Body maintenance and repair (Mazda Capella GE)

The condition of your car's body is very important because it largely determines its resale value. It is much more difficult to repair a neglected or damaged body than mechanical parts. Hidden body cavities such as wheel wells, frame and engine compartment are also no less important, despite the fact that they do not require as frequent attention as other parts of the body.

Once a year, or every 20,000 km, it is very useful to clean the underbody of the car using steam. All traces of dirt and oil will be removed, and the area can then be inspected for rust, damaged brake lines, frayed electrical wires, damaged cables, and so on. At the end of this work, the front suspension components should be lubricated.

At the same time, clean the engine and engine compartment using a steam cleaner or grease remover.

Particular attention should be paid to the wheel wells, as the liner may come loose and stones and dirt thrown up by the wheels can damage the paint and allow rust to form. If you find rust, sand the damaged surface down to bare metal and apply anti-corrosion paint.

The body must be washed at least once a week. Wet the car thoroughly to soften the dirt, then rinse it off with a soft sponge and plenty of soapy water. If you don't rinse off the dirt thoroughly, it can rub off the paint.

Tar or bitumen stains should be cleaned with a cloth soaked in solvent.

At least every six months, polish the body and chrome parts. If you use chrome cleaner to remove rust from plated parts, remember that the cleaner will also remove the chrome, so use it with caution.

(Data provided by the website mazbook.ru)