Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle exterior
Perform the following to protect the vehicle and maintain it in
prime condition:
■Automatic car washes
- Fold the mirrors and remove the antenna before washing the vehicle.
Start
washing from the front of the vehicle. Make sure to re-install the antenna
and extend the mirrors before driving.
- Brushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle surface and
harm your vehicle's paint.
■High pressure car washes
- Do not allow the nozzles of the car wash to come within close proximity
of
the windows.
- Before using the car wash, check that the fuel filler door on your
vehicle is
closed properly.
■Aluminum wheels (if equipped)
- Remove any dirt immediately by using a neutral detergent.
- Wash detergent off with water immediately after use.
- To protect the paint from damage, make sure to observe the following
precautions.
- Do not use acidic, alkaline or abrasive detergent
- Do not use hard brushes
- Do not use detergent on the wheels when they are hot, such as after
driving
or parking in hot weather
■Bumpers
Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.
| WARNING ■When washing the vehicle
Do not apply water to the inside of the engine compartment. Doing so may
cause the electrical components, etc., to catch fire.
■Precautions regarding the exhaust pipe
Exhaust gases cause the exhaust pipe to become quite hot.
When washing the vehicle, be careful not to touch the pipe until it has
cooled sufficiently, as touching hot exhaust pipe can cause burns. |
| NOTICE ■To prevent paint deterioration and corrosion on
the body and components
(aluminum wheels, etc.)
- Wash the vehicle immediately in the following cases:
- After driving near the sea coast
- After driving on salted roads
- If coal tar or tree sap is present on the paint surface
- If dead insects, insect droppings or bird droppings are
present on the
paint surface
- After driving in an area contaminated with soot, oily smoke,
mine dust,
iron powder or chemical substances
- If the vehicle becomes heavily soiled with dust or mud
- If liquids such as benzene and gasoline are spilled on the
paint surface
- If the paint is chipped or scratched, have it repaired
immediately.
- To prevent the wheels from corroding, remove any dirt and store
in a place
with low humidity when storing the wheels.
■Cleaning the exterior lights
■Antenna installation and removal precautions
- Before driving, ensure that the antenna is installed.
- When the antenna is removed, such as before entering an
automatic car
wash, make sure to store it in a suitable place so as not to lose
it. Also,
before driving, make sure to reinstall the antenna in its original
position.
■When using a high pressure car wash
Do not bring the nozzle tip close to boots (rubber or resin manufactured
cover), connectors or the following parts. The parts may be damaged if
they
come into contact with high-pressure water.
- Traction related parts
- Steering parts
- Suspension parts
- Brake parts
■Cleaning the high mounted stoplight and cargo lamps
When using high-pressured car washers, the tip of the nozzle should be
at
least 20 in. (50 cm) from the car body. Water can seep lamp housing or
the
vehicle cabin if the nozzle is closer to the car body. |
Cleaning and protecting
the vehicle interior
The following procedures will help protect your vehicle's interior
and keep it in top condition:
Protecting the vehicle interior
Cleaning the leather areas
Cleaning the synthetic leather areas
- Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner.
- Wipe it off with a soft cloth dampened with neutral detergent diluted
to approximately 1%.
- Wring out any excess water from the cloth and thoroughly wipe off
remaining traces of detergent and water.
■Caring for leather areas
Toyota recommends cleaning the interior of the vehicle at least twice a year
to
maintain the quality of the vehicle's interior.
■Shampooing the carpets
There are several commercial foaming-type cleaners available. Use a sponge
or brush to apply the foam. Rub in overlapping circles. Do not use water.
Wipe dirty surfaces and let them dry. Excellent results are obtained by keeping
the carpet as dry as possible.
■Seat belts
Clean with mild soap and lukewarm water using a cloth or sponge. Also
check the belts periodically for excessive wear, fraying or cuts.
■When cleaning the carpeted portions of the console box, etc.
If a strong adhesive tape is used, there is a possibility that the surface
of the
carpet could be damaged.
| WARNING ■Water in the vehicle
- Do not splash or spill liquid in the vehicle.
Doing so may cause electrical components, etc., to malfunction or
catch
fire.
- Do not get any of the SRS components or wiring in the vehicle
interior wet.
An electrical malfunction may cause the airbags to deploy or not
function
properly, resulting in death or serious injury.
■Cleaning the interior (especially instrument panel)
Do not use polish wax or polish cleaner. The instrument panel may
reflect
off the windshield, obstructing the driver's view and leading to an
accident,
resulting in death or serious injury. |
| NOTICE ■Cleaning detergents
- Do not use the following types of detergent, as they may
discolor the vehicle
interior or cause streaks or damage to painted surfaces:
- Non-seat portions: Organic substances such as benzene or
gasoline,
alkaline or acidic solutions, dye, and bleach
- Seats: Alkaline or acidic solutions, such as thinner,
benzene, and alcohol
- Do not use polish wax or polish cleaner. The instrument panel's
or other
interior part's painted surface may be damaged.
■Preventing damage to leather surfaces
Observe the following precautions to avoid damage to and deterioration
of
leather surfaces:
■Water on the floor
Do not wash the vehicle floor with water.
Vehicle systems such as the audio system may be damaged if water comes
into contact with electrical components such as the audio system above
or
under the floor of the vehicle. Water may also cause the body to rust.
■When cleaning the inside of the windshield (vehicles with Toyota
Safety Sense P)
Do not allow glass cleaner to contact the lens. Also, do not touch the
lens.
■Cleaning the inside of the back window
- Do not use glass cleaner to clean the back window, as this may
cause
damage to the back window defogger heater wires. Use a cloth
dampened
with lukewarm water to gently wipe the window clean. Wipe the window
in
strokes running parallel to the heater wires.
- Be careful not to scratch or damage the heater wires.
|
|
