Maintenance -> Washing the vehicle for Your Volkswagen Caddy SUV Fifth Generation (2020-2025)

Incorrect care and cleaning of vehicle parts can impair the safety features of the vehicle and cause serious injury.  
Always observe the manufacturer's instructions.  
Use only approved or recommended cleaning products.  
Do not use cleaning agents that contain solvents. Solvents can cause irreparable damage to the airbag modules.  
Protect your hands and arms against parts with sharp edges, e.g. when cleaning the insides of the wheel  
housings.  
WARNING  
Dirty, misted and iced-up windows reduce visibility. This can also impair the vehicles’ safety equipment. This leads  
to a risk of accidents and serious injuries.  
You should only drive the vehicle if you have a clear view through all windows.  
Do not treat the windscreen with water-repellent window coating agents. In unfavourable conditions, they can  
cause increased dazzle.  
Care products  
Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles recommend using Genuine care products suitable for your vehicle. Consult a  
qualified workshop if you have any specific questions or if vehicle parts are not listed. Suitable accessories are  
available from your Volkswagen Commercial Vehicle dealership. Follow the instructions for use on the packaging  
, →  
.
WARNING  
Unsuitable care products and incorrect use of care products can cause accidents, serious injuries, burns or  
poisoning. Care products may be toxic and hazardous.  
Store care products only in the closed original container.  
Read the packaging leaflet.  
Keep all care products out of reach of children.  
Use care products only outside or in well-ventilated rooms so that you do not breathe in any toxic vapours.  
Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, nail varnish remover or other volatile fluids for vehicle care. These  
substances are toxic and highly flammable.  
NOTICE  
Soiling with aggressive and solvent-based ingredients can cause irreparable damage to the vehicle equipment, even  
if left for only a short time, e.g. on seat padding or trim parts.  
Do not let contamination or dirt dry.  
Have stubborn stains removed by a qualified workshop.  
Washing the vehicle  
Please observe the following information to wash your vehicle correctly and properly.  
WARNING  
The braking efficiency may be delayed and the braking distance may be longer after the vehicle has been washed.  
The brake discs and brake pads may be damp, or iced up in winter. There is a risk of accidents.  
“Dry and de-ice the brakes” by performing careful braking manoeuvres.  
NOTICE  
Serious vehicle damage can be caused if the vehicle is not washed correctly.  
Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.  
Do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight.  
Never aim a water jet directly at locks, doors or the boot lid in cold weather. The locks and seals may freeze up.  
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Automatic car washes  
Always observe all the car wash operator's specifications, in particular if your vehicle features add-on parts→  
.
The windows must be closed and the exterior mirrors must be folded away.  
Vehicles with steering column lock: If the vehicle is mechanically pulled through the car wash(wash tunnel), the  
steering column must not unlock (→ Steering).  
The windscreen wipers and the rain and light sensor (→ Rain and light sensor) are switched off.  
The Auto Hold function (→ Auto Hold function) is switched off.  
Further information:  
Please observe any information provided by the car wash operator, especially where add-on parts are concerned.  
Preferably use textile car washes without brushes.  
Do not select cleaning programmes with hot wax for vehicles with decorative and protective films.  
Regularly have the bottom of the vehicle thoroughly cleaned to remove residue.  
High-pressure cleaner  
Observe information issued by the manufacturer and do not use rotating nozzles under any circumstances→  
Use water only up to a maximum temperature of +60°C(+140°F).  
!
Do not clean windows that are iced up or covered in snow with a high-pressure cleaner.  
Move the jet of water uniformly so that the nozzle is at least 50 cm(20 inches) away from the vehicle components.  
Do not point the water jet at the same location for too long.  
Do not direct the jet of water at rubber seals or other sensitive vehicle components such as side windows, glossy  
strips, tyres, sensors, camera lenses, decorative and protective film.  
Washing by hand  
Clean the vehicle 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 →  
.
Use a shampoo for very stubborn dirt only.  
Wash the vehicle only in specially designated washing bays. This prevents waste water that is possibly  
contaminated with oil from entering the sewerage system.  
Waxing  
Waxing protects the paintwork. If water no longer clearly forms small drops and runs off the paintwork when the  
vehicle is clean, the vehicle should be re-waxed with a good wax preservative.  
Even if a preservative wax is applied regularly in the automatic car wash, Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles  
recommends protecting the vehicle paintwork at least twice a year using Volkswagen Genuine hard wax  
(000 096 317).  
Polishing  
Polishing is only necessary if the paint has lost its shine, and the gloss cannot be brought back by applying wax.  
Matt-painted surfaces must not be polished! The surface gets irreparably damaged by the gloss of the paint.  
Washing matte painted vehicles  
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