Cleaning and caring for your vehicle
159
Cleaning the engine compartment
Take special care when cleaning the engine compartment.
Anti-corrosion treatment
WARNING (continued)
•
Moisture, ice and salt on the brakes may affect braking efficiency. Risk
of accident. If possible, avoid sudden braking immediately after washing
the vehicle.
The engine compartment and the surface of the power unit are given anti-
corrosion treatment at the factory.
•
Never touch the radiator fan. It is temperature-controlled and could
start automatically, even when the key is removed from the ignition!
Good corrosion protection is particularly important in winter when the car is
frequently driven on salted roads. To prevent the salt corroding the vehicle,
the entire engine compartment should be thoroughly cleaned before and
after the salting period.
For the sake of the environment
Fuel, grease and oil deposits could be removed when the engine is washed.
The polluted water must be cleaned in an oil separator. For this reason,
engine washing should be carried out only by a qualified workshop or a suit-
able filling station.
Your Authorised Service Centre is able to provide the correct cleaning and
preserving products and has the necessary equipment. For this reason, we
recommend having this work performed by them.
The anti-corrosion protection is usually removed if the engine compartment
is cleaned with grease removing solutions, or if you have the engine cleaned.
If this job is carried out, you should ensure that all surfaces, seams, joints and
components in the engine compartment are given anti-corrosion treatment
afterwards.
Care of the vehicle interior
Cleaning plastic parts and the dash panel
WARNING
–
–
Use a clean, damp cloth to clean plastic parts and the dash
panel.
•
When working in the engine compartment, always observe the safety
warnings ⇒ page 169.
Switch off the engine, apply the parking brake firmly and always
remove the key from the ignition before you open the bonnet.
If this does not provide satisfactory results, use a special
•
solvent-free plastic cleaning product.
•
•
Allow the engine to cool before you clean the engine compartment.
Do not clean the underside of vehicle, wheel arches without protecting
WARNING
your hands and arms. You may cut yourself on sharp-edged metal parts.
Failure to comply could result in injury.
Never clean the dash panel and surface of the airbag module with cleansers
containing solvents. Solvents cause the surface to become porous. If the
airbag inflates, disintegrating plastic parts can cause substantial injuries.
Safety First
Operating instructions
Tips and Maintenance
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