CORROSION PREVENTION AND APPEARANCE CARE
Protecting your Toyota from
corrosion
Toyota, through the diligent research, design
and use of the most advanced technology
available, helps prevent corrosion and pro-
vides you with the finest quality vehicle con-
struction. Now, it is up to you. Proper care
of your Toyota can help ensure long-term cor-
rosion prevention.
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 minimise corrosion.
D High pressure water or steam is effective
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 al-
lowed to clog with dirt as trapped water
in these areas can cause corrosion.
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.
D Chipping of paint, or undercoating caused
by minor accidents or by stones and gravel.
Care is especially important if you live in
particular areas or operate your vehicle
under certain environmental conditions:
NOTICE
Vehicles with the sports body kit:
D Road salt or dust control chemicals will
accelerate corrosion, as will the presence
of salt in the air near the sea-coast or in
areas of industrial pollution.
D Avoid directing high pressure water
or steam where the sports body kit
parts meet the vehicle body parts.
Doing so may damage the sports body
kit parts.
D High humidity accelerates corrosion es-
pecially when temperatures range just
above the freezing point.
D Wash the underside of the vehicle tho-
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.
roughly when winter is over.
See “Washing and waxing your Toyota” on
page 239 in this Section for more tips.
Check the condition of your vehicle’s
paint and trim. If you find any chips or
scratches in the paint, touch them up immedi-
ately to prevent corrosion from starting. If the
chips or scratches have gone through to bare
metal, have a qualified body shop make the
repair.
D High ambient temperatures can cause
corrosion to those components of the ve-
hicle which do not dry quickly due to lack
of proper ventilation.
The above signifies the necessity to keep
your vehicle, particularly the underside, as
clean as possible and to repair any damage
to paint or protective coatings as soon as
possible.
Check the interior of your vehicle. Water
and dirt can accumulate under the floor mats
and could cause corrosion. Occasionally
check under the mats to make sure the area
is dry. Be particularly careful when transport-
ing chemicals, cleansers, fertilisers, salt,
etc.; these should be transported in proper
containers. If a spill or leak should occur, im-
mediately clean and dry the area.
To help prevent corrosion on your Toyota,
follow these guidelines:
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:
238
English 
