Maintenance — body and underbody (Renault Clio 1)

The overall condition of a car's body significantly affects its estimated value. Servicing the body is simple, but it needs to be done regularly. Neglecting these procedures, especially after minor damage, can quickly lead to significant wear and tear on the body and costly repairs.

It is also important to maintain hidden body parts, such as the underbody and inner wheel arches, in good condition.

The basic procedure for car body maintenance is washing with plenty of water (from a hose), which allows you to remove all stuck dirt and solid particles from the car. It is important to wash them off so that the gravel does not scratch the paint. Wheel arches and the underbody also need to be washed - accumulated dirt absorbs moisture from the environment, which increases the risk of corrosion. It is easiest to clean the underbody and arches in rainy weather, when the mud build-up has become soaked and soft. Sometimes in rainy weather the bottom clears itself, and this is a good time for inspection.

Periodically (except for vehicles with a protective wax coating on the underside) clean the bottom with steam. After this, carry out a complete inspection of the body, noting areas that require minor repairs. Steam cleaning is performed at many service stations and is necessary to remove oily build-up. If such cleaning is not available, there are special solvents available for removing such deposits. Apply the solvent with a brush, then simply rinse off the dirt with a stream of water. This method also cannot be used on vehicles that have a protective wax coating on the underside, as this will remove the coating. Such vehicles should undergo an annual inspection, preferably in the fall, during which the underbody should be washed and the protective coating, if damaged, restored. It is recommended to inject the same protective wax composition into door panels, sills and other cavities of the body as additional protection against corrosion.

After washing painted surfaces, wipe them with a chamois to give them shine. Coating surfaces with a thin layer of wax polish will provide additional protection against chemical air pollutants. If the paint has faded or oxidized, use a special cleaner/polish combination to restore the shine. This requires some effort, but such difficulties only arise if regular cleaning has been neglected. Metallic paint requires careful handling - use a special non-abrasive cleaner to avoid damaging it. Make sure that the door drainage holes and drainage pipes are not clogged. Windshields and windows should be washed periodically with a windshield cleaner. Never apply wax polish or chrome polish to glass.