2001 Cadillac Catera Owners Manual - Files

Finish DamageAny stone chips, fractures or deep scratches in the finishshould be repaired right away. Bare metal will corrodequickly and may develop into a major repair expense.Minor chips and scratches can be repaired with touch-upmaterials available from your dealer or other serviceoutlets. Larger areas of finish damage can be correctedin your dealer’s body and paint shop.Underbody MaintenanceChemicals used for ice and snow removal and dustcontrol can collect on the underbody. If these are notremoved, accelerated corrosion (rust) can occur onthe underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame, floorpan and exhaust system even though they havecorrosion protection.At least every spring, flush these materials from theunderbody with plain water. Clean any areas where mudand other debris can collect. Dirt packed in closed areasof the frame should be loosened before being flushed.Your dealer or an underbody car washing system cando this for you.Chemical Paint SpottingSome weather and atmospheric conditions can create achemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall upon andattack painted surfaces on your vehicle. This damagecan take two forms: blotchy, ringlet-shapeddiscolorations, and small irregular dark spots etched intothe paint surface.Although no defect in the paint job causes this, Cadillacwill repair, at no charge to the owner, the surfaces ofnew vehicles damaged by this fallout condition within12 months or 12,000 miles (20 000 km) of purchase,whichever occurs first.6-53