Kia Cee'd: Exterior care / Finish maintenance

Washing

To help protect your vehicle’s finish from rust and deterioration, wash it thoroughly and frequently at least once a month with lukewarm or cold water.

If you use your vehicle for off-road driving, you should wash it after each offroad trip. Pay special attention to the removal of any accumulation of salt, dirt, mud, and other foreign materials. Ensure drain holes in the lower edges of the doors and rocker panels are kept clean. Insects, tar, tree sap, bird droppings, industrial pollution and similar deposits can damage your vehicle’s finish if not removed immediately.

Even prompt washing with plain water may not completely remove all these deposits. A mild soap, safe for use on painted surfaces, may be used.

After washing, rinse the vehicle thoroughly with lukewarm or cold water. Do not allow soap to dry on the finish.

CAUTION

• Do not use strong soap, chemical detergents or hot water, and do not wash the vehicle in direct sunlight or when the body of the vehicle is warm.
• Be careful when washing the side windows of your vehicle. Especially, with high-pressure water, water may leak through the windows and wet the interior.
• To prevent damage to the plastic parts and lamps, do not clean with chemical solvents or strong detergents.

WARNING - Wet brakes

After washing the vehicle, test the brakes while driving slowly to see if they have been affected by water. If braking performance is impaired, dry the brakes by applying them lightly while maintaining a slow forward speed.

High-pressure washing

When using the High Pressure car wash system for cleaning the exterior of your vehicle, be aware that without following the proper precautions, it may damage your car.

• Never let the high pressure car wash nozzle come too close to the windows, soft materials, light system (headlights, taillights and such), camera, sensors, bumpers, rubber (including tires), and also the underside of the vehicle.
• The high pressure could damage these parts especially if injected from a short distance. Never clean a specific point on the vehicle for a prolonged time. Applying the high pressure car wash nozzle for a prolonged time it could damage and harm the vehicle.
• Even while the high pressure car wash nozzle is applied from a distance for a limited time only, always bear in mind that a direct stream would greatly affect the surface of the vehicle.
• Always use high pressure car washes which supply jet spray nozzle system, not direct stream nozzle system

CAUTION

• Water washing in the engine compartment including high pressure water washing may cause the failure of electrical circuits located in the engine compartment.
• Never allow water or other liquids to come in contact with electrical/ electronic components and air duct inside the vehicle as this may damage them.

Waxing

Wax the vehicle when water will no longer bead on the paint.

Always wash and dry the vehicle before waxing. Use a good quality liquid or paste wax, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.Wax all metal trim to protect it and to maintain its luster.

Removing oil, tar, and similar materials with a spot remover will usually strip the wax from the finish. Be sure to re-wax these areas even if the rest of the vehicle does not yet need waxing.

CAUTION

• Wiping dust or dirt off the body with a dry cloth will scratch the finish.
• Do not use steel wool, abrasive cleaners, or strong detergents containing highly alkaline or caustic agents on chrome-plated or anodized aluminum parts. This may result in damage to the protective coating and cause discoloration or paint deterioration.