Working from top to bottom, liberally apply water to the vehicle body, wheel wells and underside of the vehicle to remove any dirt and dust.
Wash the vehicle body using a sponge or soft cloth, such as a chamois.
For hard-to-remove marks, use car wash soap and rinse thoroughly with water.
Wipe away any water.
Wax the vehicle when the waterproof coating deteriorates.
If water does not bead on a clean surface, apply wax when the vehicle body is cool.
Automatic car washes
Fold the mirrors before washing the vehicle. Start washing from the front of the vehicle. Make sure to extend the mirrors before driving.
Brushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle surface and harm your vehicle's paint.
Vehicles with a rear spoiler: In certain automatic car washes, the rear spoiler may interfere with machine operation. This may prevent the vehicle from being cleaned properly or result in damage to the rear spoiler.
High pressure car washes
As water may enter the cabin, do not bring the nozzle tip near the gaps around the doors or perimeter of the windows, or spray these areas continu- ously.
6-1. Maintenance and care
When using a car wash (vehicles with a smart key system)
415
If the door handle becomes wet while the electronic key is within the effective range, the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. In that case, follow the fol- lowing correction procedures to wash the vehicle:
Place the key in a position 6 ft. (2 m) or more separate from the vehicle while the vehicle is being washed. (Take care to ensure that the key is not stolen.)
Set the electronic key to battery-saving mode to disable the smart key sys- tem. (P. 156)
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 pre- cautions.
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 driv- ing or parking in hot weather
Bumpers
Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.
Plated portions
If dirt cannot be removed, clean the parts as follows:
Use a soft cloth dampened with an approximately 5% solution of neutral detergent and water to clean the dirt off.
Wipe the surface with a dry, soft cloth to remove any remaining moisture.
To remove oily deposits, use alcohol wet wipes or a similar product.
416 6-1. Maintenance and care
NOTICE
To prevent paint deterioration and corrosion on the body and compo- nents (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
Wash carefully. Do not use organic substances or scrub with a hard brush. This may damage the surfaces of the lights.
Do not apply wax to the surfaces of the lights. Wax may cause damage to the lenses.
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
Keep the cleaning nozzle at least 11.9 in. (30 cm) away from the vehicle body. Otherwise resin section, such as moldings and bumpers, may be deformed and damaged. Also, do not continuously hold the nozzle in the same place.
Do not spray the lower part of the windshield continuously.
If water enters the air conditioning system intake located near the lower part of the windshield, the air conditioning system may not operate cor- rectly.
6-1. Maintenance and care
417
Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner. Wipe dirty surfaces
with a cloth dampened with lukewarm water.
If dirt cannot be removed, 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.
Remove dirt using a soft cloth or synthetic chamois dampened in a baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) solution.
Use a solution of approximately 9% baking soda dissolved in water.
Wipe the surface with a dry, soft cloth to remove any remaining moisture.
Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner.
Wipe off any excess dirt and dust with a soft cloth dampened with diluted detergent.
Use a diluted water solution of approximately 5% neutral wool detergent.
Wring out any excess water from the cloth and thoroughly wipe off all remaining traces of detergent.
Wipe the surface with a dry, soft cloth to remove any remaining moisture. Allow the leather to dry in a shaded and ventilated area.
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.
418 6-1. Maintenance and care
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 keep- ing 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.
6-1. Maintenance and care
419
NOTICE
Cleaning detergents
Do not use the following types of detergent, as they may discolor the vehi- cle interior or cause streaks or damage to painted surfaces:
Areas other than the seats and steering wheel: Organic substances such as benzene or gasoline, alkaline or acidic solutions, dye, and bleach
Seats: Alkaline or acidic solutions, such as thinner, benzene, and alco- hol
Steering wheel: Organic substances, such as thinner, and cleaner that contains 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:
Remove any dust or dirt from leather surfaces immediately.
Do not expose the vehicle to direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Park the vehicle in the shade, especially during summer.
Do not place items made of vinyl, plastic, or containing wax on the uphol- stery, as they may stick to the leather surface if the vehicle interior heats up significantly.
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. (P. 244)
Cleaning the inside of the rear window
Do not use glass cleaner to clean the rear window, as this may cause damage to the rear window defogger heater wires or antenna. Use a cloth dampened with lukewarm water to gently wipe the window clean. Wipe the window in strokes running parallel to the heater wires or antenna.
Be careful not to scratch or damage the heater wires or antenna.