Cleaning And Protecting The Vehicle Exterior - Lexus RX350 Manual

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6-1. Maintenance and care
6-1.Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the
vehicle exterior
Perform cleaning in a manner
appropriate to each component
and its material.
Cleaning instructions
 Working from top to bottom, liber-
ally 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 water-
proof coating deteriorates.
If water does not bead on a clean surface,
apply wax when the vehicle body is cool.
■ Self-restoring coat
The vehicle body has a self-restoring coat-
ing that is resistant to small surface
scratches caused in a car wash etc.
The coating lasts for 5 to 8 years from
●
when the vehicle is delivered from the
plant.
● The restoration time differs depending on
the depth of the scratch and outside tem-
perature.
The restoration time may become
shorter when the coating is warmed by
applying warm water.
● Deep scratches caused by keys, coins,
etc. cannot be restored.
Do not use wax that contains abrasives.
●
Automatic car washes
■
● Before washing the vehicle:
• Fold the mirrors
• Turn off the power back door
Start washing from the front of the vehicle.
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
■
As water may enter the cabin, do not bring
the nozzle tip near the gaps around the
doors or perimeter of the windows, or spray
these areas continuously.
When using a car wash
■
If the door handle becomes wet while the
electronic key is within the effective range,
the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. In
that case, follow the following correction
procedures to wash the vehicle:
Place the key in a position 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.)
Set the electronic key to battery-saving
●
mode to disable the smart access system
with push-button start. (P.114)
■ Aluminum wheels
Remove any dirt immediately by using a
●
neutral detergent.
● Wash detergent off with water immedi-
ately after use.
To protect the paint from damage, make
●
sure to observe the following precau-
tions.
• Do not use acidic, alkaline or abrasive
detergent
• Do not use hard brushes
• Do not use detergent on the wheels when
they are hot, such as after driving or park-
ing in hot weather
■ Bumpers
Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.