Get CORROSIONPREVENTIONANDAPPEARANCECARE Guide for Toyota 4 Runner SUV Fourth Generation (2003-2009)

07 12.25

SECTION

CORROSION PREVENTION AND

5

APPEARANCE CARE

Protecting your Toyota from corrosion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 414

Washing and waxing your Toyota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 415

Cleaning the interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 417

Rain clearing mirrors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 419

413

07 12.25

Protecting your Toyota from

corrosion

Toyota, through the diligent research, de-

sign and use of the most advanced

technology available, helps prevent corro-

sion and provides you with the finest qual-

ity vehicle construction. Now, it is up to

you. Proper care of your Toyota can help

ensure long−term corrosion prevention.

D Wetness or dampness to certain parts

of your vehicle for an extended period

of time, may cause corrosion even

though other parts of the vehicle may

be dry.

D High pressure water or steam is effec-

tive for cleaning the vehicle’s underside

and wheel housings. Pay particular

attention to these areas as it is difficult

to see all the mud and dirt. It will do

more harm than good to simply wet the

mud and debris without removing. The

lower edge of doors, rocker panels and

frame members have drain holes which

should not be allowed to clog with dirt

as trapped water in these areas can

cause corrosion.

D High ambient temperatures can cause

corrosion to those components of the

vehicle which do not dry quickly due to

lack of proper ventilation.

The most common causes of corrosion

to your vehicle are:

D The accumulation of road salt, dirt and

moisture in hard−to−reach areas under

the vehicle.

The above signifies the necessity to keep

your vehicle, particularly the underside, as

clean as possible and to repair any dam-

age to paint or protective coatings as

soon as possible.

D Wash the underside of the vehicle thor-

D Chipping of paint, or undercoating

caused by minor accidents or by

stones and gravel.

oughly when winter is over.

See “Washing and waxing your Toyota” on

page 415 in this Section for more tips.

To help prevent corrosion on your

Toyota, follow these guidelines:

Care is especially important if you live

in particular areas or operate your ve-

hicle under certain environmental condi-

tions:

Check the condition of your vehicle’s

paint and trim. If you find any chips or

scratches in the paint, touch them up im-

mediately to prevent corrosion from start-

ing. If the chips or scratches have gone

through the bare metal, have a qualified

body shop make the repair.

Wash your vehicle frequently. It is, of

course, necessary to keep your vehicle

clean by regular washing, but to prevent

corrosion, the following points should be

observed:

D Road salt or dust control chemicals will

accelerate corrosion, as will the pres-

ence of salt in the air near the sea−

coast or in areas of industrial pollution.

D If you drive on salted roads in the

winter or if you live near the ocean,

you should hose off the undercarriage

at least once a month to minimize cor-

rosion.

D High humidity accelerates corrosion es-

pecially when temperatures range just

above the freezing point.

414

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Washing and waxing your

Toyota

Check the interior of your vehicle. Wa-

ter and dirt can accumulate under the

floor mats and could cause corrosion. Oc-

casionally check under the mats to make

sure the area is dry. Be particularly care-

ful when transporting chemicals, cleans-

ers, fertilizers, salt, etc; these should be

transported in proper containers. If a spill

or leak should occur, immediately clean

and dry the area.

Washing your Toyota

D 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 a hot ex-

haust pipe can cause burns.

Keep your vehicle clean by regular

washing.

The following cases may cause weakness

to the paint or corrosion to the body and

parts. Wash your vehicle as soon as pos-

sible.

D When driving in a coastal area

1. Rinse off loose dirt with a hose. Re-

move any mud or road salt from the

underside of the vehicle or the wheel

wells.

D When driving on a road sprinkled with

Use mud shields on your wheels. If you

drive on salted or gravel roads, mud

shields help protect your vehicle. Full−size

shields, which come as near to the ground

as possible, are the best. We recommend

that the fittings and the area where the

shields are installed be treated to resist

corrosion. Your Toyota dealer will be

happy to assist in supplying and installing

the shields if they are recommended for

your area.

antifreeze

D When exposed to coal tar, tree sap,

2. Wash with

a

mild car−wash soap,

bird droppings and carcass of an insect

mixed according to the manufacturer’s

instructions. Use a soft cotton mitt and

keep it wet by dipping it frequently into

the wash water. Do not rub hard—let

the soap and water remove the dirt.

D When driving in areas where there is

a lot of smoke, soot, dust, iron dust or

chemical substances

D When the vehicle becomes remarkably

dirty with dust and mud

Fuel filler door: Do not apply water (high−

pressure car wash, for example) at or

near the fuel tank inlet with the fuel filler

door opened. If the water enters the air

vent, you may experience trouble with re-

fueling or rough engine idling.

Hand−washing your Toyota

Work in the shade and wait until the

vehicle body is not warm to the touch.

Keep your vehicle in a well ventilated

garage or a roofed place. Do not park

your vehicle in a damp, poorly venti-

lated garage. If you wash your vehicle in

the garage, or if you drive it covered with

water or snow, your garage may be so

damp as to cause corrosion. Even if your

garage is heated, a wet vehicle can cor-

rode if the ventilation is poor.

CAUTION

Rear height control air suspension: Do not

spray a jet of high−pressure water at the

air suspension unit, especially the air

spring, at an extremely close range. This

may damage the air suspension.

D When cleaning under floor or chas-

sis, be careful not to injure your

hands.

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07 12.25

Plastic wheel ornaments: The plastic

wheel ornaments are damaged easily by

organic substances. If any organic sub-

stances splash an ornament, be sure to

wash them off with water and check if the

ornament is damaged.

Exterior lights: Wash carefully. Do not use

organic substances or scrub them with a

hard brush. This may damage the sur-

faces of the lights.

Automatic car wash

Your vehicle may be washed in an auto-

matic car wash, but remember that the

paint can be scratched by some types of

brushes, unfiltered washing water, or the

washing process itself. Scratching reduces

paint durability and gloss, especially on

darker colors. The manager of the car

wash should be able to advise you wheth-

er the process is safe for the paint on

your vehicle.

Road tar: Remove with turpentine or

cleaners that are marked safe for painted

surfaces.

Aluminum wheels: Use only a mild soap

or neutral detergent.

3. Rinse

thoroughly—dried

soap

can

cause streaking. In hot weather you

may need to rinse each section right

after you wash it.

NOTICE

z Do not use corrosive chemical−

based cleaners on your wheels.

(Example: hydrofluoric acid)

4. To prevent water spots, dry the vehicle

using a clean soft cotton towel. Do not

rub or press hard—you might scratch

the paint.

z Do not use steam cleaners or the

chemicals therein to clean your

wheels.

NOTICE

z Do not use scouring pads, wire

brushes, or coarse abrasives to

clean your wheels.

z Do not use organic substances

(gasoline, kerosene, benzine or

strong solvents), which may be tox-

ic or cause damage.

z Do not use alcohol, solvents, gaso-

line, or other non−neutral deter-

gents, because they may alter the

wheel’s appearance and resistance

to corrosion.

z Do not scrub any part of the ve-

hicle with a hard brush, which may

cause damage.

Plastic bumpers: Wash carefully. Do not

scrub with abrasive cleaners. The bumper

faces are soft.

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Cleaning the interior

Waxing your Toyota

Vinyl interior

CAUTION

Polishing and waxing is recommended

to maintain the original beauty of your

Toyota’s finish.

The vinyl upholstery may be easily

cleaned with a mild soap or detergent

and water.

D Be careful not to splash water or

spill liquid on the floor. This may

prevent the side airbags and curtain

shield airbags from activating cor-

rectly, resulting in serious injury.

Apply wax once a month or if the vehicle

surface does not repel water well.

First vacuum over the upholstery to re-

move loose dirt. Then, using a sponge or

soft cloth, apply the soap solution to the

vinyl. After allowing it to soak in for a few

minutes to loosen the dirt, remove the dirt

and wipe off the soap with a clean damp

cloth. If all the dirt does not come off,

repeat the procedure. Commercial foam-

ing−type vinyl cleaners are also available

which work well. Follow the manufacturer’s

instructions.

1. Always wash and dry the vehicle be-

fore you begin waxing, even if you are

using a combined cleaner and wax.

D Do not wash the vehicle floor with

water, or allow water to get onto

the floor when cleaning the vehicle

interior or exterior. Water may get

into audio components or other

electrical components above or un-

der the floor carpet (or mat) and

2. Use a good quality polish and wax. If

the finish has become extremely weath-

ered, use

a

car−cleaning polish, fol-

lowed by a separate wax. Carefully fol-

low the manufacturer’s instructions and

precautions. Be sure to polish and wax

the chrome trim as well as the paint.

cause

a

malfunction; and it may

cause body corrosion.

NOTICE

Exterior lights: Do not apply wax on the

surfaces of the lights. Wax may cause

damage to the lenses. If you accidentally

put wax on the light surfaces, wipe or

wash it off.

Do not use solvent, thinner, gasoline

or window cleaner on the interior.

3. Wax the vehicle again when water

does not bead but remains on the sur-

face in large patches.

417

07 12.25

Carpets

NOTICE

Use

a

good foam−type shampoo to

z Do not use dye or bleach on the

belts—it may weaken them.

z Do not use organic substances (sol-

vents, kerosene, alcohol, gasoline,

etc.) or alkaline or acidic solutions.

These chemicals can cause discol-

oring, staining or peeling of the

surface.

clean the carpets.

Begin by vacuuming thoroughly to remove

as much dirt as possible. Several types of

foam cleaners are available; some are in

aerosol cans and others are powders or

liquids which you mix with water to pro-

duce a foam. To shampoo the carpets,

use a sponge or brush to apply the foam.

Rub in overlapping circles.

z Do not use the belts until they be-

come dry.

Windows

z If you use cleaners or polishing

agents, make sure their ingredients

do not include the substances men-

tioned above.

The windows may be cleaned with any

household window cleaner.

Do not apply water—the best results are

obtained by keeping the carpet as dry as

possible. Read the shampoo instructions

and follow them closely.

NOTICE

z If you use a liquid car freshener, do

not apill the liquid onto the ve-

hicle’s interior surfaces. It may con-

ingredients mentioned

above. Immediately clean any spill

using the method mentioned above.

z When cleaning the inside of the

rear window, be careful not to

scratch or damage the heater wires

or connectors.

tain

the

Seat belts

The seat belts may be cleaned with

mild soap and water or with lukewarm

water.

z When cleaning the inside of the

rear quarter window, be careful not

to scratch or damage the printed

antenna.

Leather interior

Use a cloth or sponge. As you are clean-

ing, check the belts for excessive wear,

fraying, or cuts.

The leather upholstery may be cleaned

with neutral detergent for wool.

Air conditioning control panel, audio

panel, instrument panel, console panel

and switches

Remove dirt using a soft cloth dampened

with 5% solution of neutral detergent for

wool. Then thoroughly wipe off all traces

of detergent with a clean damp cloth.

Use a soft damp cloth for cleaning.

Soak a clean soft cloth in water or luke-

warm water then lightly wipe off dirt.

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Rain clearing mirrors

After cleaning or whenever any part of the

leather gets wet, dry with a soft clean

cloth. Allow the leather to dry in a venti-

lated shaded area.

On some models, the outside rear view

mirrors have been coated to produce a

“rain clearing” effect. This coating

causes the raindrops to spread, clear-

ing the driver’s rear view when it rains.

z Mildew may develop on soiled leath-

er upholstery. Be especially careful

to avoid oil spots. Try to keep your

upholstery always clean.

Synthetic leather

z Long exposure to direct sunlight

may cause the leather surface to

harden and shrink. Keep your ve-

hicle in a shaded area, especially in

the summer.

It is sufficient to wash the mirrors with

water for day to day care.

D Remove loose dirt using

a

vacuum

cleaner.

The rain clearing effect is reduced in

drizzle and light rain.

D Apply a mild soap solution to the syn-

thetic leather using a sponge or soft

cloth.

In the following cases, the rain clearing

effect will be reduced temporarily, but will

gradually recover.

z The interior of your vehicle is apt

to heat up on hot summer days, so

avoid placing on the upholstery

items made of vinyl or plastic or

containing wax as these tend to

stick to leather when warm.

D Allow the solution to soak in for a few

minutes. Remove the dirt and wipe off

the solution with a clean, damp cloth.

D After wiping dirt off the mirrors

D When the mirrors fog up

NOTICE

D After waxing your vehicle in an auto-

z Improper cleaning of the leather up-

holstery could result in discolor-

ation or staining.

z If a stain should fail to come out

matic car wash

with

a

neutral detergent, apply

a

D After your vehicle has been parked for

a long period in underground parking

lots, etc. where there is no direct sun-

light.

cleaner that does not contain an

organic solvent.

If you have any questions about the

cleaning of your Toyota, your local

Toyota dealer will be pleased to answer

them.

z Never use organic substances such

as benzine, alcohol or gasoline, or

alkaline or acid solutions for clean-

ing the leather as these could

cause discoloring.

z Use of a nylon brush or synthetic

fiber cloth, etc. may scratch the

fine grained surface of the leather.

419

07 12.25

The restoring time depends on the dirt

quantity and dirt types. If the mirror is

exposed to the sunlight 1 or 2 days, the

rain clearing effect will be restored. For

the fast recovery of the rain clearing ef-

fect, rinse the mirror thoroughly after

cleaning it with neutral detergent (which

does not contain silicon and abrasive).

(Some car shampoo or glass cleaner con-

tains silicon or abrasive, read the contents

carefully.)

z Do not use any water repellents as

they can destroy the rain clearing

effect. If any repellent gets stuck on

the surface of the mirrors, wash it

off with neutral detergent, then

rinse thoroughly.

NOTICE

To maintain the rain clearing ability,

and prevent the mirrors from being

scratched, observe the following pre-

cautions.

z Do not use any glass cleaners that

contain compounds.

z If ice should jam the mirror, do not

scrape the mirror. Use a spray de−

icer to free the mirror.

z Wash off any wax stuck to the mir-

rors with neutral detergent and

rinse thoroughly as any wax on the

surface of the mirrors can cause

the rain clearing effect to be lost.

420

CORROSIONPREVENTIONANDAPPEARANCECARE for Your Toyota 4 Runner SUV Fourth Generation (2003-2009)

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