Get General Maintenance -> Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle Guide for Skoda Superb SUV First Generation (2001-2008)

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle 173

General Maintenance

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

General

Care of the exterior of vehicle

Proper care retains the value of your vehicle.

Washing the vehicle

Regular and proper care retains the 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.

Frequent washing protects your vehicle.

The best protection for your vehicle against harmful environmental influences is

frequent washing and wax treatment. How often you should wash your vehicle

depends on a wide range of factors, such as:

We recommend using a preservative from Škoda genuine accessories offered by

your Škoda dealer. Please follow the instructions for use on the package.

•

Frequency of use,

The parking situation (garage, below trees etc.),

Season of the year,

WARNING

•

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

instructions.

Weather conditions,

Environmental influences.

•

Always store care products in a safe place, out of the reach of children -

risk of poisoning!

The longer insect residues, bird droppings, tree sap, road and industrial dust, tar,

soot particles, road salt and other aggressive deposits remain adhering to the paint-

work of your vehicle, the more detrimental their destructive effect can be. High

temperatures, such as those caused by intensive sun's rays, accentuate this caustic

effect.

For the sake of the environment

Always select environmentally-friendly products when purchasing vehicle care

products.

•

It may therefore be necessary, in certain circumstances, to wash the car once a

week. It may also be sufficient, however, to wash the car once a month followed

by appropriate wax treatment.

•

Do not dispose of residues of care products in domestic waste.

It is essential to also thoroughly wash the underside of your vehicle at the end of

the winter road salting and gritting period.

WARNING

When washing your vehicle in the winter: Water and ice in the brake system

can affect the braking efficiency - risk of accident!

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174 Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

Automatic vehicle wash systems

Rinse off the vehicle well after giving it a wash and dry it off using a chamois leather.

The paintwork of the vehicle is sufficiently resistant that the vehicle can be washed

normally in automatic vehicle wash plants without any problem. The actual stress

to which the paintwork is subjected, however, depends greatly on the design of the

vehicle wash system, the filtering of the water and the type of washing and care

products used. If the paintwork of your vehicle appears mat after being washed or

even has scratches, point this out to the operator of the vehicle wash plant. Use a

different vehicle wash plant, if necessary.

WARNING

•

The ignition should always be switched off when you wash your vehicle -

risk of accident!

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

are cleaning the underfloor, the inside of the wheel housings or the wheel

trims - risk of cuts.

•

There are no particular points to note before washing your vehicle in such a plant

other than the usual precautionary measures (closing windows and sliding/tilting

roof, moving any factory-fitted aerials down flat against the bodywork, etc.).

Caution

•

Do not wash your vehicle in bright sunlight - risk of paint damage.

If you have any particular attached parts fitted to your car - such as spoiler, roof rack

system, two-way radio aerial - it is best to first of all consult the operator of the car

wash plant.

•

Ensure that the jet of water is not aimed directly at the locks or at the door and

panel joints if you spray your vehicle in winter down with a hose - risk of freezing.

•

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

ucts - risk of damage to the surface of paintwork.

It is important to degrease the lips of the windscreen wiper rubbers after passing

through the automatic vehicle wash system.

For the sake of the environment

Caution

Only wash your vehicle at washing bays specifically reserved for this purpose. This

ensures that no water which may be contaminated by oil flows into the sewage

system. It is not even permitted to wash your vehicle in certain areas except at such

specific washing bays.

Do not screw the swivelling down roof aerial tight before washing the vehicle in an

automatic vehicle wash system - risk of damage!

Washing vehicle by hand

Washing with a high-pressure cleaner

It is important to first soften the dirt with plenty of water and rinse it off as thor-

oughly as possible before washing your vehicle by hand.

When you wash your vehicle with a high-pressure cleaner, it is essential to comply

with the instructions for use of the cleaning equipment. This applies in particular to

the pressure used and to the spraying distance. Maintain a sufficiently large

distance to soft materials such as rubber hoses or insulation material.

One should then clean the vehicle using a soft washing sponge, washing glove or

a washing brush and only slight pressure. Work from the top to the bottom -

beginning with the roof. Only place slight pressure on the vehicle paintwork during

cleaning Only use a car shampoo for stubborn dirt.

On no account use circular spray nozzles or so-called dirt cutters!

Wash out the sponge or washing glove thoroughly at short intervals.

Clean wheels, door sills and similar parts last. Use a second sponge for such areas.

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle 175

WARNING

Caution

You must not treat mat painted parts or plastic with polishing products or hard

wax.

•

It is particularly important that you do not clean tyres with circular spray

jets. Visible but also invisible damage to tyres may occur even at a relatively

large spraying distance and if sprayed only for a short time - risk of accident!

•

Do not polish the paintwork of the vehicle in a dusty environment, otherwise

the paintwork can be scratched.

Caution

Chrome parts

The water containing wax must be no hotter than 60°C, otherwise the vehicle can

be damaged.

First clean the chrome parts with a damp clotch and then polish them with a soft,

dry cloth. If it does not prove to be adequate, use a chrome care product from

Škoda original accessories.

Wax treatment

Good wax treatment is an effective way of protecting the paintwork from harmful

environmental influences and minor mechanical damage.

Caution

Do not polish the chrome parts in a dusty environment, otherwise they can be

scratched.

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

no more drops form on the clean paintwork.

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

after it has dried thoroughly. 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.

Paint damage

Slight damage to paintwork such as scratches, scuffs or traces of chip damage must

be touched up immediately with paint (Škoda painting pen) before any corrosion

can result. You can of course have this work carried out by a Škoda Service Partner.

Caution

Never apply wax to the windows.

Škoda Service Partners have a range of matching touch-up pens or spray cans

available in the colour of your vehicle.

The paint number of the original paintwork of your vehicle is indicated on the

vehicle data sticker ⇒ page 227.

Polishing

Any corrosion which has already have formed must be removed thoroughly. Apply

a corrosion protection primer and then the paint to the affected point. You can of

course have this work carried out by a Škoda Service Partner.

Polishing is only necessary if the paintwork of your vehicle has become unattractive

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

You must treat the paintwork with a wax preserver if the polish you use does not

contain any preserving elements ⇒ page 175, “Wax treatment”.

We recommend using a preservative from Škoda genuine accessories offered by

your Škoda dealer.

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176 Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

Plastic parts

The headlight lenses

External plastic parts are cleaned by normal washing. Plastic parts and synthetic

leather can also be treated with special solvent-free plastic cleaning agents if a

damp cloth is not sufficient. Paint care products are not suitable for plastic parts.

Please do not use any aggressive cleaning or chemical solvent products - risk of

damage to the plastic lenses Please use soap and clean warm water.

Caution

Never wipe the headlights dry and do not use any sharp objects for cleaning the

plastic lenses, this may result in damage to the protective paintwork and conse-

quently in formation of cracks on the headlight lenses, e.g through effect of chem-

ical products.

Solvent-free cleaners attack the material and can damage it.

Windows

Door and window seals

Only use a plastic ice scraper for removing snow and ice from the windows and

mirrors. You should not move the ice scraper forward and backward but in one

direction on the window which you are cleaning in order to avoid any damage to

the surface of the glass.

The rubber seals on the doors, boot lid, bonnet and windows remain supple and

last longer if you treat them from time to time with a rubber care product (e.g. with

a spray with silicone-free oil). You also avoid premature wear of the seals and

prevent leakages in this way. It is also easier to open the doors. Rubber seals which

are well cared for also do not stick together in cold winter weather.

You can best remove residues of rubber, oil, grease, wax or silicone by using a

special window cleaner or a special silicone remover.

You should also clean the windows regularly from the inside.

Do not use window leathers which you have used to polish the vehicle body to dry

off the windows. Residues of preservatives in the window leather can dirty the

window and reduce visibility.

Locks

We recommend that you use the spray from Škoda original accessories with

regreasing and anticorrosive effect for de-icing locks.

Do not affix any stickers over the inside of the rear window to avoid damage to the

heating elements of the rear window heater.

We recommend using a preservative from Škoda genuine accessories offered by

your Škoda dealer.

Note

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

locks.

Caution

Never remove snow or ice from the glass parts with warm or hot water - risk of

formation of cracks in the glass!

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle 177

Underbody protection

Wheels

Steel wheels

The underside of your vehicle is protected for life against chemical and mechanical

influences.

You should also thoroughly wash the wheels and wheel trims when giving your

vehicle its regular wash. This prevents any brake dust, dirt and road salt from

sticking to the wheel hubs. You can remove stubborn brake abrasion adhering to

the wheels with an industrial cleaner. Touch up any damage to the paintwork on the

wheels before rust is able to form.

One cannot, however, completely rule out damage to the protective layer when

driving so we recommend that you inspect the protective layer on the underside of

your vehicle and on the chassis at certain intervals - this is best done at the begin-

ning and end of the winter - and to touch up any damaged areas.

Škoda Service Partners have suitable spray products available as well as the neces-

sary equipment and are familiar with the instructions for use. It is therefore best to

have such touch-up work or additional corrosion protection measures carried out

by a Škoda Service Partner.

Light alloy wheels

Regular care of light alloy wheels is necessary in order to retain their decorative

appearance over long periods. It is particularly important to remove any road salt

and brake abrasion from light alloy wheels every two weeks, otherwise the surface

will suffer. Wash thoroughly and then treat the wheels with a protective product for

light alloy wheels which does not contain any acidic components. You should

provide the wheel hubs with a hard wax layer every three months. You must not use

any products which cause abrasion when treating the wheel hubs. Any damage to

the paint layer on the wheel hubs must be touched up immediately.

WARNING

Never use additional underbody protection or corrosion-protection agents

for the exhaust pipes, catalytic converters, diesel particle filter or heat

shields. When the engine reaches its operating temperature, these

substances might ignite - risk of fire!

We recommend using a preservative from Škoda genuine accessories offered by

your Škoda dealer.

Protection of hollow spaces

WARNING

One should remember when cleaning the wheels that moisture, ice and road

salt may adversely affect braking efficiency - risk of an accident!

All the cavities of your vehicle which are at risk from corrosion are protected for life

by a layer of protective wax applied in the factory.

This wax protection does not require to be inspected or re-treated. Please remove

any small amount of wax which flows out of the cavities at high temperatures with

a plastic scraper and clean the spot using petroleum cleaner.

Note

Severe layers of dirt on the wheels can also result in wheel imbalance. This may

show itself in the form of wheel vibration which is transmitted to the steering wheel

which, in certain circumstances, can cause premature wear of the steering. It is

therefore important to clean dirty wheels.

WARNING

Safety and environmental protection regulations should observed when

using petroleum cleaner to remove wax - a risk of fire!

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178 Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

Engine compartment

Upholstery cloth and cloth trim on the doors, luggage compartment cover, head-

liner etc. are best treated with special cleaning products, using if necessary a dry

foam and a soft sponge or brush.

Good corrosion protection is very important, particularly in winter when one often

drives over its salt-strewn roads. One should therefore clean the entire engine

compartment before and after the salt spreading period, in order to prevent the salt

from being destructive.

We recommend using a cleaning product from Škoda genuine accessories offered

by your Škoda dealer.

Škoda Service Partners have the cleaning agents recommended by the manufac-

turer and also the required equipment.

Caution

Solvent-free cleaners attack the material and can damage it.

WARNING

Fabric covers of electrically heated seats

•

It is necessary to observe the guidelines given in the chapter before

working on the engine compartment ⇒ page 185.

Do not clean the seat covers moist as this may result in damage to the seat heating

•

Let the engine cool down before cleaning the engine compartment.

system.

Clean such covers using special agents, for example dry foam.

Caution

•

Engine cleaning may be only be undertaken when the ignition is off.

Natural leather

•

It is recommended to cover the generator before washing the engine compart-

Natural leather requires quite particular care and attention.

ment.

Leather should be treated from time to time according the following

guidelines depending on how much it is used.

For the sake of the environment

The dirty water produced by washing the engine has washed away petrol, and resi-

dues of grease and oil and should therefore be cleaned by an oil separator. This is

why engine washing should only be undertaken in a garage or at a fueling station

(when these are fitted with the required equipment).

Normal cleaning

–

Clean soiled areas of the leather with slightly moistened cotton or

woollen cloth.

Severe soiling

Care of the interior of vehicle

–

Clean severely soiled areas with a cloth dipped in a mild soapy solu-

tion (2 spoonfuls of natural soap to 1 litre of water).

Plastic parts, artificial leather and cloths

Ensure that the leather is not soaked through at any point and that no

water gets into the stitching of the seams.

You can clean plastic parts and artificial leather with a moist cloth. You should only

treat such parts with special solvent-free plastic cleaning and care products it

does prove to be adequate.

Dry off the leather with a soft, dry cloth.

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle 179

Removing stains

Note

Use a care cream with light blocker and impregnation effect regularly and each

time after cleaning the leather. The cream nourishes the leather, allows it to breathe

and keeps it supple and also provides moisture. It also creates surface protection.

–

Remove fresh stains which are water-based (e.g. coffee, tea, juices,

blood etc.) with an absorbent cloth or household paper or use the

cleaner from the care set for a stain which has already dried in.

•

–

Remove fresh stains on a fat base (e.g. butter, mayonnaise, chocolate

etc.) with an absorbent cloth or household cleaning paper or with the

cleaner from the care set if the stain has not yet penetrated into the

surface.

•

Clean the leather every 2 to 3 months, remove fresh soiling each time this

occurs.

•

Remove fresh stains such as those from ball-point pens, ink, lipstick, shoe

cream etc., as quickly as possible.

•

Care also for the leather dye. Refreshen areas which have lost their colour with

a special coloured leather cream as required.

–

Use a grease dissolver for grease stains which have dried in.

Eliminate special stains (e.g. ball-point pens, felt pen, nail varnish,

dispersion paint, shoe cream etc.) with a special stain remover suit-

able for leather.

Alcantara upholstery

Do not use any leather care products for cleaning Alcantara upholsteries.

Leather care

Eliminating dust and dirt

–

Treat the leather every six months with the leather care product avail-

able from Škoda Service Partners.

Wipe the Alcantara upholstery with a slightly moistened, soft cloth or clean the

covers with a suitable shampoo.

–

Apply only a small amount of the care product.

Dry the leather off with a soft cloth

Removing stains

Moisten a soft cloth with lukewarm water or diluted methylated spirits and dab the

stain from the edges toward the middle.

It is best to consult your Škoda Service Partner if you have any questions regarding

cleaning and care of the leather interior.

Caution

•

Do not use any leather care product on the Alcantara upholsteries.

•

You must on no account treat the leather with solvents (e.g. gasoline, turpen-

tine), floor wax, shoe cream or such like.

Avoid leaving your vehicle for lengthy periods in bright sunlight in order to

avoid bleaching the leather. If you leave your vehicle parked in the open for lengthy

periods, protect the leather from the direct rays of the sun by covering it over.

Avoid leaving your vehicle for lengthy periods in bright sunlight in order to

avoid bleaching the Alcantara upholsteries. If you leave your vehicle parked in the

open for lengthy periods, protect the Alcantara upholstery from the direct rays of

the sun by covering it over.

•

Sharp-edged objects on items of clothing such as zip fasteners, rivets, sharp-

edged belts may leave permanent scratches or signs of rubbing on the surface.

Seat belts

–

Keep the seat belts clean.

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180 Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

–

Wash seat belts which have become soiled using a mild soapy solu-

tion.

Inspect the seat belts regularly to ensure they are in good condition.

Belt webbing which has become severely soiled may prevent the inertia reel from

reeling up the belt properly.

WARNING

•

The seat belts must not be removed for cleaning.

Never clean the seat belts chemically as dry cleaning may destroy the

fabric. The seat belts must also not be allowed to come into contact with

corrosive liquids (such as acids etc.).

•

Seat belts which have damage to the webbing, the connections, the

inertia reel or the lock should be replaced by a Škoda Service Partner.

Inertia reel belts must be completely dried before being reeled up.

•

General Maintenance -> Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle for Your Skoda Superb SUV First Generation (2001-2008)

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