Cleaning And Protecting The Vehicle Exterior; Automatic Car Washes; High Pressure Car Washes; When Using A Car Wash - Toyota RAV4 Hybrid 2018 Service Manual

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7-1. 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 thoroughly
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

●
Before washing the vehicle:
• Fold the mirrors
• Turn off the power back door (if equipped)
Start washing from the front of the vehicle. Make sure to extend the mirrors
before driving.
●
Brushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle surface and
harm your vehicle's paint.
●
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.
■

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.)
●
If the electronic key is inside the vehicle and a door handle becomes wet
during a car wash, a buzzer will sound outside the vehicle. To turn off the
alarm, lock all the doors.
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