Get Maintenanceandcare -> 4-1. Maintenance and care Guide for Toyota Corolla 4 Door Ninth Generation (2007-2012)

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

chamois.

● 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.

■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 on your vehicle is closed

properly.

■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.

■Bumpers

Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.

290

4-1. Maintenance and care

■To prevent deterioration and body corrosion

●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 or insect 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 benzene and gasoline are spilled on the paint surface

●If the paint is chipped or scratched, have it repaired immediately.

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.

4

NOTICE

■To protect your vehicle’s painted surfaces

Do not use organic cleaners such as benzene or gasoline.

■If the windshield washer nozzle become blocked

Contact your Toyota dealer. Do not try to clear it with a pin or other object.

This may damage the nozzle.

■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 surfaces of the lights. Wax may cause damage to

the lenses.

291

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.

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

ing moisture. Allow the leather to dry in a shaded ventilated

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.

292

4-1. Maintenance and care

■Cleaning the inside of the rear window

Do not use glass cleaner to clean the rear window, as this may cause dam-

age to the rear window defogger heater wires or antenna. Use a cloth damp-

ened with lukewarm water to gently wipe the window clean. Wipe the

window in strokes running parallel to the heater wires or antenna.

■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. Excellent results are obtained by keeping the carpet as dry as possi-

ble.

■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.

4

CAUTION

■Water in the vehicle

●Be careful not to splash or spill liquid on the floor.

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

(P. 81)

Electrical malfunction may cause the airbags to deploy or not function

properly, resulting in death or severe injury.

293

4-1. Maintenance and care

NOTICE

■Cleaning detergents

Do not use organic substances such as benzene or gasoline, acidic or alka-

line solutions, dye, bleach or other detergent. Doing so may discolor the

vehicle interior or cause streaks or damage to painted surfaces.

■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.

●Do not place items made of vinyl, plastic, or that contain wax, on the

upholstery, 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

Be careful not to scratch or damage the heater wires or antenna.

294

Maintenanceandcare -> 4-1. Maintenance and care for Your Toyota Corolla 4 Door Ninth Generation (2007-2012)

Related Topics

Maintenanceandcare

Popular Owner Manuals

Latest Owner Manuals