Toyota RAV4 EE Owner's Manual page 498

488
CORROSION PREVENTION AND APPEARANCE CARE
Hand−washing your Toyota
Work in the shade and wait until the
vehicle body is not warm to the touch.
CAUTION
When cleaning under floor or chas-
D
sis, be careful not to injure your
hands.
Exhaust gases cause the exhaust
D
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 ex-
haust pipe can cause burns.
NOTICE
When the front wiper arms need to be
lifted away from the windshield to
wash the vehicle, raise the arm on
the driver side first. Conversely, when
returning the wipers to their original
positions, fold down the arm on the
front passenger side first. Failure to
perform the operations in the correct
order results in damage.
1. Rinse off loose dirt with a hose. Re-
move any mud or road salt from the
underside of the vehicle or the wheel
wells.
2. Wash with a mild car−wash soap,
mixed according to the manufacturer's
instructions. Use a soft cotton mitt and
keep it wet by dipping it frequently into
the wash water. Do not rub hard—let
the soap and water remove the dirt.
RAV4_EE
Plastic wheel ornaments:
wheel ornaments are damaged easily by
organic substances. If any organic sub-
stances splash an ornament, be sure to
wash them off with water and check if the
ornament is damaged.
Aluminum wheels: Remove any dirt imme-
diately 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 de-
tergent 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 immedi-
ately after use.
NOTICE
z Do not use corrosive chemical−
based cleaners on your wheels.
(Example: hydrofluoric acid)
z Do not use steam cleaners or the
chemicals therein to clean your
wheels.
z Do not use scouring pads, wire
brushes, or coarse abrasives to
clean your wheels.
Plastic bumpers: Wash carefully. Do not
scrub with abrasive cleaners. The bumper
faces are soft.
Exterior lights: Wash carefully. Do not use
organic substances or scrub them with a
hard brush. This may damage the sur-
faces of the lights.
Road tar: Remove with turpentine or
cleaners that are marked safe for painted
surfaces.
Finish
The plastic