12.2. Care of a body

The condition of a body of the car is extremely important factor when determining its resale price. Holding repair procedures for restoration of the damaged or started elements of a body is much more difficult, than performance of repair of mechanical components. The hidden areas of a body, such as wheel arches, a frame and a motive compartment, also need leaving, though do not require so frequent paying by it attention as other components of a body.

Once a year or each 20 000 km (12 000 miles) of a run it is desirable to make steam cleaning of internal surfaces of a body. After removal of all traces of dirt, oil and lubricant of a surface can be examined on existence of traces of corrosion, damage of brake lines, wear of isolation of an electrical wiring, damage of driving cables and other malfunctions. Upon completion of this work it is necessary to grease components of a forward suspension bracket.

At the same time you make steam cleaning or washing with the degreasing structure of external surfaces of the engine and a motive compartment.

Close attention has to be paid to arches of wheels as the sheeting can separate from from internal surfaces and the small stones and grains of sand which are taking off from protectors of wheels will cause damage of paint and, as a result, development of corrosion of panels. At detection of traces of corrosion (rust), they have to be removed to pure metal, and the surface is covered with anticorrosive paint.

Sink bodies has to be made approximately once a week Carefully moisten car body surfaces for a softening of dirt which then wash away a soft sponge or a stream of water. Careless removal of the stuck dirt is fraught with damage of an external paint coat.

The spots of tar or asphalt getting on a body from the warmed paving can and have to be removed by means of the rags moistened in solvent.

Time in half of year rub a body and the chromeplated finishing elements with wax. Remember that when using for cleaning of the chromeplated surfaces of cleaners together with corrosion traces also a part of chroming will be removed - try to apply such solutions not too plentifully.