Get Appearance care -> Exterior care Guide for Subaru Forester SUV 2024

Exterior care

446

careful not to scratch the camera

lens. Do not use a washing brush

directly on the camera lens. The

image quality of the rear view cam-

era may deteriorate.

the cover surface may be da-

maged.

10-1. Exterior care

& Washing

Since your vehicle is equipped

with a rear wiper, automatic car-

wash brushes could become

tangled around it, damaging the

wiper arm and other compo-

nents. Ask the automatic car-

wash operator not to let the

brushes touch the wiper arm or

to fix the wiper arm on the rear

window glass with adhesive tape

before operating the machine.

CAUTION

The best way to preserve your vehicle’s

beauty is frequent washing. Wash the

vehicle at least once a month to avoid

contamination by road grime.

When washing the vehicle, the

brakes may get wet. As a result,

the brake stopping distance will

be longer. To dry the brakes, drive

the vehicle at a safe speed while

lightly depressing the brake ped-

al to heat up the brakes.

Wash dirt off with a wet sponge and plenty

of lukewarm or cold water. Do not wash the

vehicle with hot water and in direct sun-

light.

Do not wash the engine compart-

ment and area adjacent to it. If

water enters the engine air intake

or electrical parts, it will cause

engine trouble or a malfunction

of electrical equipment.

If the climate control system is

operating when you wash the

vehicle, do not set the air inlet

selection of the climate control to

outside air circulation mode.

There is a risk that water may

enter the vehicle through the air

inlets.

Salt, chemicals, insects, tar, soot, tree sap,

and bird droppings should be washed off

using a light detergent, as required. If you

use a light detergent, make certain that it is

a neutral detergent. Do not use strong

soap or chemical detergents. All cleaning

agents should be promptly flushed from

the surface and not allowed to dry there.

Rinse the vehicle thoroughly with plenty of

lukewarm water. Wipe the remaining water

off with a chamois or soft cloth. Wear

rubber gloves and use a hand brush when

washing down underbody, inner fenders

and suspension to effectively remove mud

and dirt off.

When washing inner fenders, un-

derbody, bumpers and protrud-

ing objects such as exhaust

pipes and exhaust finishers, be

careful to prevent injuries from

contacting sharp ends.

NOTE

When having your vehicle washed in

an automatic car wash, make sure

beforehand that the car wash is of

suitable type.

The rear view camera lens has a hard

coating to help prevent scratches.

However, when washing the vehicle

or cleaning the camera lens, be

Do not use any organic solvents

when washing the surface of the

bulb assembly cover. However, if

a detergent with organic solvents

is used to wash the cover sur-

face, completely rinse off the

detergent with water. Otherwise,

^{Exterior care}447

deterioration of the surface. It is recom-

mended that a coat of wax be applied at

least once a month, or whenever the

surface no longer repels water.

Be careful not to flush the engine

bottom for a long time. It may

cause damage of some electrical

parts.

! Washing the underbody

Chemicals, salts and gravel used for

deicing road surfaces are extremely cor-

rosive, accelerating the corrosion of un-

derbody components, such as the exhaust

system, fuel and brake lines, brake cables,

floor pan and fenders, and suspension.

Thoroughly flush the underbody and inside

of the fenders with lukewarm or cold water

at frequent intervals to reduce the harmful

effects of such agents.

If the appearance of the paint has dimin-

ished to the point where the luster or tone

cannot be restored, lightly polish the sur-

face with a fine-grained compound. Never

polish just the affected area, but include

the surrounding area as well. Always

polish in only one direction. A No. 2000

grain compound is recommended. Never

use a coarse-grained compound. Coarse-

grained compounds have a smaller grain-

size number and could damage the paint.

After polishing with a compound, coat with

wax to restore the original luster. Frequent

polishing with a compound or an incorrect

polishing technique will result in removing

the paint layer and exposing the under-

coat. When in doubt, it is always best to

contact your SUBARU dealer or an auto

paint specialist.

! Using a warm water washer

Keep a good distance of 12 in (30 cm)

or more between the washer nozzle

and the vehicle.

Do not wash the same area continu-

ously.

If a stain will not come out easily, wash

by hand. Some warm water washers

are of the high temperature, high

pressure type, and they can damage

or deform the resin parts such as

moldings, or cause water to leak into

the vehicle.

Mud and sand adhering to the underbody

components may accelerate their corro-

sion.

After driving off-road or on muddy or sandy

roads, wash the mud and sand off the

underbody. Carefully flush the suspension

and axle parts, as they are particularly

prone to mud and sand buildup. Do not use

a sharp-edged tool to remove caked mud.

& Waxing and polishing

Always wash and dry the vehicle before

waxing and polishing.

CAUTION

Use a good quality polish and wax and

apply them according to the manufac-

turer’s instructions. Wax or polish when

the painted surface is cool.

Be careful not to damage brake

hoses, sensor harnesses, and

other parts when washing sus-

pension components.

CAUTION

Do not use any agents with organic

solvents on the surface of the bulb

assembly cover. However, if a polish

or wax with organic solvents is

applied to the cover surface, com-

pletely wipe off the polish or wax.

Be sure to polish and wax the chrome trim,

as well as the painted surfaces. Loss of

wax on a painted surface leads to loss of

the original luster and also quickens the

– CONTINUED –

Exterior care

448

As matte painted wheels require different

cleaning methods than conventional alloy

wheels, be sure to observe the following.

For details, consult your SUBARU dealer.

Otherwise, the cover surface may be

damaged.

& Cleaning alloy wheels

! Vehicles without matte painted

wheels

NOTE

Promptly wipe the alloy wheels clean of

any kind of grime or agent. If dirt is left

on too long, it may be difficult to clean

off.

Do not use soap containing grit to clean

the wheels. Be sure to use a neutral

cleaning agent, and later rinse thor-

oughly with water. Do not clean the

wheels with a stiff brush or expose them

to a high-speed washing device.

Remove dirt using water. If the wheels

are excessively dirty, use a sponge or

soft cloth dampened with a diluted

neutral detergent to remove the dirt.

Be careful not to block the wind-

shield washer nozzles with wax

when waxing the vehicle.

Do not wipe the rear view camera

with alcohol, benzine or paint thin-

ner. Otherwise, discoloration may

occur. To remove contamination,

wipe the camera with a cloth mois-

tened with diluted neutral detergent

and then wipe it with a soft, dry cloth.

When waxing the vehicle, be careful

not to apply the wax to the rear view

camera. If it comes in contact with

the camera, moisten a clean cloth

with diluted neutral detergent to

remove the wax.

For Subaru Forester Wilderness

models, if wax gets onto the hood

decal when you are waxing your

vehicle, this could enhance the re-

flective appearance of the hood

decal and impair the antireflective

function.

& Cleaning tire (vehicle with

white letter tires)

It is recommended to clean the white letter

part on the side of the tire frequently

because it easily gets dirty. When clean-

ing, use a neutral detergent and wash with

a sponge.

Clean the vehicle (including the alloy

wheels) with water as soon as possible

when it has been splashed with sea

water, exposed to sea breezes, or

driven on roads treated with salt or

other agents.

! Vehicles with matte painted wheels

CAUTION

Be sure to observe the following

precautions as matte painted

wheels can be damaged.

Do not scrub or polish the wheels

using a brush or dry cloth.

Do not use any wheel coatings or

abrasive detergents.

Appearance care -> Exterior care for Your Subaru Forester SUV 2024

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