Get Maintenance and care -> Maintenance and care Guide for Toyota Avalon 4 Door Third Generation (2005-2012)

4-1. Maintenance and care

Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior

Perform the following to protect the vehicle and maintain it in prime

condition.

● 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 cham-

ois.

● For hard-to-remove marks, use car wash soap and rinse thor-

oughly 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.

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4-1. Maintenance and care

■Automatic car washes

●Fold the mirrors back before washing the vehicle.

●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 car wash, check that the fuel filler door is closed.

■Aluminum wheels

●Remove any dirt immediately by using a neutral detergent. Do not use

hard brushes or abrasive cleaners. Do not use strong or harsh chemical

cleaners. Use the same mild detergent and wax as used on the paint.

●Do not use detergent on the wheels when they are hot, for example after

driving for long distance in the hot weather.

●Wash detergent from the wheels immediately after use.

■Bumpers and side moldings

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Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.

CAUTION

■Caution about the exhaust pipe

Exhaust gasses 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.

375

4-1. 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 you see coal tar or tree sap on the paint surface

• If you see dead insects, insect droppings or bird droppings on the paint

• After driving in an area contaminated with soot, oily smoke, mine dust,

iron powder or chemical substances

• If the vehicle becomes heavily soiled in dust or mud

• If liquids such as benzine 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 on the surface of the lights. Wax may cause damage to

the lenses.

■When using an automatic car wash

(vehicles equipped with the raindrop detection windshield wipers)

Turn off the wiper switch.

If the wiper switch is in “AUTO”, the wip-

ers may operate and the wiper blades

may be damaged.

AUTO

376

4-1. Maintenance and care

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

Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner. Wipe dirty sur-

faces with a cloth dampened with lukewarm water.

■ Cleaning the leather areas

● Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner.

● Wipe any excess dirt and dust with a soft cloth dampened with

diluted detergent.

Use a diluted water solution of approximately 5% neutral wool deter-

gent.

● Wring out any excess water from the cloth and thoroughly

wipe off all remaining traces of detergent.

4

● Wipe the surface with a dry, soft cloth to remove any remain-

ing moisture. Allow the leather to dry in a shaded and venti-

lated area.

■ Synthetic leather areas

● Remove loose dirt using a vacuum cleaner.

● Apply a mild soap solution to the synthetic leather using a

sponge or soft cloth.

● Allow the solution to soak in for a few minutes. Remove the

dirt and wipe off the solution with a clean, damp cloth.

377

4-1. 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 apply

water. The 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.

CAUTION

■Water in the vehicle

●Do not splash or spill liquid in the vehicle. Doing so may cause electrical

components to malfunction or catch fire.

●Do not get any of the SRS components or wiring in the vehicle interior wet.

(P. 102)

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.

378

4-1. Maintenance and care

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.

• Non-seat portions: Organic substances such as benzine or gasoline,

alkaline or acidic solutions, dye, or bleach.

• Seats: Acidic solutions, such as thinner, benzine, or 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 on 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.

4

●Do not place items made of vinyl, plastic, or that contain 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 under the floor of the vehicle, and

may also cause the body to rust.

■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. 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 or antenna.

379

Maintenance and care -> Maintenance and care for Your Toyota Avalon 4 Door Third Generation (2005-2012)

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