1994 Pontiac Grand Am Owner's Manual - Page 210

Weatherstrips Silicone grease on weatherstripswill make them last longer, seal better, and not stick or squeak. Apply silicone grease with a clean cloth at least every six months. During very cold, damp weather more frequent application may be required. (See "Recommended Fluids & Lubricants" in the Index.) Finish Damage Any stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finish should be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrode quickly and may develop into a major repair expense. Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-up materials available from your dealer or other service outlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be corrected in your dealer's body and paint shop. At least every spring, flush these materials from the underbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mud and other debris can collect. Dirt packed in closed areas of the frame should be loosened before being flushed. Your dealer or an underbody vehicle washing system can do this for you. Sheet Metal Damage If your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metal repair or replacement, make sure the body repair shop applies anti-corrosion material to the parts repaired or replaced to restore corrosion protection. 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. Underbody Maintenance Foreign Material Calcium chloride and other salts, ice melting agents, road oil and tar, treesap, bird droppings, chemicals from industrial chimneys, and other foreign matter can damage your vehicle's finishif they remain on painted surfaces. Usecleaners that are marked safe for paintedsurfaces to remove foreign matter. Chemicals used for ice and snow removal and dust control can collect on the underbody. If these are not removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur on the underbody parts such as fuel lines, Although no defect in the paint job causes frame, floor pan, and exhaust system even this, Pontiac will repair, at no charge to though they have corrosion protection. 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 comes first. C 209