– The electronic parking brake, → page 123 windscreen wipers → page 78 and rain sensor must be switched off before cleaning. Waxing Regular waxing helps protect the body finish. Af- ter washing, when there is no obvious water drop on the body surface of the vehicle high quality hard wax curing agent can be applied. – Lock the boot lid. – The exterior mirrors must be folded away. – Close all doors, Windows and glass roof. Even if a preservative wax is used regularly in the car wash, Volkswagen recommends protecting the paint with suitable hard wax or with Volks- wagen Genuine hard wax at least twice a year.
– Do not select cleaning programmes with hot wax for vehicles with decorative and protec- tive films. – Regularly have the bottom of the vehicle thor- oughly cleaned to remove residue. Polishing The paint needs to be polished when the finish becomes dark and cannot be restored even after waxing. High-pressure cleaner – Never use rotary nozzles. → Observe the manufacturer’s instructions. Parts sprayed with matte paint shall not be pol- ished to prevent them from shining → . – Use water up to a maximum temperature of +60 °C only. – Move the jet of water uniformly so that the nozzle is at least 50 cm away from all the vehi- cle components.
Cleaning matte painted vehicles Clean matte paint vehicles by hand or fabric cleaning device, and do not use preservative wax. When cleaning by hand, clean the vehicle with plenty of water to remove dust and coarse soil- ing, and then clean the surface with a neutral cleaning shampoo. 1) – Do not point the water jet at the same location for too long. Tough stains should be pre-soft- ened. – Aim the water jet indirectly at sensitive vehicle components if possible, e.g. rubber seals, side windows, gloss strips, tyres, sensors, camera lenses, decorative, protective film, rubber ho- ses, and insulation or door locks.
In the case of matt paint, remove insects, grease stains and fingerprints with a special cleaner for matt paints. WARNING – Never clean windows that are iced up or cov- ered in snow with a high-pressure cleaner. After a car wash, the braking action may be de- layed as the brake discs and brake pads will be wet, or iced up in winter. The braking distance will increase as a result. Hand wash Hand wash is often a protective way to clean a vehicle. The following precautions must be ob- served → . ● Carry out careful braking manoeuvres several times to “dry and de-ice the brakes”. Do not endanger other road users when performing braking manoeuvres and do not ignore any legal requirements.
– Before washing the car, soften the dirt with plenty of water, then rinse carefully. – Clean with a soft sponge, a wash mitt or a brush applying only light pressure. Start with the roof and work from the top to the bottom. NOTICE – Clean sponges, gloves, or brushes thoroughly at short intervals. Improper vehicle cleaning can cause severe dam- age to the vehicle! – Finally, clean wheels, doorsills and similar parts. Use another sponge for this purpose. ● Always observe the described tasks for vehicle care and cleaning. ● Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight. ● Never aim a water jet directly at doors or the boot lid in cold weather. Otherwise the lock and seal may freeze!
Use a cleaning shampoo only for very stubborn dirt. 182.5C1.TRO.74 1) Neutral soap solution: Add up to two tablespoons of neutral soap diluted in one litre of water. Vehicle care 205