Get Maintenance and care -> Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior Guide for Toyota Prius 4 Door Third Generation (2010-2015)

4-1. Maint enanc e and c are

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 and remove the antenna before washing the vehicle.

Start washing from the front of the vehicle. Make sure to re-install the

antenna and extend the mirrors before driving.

●Brushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle surface

and harm your vehicle’s paint.

●Roof antenna, rear spoiler may not be washable in some automatic car

washes. There may also be an increased risk of damage to vehicle.

■High pressure car washes

●Do not allow the nozzles of the car wash to come within close proximity

of the windows.

●Before using the car wash, check that the fuel filler door on your vehicle

is closed properly.

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4-1. Maintenance and care

■When using a car wash

If the door handle becomes wet while the electronic key is within the effec-

tive range, the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. Place the key in a posi-

tion 6 ft. (2 m) or more separate from the vehicle while the vehicle is being

washed. (Take care to ensure that the key is not stolen.)

■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

Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.

4

CAUTION

■When washing the vehicle

Do not apply water to the inside of the engine compartment. Doing so may

cause the electrical components etc. to catch fire.

■Precautions regarding 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.

397

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 coal tar or tree sap is present on the paint surface

• If dead insects, insect droppings or bird droppings are present on the

paint surface

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

iron powder or chemical substances

• If the vehicle becomes heavily soiled with 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.

●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 to the surfaces of the lights.

Wax may cause damage to the lenses.

■Antenna installation and removal precautions

●Before driving, ensure that the antenna is installed.

●When the antenna is removed, such as before entering an automatic car

wash, make sure to store it in a suitable place so as not to lose it. Also,

before driving, make sure to reinstall the antenna in its original position.

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Maintenance and care -> Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior for Your Toyota Prius 4 Door Third Generation (2010-2015)

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