So, on the calendar, Spring officially sprung on March 20. With the cooler temps and random snowflakes we’ve continued to see here in the Midwest, some people may beg to differ on that official start date. And while it is not unheard of for us to see snow on Easter or the first few weeks of the Detroit Tigers season, I think we are finally turning the corner toward a beautiful Spring (gosh I hope I did not just jinx us!). That makes now the perfect time to wash away the winter grime and salt residue and get your Bronco ready for a fresh start on the trails.
Sure, your Bronco is meant to get dirty — whether you’re maneuvering in the mud, tackling trails, or steering through snowy, salty roads. And while it will look great with some mud and dust, you’ll want to remove that to avoid buildup and keep the vehicle in great condition. Ford recommends best practices and products to protect your Bronco in the owner’s manual. We’ve recapped them here to help make it easy for you to get that spring cleaning started.
Materials and Products to Use
If you’re washing your Bronco at home by hand, here are some essential items you’ll want to gather before starting to clean the exterior.
- Hose. You can use a pressure washer if you keep the psi to 2,000 or less, use a 40-degree wide spray pattern, and keep the nozzle 12 inches from the vehicle and at a 90-degree angle. Avoid using a pressure washer on a soft top.
- Bucket
- Towels or a mitt for washing the surface
- Wheel cleaner
- Large brush (soft bristles)
- Car wash/car shampoo
- Wax
For best results, Ford recommends using the following products (or products of equivalent quality) to achieve optimal exterior cleaning. For additional information and assistance, we recommend that you contact an authorized dealer. To discover tips for keeping your Bronco Interior clean, click here.
AND DON’T FORGET ABOUT BLING SAUCE!
This line of interior and exterior care products is very popular with Bronco Nation members. From the Leather Sauce™ and Wheel Sauce™ to the Topless Sauce™ and Trim Sauce™, these easy-to-use sprays can help keep your Bronco looking awesome on and off the trails. Find your sauce now in the Bronco Nation gear store. (And remember, you’ll save 10% with your everyday member discount!)
A FEW EXTERIOR CLEANING PRECAUTIONS
- Immediately remove fuel spills, bird droppings, insect deposits, sap, and road tar when they appear on your Bronco exterior surface. to protect. These items may cause damage to your Bronco’s paintwork and/or trim over time.
- Regularly wash the underbody after off-roading and to remove winter salt. Removing the dirt and debris from your Bronco slows down corrosion and, just as necessary, lets you see if anything was damaged on the trails.
- If taking our Bronco through a car wash, always remove any exterior accessories before entering (antennas, for example).
CLEANING HEADLIGHTS AND TAILLIGHTS
- As with any part of the vehicle, take care not to scrape the lamps.
- Do not wipe dirt off the lamps when they are dry, this could cause scratching.
CLEANING WINDSHIELD, HARDTOP WINDOWS, AND WIPERS
- Clean the windows with a non-abrasive glass cleaner.
- Do not use chemicals or corrosive products, as they can compromise surfaces and damage critical systems of your vehicle.
- When cleaning the interior of the windshield, avoid getting any glass cleaner on the instrument panel or door panels. Wipe any glass cleaner off these surfaces immediately.
- If you apply decals to the inside of your hardtop heated rear window, don’t use a razor to remove them. You can cause damage not covered by warranty.
- Clean the wiper blades with washer fluid or water applied with a soft sponge or cloth.
CLEANING CHROME, ALUMINIUM OR STAINLESS STEEL
Ford recommends that you only use a car shampoo, a soft cloth and water on bumpers and other chrome, aluminum, or stainless-steel parts.
- Rinse the area well after cleaning.
- Do not use abrasive materials, for example steel wool or plastic pads, as they can scratch these surfaces.
- Do not use chrome cleaner, metal cleaner or polish on wheels or wheel covers.
For additional information and assistance, contact an authorized dealer.
CLEANING WHEELS
Only use a recommended wheel and tire cleaner to clean the wheels. Using non-recommended cleaners, harsh acidic cleaning products, chrome wheel cleaners or abrasive materials could damage wheel rims and covers. For additional information and assistance, contact an authorized dealer.
- Do not clean hot wheel rims, wheel covers and wheel ornaments. Let your wheels cool before applying any cleaning chemicals to rims, tires, and wheel ornaments.
- Use a sponge to remove heavy deposits of dirt and brake dust.
- Rinse well after cleaning.
- If you plan to park your Bronco for an extended period after cleaning the wheels, drive it for few minutes after washing before parking. This will help reduce the risk of corrosion of the brake discs, brake pads and linings.
Note: Failure to properly clean the stainless-steel lug nuts may result in a white, hazy finish, pitting, or an orange/brown rust appearance. Such damage is not covered by your vehicle warranty.
CLEANING THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT
Note: If you are not familiar with the parts around the engine, do not wash the engine compartment. Avoid frequent engine washes.
When washing the engine compartment, use a vacuum cleaner to remove debris from the screen area below the windshield. Use only an approved engine shampoo and degreaser, following the manufacturer's instructions for proper use.
- Ensure the engine is cold; never wash or rinse the engine while it is hot or running.
- Spray an approved engine shampoo and degreaser on all parts that require cleaning and rinse with water.
- Never wash or rinse any ignition coil, spark plug wire or spark plug well.
- Cover the battery, power distribution box, and air filter assembly to prevent water damage.
Note: If your vehicle has an engine cover, remove the cover before application of shampoo and degreaser.
CLEANING STRIPES OR GRAPHICS
If you have graphics on your Bronco or add your own decals, Ford recommends washing your vehicle by hand. However, pressure washing may be used under the following conditions:
- Use a spray with a minimum of 40 ° wide spray angle pattern.
- Keep the nozzle 12 in (30 cm) and at a 90 ° angle to your vehicle.
- Do not use water pressure higher than 1,000 psi (6,895 kPa).
- Do not use water hotter than 73 °F (23 °C).
Ford recommends that you always hand wash your vehicle if you have vinyl stripes and only use car care products specifically formulated to clean and maintain vinyl wraps and satin-painted surfaces.
- Wipe the surface with a soft, damp cloth and a mild soap and water solution.
- Rinse and dry the area with a clean, soft cloth.
A Few Important Notes:
- Immediately clean off fuel spills, then hand wash the affected area. Allowing the spill to stay on vinyl or matte paint for too long degrades the surface of each.
- For heavy accumulation of debris or dirt, clean with a soft sponge and warm soapy water as needed.
For additional information and assistance, we recommend that you contact an authorized dealer.
CLEANING CAMERA LENSES AND SENSORS
Use cold to lukewarm water and a soft cloth to clean the camera lens and sensors.
Note: Do not pressure wash camera lens and sensors.
CLEANING THE HARD TOP
Ford recommends that you only clean the hard top in the following way:
- Use a sponge to remove dust and loose dirt on the hard top surface.
- Wipe the surface with a soft, damp cloth and a mild soap and water solution. Dry the area with a clean, soft cloth.
- Make sure the surface of your hard top is dry before applying a small amount of conditioner or spray wax.
A Few Important Notes:
- Test any conditioner or spray wax on an inconspicuous area before applying broadly.
- Do not use alcohol containing cleaner or any type of solvent on the hard top surface.
- Do not use power tools, paste wax or polish on the hard top surface.
- Do not use chemical solvents or strong detergents when cleaning the hard top. If any chemical solvent gets on the hard top surface, remove it immediately from the surface to avoid unrepairable damage.
For additional information and assistance, we recommend that you contact an authorized dealer.
CLEANING THE SOFT TOP
Clean with a soft bristle brush. Use only a high-quality convertible top cleaner and protectant. Avoid using a pressure washer.
CLEANING THE UNDERBODY
Regularly clean the underside of your vehicle using water. Keep body and door drain holes free of debris or foreign material.
WAXING YOUR VEHICLE
Ford recommends waxing the high gloss painted (and pre-washed!) surfaces of your Bronco one to two times a year.
- Use an approved quality non-abrasive wax, always following the manufacturer's instructions to apply and remove the wax.
- When washing and waxing, park your vehicle in a shaded area out of direct sunlight.
- Avoid waxing unpainted or low-gloss black colored parts, as they will discolor over time.
For additional information and assistance, we recommend that you contact an authorized dealer.
REPAIRING MINOR PAINT DAMAGE
Before repairing minor paint damage, use a cleaner to remove particles such as bird droppings, tree sap, insect deposits, tar spots, road salt and industrial fallout. Authorized dealers have touch-up paint to match your vehicle's color, so contact a dealer near you to identify your vehicle color code. To learn more about touch-up paint pens, read this article.
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