Get Exterior care and cleaning Guide for Volkswagen Passat SUV Sixth Generation (2005-2010)

Exterior care and cleaning

ꢀIntroduction

In this section you’ll find information about:

Washing the vehicle

Washing with a power washer

Cleaning windows and outside mirrors

Cleaning and changing the windshield wiper blades

Waxing and polishing vehicle paint

Caring for and cleaning chrome and aluminum parts

Cleaning wheel rims

Care of rubber door and window seals

Deicing door lock cylinders

Undercoating

Cleaning the engine compartment

Regular and expert care helps to preserve the value of your vehicle. Such expert care may also be

one of the requirements of your New Vehicle Limited Warranty if corrosion repair or repainting is

necessary.

Vehicle care products are available from your authorized Volkswagen dealer or Authorized

Volkswagen Service Facility.

More information:

ꢀ

Interior care and cleaning

Preparations for working in the engine compartment

Parts, accessories, repairs and modifications

WARNING

Vehicle care products can be dangerous. Improper use can cause accidents, burns,

poisoning, or other serious personal injuries.

ꢀ

Always store vehicle care products only in original containers that are securely closed.

Always read and heed all the instructions and all WARNINGS on the package.

To reduce the risk of poisoning, never use empty food or beverage containers that might

mislead someone into drinking from them.

ꢀ

Always keep vehicle care products out of the reach of children.

Always use such products outdoors or in well-ventilated areas, because harmful vapors

may be released when these products are used.

Never use fuel, turpentine, engine oil, nail polish remover or other volatile fluids for

vehicle care. They are poisonous and highly flammable.

ꢀ

WARNING

Improper care and cleaning of vehicle components can impact the safety features of the

vehicle and cause severe injuries.

ꢀ

Always clean and maintain vehicle components according to manufacturer's instructions.

Only use approved or recommended cleaners.

NOTICE

Vehicle care products containing solvents can damage plastics and other vehicle the materials.

Wash the vehicle only at specifically designated wash locations to prevent water contaminated

with oil, grease and fuel from entering the storm drain sewer system. In some areas it is against the

law to wash motor vehicles anywhere than other than at specified designated car washing locations.

When buying vehicle care products, try to choose those that are not harmful to the environment.

Never throw out vehicle care products with ordinary household waste. Always read and heed all

the instructions and all WARNINGS on the package.

Washing the vehicle

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

The longer insect splatter, bird droppings, tree sap, road dirt, industrial deposits, tar, soot, road salt,

and other aggressive materials stay on your vehicle, the more damage they do to the paint finish. High

temperatures (including strong sunlight) increase the corrosive effects. The vehicle underbody should

also be washed regularly and thoroughly.

Car wash

Pay close attention to the information provided by the car wash operator. Before going through a

car wash, be sure to take the usual precautions to help prevent damage, such as closing the windows,

folding back the outside mirrors, etc. If you have installed additional accessories on the vehicle, such

as a spoiler or an antenna, always ask the car wash operator if this poses a problem ⇒ꢀ

.

The paint finish is tough enough that the vehicle can normally be washed without problems in an

automatic car wash. However, the effect on the paint depends to a large extent on the type of car

wash. Volkswagen recommends using brushless car wash facilities.

To remove wax residue from the windows and avoid jerky windshield wiper movement, heed the

following tips, Cleaning windows and outside mirrors.

Washing by hand

When washing by hand, first soften the dirt with plenty of water and then rinse off as much dirt as

possible.

Then clean the vehicle with a soft sponge, a washing mitt or brush using only light pressure. Start

on the roof and work down. Use special shampoo only on hard-to-remove dirt or grime.

Rinse the sponge or glove thoroughly and often.

Clean the wheels and under the door sills last. Use a different sponge or wash mitt.

WARNING

After the vehicle has been washed, the wet brakes or, in winter, brake discs or pads coated

with ice, react slower and need longer stopping distances.

ꢀ Always dry the brakes and clean off any ice coatings with a few careful applications of the

brake. Make sure not to endanger other motorists or cyclists or disobey legal requirements.

CAUTION

Sharp edges under the vehicle can cut exposed skin.

ꢀ Always protect your hands and arms from cuts on sharp metal edges when cleaning the

underbody, the inside of the wheel housings, etc.

NOTICE

ꢀ

The water temperature must not be more than +140 °F (+60 °C).

ꢀ

To help prevent damage to the paint, do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight.

ꢀ

Do not use insect sponges, abrasive kitchen sponges or similar things to clean the vehicle.

These can damage the paint finish.

Never clean headlights with a dry cloth or sponge. Always use a wet cloth or sponge. For

best results use soapy water.

When washing or rinsing the vehicle in cold weather, do not let water get into the lock

ꢀ

cylinders or point the hose at gaps around the doors, hood, or luggage compartment lid. The

water could freeze on the locks and seals and make it difficult to open the vehicle!

NOTICE

To help prevent vehicle damage in a car wash:

ꢀ Compare the vehicle track width with the dimensions of the guide rails in the car wash to

help prevent damage to wheel rims and tires!

ꢀ

Make sure there is enough clearance for the height and width of the vehicle.

To help prevent paint damage to the engine hood, place wiper blades against the windshield

after they have dried. Do not let them snap back into place.

Fold the outside mirrors toward the vehicle body. Do not fold power folding mirrors

manually!

ꢀ

Lock the luggage compartment lid to prevent unintentional opening in the car wash.

Washing with a power washer

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Always follow the instructions for the power washer. This especially applies to the pressure and

spraying distance ⇒ꢀ

Make sure there is enough distance to soft materials such as rubber hoses or insulating material.

.

Never use concentrated jet nozzles or so-called dirt blasters ⇒ꢀ

Never use a power washer to clean the engine compartment, Cleaning the engine compartment.

.

WARNING

Improper use of power washers can cause serious invisible permanent damage leading to tire

failure and loss of vehicle control. This can cause accidents and severe personal injury.

ꢀ Keep sufficient distance between water jet and tires. Never wash tires with a nozzle that

sprays the water out in a direct stream regardless of the distance to the tire and even for a

very short time.

ꢀ Never use “dirt blasters” to clean tires. Even spraying from a relatively long distance for a

very short time can do visible or invisible damage to tires.

WARNING

After the vehicle has been washed, the wet brakes or, in winter, brake discs or pads coated

with ice, react slower and need longer stopping distances.

ꢀ Always dry the brakes and clean off any ice coatings with a few careful applications of the

brake. Make sure not to endanger other motorists or cyclists or disobey legal requirements.

NOTICE

ꢀ

Water temperature should not be more than +140 °F (+60 °C).

ꢀ

To help prevent damage to the paint, do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight.

Do not clean icy or snow-covered windows with a power washer.

When washing or rinsing the vehicle in cold weather, do not let water get into the lock

cylinders or point the hose at gaps around the doors, hood, or luggage compartment lid. The

water could freeze on the locks and seals and make it difficult to open the vehicle!

Cleaning windows and outside mirrors

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Cleaning windows and outside mirrors

Spray windows and outside mirrors with a commercially available alcohol-based window cleaner.

Dry windows and mirrors with a clean chamois or a lint-free cloth. Do not use a chamois that has been

used to wipe painted surfaces because it will have absorbed an oily residue that will smear the glass

surfaces.

Use window cleaner or a silicone remover to remove rubber, oil, grease and silicone deposits ⇒ꢀ

.

Removing wax residue

Automatic car washes and vehicle care products can leave a wax residue on all glass surfaces.

These wax residues can only be removed with special cleaners or cleaning cloths. Wax residue left on

the windshield can cause the windshield wipers to grab and squeak instead of gliding smoothly. We

recommend that after every car wash you remove any wax residue left on the windshield with a

cleaning cloth / chamois G 052 522 A1 or equivalent.

Windshield wiper squeak and grab can be reduced by filling the windshield washer fluid tank with a

wiper fluid containing wax-removing agents. Make sure to maintain the proper mixing ratio when

refilling the washer fluid tank. Grease-removing cleaning agents cannot remove wax residue ⇒ꢀ

.

Windshield cleaners, special cleaners, and cleaning cloths are available from your authorized

Volkswagen dealer and authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Removing snow

Remove snow from all windows and outside mirrors with an appropriate brush.

Removing ice

The best way to remove ice is with a deicer spray. When using an ice scraper always scrape in one

direction, never back and forth. Dirt can scratch the glass when moving the scraper backward.

WARNING

Dirty or fogged up windows reduce visibility and increase the risk of accidents and severe

injuries.

ꢀ

Don't drive until you have clear visibility through all windows.

Remove ice, snow and condensation from all inside and outside window surfaces.

NOTICE

ꢀ

Never mix recommended cleaning agents with other cleaning agents in the windshield

washer reservoir. If you do, this could cause sediments or other by-products that can clog the

windshield wiper nozzles.

ꢀ

Never use warm or hot water to remove snow and ice from windows and mirrors. This could

cause the glass to crack!

The heating elements for the rear defroster are on the inside of the rear window. Do not put

ꢀ

stickers over the heating elements on the inside of the rear window and never clean the inside

of the windows with corrosive or acidic cleaning agents or other chemicals that could damage

the heating elements.

ꢀ

Antennas installed on the insides of windows can be damaged by abrasive objects or by

corrosive or acidic cleaning agents or other chemicals. Do not place any stickers on the

windshield-integrated antenna and never clean the antenna with corrosive or acidic cleaning

agents or other chemicals.

Cleaning and changing the windshield wiper blades

Fig. 187 Changing the windshield wiper blades.

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Factory-installed wiper blades have a graphite coating. The graphite coating lets the wiper blades glide

smoothly over the windshield. If this coating is worn or damaged, the wipers may grab or squeak.

Check all wiper blades regularly. Wiper blades that grab and squeak must be replaced if worn or

damaged and cleaned if dirty ⇒ꢀ

.

Replace worn or damaged wiper blades immediately. Replacement blades may be purchased from

any authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Lifting and tilting windshield wiper arms

Move the wiper arms to the service position before lifting them away from the windshield Windshield

wiper and washer.

It is not possible to lift the wiper arms away from the windshield when they are not in the service

position.

When lifting or replacing a wiper blade on a window, grip it only by its mounting and not by the blade

itself.

Cleaning the wiper blades

ꢀ

Lift the wiper arm(s) away from the windshield.

Using a soft cloth, carefully remove dust and dirt from the wiper blades.

ꢀ

If the blades are very dirty, carefully clean them with a sponge or cloth ⇒ꢀ

Carefully fold the wiper arm back down onto the windshield.

.

Changing wiper blades

ꢀ

Lift the wiper arm away from the windshield.

ꢀ

Press and hold the release button ⇒ꢀfig. 187 (1).

While lifting the wiper blade in the direction of the wiper arm, pull off the wiper blade in the direction

of the arrow. This may require moderate force.

Install a new wiper blade of same length and type onto the wiper arm by pushing in the opposite

direction of the arrow until it latches.

ꢀ

Carefully fold the wiper arm back down onto the windshield.

WARNING

Worn or dirty wiper blades reduce visibility and increase the risk of accidents and severe

injuries.

ꢀ Always change wiper blades if they are damaged or worn, and if they cannot clean the

windows sufficiently.

NOTICE

ꢀ

Damaged or dirty wiper blades can scratch the windshield.

ꢀ Solvents, abrasive sponges and sharp-edged objects will damage the graphite coating on

the wiper blades.

ꢀ

Do not clean the windows with gasoline, nail polish remover, paint thinner or similar fluids.

To help prevent damage to the engine hood and the windshield wiper arms, lift the wiper

arms away from the windshield only when they are in the service position.

Waxing and polishing vehicle paint

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Waxing

A good coat of wax helps to protect the vehicle paint. When water no longer forms small drops and

runs off when the paint is clean, apply a new coat of good hard wax to protect the vehicle again.

Even if a wax solution is used regularly at the car wash, Volkswagen recommends applying a coat of

hard wax at least twice a year to protect the paint.

Polishing

Polish your vehicle if the paint has lost its shine and the gloss cannot be brought back with wax.

The vehicle must be waxed after polishing if the polish used does not contain wax compounds to seal

the paint.

NOTICE

ꢀ

To help prevent damage, do not use hard wax or polish on matte-finished parts, plastic

parts, headlights or rear lights.

Do not wax or polish your vehicle if it is dirty, or in a sandy or dusty place.

ꢀ

Caring for and cleaning chrome and aluminum parts

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

ꢀ

Clean the surface using a clean, soft, lint-free cloth dampened with water.

If the surface is especially dirty, use a special solvent-free cleaning material.

Then polish chrome and aluminum parts with a soft, dry cloth.

NOTICE

To help prevent damage to chrome and aluminum parts:

ꢀ

Do not clean or polish in direct sunlight.

Do not clean or polish in sandy or dusty places.

Do not use abrasive cleaners or abrasive sponges.

Do not polish dirty surfaces.

Do not use cleaning materials that contain solvents.

Do not use hard wax.

NOTICE

Chrome wheel covers and hubcaps can have an extra coating. Do not treat them with chrome

care or polishing products. Use regular paint care and polishing products.

Cleaning wheel rims

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Cleaning steel wheels

Stubborn brake dust can be removed with an industrial cleaner. Clean steel wheels regularly with a

separate sponge.

Repair any paint damage on steel wheels before rust begins to form.

Cleaning alloy wheels

Every 2 weeks: Wash road salt and brake dust off alloy wheels, and clean the wheels with an acid-

free detergent. Every 3 months: Volkswagen recommends applying a hard wax compound to the

wheels.

If road salt and brake dust are not removed regularly, they can corrode the metal.

Use an acid-free detergent specifically designed for light alloy wheels. Do not use car polish or other

abrasive products.

If the protective coating is damaged, for example by stone impact, repair the damaged area right

away.

Care of rubber door and window seals

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

The rubber seals around the doors and windows will stay soft and flexible, seal better and last longer if

the seals are treated regularly with a suitable rubber care product.

Before applying the treatment, use a soft cloth to remove dust and dirt from the rubber seals.

Do not apply any rubber care products to the rubber seals on the body in the areas around the

windows in the driver's and front passenger's doors. The product could run down onto the windows

and smudge them.

Deicing door lock cylinders

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

Volkswagen recommends using only genuine Volkswagen deicer spray with lubricating and anti-

corrosive properties to deice door lock cylinders.

NOTICE

Lock deicers that contain grease solvents can cause the lock cylinder to rust.

Undercoating

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

The vehicle underbody is coated to help protect it from corrosion and damage. The undercoating could

be damaged during normal use. We therefore recommend that you have the protective coatings on the

underbody and suspension inspected regularly, and repaired if necessary.

WARNING

Undercoating and rustproofing products can catch fire on the hot exhaust system or any

other hot engine component.

ꢀ Never apply additional undercoating or rust proofing on or near the exhaust manifold, the

exhaust pipes, the catalytic converter, the heat shields, or any other hot vehicle component.

Cleaning the engine compartment

ꢀPlease first read and note the introductory information and heed the WARNINGS

The engine compartment of a vehicle is a dangerous area, Working in the engine compartment.

If necessary, the engine compartment should be cleaned by an authorized Volkswagen dealer or

authorized Volkswagen Service Facility. Incorrect cleaning procedures could remove corrosion

protection and damage electrical components, among other things. In addition, water could enter

directly into the vehicle interior through the plenum chamber ⇒ꢀ

Never use a power washer to clean the engine compartment ⇒ꢀ

.

If the engine compartment is extremely dirty, have it cleaned professionally by your authorized

Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

Plenum chamber

The plenum chamber is located in the engine compartment between windshield and engine, under a

perforated cover. Outside air is taken into the vehicle interior from the plenum chamber via the climate

control system.

Regularly remove leaves and other loose objects from the plenum chamber cover by hand or with a

vacuum cleaner.

WARNING

Injuries, scalding, electric shock, accidents, and fire hazards can occur while working on the

engine or in the engine compartment!

ꢀ Before working in the engine compartment, be sure to familiarize yourself with the

necessary procedures and generally accepted safety precautions, Working in the engine

compartment.

ꢀ Volkswagen recommends having the work performed by an authorized Volkswagen dealer

or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility.

NOTICE

Spraying or pouring water (e.g. with power washer) into the plenum chamber can cause severe

damage to the vehicle.

Wash the engine compartment only in special wash bays so that the oily dirt and fuel residue that

are washed off the vehicle will not enter the sewage system. In some areas it illegal to wash the

engine compartment anywhere other than at such specified locations.

Exterior care and cleaning for Your Volkswagen Passat SUV Sixth Generation (2005-2010)

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