How to Wash Your FUV

All that FUVing in the sun can cause dirt, dust, and pollen to cover your Arcimoto. Here are some tips on washing your FUV:

Roof and Windshield

I tend to wash from the top down - so I start with the roof and windshield. Both are made of polycarbonate. Extremely tough, flexible, and lightweight, but scratches extremely easily.

I use a bucket of warm water with a bit of dawn and fluffy, wet, cotton towels to wash the roof and windshield.

I tend to wash the roof and windshield gently, in one direction, constantly turning the towel over onto clean sections while the hose is running over the roof/windshield to keep it wet. 

Dry with a soft, clean, cotton towel, gently wiping in one direction.

Use a special spray designed for polycarbonate for the windshield and roof like Windshield Cleaner by National Cycle. Never and regular cleaners like alcohol, ammonia, glass cleaner, or any other cleaner or wax. 

At the bottom of the windshield is a gutter with drain tube at the end. Ensure the drain tube is draining and not clogged. I use a plastic coated wire to clean out the tube if it is blocked. Also, ensure the tube isn’t pinched by the clear plastic protector that goes over the inverters, charger, and high voltage connectors. You can remove the protector and cut out a notch for the drain tube if necessary.

The Body

Don’t use a pressure washer. I use dawn soap in a bucket of water with a microfiber mop thing. Use gentle shower nozzle, be careful around the front area of the vehicle near the bottom of your windshield. Avoid getting water near there. If you get an HV light on your dashboard after washing your vehicle, do a Right Side Reset to clear it. If that doesn’t clear it, a hard reset with the right and left side might be required. And if that doesn’t clear it, leave the vehicle in hard reset mode over night, then connect the left side yellow/red wires back and flip your lever back up on the right side.

I avoid polishing/waxing the ABS body panels with vinyl stickers. You don’t want to lift corners of the vinyl. If you have painted ABS panels, follow the recommendations from the paint company.

Wheels

Although the wheels look cool, they are a total PITA to clean. Use a car brush to wash the rear wheel well, along with the wheels. I use a long handled (about 16”) brush that is very soft like the Viking Car Wash Brush. Once a year, we remove the wheels to clean them on a flat surface while greasing the 2 zirks near the front wheels. This is the easiest, and quickest, way to get the wheels completely clean of grease and grime.

Seats and Inside

I tend to use the same towel that was used for the roof and windshield to wipe down the seats, then the inside areas.
Clean out the floorboards last, ensuring all dirt, rocks, and dust is removed. DRY the floorboards before putting mats back in to keep rust at bay.

Mats

You know the car brush used for the rear wheel well and wheels? I use the same brush for the mats. They work amazingly!
Ensure you dry the mats completely before putting back in or you might encourage rust on the floorboards.
See the Accessories and Farkle section for links to products to wash and keep your FUV clean.