Subaru 2003 Impreza - Manual (Page 319)

IMPREZA(NA) A1850BE-A (ENGLISH)
Appearance care
10-2
Exterior care
J Washing
The best way to preserve your vehicle’s beauty is
frequent washing. Wash the vehicle at least once a
month to avoid contamination by road grime.
Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty of luke-
warm or cold water. Do not wash the vehicle with hot
water and in direct sunlight.
Salt, chemicals, insects, tar, soot and bird droppings
should be washed off by using a light detergent, as
required. If you use a light detergent, make certain
that it is a neutral detergent. Do not use strong soap
or chemical detergents. All cleaning agents should
be promptly flushed from the surface and not al-
lowed to dry there. Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with
plenty of lukewarm water. Wipe the remaining water
off with a chamois or soft cloth.
NOTE
When having your vehicle washed in an auto-
matic car wash, make sure beforehand that the
car wash is of suitable type. If the vehicle is
equipped with a rear/roof spoiler or rear wiper, it
may be damaged by car wash brushes or other
equipment.
CAUTION
D When washing the vehicle, the brakes may
get wet. As a result, the brake stopping dis-
tance will be longer. To dry the brakes, drive
the vehicle at a safe speed while lightly press-
ing the brake pedal to heat up the brakes.
D Do not wash the engine compartment and
area adjacent to it. If water enters the engine
air intake, electrical parts or the power steer-
ing fluid reservoir, it will cause engine trouble
or faulty power steering respectively.
B Washing the underbody
Chemicals, salts and gravel used for deicing road
surfaces are extremely corrosive, accelerating the
corrosion of underbody components, such as the
exhaust system, fuel and brake lines, brake cables,
floor pan and fenders, and suspension.
Thoroughly flush the underbody and inside of the
fenders with lukewarm or cold water at frequent in-
tervals to reduce the harmful effects of such agents.
B Using a warm water washer
D Keep a good distance of 12 in (30 cm) or more
between the washer nozzle and the vehicle.