Suzuki VITARA Series, Owner'S Manual

Page: 418 / 482

9-4
APPEARANCE CARE
54P00-01E
Washing
60B212S
When washing the vehicle, park it in the
place where direct sunlight does not fall on
it and follow the instructions below:
1) Flush the underside of body and wheel
housings with pressurized water to
remove mud and debris. Use plenty of
water.
2) Rinse the body to loosen the dirt.
Remove dirt and mud from the body
exterior with running water. You may
use a soft sponge or brush. Do not use
hard materials which can scratch the
paint or plastic. Remember that the
headlight covers or lenses are made of
plastic in many cases.
3) Wash the entire exterior with a mild
detergent or car wash soap using a
sponge or soft cloth. The sponge or
cloth should be frequently soaked in the
soap solution.
4) Once the dirt has been completely
removed, rinse off the detergent with
running water.
5) Wipe off the vehicle body with a wet
chamois or cloth and allow it to dry in
the shade.
WARNING
• Never attempt to wash and wax
your vehicle with the engine run-
ning.
• When cleaning the underside of the
body and fender, where there may
be sharp-edged parts, wear gloves
and a long-sleeved shirt to protect
your hands and arms from being
cut.
• After washing your vehicle, care-
fully test the brakes before driving
to check that they have maintained
their normal effectiveness.
CAUTION
If your vehicle is equipped with an
rain-sensing wiper system, place the
wiper control lever in “OFF” position.
If the lever is left in “AUTO” position,
the wipers could unexpectedly oper-
ate and cause an injury, and could
also be damaged.
NOTICE
When washing the vehicle:
• Avoid directing steam or hot water
of more than 80°C (176°F) on plas-
tic parts.
• To avoid damaging engine compo-
nents, do not use pressurized
water in the engine compartment.
NOTICE
To avoid damage to the paint or plas-
tic surface, do not wipe the dirt off
without ample water. Follow the
above procedure.
NOTICE
When using a commercial car wash
product, observe the cautions speci-
fied by the manufacturer. Never use
strong household detergents or
soaps.