Hyundai 2008 Santa Fe - Manual (Page 273)

4 CORROSION PREVENTION AND APPEARANCE CARE
4
After rinsing, dry the car using a damp
chamois or soft, absorbent cloth. The rea-
son for drying the car is to remove water
from the car so it will dry without water
spots. Don't rub, this can damage the fin-
ish.
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 corrosion, you must
clean your Hyundai (at least once a month).
Give special attention 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 under-
side of the doors are open. Paint damage
can be caused by small accumulation of
tar, industrial precipitation, tree resin, in-
sects and bird droppings, when not re-
moved immediately. If water alone is not
strong enough to remove the accumulated
dirt, use a mild car washing solution. Be
sure to rinse the surface after washing to
remove the solution. Never allow the solu-
tion to dry on the painted surfaces.
Use a clean sponge or cloth, rinse it fre-
quently 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 aluminum is subject to
corrosion, be sure to give aluminum alloy
wheels special attention in winter. If you
drive on salted roads, clean the wheels
thoroughly afterwards.
After washing, be sure to rinse thoroughly.
If soapy water dries on the finish, streaking
will result.
When the weather is warm and the humid-
ity low, you may find it necessary to rinse
each section immediately after washing to
avoid streaking.
WASHING AND WAXING
E030A02A-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 abrasive
and can scratch the paint if it is not re-
moved. Air pollution or acid rain may dam-
age the paint and trim through chemical
action if pollutants are allowed to remain in
contact with the surface. If you live near the
ocean or in an area where road salts or
dust control chemicals are used, you
should pay particular attention to the un-
derside of the car. Start by rinsing the car
to remove dust and loose dirt. In winter, 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 accumulations of mud
or corrosive materials. 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 solvents
or abrasive cleaning powders as these
may damage the finish.