Car body care (Opel Vectra B)

The condition of the body must be checked regularly. Otherwise, corrosion of individual sections of the body can lead to severe damage and expensive repairs in the future. It is also important to pay attention to parts of the car that are not visible from the outside, such as the bottom, wheel arches and the lower part of the engine compartment, as well as parts of the body hidden under the upholstery. The main element in caring for the body is washing it. Before washing the car, soak the insects and remove them from the surface of the body. Use plenty of water. Use a soft sponge or a soft brush. The varnish coating cannot be washed with a jet of strong water. Hose the car and wash off the dirt from top to bottom. Rinse the sponge frequently. Wipe the car with a clean rag. Use only good degreasing detergents. For protection, add detergent preservatives to the washing water. Do not wash and dry the car in the sun, otherwise stains will remain on the varnish surface. Salt sprinkled on roads has a harmful effect on the car body. Warning! After washing the car, the effectiveness of the brakes decreases due to humidity. It is recommended to dry the brake discs by briefly pressing the brake pedal at the start of movement.

Conservation

The clean, dry varnish coating must be treated every 3 months with preservatives to protect the car surface from atmospheric influences by creating a non-porous, water-repellent wax layer.

Any leaked fuel, oil or grease, as well as brake fluid, must be removed immediately, otherwise the colour of the varnish coating will change.

The surface treatment must be repeated if the water does not form drops but spreads over the surface. Regular treatment with preservatives helps to maintain the shine of the varnish coating for a long time.

There is another option for protecting varnish coatings – using washing preservatives. However, washing preservatives provide reliable protection for varnish coatings only if they are used at every car wash and at least every 2–3 weeks.

After using detergents (foaming) additional surface treatment with preservatives is especially recommended. Warning! Preservation must not be carried out in direct sunlight.

Polishing

Polishing the varnish surface is only necessary if it has faded due to insufficient care, exposure to dust, harmful gases, weather conditions, and preservatives cannot restore its shine.

Do not use coarse polishing pastes or chemically active polishing agents, despite previously good results.

Before polishing, the car must be washed and thoroughly dried. Then follow the instructions for using polishing agents.

Polish in small sections to avoid premature drying of the polish. After treating the surface with some polishing agents, additional conservation is required. Polishing in direct sunlight is prohibited. Matte varnish surfaces cannot be treated with preservatives and polishing agents.

Removal resin stains

The resin quickly diffuses into the varnish coatings and cannot be completely removed. Fresh resin stains can be removed with a soft cloth soaked in cleaning gasoline. In emergency cases, regular gasoline, kerosene or turpentine can be used.

Insect Removal

Insects contain substances that can damage the varnish film if not removed quickly. Insects can only be washed off with a weak, slightly warm soap or detergent solution or with a special insect remover.

Removal of building solutions

Splashes of building materials are washed off with a slightly warm solution of neutral detergents. Do not rub hard, otherwise you can scratch the varnish coating. Then rinse thoroughly with clean water.

Care of parts made of artificial materials

Plastic parts, artificial leather seats, headlights, and parts painted matte black can be washed with water with the addition of special detergents. Wetting is not recommended. Plastic parts can be treated with special cleaners if necessary. Never use nitro solvent or gasoline.

Glass washing

Wipe the glass with a clean soft cloth from the inside and outside. In case of heavy contamination, you can use alcohol or ammonia and warm water, as well as special glass cleaning products. When washing the windshield, raise the wipers up. Warning! When using silicone-containing products to clean varnish coatings, do not wipe the glass with them. When spraying silicone-containing aerosols, the glass must be covered with cardboard or other materials.

Caring for rubber seals

Periodically sprinkle sealing or sliding surfaces with talc or spray with silicone aerosol. This will maintain their elasticity and eliminate creaking when closing the doors. You can eliminate unpleasant sounds by wiping the contact surfaces with liquid soap.

Wheel rims

Wheel rims made of light metals require maintenance, especially in the cold season. For this purpose, you can use a special rim cleaning agent. Do not use active, acid-containing, highly alkaline and rough cleaning agents or water with a temperature above +60°C.

Seat belts

The seat belts should be washed with a weak alkaline solution without removing them. Do not dry clean them, which can cause the destruction of the fibers. Roll up the belts with automatic winding in a dry state, if necessary, use a special aerosol for better sliding. It is not recommended to dry the belts at a temperature above 80°C and in the open sun.