Exterior care
Use the information in the following sections to maintain the exterior of your vehicle. Keeping the exterior clean is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also helps to prolong the life of your vehicle.
Exterior general precautions
It is very important to follow the label directions when using any chemical cleaner or polish. Read all warning and caution statements that appear on the label.
If you park your vehicle near a stainless signboard or reflective building, the plastic exterior trim (bumper, spoiler, trim, lights, outside mirror, and so on) may be damaged by reflected sunlight. To avoid damaging the plastic exterior trim, park the vehicle away from areas with reflected light or use a vehicle cover. (Depending on the vehicle, the type of exterior trim may differ.)
Finish maintenance
To help protect your vehicle’s finish from rust and deterioration, wash it thoroughly with lukewarm or cold water at least once a month.
If you use your vehicle for off-road driving, wash it after each off-road trip. Take special care to remove any accumulated salt, dirt, mud, and other foreign materials. Be sure to keep the drain holes in the lower edges of the doors and rocker panels clear and clean.
Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings, industrial pollution, and similar deposits can damage your vehicle’s finish if not removed immediately.
Even prompt washing with plain water may not completely remove all of these deposits. Use a mild soap that is safe for painted surfaces.
After you wash the vehicle, rinse it thoroughly with lukewarm or cold water. Do not allow soap to dry on the finish.
After you wash the vehicle, test the brakes while driving slowly to see if they have been affected by water. If the braking performance is impaired, dry the brakes by engaging them lightly while maintaining a slow forward speed.
After washing the vehicle, test the brakes while driving slowly to see if they have been affected by water. If braking performance is impaired, dry the brakes by applying them lightly while maintaining a slow forward speed.
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Do not use strong soap, chemical detergents, or hot water, and do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight or when the body of the vehicle is warm.
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Be careful when washing the side windows of your vehicle, especially with high pressure water. Water may leak through the windows and wet the interior.
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To prevent damage to the plastic parts and lights, do not clean with chemical solvents or strong detergents.
When using high-pressure washers, be sure to maintain sufficient distance from the vehicle. Insufficient distance or excessive pressure can lead to component damage or water penetration.
Do not spray the camera, sensors, or their surrounding areas directly with a high-pressure washer. Shock from high-pressure water may affect these devices’ operation.
Do not bring the nozzle tip close to the vehicle’s boots (rubber or plastic covers) or connectors, as contact from high-pressure water may damage them.
Wetting engine compartment
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Washing the engine compartment with water, including high-pressure washing, may cause the electrical circuits located in the engine compartment to fail.
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Never allow water or other liquids to contact electronic components or air ducts, as this may damage them.
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After you wash the vehicle, brake carefully while paying attention to the traffic conditions until the braking function is fully restored.
Wax the vehicle when water no longer beads on the paint.
Always wash and dry the vehicle before waxing it. Use a high quality liquid or paste wax and follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Wax all metal trim to protect it and maintain its luster.
Removing oil, tar, and similar materials with a spot remover usually strips the wax from the finish. Be sure to re-wax these areas, even if the rest of the vehicle does not yet need waxing.
Be careful not to touch the lens when waxing the lights.
Drying your vehicle
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Wiping dust or dirt off the body of the vehicle with a dry cloth will scratch the finish.
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Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, acid detergents, or strong detergents containing high alkaline or caustic agents on chrome-plated or anodized aluminum parts. This may result in damage to the protective coating and cause discoloration or paint deterioration.
Finish damage repair
Repair deep scratches or chips in the painted surface promptly. Exposed metal rusts quickly and may develop into a major repair expense.
If your vehicle is damaged and requires any metal repair or replacement, be sure the body shop applies anti-corrosion materials to the parts that were repaired or replaced.
Bright metal maintenance
To remove road tar and insects, use a tar remover (not a scraper or other sharp object).
To protect the surfaces of bright metal parts from corrosion, apply a coating of wax or chrome preservative and rub it to a high luster.
During winter weather or in coastal areas, cover the bright metal parts with a heavier coating of wax or preservative. If necessary, coat the parts with non-corrosive petroleum jelly or another protective compound.
Underbody maintenance
Road salt and other corrosive chemicals are used in cold weather areas to melt snow and prevent ice accumulation. If you do not regularly remove these chemicals from your vehicle, they will corrode underbody and, over time, damage many parts: the fuel lines, the fuel tank retention system, the suspension, the exhaust system, and even the body frame.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has warned vehicle owners of all brands to take the following steps:
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Wash the underbody of your vehicle regularly during the winter and whenever your vehicle has been exposed to salts or chemicals.
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Thoroughly wash the underbody at the end of winter.
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Have your vehicle inspected for corrosion annually by a professional service technician or at a governmental inspection station.
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Have your vehicle inspected immediately if you see sighs of corrosion flaking or scaling, or if you become aware of a change in vehicle performance (such as soft or spongy brakes, fluids leaking, impairment of directional control, suspension noises, or rattling metal straps).
Aluminum wheel maintenance
The aluminum wheels are coated with a clear protective finish.
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Do not use any abrasive cleaner, polishing compound, solvent, or wire brushes on aluminum wheels. They may scratch or damage the finish.
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Clean the wheel when it is cool.
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Use only a mild soap or neutral detergent and rinse thoroughly with water. Also, be sure to clean the wheels after driving on salted roads to help prevent corrosion.
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Avoid washing the wheels with high-speed vehicle wash brushes.
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Do not use any alkaline or acid detergents. They may damage and corrode aluminum wheels coated with a clear protective finish.
Corrosion protection
By using the most advanced design and construction practices to combat corrosion, Kia produces vehicles of the highest quality. However, this is only part of the job. Your assistance is required to achieve long-term corrosion resistance for your vehicle.
The most common causes of corrosion on your vehicle are:
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Road salt, dirt, and moisture that is allowed to accumulate underneath the vehicle.
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Removal of paint or protective coatings by stones, gravel, abrasions, or minor scrapes and dents that leave unprotected metal exposed to corrosion.
If you live in an area where your vehicle is regularly exposed to corrosive materials, corrosion protection is particularly important. Some of the most common causes of accelerated corrosion are road salts, dust control chemicals, ocean air, and industrial pollution.
Corrosion is most likely to occur in moist conditions. High humidity accelerates corrosion, particularly when temperatures are just above freezing. The corrosive material stays in contact with the vehicle’s surface because moisture evaporates slowly.
Mud is particularly corrosive because it dries slowly and holds moisture in contact with the vehicle. Although the mud appears to be dry, it can still retain moisture and accelerate corrosion.
High temperatures can also accelerate corrosion of parts that are not well ventilated enough to disperse the moisture. For all of these reasons, it is particularly important to keep your vehicle clean and free of mud or accumulations of other materials. This applies not only to the visible surfaces, but particularly to the underbody of the vehicle.
You can help prevent corrosion by following these guidelines:
Keep your vehicle clean
The best way to prevent corrosion is to keep your vehicle clean and free of corrosive materials. Attention to the underbody of the vehicle is particularly important.
If you live in a high-corrosion area where road salts are used, near the ocean, or in areas with industrial pollution, acid rain, and so on, you should take extra care to prevent corrosion. In winter, hose off the underbody of your vehicle at least once a month, and be sure to clean the underbody thoroughly when winter is over.
When cleaning the underbody of the vehicle, pay particular attention to the components under the fenders and other areas that are hidden from view. Do a thorough job; just dampening the accumulated mud rather than washing it away will accelerate corrosion rather than prevent it. Water under high pressure and steam are particularly effective in removing accumulated mud and corrosive materials.
When cleaning the lower door panels, rocker panels, and frame components, be sure to keep the drain holes open so that moisture can escape instead of staying trapped inside where it can accelerate corrosion.
Keep your garage dry
Don’t park your vehicle in a damp, poorly ventilated garage. This creates a favorable environment for corrosion. This is particularly true if you wash your vehicle in the garage or drive it into the garage when it is still wet or covered with snow, ice, or mud. Even a heated garage can contribute to corrosion unless it is well ventilated enough to disperse moisture.
Keep paint and trim in good condition
Scratches or chips in the finish should be covered with touch-up paint as soon as possible to reduce the possibility of corrosion. If bare metal shows through, the attention of a qualified body and paint shop is recommended.
Bird droppings are highly corrosive and may damage painted surfaces in just a few hours. Always remove bird droppings as soon as possible.
Do not neglect the interior
Moisture can collect under the floor mats and carpeting and cause corrosion. Check under the mats periodically to be sure the carpeting is dry. Be particularly careful if you carry fertilizers, cleaning materials, or chemicals in the vehicle.
Only carry these materials in proper containers. Clean up any spills or leaks, then flush the carpeting with clean water and thoroughly dry it.