2005 Saab 9-5 Owner's Manual - Page 239

Car care and technical information 237 Washing the car Wash your car frequently. To facilitate cleaning, a suitable detergent can be added to the water, which should be lukewarm. Saab offers a full line of car care products, including car wash, for the care of your vehicle. See your dealer for available products or visit www.saabcatalog.com (U.S. residents only). Do not use a pressure washer at close range on stone chip damage, scratches or other damage to the paintwork. The paint can otherwise start to flake. Remove any bird droppings without delay, as these can discolor the paintwork and prove difficult to polish out. Use a soft cloth moistened with methyl alcohol to remove splashes of tar or asphalt. Do not use strong cleaners, as these can dry out the paintwork. The underside of the car also needs washing regularly, and this should be done extra thoroughly at the end of winter. Clean the underside of the car by hand if the car is usually washed in an automatic car wash without special facilities for underbody cleaning. Never wash or leave the car to dry in the sun, but wipe it dry with a chamois leather immediately after washing to avoid smears and streaks. Clean the window glass inside and out using a high quality window cleaner. This is particularly important when the car is new, as upholstery and trim have a tendency to sweat a little at first. Keep the glass well cleaned, as this helps to prevent misting. NOTICE • The door mirrors must be fully retracted before the car enters an automatic car wash. • Remove fixed antennas, e.g. for mobile phone, before putting car through an automatic car wash. • Try your brakes on leaving a car wash. Wet brake discs may reduce the performance of the brakes. • Cars with Saab Parking Assistance: Do not spray the sensors or closer than 20 cm to the sensors with a pressure washer, as this can damage them. NOTICE Avoid using any alcohol-based cleaners on the front and rear light clusters, as these can cause cracking of the lenses.