Ford Contour (1999 year). Manual — part 53

Maintenance and care

210

Washing your vehicle

Only use car washing areas

that have environmentally

friendly drainage systems.

VEHICLE CARE

Wash your vehicle regularly with
cold or lukewarm water. Never use
strong detergents or soap. If your
vehicle is particularly dirty, use a
quality car wash detergent. Always
use a clean sponge, washing glove
or similar device and plenty of
water for best results. To avoid
spots, avoid washing when the
hood is still warm, immediately
after or during exposure to strong
sunlight.

31CMCen 3/25/99 3:45 PM Page 210

Maintenance and care

211

Waxing your vehicle

The best way to determine when
the paintwork needs waxing is by
noting when water stops beading
on the surface. This could be every
three or four months depending on
operating conditions.

Use only carnauba or synthetic-
based waxes. Remove any bugs and
tar before waxing the vehicle. Use
cleaning fluid or alcohol with a
clean cloth to remove bugs. Use tar
remover to remove any tar spots.

During winter months, it is
especially important to wash the
vehicle on a regular basis. Large
quantities of dirt and road salt are
difficult to remove, and they also
cause damage to the vehicle.
Remove or lower any exterior
accessories, such as antennas,
before entering a car wash.

Remove particles such as bird
droppings, tree sap, insect remains,
tar spots, road salt and industrial
fallout immediately.

After washing, apply the brakes
several times to dry them.

31CMCen 3/25/99 3:45 PM Page 211

Maintenance and care

212

Repairing paint chips

Minor scratches or paint damage
from road debris may be repaired
with touch-up paint, paint repair
foil or aerosol spray from the Ford
accessories line. Observe the
application instructions on the
products.

Cleaning the wheels

Wash the wheels with the same
detergent you use to clean the
body of your vehicle. Do not use
acid-based wheel cleaners, steel
wool, fuel or strong detergents.
Never use abrasives that will
damage the finish of special wheel
surfaces. Use a tar remover to
remove grease and tar.

31CMCen 3/25/99 3:45 PM Page 212

Maintenance and care

213

Cleaning the engine

Engines are more efficient when
they are clean because grease and
dirt buildup act as insulators and
keep the engine warmer than
normal. Follow these guidelines to
clean your engine:

• Take care when using a power
washer to clean the engine. The
high pressure fluid could penetrate
the sealed parts and cause damage.

• Do not spray with cold water, to
avoid cracking the engine block.

• Cover the alternator to prevent
water damage when cleaning the
engine.

• Never wash or rinse the engine
while it is running; water in the
running engine may cause internal
damage.

31CMCen 3/25/99 3:45 PM Page 213