Get Car care -> Vehicle exterior care Guide for Skoda Fabia 4 Door First Generation (1999-2006)

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The temperature of the water used for cleaning must not exceed 60 °C –

Automatic car wash systems

there is a risk of damaging the vehicle.

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See also Washing a vehicle with decorative film trim using a high-pressure

 Read and observe and on page 128 first.

cleaner » page 131 .

The usual precautionary measures must be taken before washing the vehicle

in an automatic car wash system (e.g. closing the windows including the slid-

ing/tilting roof, etc.).

Vehicle exterior care

If your vehicle is fitted with any particular mounted parts, such as a spoiler,

roof rack, two-way radio aerial – it is best to consult the operator of the car

wash system beforehand.

 Introduction

This chapter contains information on the following subjects:

Caring for vehicle paintwork

Plastic parts

Rubber seals

130

The lips of the windscreen wiper rubbers must be cleaned and degreased with

cleaning agents especially formulated for the task after an automatic wash

with wax.

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Chrome parts

WARNING

Decorative films

Windows and exterior mirrors

Headlight lenses

Door lock cylinders

Underbody waxing

Jack

Fold in the exterior mirrors to prevent damage before washing the vehicle

in an automatic car wash system.

Washing with a high-pressure cleaner

 Read and observe and on page 128 first.

Wheels

Underbody protection

When washing the vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, the instructions for

use of the equipment must be observed. This applies in particular to the pres-

sure used and to the spraying distance.

Regular and proper care help to retain the efficiency and value of your vehicle.

It may also be one of the requirements for the acceptance of warranty claims

relating to corrosion damage and paint defects on the bodywork.

Maintain a sufficiently large distance to the parking aid sensors and soft mate-

rials such as rubber hoses or insulation material.

We recommend using care products from ŠKODA Original Accessories that are

available from ŠKODA Partners. The instructions for use on the package must

be observed.

WARNING

Never use circular spray nozzles or dirt cutters!

WARNING

CAUTION

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Care products may be harmful to your health if not used according to the

instructions.

Always keep the automobile care products safe from people who are not

completely independent, e.g. children - there is a danger of poisoning!

Protect your hands and arms from sharp-edged metal parts when clean-

ing the underfloor, the inside of the wheel housings or the wheel trims –

there is a risk of cuts.

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Do not aim the water jet directly at the lock cylinders or the door or opening

joints when washing the vehicle in the winter using a hose or high-pressure

cleaner – there is a risk of freezing.

To avoid damaging the parking aid sensors while cleaning with high-pressure

cleaners or steam jets, the sensors must only be directly sprayed for short pe-

riods while a minimum distance of 10 cm must be observed.

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

129

Car care

CAUTION

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Do not use any insect sponges, kitchen scrubbers or similar cleaning prod-

Never apply wax to the windows.

Mat painted or plastic parts must not be treated with polishing products or

ucts – there is a risk of damaging the paintwork finish.

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Cleaners containing solvents can damage the material being cleaned.

hard waxes.

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Do not polish the paintwork in a dusty environment - there is a risk of

For the sake of the environment

scratching the paintwork.

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Used vehicle care product cans represent hazardous waste that is harmful to

the environment. These must be disposed of in accordance with national legis-

lation.

Do not apply polish to door seals or window guides.

If possible, do not apply any polish to body surfaces that come into contact

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with door seals and window guides.

Note

Plastic parts

Because of the special tools and knowledge required, and to avoid any poten-

tial problems with the cleaning and care of the interior of your vehicle, we rec-

ommend that cleaning and care of the interior of your vehicle be carried out by

a ŠKODA Service Partner.

 Read and observe and on page 129 first.

Clean plastic parts with a damp cloth.

If this method does not clean plastic parts completely, use a specific plastic

care product.

Caring for vehicle paintwork

 Read and observe and on page 129 first.

CAUTION

Do not use polish on plastic parts.

Treat minor paint damage such as scratches, scuffs or chips immediately, if

possible, with paint pens or sprays.

Rubber seals

Preserving the vehicle paintwork

Thorough wax treatment is an effective way of protecting the paintwork from

harmful environmental influences.

 Read and observe and on page 129 first.

All door seals and window guides are factory-treated with a colourless matt

varnish layer against a freezing to painted body parts and against road noise.

The vehicle must be treated with a high-quality hard wax polish at the latest,

when no more drops form on the clean paintwork.

Do not treat the door seals or window guides with any cleaning agent.

A new layer of a high-quality hard wax polish can be applied to the clean body-

work after it has dried thoroughly.

CAUTION

An additional treatment of the seals can attack their protective coating and

road noise may be generated.

Even if you use a wax preserver regularly we still recommend that you treat

the paintwork of the vehicle at least twice a year with hard wax.

Polishing

Chrome parts

Polishing is necessary if the vehicle's paintwork has become unattractive and

if it is no longer possible to achieve a gloss with wax preservatives.

 Read and observe and on page 129 first.

If the polish does not contain any preserving elements, the paint must be trea-

ted with a preservative afterwards.

First clean the chrome parts with a damp cloth and then polish them with a

soft, dry cloth.

If this method does not completely clean chrome parts, use a specific chrome

care product.



130

General Maintenance

CAUTION

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Do not polish the chrome parts in a dusty environment - there is a risk of

scratching the finish.

The ice scraper should not be moved forward and backward but in one direc-

tion to avoid any damage to the surface of the glass.

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Snow or ice that is contaminated with coarse dirt such as fine gravel, sand,

and salt must not be removed from the window glass and mirrors – risk of

damage to the surface of the windows and mirrors.

Never remove snow or ice from glass parts using warm or hot water – there

Decorative films

 Read and observe and on page 129 first.

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is a risk of cracking in glass.

When removing snow or ice from windows and mirror lenses ensure that the

paintwork of the vehicle is not to damage.

Wash the films with a mild soap solution and clean, warm water. Never use ag-

gressive cleaning products or chemical solvents, it could result in damage to

the films.

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Do not clean the inside of the windows with sharp-edged objects or corro-

sive and acidic cleaning agents – there is a risk of damaging the heating ele-

ments or window aerial.

The following instructions must be observed for the high-pressure washing

the vehicle.

The minimum distance between the nozzle and the vehicle body should be

50 cm.

›

Headlight lenses

Keep the jet perpendicular to the film surface.

The maximum water temperature is 50 °C.

The maximum water pressure is 80 bar.

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 Read and observe and on page 129 first.

Clean the plastic headlight lenses with clean, warm water and soap.

CAUTION

›

CAUTION

No ice scrapers should be used in the winter months to remove ice and snow

from the areas to which films have been applied. Do not remove frozen snow

or ice using other objects - there is a risk of damage to the film.

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Never wipe the headlights dry.

Do not use any sharp objects to clean the plastic lenses, this may damage

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the protective lacquer and consequently cause the cracking on the headlight

lenses.

Windows and exterior mirrors

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Do not use any aggressive cleaning or chemical solvent products to clean the

headlights – there is a risk of damaging the headlight lenses.

 Read and observe and on page 129 first.

Use a plastic ice scraper for removing snow and ice from the windows and mir-

rors.

Door lock cylinders

 Read and observe and on page 129 first.

Specific products must be used for de-icing door lock cylinders.

CAUTION

Clean the windows regularly with clean water, inside and out.

Dry the glass surfaces with a clean chamois leather or a cloth intended for this

purpose.

When drying the windows after washing the vehicle, do not use window leath-

ers that have been used to polish the bodywork. Residues of preservatives in

the chamois leather can smear the windows and reduce visibility.

When washing your vehicle, ensure as little water as possible gets into the

locking cylinders.

131

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Car care -> Vehicle exterior care for Your Skoda Fabia 4 Door First Generation (1999-2006)

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