Corrosion Prevention - Suzuki SIDEKICK 2-DOOR HARDTOP - 1995 Owner's Manual

60A23-11010

CORROSION PREVENTION

It is important to take good care of your
vehicle to protect it from corrosion.
Listed below are instructions for how to
maintain your vehicle to prevent corro-
sion. Please read and follow these instruc-
tions carefully.
Important Information About Corrosion
Common causes of corrosion
1) Accumulation of road salt, dirt, mois-
ture, or chemicals in hard to reach
areas of the vehicle underbody or
frame.
2) Chipping, scratches and any damage
to treated or painted metal surfaces
resulting from minor accidents or im-
pact from stones and gravel.
Environmental conditions which accele-
rate corrosion
1) Road salt, dust control chemicals, sea
air or industrial pollution will all ac-
celerate the corrosion of metal.
2) High humidity will increase the rate of
corrosion particularly when the tem-
perature range is just above the freez-
ing point.
3) Moisture in certain areas of a vehicle
for an extended period of time may
promote corrosion even though other
body sections may be completely dry.
143
4) High temperatures will cause an ac-
celerated rate of corrosion to parts of
the vehicle which are not well ven-
tilated to permit quick drying.
This information illustrates the necessity
of keeping your vehicle (particularly the
underbody) as clean and dry as possible.
It is equally important to repair any
damage to the paint or protective coat-
ings as soon as possible.
How to Help Prevent Corrosion
Wash your vehicle frequently
The best way to preserve the finish on
your vehicle and to help avoid corrosion
is to keep it clean with frequent washing.
Wash your vehicle at least once during
the winter and once immediately after
the winter. Keep your vehicle, particular-
ly the underside, as clean and dry as
possible.
If you frequently drive on salted roads,
your vehicle should be washed at least
once a month during the winter. If you live
near the ocean, your vehicle should be
washed at least once a month throughout
the year.
Wash your vehicle immediately after us-
ing it off-road. For washing instructions,
refer to the "VEHICLE CLEANING" sec-
tion.
APPEARANCE CARE
Remove foreign material deposits
Foreign material such as salts, chemicals,
road oil or tar, tree sap, bird droppings
and industrial fall-out may damage the
finish of your vehicle if it is left on paint-
ed surfaces. Remove these types of
deposits as quickly as possible. If these
deposits are difficult to wash off, an ad-
ditional cleaner may be required. Be sure
that any cleaner you use is not harmful
to painted surfaces and is specifically
intended for your purposes. Follow the
manufacturer's directions when using
these special cleaners.
Foreign material can lodge between
the fuel tank of your vehicle and the
skid plate which covers it. You should
periodically clean out any foreign
material which has accumulated in
this area, since it could create a fire
hazard.
Repair finish damage
Carefully examine your vehicle for
damage to the painted surfaces, especial-
ly if it is used off-road. Should you find
any chips or scratches in the paint, touch
them up immediately to prevent corrosion
from starting. If the chips or scratches
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