, and deposits from birds and trees,
can permanently spoil the paint finish. Wash your
car frequently, using a clean, grit free sponge and
generous quantities of cold or lukewarm water,
containing car shampoo/conditioner. Rinse and dry
off with a chamois leather.
• In hot weather, DO NOT wash the car in
direct sunlight – move the car into the shade!
• DO NOT use detergent soap products or
washing up liquid.
During winter months when salt has been used on
the roads, use a hose to wash the underside. Pay
particular attention to wheel arches, panel seams
and to removing accumulations of mud.
When using a hose, do not direct the jet into the
heater air intake ducts, or through the wheels onto
the brake components.
WARNING!
Some high pressure cleaning systems available on
garage forecourts are sufficiently powerful to
damage fragile components. Never aim the water
jet directly at components that might easily be
damaged.

Removing tar spots

Use a tar removal product to remove tar spots and
stubborn grease stains from paintwork. Then wash
immediately with soapy water, to remove all traces
of the spirit.

Body protection

After washing, inspect the paintwork for damage.
Treat paint chips and scratches with touch-up paint.
If the damage has revealed bare metal, use a
coloured primer first, then apply the base coat and
finish off with a lacquer pencil, if appropriate. Carry
out this treatment after washing, but before
polishing or waxing. Take care to ensure that car
polish and body cleaning compounds are not
applied to the window glass or seals.

Windscreen

Regularly clean the windscreen, inside and out,
using an approved glass cleaner.

Hood/Sidescreen

The windows in the hood and sidescreen are made
of plastic and should be cleaned with soapy water.
Never use an abrasive cleaner on these windows.

Mirrors

Mirror glass is particularly susceptible to damage;
DO NOT use abrasive cleaning compounds or
metal scrapers.

Wiper blades

Always clean
replacement wiper blades. Regularly wash the
wiper blades with warm soapy water (NEVER use a
spirit or petrol based solvent).

Looking after the interior

Vinyl/plastic/cloth-faced materials:
Clean with diluted upholstery cleaner.
Leather:
Seats, steering wheel and any trim features should
be cleaned with warm water and a non-detergent
soap. Dry and polish the leather with a clean, dry,
lint-free cloth.
Alcantara panels:
Dab, do not rub and try not to over wet the surface.
DO NOT use petrol, detergents, furniture creams or
polishes!
Carpets:
Sweep regularly with a brush or vacuum cleaner
and clean with diluted upholstery cleaner.
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the windscreen before fitting