Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution Owner's Manual page 301

Vehicle care
CAUTION
• Maintain a distance of approx. 50 cm
or more between the vehicle body and
the washing nozzle.
• When washing around the door glass,
hold the nozzle at a distance of more
than 50 cm and at right angles to the
glass surface.
l After washing the vehicle, drive the vehi-
cle slowly while lightly depressing the
brake pedal several times in order to dry
out the brakes.
Leaving the brakes wet could result in re-
duced braking performance. Also, there
is a possibility that they could freeze up
or become inoperative due to rust, render-
ing the vehicle unable to move.
l When using high-pressure water to wash
a vehicle equipped with the keyless opera-
tion system, keep the water from spray-
ing on the open button on the trunk. This
could cause the trunk to open and flood
the inside of the trunk.
l
Using an automatic car wash, pay atten-
tion to the following items, referring to
the operation manual or consulting a car
wash operator. If the following procedure
is not followed, it could result in damage
7
to your vehicle.
• The outside rear-view mirrors are re-
tracted.
• The roof antenna is removed.
• If your vehicle is equipped with a rear
spoiler, consult a car wash operator be-
fore using the car wash.
7-04
CAUTION
• As your vehicle has rain sensor wip-
ers, place the wiper switch lever in the
"OFF" position to deactivate the rain
sensor.
During cold weather
The salt and other chemicals spread on the roads in
some areas in winter can have a harmful effect on
the vehicle body. You should therefore wash the ve-
hicle as often as possible in accordance with our
care-instructions. It is recommended to have a pres-
ervative applied and the underfloor protection
checked before and after the cold weather season.
After washing your vehicle, wipe off all water-
drops from the rubber parts around the doors to pre-
vent the doors from freezing.
NOTE
l To prevent freezing of the weatherstripping
on the doors, bonnet, etc., they should be trea-
ted with silicone spray.
Waxing
E00901000805
Waxing the vehicle will help prevent the adherence
of dust and road chemicals to the paintwork. Apply
a wax solution after washing the vehicle, or at least
once every three months to assist displacing of water.
Do not wax your vehicle in direct sunlight. You
should wax after the surfaces have cooled.
OGEE12E1
CAUTION
l
Waxes containing high abrasive com-
pounds should not be used. Such waxes re-
move rust and stain effectively from the
paintwork but they are harmful to the lus-
tre of the painted surface.
Further, they are harmful to glossy surfa-
ces such as grille, garnish, mouldings, etc.
l Do not use petrol or paint thinners to re-
move road tar or other contamination to
the vehicle surface.
l Do not apply wax on the areas having
black mat coating as it can cause uneven
discolouration, patches, blurs, etc. If
stained with wax, immediately wipe off
with a piece of soft cloth and warm water.
l On vehicles with the sunroof, be careful
when waxing the area around the sunroof
opening, not to put any wax on the weath-
erstrip (black rubber). If stained with
wax, the weatherstrip cannot maintain a
weatherproof seal with the sunroof.
Polishing
E00901100112
The vehicle should only be polished if the paint-
work has become stained or lost its lustre. Matt-fin-
ish parts and plastic bumpers must not be polished,
polishing these parts will stain them or damage
their finish.
Damaged paint
E00901200012
Small cracks and scratches in the paint coat should
be touched up as soon as possible with
MITSUBISHI touch-up paint to prevent corrosion.