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C H E C K
B O D Y W O R K
The problem with this country is that no sooner have you washed and waxed your car the weather turns it into a muddy, road-grimed shadow of it's former self. For the brief summer that we do get we don't mind washing our cars but during the winter months it's very easy to forget. 'Whats the point? 10 minutes and it will thick with dirt again!'. Washing your car under these conditions couldn't be more important to the long term look of your paint work. Winter months usually brings salt spreaders, vital to non-slip roads, deadly to your bodywork. Washing all the salt and grime from your car will help you bodywork last longer especially with a coat of protective wax. Wax will fend of moisture and rain. Instead of water puddling and attacking vunerable parts of your car, the majority will run off.
Don't forget that your bodywork is the most important part of your car when it comes to selling it. A buyer can turn away and never see that mint engine if the first appearance is poor. Alternativley a buyer could overlook the odd rattle if the overall appearance is good.

CHECK YOUR CARS BODYWORK AFTER THE SPOILS OF WINTER

Painted surfaces can become chipped or scratched and if not treated will become corroded and lead to rapid deterioration.
After thoroughly washing you car, And with the hose pipe, spray under the wings, and body sills.
Wash away any salt or grit that has been put on the roads during the winter months, better still use a high pressure wash machine.
Any fittings such as mud flaps need regular washing off, as dirt and mud can get trapped and packed solid behind the mud flaps.

• Check front and rear panels just below the bumpers for stone chip damage
• Check along sills for damage or corrosion
• Clean out apertures were the bonnet and boot fit to the body.
• If a sun-roof is fitted it is always a good idea to open roof at regular intervals to ensure it is not stuck due to lack of use after winter time.
• Open the roof and clean surrounding rubber seal and slider channels, also check drain holes for blockage.
• Clean inside fuel filler flap/door (This area usually gets missed when cleaning car)

It is surprising how much the winter months can affect these areas.

THE FOLLOWING ARE JUST A FEW AREAS THAT ARE VULNERABLE

1/ Body sills
2/ Front and rear panels (below bumpers)
3/ Inner sills (These may become chipped and knocked due to kick damage whilst getting in and out of your car.
4/ Wing edges
5/ Door edges
6/ Joints and seams
7/ Area around sun-roof aperture
8/ Bonnet and boot apertures (The area were these shut onto the body)
9/ Wheel Arches. Always make sure that you aim hoses up inside the wheel arches to remove the accumulation of mud and/or debris
How to wash your car properly

Sills and Door edges
Always make sure that you pay attention to sills. Remember that excessive corrosion to these areas is an MOT failure
Wheel Arches

Obviously mud and road grim spin off the tyres and spray the inside of your wheel arches. Corrosive substances such as grit salt etc can then attack the bodywork in these areas if left unchecked

Sunroof aperture
Not cleaning around the sunroof will allow debris to build up and cause either corrsion or leaks if the rain seal is broken
Wing edges
As in the inner wheel arches as above the debris spinning off the tyres can accumulate and cause corrosion around the wheel arches

Seams
Any seal on your car is a hot spot for the accumulation of debris which can cause corrosion.






 
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