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Underbody maintenance
Corrosive materials used for ice and
snow removal and dust control may
collect on the underbody. If these ma‐
terials are not removed, accelerated
rusting can occur on underbody parts
such as the fuel lines, frame, floor pan
and exhaust system, even though they
have been treated with rust protection.
Thoroughly flush the vehicle underbody
and wheel openings with lukewarm or
cold water once a month, after off-
road driving and at the end of each
winter. Pay special attention to these
areas because it is difficult to see all
the mud and dirt. It will do more harm
than good to wet down the road grime
without removing it. The lower edges
of doors, rocker panels, and frame
members have drain holes that should
not be allowed to clog with dirt; trap‐
ped water in these areas can cause
rusting.
WARNING
After washing the vehicle, test the
brakes while driving slowly to see if
they have been affected by water. If
braking performance is impaired, dry
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the brakes by applying them lightly
while
maintaining a slow forward
speed.
Aluminum wheel maintenance
The aluminum wheels are coated with a
clear protective finish.
• Do not use any abrasive cleaner, pol‐
ishing compound, solvent, or wire
brushes on aluminum wheels. They
may scratch or damage the finish.
• Clean the wheel when it has cooled.
• Use only a mild soap or neutral deter‐
gent, and rinse thoroughly with wa‐
ter. Also, be sure to clean the wheels
after driving on salted roads. This
helps prevent corrosion.
• Avoid washing the wheels with high-
speed car wash brushes.
• Do not use any alkaline or acid deter‐
gent. It may damage and corrode the
aluminum wheels coated with a clear
protective finish.
Corrosion protection
Protecting your vehicle from corrosion
By using the most advanced design and
construction practices to combat corro‐
sion, we produces cars of the highest
quality. However, this is only part of
the job. To achieve the long-term cor‐
rosion resistance your vehicle can deliv‐
er, the owner's cooperation and assis‐
tance is also required.
Common causes of corrosion
The most common causes of corrosion
on your car are:
• Road salt, dirt and moisture that is
allowed to accumulate underneath
the car.
• Removal of paint or protective coat‐
ings by stones, gravel, abrasion or
minor scrapes and dents which leave
unprotected metal exposed to corro‐
sion.
High-corrosion areas
If you live in an area where your car is
regularly exposed to corrosive materi‐
als, corrosion protection is particularly
important. Some of the common cau‐
ses of accelerated corrosion are road
salts, dust control chemicals, ocean air
and industrial pollution.
Moisture breeds corrosion
7-85
7
Maintenance
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