Helpful Tips for Washing Your VW

Washing the Vehicle

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, a roof rack. 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 w 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.

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 window cleaning cloth/chamois G 052 522 Al 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.

Waxing and Polishing Vehicle Paint

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 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

• 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.

Caring for and Cleaning “Second Skin” Vehicle Graphics

Vehicle graphics are design elements that can be applied to the vehicle body that are made of soft polyvinyl chloride (PVC). In areas where the vehicle is covered by vehicle graphics, the paint finish below the PVC covering is protected from the weather and other environmental factors. If vehicle graphics stay on the vehicle for a long time, you may notice a difference in appearance between areas protected by vehicle graphics and areas where no vehicle graphics cover the paint finish. These differences can normally be reduced by polishing the vehicle. Volkswagen recommends contacting an authorized Volkswagen dealer or authorized Volkswagen Service Facility for information on suitable care products. Durability of vehicle graphics Environmental factors such as exposure to sunlight, moisture, atmospheric pollutants, and stone impact affect the durability and color of vehicle graphics. Signs of use and aging are normal and are not a defect in the material.

After applying vehicle graphics, high summer temperatures or other factors may cause the material to blister for a period of time. Blistering normally goes away on its own and does not have a lasting effect on the material. Vehicle graphics may show signs of use and begin fading, especially if exposed to direct sunlight, after about 1 to 3 years. In very hot climates, heat exposure from direct sunlight can cause vehicle graphics to show signs of aging. including fading, within one year. Cleaning vehicle graphics Vehicle graphics can be washed in an automatic car wash, provided that hot wax is not applied. When using a pre-spray cleaner, power washer, or steam cleaner, always keep the nozzle at least 16 inches (40 cm) from vehicle graphics. Never spray the vehicle graphics with water pressure above 1450 psi (100 bar).

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 help 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.