Bodywork - Fiat 500X Owner's Handbook Manual

or pavements and do not drive long
distances over roads without snow, to
avoid damaging both your car and the
road surface.

BODYWORK

PRESERVING THE
BODYWORK
Paintwork
96)
6)
Touch up abrasions and scratches
immediately to prevent the formation of
rust.
Maintenance of paintwork consists
of washing the car: the frequency
depends on the conditions and
environment where the car is used. For
example, it is advisable to wash the car
more often in areas with high levels of
atmospheric pollution or salted roads.
Some parts of the car may be covered
with a matt paint which, in order to be
maintained intact, requires special care:
see the instructions in the warning at
the end of this paragraph
97)
To correctly wash the vehicle, follow
these instructions:
if the vehicle is washed remove the
aerial from the roof;
if high pressure jets or cleaners
are used to wash the vehicle, keep
a distance of at least 40 cm from
the bodywork to avoid damage or
alteration. Build up of water could
cause damage to the car in the long
term;
wash the bodywork using a low
pressure jet of water if possible;
wipe a sponge with a slightly soapy
solution over the bodywork, frequently
rinsing the sponge;
rinse well with water and dry with a
jet of air or a chamois leather.
Dry the less visible parts (e.g. door
frames, bonnet, headlight frames,
etc.) with special care, as water may
stagnate more easily in these areas. Do
not wash the car after it has been left
in the sun or with the bonnet hot: this
may alter the shine of the paintwork.
Exterior plastic parts must be cleaned
in the same way as the rest of the
vehicle.
IMPORTANT NOTES
Avoid parking under trees; the resin
dropped by trees makes the paintwork
go opaque and increases the possibility
of corrosion.
Bird droppings must be washed off
immediately and thoroughly as the acid
they contain is particularly aggressive.
Windows
Use specific detergents and clean
cloths to prevent scratching or altering
the transparency.
IMPORTANT Wipe the inside surface
of the rear window gently with a cloth
in the direction of the filaments to avoid
damaging the heater coils.
Headlights
Use a soft cloth soaked in water and
detergent for washing cars.
IMPORTANT Never use aromatic
substances (e.g.: petrol) or ketones
(e.g.: acetone) for cleaning front
headlight plastic lens.
IMPORTANT When cleaning the car
with a pressure washer, keep the
water jet at least 20 cm away from the
headlights.
Engine compartment
At the end of every winter, wash the
engine compartment thoroughly, taking
care not to aim the jet of water directly
at the electronic control units or at the
windscreen/rear window wiper motors.
Have this operation performed at a
specialised workshop.
IMPORTANT The washing should take
place with the engine cold and the
ignition device in the STOP position.
After the washing operation, make
sure that the various protections (e.g.
195