Get Corrosion Prevention -> Washing and waxing Guide for Toyota Aurion 4 Door First Generation (2006-2012)

CORROSION PREVENTION AND APPEARANCE CARE

Washing and waxing your

Toyota—

—Washing your Toyota

Use mud shields on your wheels. If you

Keep your vehicle clean by regular wash-

ing.

drive on salted or gravel roads, mud shields

help protect your vehicle. Full-size shields,

which come as near to the ground as pos-

sible, 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 sup-

plying and installing the shields if they are

recommended for your area.

The following cases may cause weakness to

the paint or corrosion to the body and parts.

Wash your vehicle as soon as possible.

D When driving in a coastal area.

D When driving on a road sprinkled with

antifreeze.

D When exposed to coal tar, tree sap, bird

Keep your vehicle in a well ventilated gar-

age or a roofed place. Do not park your

vehicle in a damp, poorly ventilated gar-

age. 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 cor-

rosion. Even if your garage is heated, a wet

vehicle can corrode if the ventilation is poor.

droppings and carcass of an insect.

D When driving in areas where there is a lot

of smoke, soot, dust, iron dust or chemi-

cal substances.

D When the vehicle becomes very dirty with

dust and mud.

Hand-washing your Toyota

Work in the shade and wait until the ve-

hicle body is not warm to the touch.

CAUTION

D When cleaning under floor or chassis,

be careful not to injure your hands.

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 exhaust pipe can cause

burns.

1. Rinse off loose dirt with a hose. Remove

any mud or road salt from the underside

of the vehicle or the wheel wells.

2. Wash with a mild car-wash soap, mixed

according to the manufacturer’s instruc-

tions. 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.

Plastic wheel ornaments: The plastic wheel

ornaments are damaged easily by organic

substances.

239

CORROSION PREVENTION AND APPEARANCE CARE

—Waxing your Toyota

If any organic substances splash an orna-

ment, be sure to wash them off with water

and check if the ornament is damaged.

Polishing and waxing is recommended to

maintain the original beauty of your Toyo-

ta’s finish.

Aluminium wheels: Use only a mild soap or

neutral detergent.

Apply wax once a month or if the vehicle sur-

face does not repel water well.

Plastic bumpers: Wash carefully. Do not

scrub with abrasive cleaners. The bumper

faces are soft.

1. Always wash and dry the vehicle before

you begin waxing, even if you are using

a combined cleaner and wax.

Exterior lights: Wash carefully. Do not use or-

ganic substances or scrub them with a hard

brush. This may damage the surfaces of the

lights.

2. Use a good quality polish and wax. If the

finish has become extremely weathered,

use a car-cleaning polish, followed by a

separate wax. Carefully follow the manu-

facturer’s instructions and precautions.

Be sure to polish and wax the chrome trim

as well as the paint.

Road tar: Remove with turpentine or cleaners

that are marked safe for painted surfaces.

3. Rinse thoroughly—dried soap can cause

streaking. In hot weather you may need

to rinse each section right after you wash

it.

Windshield washer nozzles: Make sure that

the nozzles do not become blocked when

waxing. If a nozzle becomes blocked, contact

your Toyota dealer to have the vehicle ser-

viced.

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.

NOTICE

D If a nozzle becomes blocked, do not

try to clear it with a pin or other ob-

ject. The nozzle will be damaged.

NOTICE

D When hand-washing your Toyota, do

not use organic substances (petrol,

kerosene, benzine or strong sol-

vents), which may be toxic or cause

damage.

D Always remove plastic components

such as bumpers, spoilers, etc. if your

vehicle is re-painted and placed in a

high heat paint waxing booth. High

temperatures could damage the com-

ponents.

D Do not scrub any part of the vehicle

with a hard brush, which may cause

damage.

D Vehicles with the sports body kit:

Avoid polishing the rubber seal be-

tween the sports body kit parts and

the vehicle body parts. Doing so may

damage the seal.

Automatic car wash

Your vehicle may be washed in an automatic

car wash, but remember that the paint can

be scratched by some types of brushes, unfil-

tered washing water, or the washing process

itself. Scratching reduces paint durability and

gloss, especially on darker colours. The man-

ager of the car wash should be able to advise

you whether the process is safe for the paint

on your vehicle.

Exterior lights: Do not apply wax on the sur-

faces of the lights. Wax may cause damage

to the lenses. If you accidentally put wax on

the light surfaces, wipe or wash it off.

3. Wax the vehicle again when water does

not bead but remains on the surface in

large patches.

240

Corrosion Prevention -> Washing and waxing for Your Toyota Aurion 4 Door First Generation (2006-2012)

Related Topics

Corrosion Prevention

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals