Washing And Waxing - Hyundai ELANTRA 2006 Owner's Manual

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CORROSION PREVENTION AND APPEARANCE CARE

WASHING AND WAXING

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E030A01A-AAT
Washing Your Hyundai
Never wash your car when the surface
is hot from being in the sun. Always
wash your car in the shade.
Wash your car frequently. Dirt is abra-
sive and can scratch the paint if it is not
removed. Air pollution or acid rain may
damage the paint and trim through
chemical action if pollutants are al-
lowed to remain in contact with the
surface. If you live near the ocean or in
an area where road salts or dust con-
trol chemicals are used, you should
pay particular attention to the under-
side of the car. Start by rinsing the car
to remove dust and loose dirt. In win-
ter, or if you have driven through mud
or muddy water, be sure to thoroughly
clean the underside as well. Use a
hard direct stream of water to remove
accumulated mud or corrosive materi-
als. Use a good quality car-washing
solution and follow the manufacturer's
directions on the package. These are
available at your Hyundai dealer or auto
parts outlet. Don't use strong house-
hold detergents, gasoline, strong sol-
vents or abrasive cleaning powders as
these may damage the finish.
Use a clean sponge or cloth, rinse it
frequently and don't damage the finish
by rubbing too hard. For stubborn spots,
dampen them frequently and remove
them a little at a time.
To clean whitewall tires, use a stiff
brush or soapy steel-wool scouring
pad.
To clean plastic wheel covers, use a
clean sponge or soft cloth and water.
To clean cast aluminum alloy wheels,
use a mild soap or neutral detergent.
Do not use abrasive cleaners. Protect
the bare-metal surfaces by cleaning,
polishing and waxing. Because alumi-
num is subject to corrosion, be sure to
give aluminum alloy wheels special
attention in winter. If you drive on
salted roads, clean the wheels thor-
oughly afterwards.
After washing, be sure to rinse thor-
oughly. If soapy water dries on the
finish, streaking will result.
When the weather is warm and the
humidity low, you may find it necessary
to rinse each section immediately after
washing to avoid streaking.
After rinsing, dry the car using a damp
chamois or soft, absorbent cloth. The
reason for drying the car is to remove
water from the car so it will dry without
water spots. Don't rub, this can dam-
age the finish.
If you find any nicks or scratches in
the paint, use touch-up paint to cover
them to prevent corrosion. To protect
the paintwork of the car against corro-
sion, you must clean your Hyundai (at
least once a month). Give special at-
tention to the removal of salt, mud and
other substances on the underside of
the splashboards of the car. Make
sure that the outlets and the underside
of the doors are open. Paint damage
can be caused by small accumulation
of tar, industrial precipitation, tree resin,
insects and bird droppings, when not
removed immediately. If water alone is
not strong enough to remove the accu-
mulated dirt, use a mild car washing
solution. Be sure to rinse the surface