2000 Cadillac Catera Owners Manual

Sheet Metal DamageIf your vehicle is damaged and requires sheet metalrepair or replacement, make sure the body repair shopapplies anti-corrosion material to the parts repaired orreplaced to restore corrosion protection.Original manufacturer replacement parts will providethe corrosion protection while maintaining the warranty.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 arenot removed, accelerated corrosion (rust) can occuron the underbody parts such as fuel lines, frame,floor pan 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 can dothis for you.Chemical Paint SpottingSome weather and atmospheric conditions can createa chemical fallout. Airborne pollutants can fall uponand attack painted surfaces on your vehicle. Thisdamage can 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