1997 Subaru Legacy Service & Repair Manual

Exterior care " Washing O CAUTION When washing the vehicle, the brakes may get wet . As a result, the brake stopping distance will be longer. To dry the brakes, drive the vehicle at a safe speed while lightly pressing the brake pedal to heat up the brakes . When washing the engine compartment, use special care not to let water contact the electrical parts (particularly the ignition system) or around the power steering oil reservoir. The best way to preserve your vehicle's beauty is frequent washing . Wash the vehicle at least once a month to avoid contamination by road grime . Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty of lukewarm or cold water . Do not wash the vehicle with hot water and in direct sunlight . Salt, chemicals, insects, tar, soot and bird droppings should be washed off by using a light detergent, as required . If you use a light detergent, make certain that it is a neutral detergent . Do not use strong soap or chemical detergents . All cleaning agents should be promptly flushed from the surface and not allowed to dry there . Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of lukewarm water. Wipe the remaining water off with a chamois or soft cloth . V Washing the underbody Chemicals, salts and gravel used for deicing road surfaces are ex- tremely corrosive, accelerating the corrosion of underbody compo- nents, such as the exhaust system, fuel and brake lines, brake cables, floor pan and fenders, and suspension . Thoroughly flush the underbody and inside of the fenders with lukewarm or cold water at frequent intervals to reduce the harmful effects of such agents . 9-2

Appearance care V Using a warm water washer Keep a good distance of 30 cm or more between the washer nozzle and the vehicle . Do not wash the same area continuously. If a stain will not come out easily, wash by hand . Some warm water washers are of the high temperature, high pressure type and they can damage or deform the resin parts such as mouldings, or cause water to leak into the vehicle . " Waxing and polishing Always wash and dry the vehicle before waxing and polishing . Use a good quality polish and wax and apply them according to the manufacturer's instructions . Wax or polish when the painted surface is cool . Be sure to polish and wax the chrome trim, as well as the painted surfaces. Loss of wax on a painted surface leads to loss of the original luster and also quickens the deterioration of the surface . It is recommended that a coat of wax be applied at least once a month, or whenever the surface no longer repels water. If the appearance of the paint has diminished to the point where the luster or tone cannot be recovered, lightly polish the surface with a fine- grained compound . Never polish just the affected area, but include the surrounding area as well . Always polish in only one direction . A No . 2000 grain compound is recommended . Never use a coarse-grained compound . Coarser grained compounds have a smaller grain-size number and could damage the paint . After polishing with a compound, coat with wax to restore the original luster. Frequent polishing with a compound or an incorrect polishing technique will result in removing the paint layer and exposing the undercoat. When in doubt, it is always best to contact your SUBARU dealer or an auto paint specialist . 9-3

1997 Subaru Legacy Service & Repair Manual

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