2003 Saab 9-3 Owner's Manual - Page 219
2003 Saab 9-3 Manual
Page 219 highlights
Car care 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 inside of window glass using a proprietary 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 polished, as this helps to prevent misting. Clean the outside of the windows with Saab washer fluid. This is especially important if the car has been washed in an automatic car wash, as sometimes a wax treatment is used that can contaminate the windshield and impair the performance of the wipers. 219 NOTICE • Try your brakes on leaving a car wash. Wet brake discs reduce the performance of the brakes. • Fixed antennae, such as for a mobile phone, must be removed if the car goes through an automatic car wash. • Cars with Saab Parking Assistance: Do not spray the sensors or closer than 8 in. (20 cm) to the sensors with a pressure washer, as this can damage them. Touching up the paint Damaged paintwork should be treated as soon as it is discovered: the longer it is left, the greater the risk of corrosion. The anticorrosion warranty does not cover corrosion resulting from untreated defects. Paintwork damage sustained in a crash is usually extensive and can only be properly restored by professionals. However, you can repair small scratches and stone chip damage yourself. The necessary tools and materials, such as primer, touch-up paint and brushes, are available from your Saab dealer. In the case of minor flaws in the paintwork, where the metal has not been exposed and an undamaged layer of paint remains, touch-up paint can usually be applied directly, after any dirt has been scraped away using a pointed knife. If corrosion has already set in, such as the result of stone-chip damage, use a pointed knife to scrape off all surface rust. If possible, the damaged area should be taken back to the bare metal. The metal should then be primed with two thin coats of primer applied by brush. After the primer has dried, apply several thin layers of topcoat until the surface of the repaired area is flush with the surrounding paintwork. Stir both primer and touch-up paint thoroughly before use and allow each coat to dry before applying the next. Waxing and polishing Do not wax a new car during the first three or four months. In fact, there is no need to polish the car before the paintwork has started to go dull through oxidation. Other than in exceptional cases, do not use abrasive polishes containing a cutting agent on a new car. Always wash the car thoroughly before waxing or polishing.