Get General Maintenance -> Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle Guide for Skoda Superb SUV Second Generation (2009-2015)

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle 189

General Maintenance

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

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Frequency of use,

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

Season of the year,

Weather conditions,

Environmental influences.

General

Proper care retains the commercial value of your 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 dam-

age and paint defects on the bodywork.

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

paintwork 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.

We recommend you use care products from ŠKODA Original Accessories which are

available from authorised ŠKODA Service Partners. Please follow the instructions

for use on the package.

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.

WARNING

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

instructions.

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

the winter road salting and gritting period.

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

risk of poisoning!

WARNING

For the sake of the environment

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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Always select environmentally-friendly products when purchasing vehicle care

products.

Do not dispose of the packages with residues of care products in domestic

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waste.

Automatic vehicle wash systems

The paintwork of the vehicle is sufficiently resistant that the vehicle can be wash-

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

stress to which the paintwork is subjected, however, depends greatly on the de-

sign of the vehicle wash system, the filtering of the water and the type of wash-

ing and care products used. If the paintwork of your vehicle appears mat after be-

ing washed or even has scratches, point this out to the operator of the vehicle

wash plant. Use a different vehicle wash plant, if necessary.

Care of the exterior of vehicle

Washing the vehicle

Frequent washing protects your vehicle.

There are no particular points to note before washing your vehicle in an automatic

vehicle wash system other than the usual precautionary measures (closing the

windows and the sliding/tilting roof etc.).

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:

Using the system

Safety

Driving Tips

General Maintenance

Breakdown assistance

Technical data

190 Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

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.

For the sake of the environment

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.

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

through the automatic vehicle wash system.

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Washing with a high-pressure cleaner

Washing 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.

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.

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 - be-

ginning 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!

WARNING

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

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!

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

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

leather.

CAUTION

WARNING

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

can be damaged.

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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.

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Wax treatment

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

environmental influences and minor mechanical damage.

CAUTION

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

when no more drops form on the clean paintwork.

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

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Ensure that the jet of water is not aimed directly at the locking cylinders or at

the door and panel joints if you spray your vehicle in winter down with a hose -

risk of freezing.

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

work 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.

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

products - risk of damage to the surface of paintwork.

CAUTION

Never apply wax to the windows.

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Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle 191

Polishing

Plastic parts

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

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

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.

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

contain any preserving elements ⇒ꢀpage 190.

We recommend using a preservative from ŠKODA Original Accessories.

CAUTION



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

CAUTION

Windows

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

wax.

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 di-

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

surface of the glass.

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

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the paintwork can be scratched.

Chrome parts

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

special window cleaner or a special silicone remover.

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

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

chrome care product.

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.

CAUTION

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

scratched.

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

the heating elements of the rear window heater.

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CAUTION

Paint damage

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

formation of cracks in the glass!

When removing snow or ice from the windows and mirror lenses make sure

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 cor-

rosion can result. You can of course have this work carried out by authorised

ŠKODA Service Partners.

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not to damage the paintwork of the vehicle.

The authorised ŠKODA Service Partners have a range of matching touch-up pens

or spray cans available in the colour of your vehicle.

The headlight lenses

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

hicle data sticker ⇒ꢀpage 240.

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 authorised ŠKODA Service Partners.

Please do not use any aggressive cleaning or chemical solvent products for clean-

ing the front headlights - risk of damage to the plastic lenses. Please use soap

and clean warm water.

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General Maintenance

Breakdown assistance

Technical data

192 Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

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

chemical products.

to apply a hard wax layer onto the wheel hubs every three months. You must not

use any products which cause abrasion when treating the wheel hubs. Any dam-

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

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WARNING

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

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

Door and window seals

Note

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

supple and last longer if you treat them from time to time with a rubber care prod-

uct (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.

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

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

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

This means it is necessary to remove the dirt.

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Underbody protection

Locking cylinder

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

influences.

Use specific products for de-icing locking cylinders.

Note

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 be-

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

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

locking cylinders.

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Wheels

The authorised ŠKODA Service Partners have suitable spray products available as

well as the necessary equipment and are familiar with the instructions for use.

Therefore, we recommend you have such touch-up work or additional corrosion

protection measures carried out by an authorised ŠKODA Service Partner.

Steel wheels

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.

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!

Light alloy wheels

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

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

road salt and brake abrasion from light alloy wheels, otherwise the light metal will

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

light alloy wheels which does not contain any acidic components. We recommend

Protection of hollow spaces

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.

Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle 193

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.

Normal cleaning

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Clean soiled areas of the leather with slightly moistened cotton or woollen

cloth.

Severe soiling

WARNING

–

Clean severely soiled areas with a cloth dipped in a mild soapy solution (2

spoonfuls of natural soap to 1 litre of water).

Safety and environmental protection regulations should observed when using

petroleum cleaner to remove wax - a risk of fire!

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

gets into the stitching of the seams.

Dry off the leather with a soft, dry cloth.

Care of the interior of vehicle

Removing stains

Plastic parts, artificial leather and cloths

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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.

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

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

does prove to be adequate.

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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.

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.

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

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

CAUTION

paint, shoe cream etc.) with a special stain remover suitable for leather.

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

Leather care

–

Treat the leather every six months with a special leather care product.

Fabric covers of electrically heated seats

Apply only a small amount of the care product.

Dry the leather off with a soft cloth

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

ing system.

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

CAUTION

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

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

Natural leather

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

Natural leather requires quite particular care and attention.

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.

Leather should be treated from time to time according the following guidelines

depending on how much it is used.

Using the system

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Driving Tips

General Maintenance

Breakdown assistance

Technical data

194 Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle

●

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.

The use of a mechanical steering wheel lock may damage the leather surface

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of the steering wheel.

Note

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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.

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

curs.

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

cream etc., as quickly as possible.

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

with a special coloured leather cream as required.

The leather is a natural material with specific properties. During the use of the

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vehicle, minor optical changes can occur on the leather parts of the covers (e. g

wrinkles or creases as a result of the stress of the covers).

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Seat belts

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Keep the seat belts clean!

Wash seat belts which have become soiled using a mild soapy solution.

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

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The seat belts must not be removed for cleaning.

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

ric. The seat belts must also not be allowed to come into contact with corro-

sive liquids (such as acids etc.).

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

reel or the lock should be replaced by a specialist garage.

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

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General Maintenance -> Taking care of your vehicle and cleaning the vehicle for Your Skoda Superb SUV Second Generation (2009-2015)

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