1996 Chevrolet Tahoe Owner's Manual - Page 311

Sheet Metal Damage If your vehicle is damagedand requires sheet metal repair or replacement, make sure thebody repair shop applies anti-corrosion material to the parts repaired or replaced to restore corrosion protection. At least every spring, flush these materials from the underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud and other debris cancollect. Dirt packed in closed areas of the frame should be loosened before being flushed. Your dealer or an underb.ody vehicle washing system can do this for you. . < Finish Damage Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratchesin the finish should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode quickly and may develop into a major repair expense. Minor chipsand scratches can be repaired with touch-up materials available from your dealer or other service outlets, Larger areas of finish damagecan be corrected in your dealer's body and paint shop. Chemical Paint Spotting Some weather and atmospheric conditions can create a chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon and attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damage can take two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shaped ' discolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched into the paint surface. Although no defect in the paint job causes this, GM will repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces of new vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within 12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase, whichever occurs first. Underbody Maintenance Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust control can collect on the underbody.If these are not removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) occur on the underbody can parts such as fuel lines, frame, floor pan and exhaust system even though they have corrosion .protection. 6-58