Toyota RAV4 EE Owner's Manual page 499

CORROSION PREVENTION AND APPEARANCE CARE
3. Rinse thoroughly—dried
cause streaking. In hot weather you
may need to rinse each section right
after you wash it.
4. To prevent water spots, dry the vehicle
using a clean soft cotton towel. Do not
rub or press hard—you might scratch
the paint.
NOTICE
z Do not use organic substances
(gasoline, kerosene,
strong solvents), which may be tox-
ic or cause damage.
z Do not scrub any part of the ve-
hicle with a hard brush, which may
cause damage.
Automatic car wash
Your vehicle may be washed in an auto-
matic car wash, but remember that the
paint can be scratched by some types of
brushes, unfiltered washing water, or the
washing process itself. Scratching reduces
paint durability and gloss, especially on
darker colors. The manager of the car
wash should be able to advise you wheth-
er the process is safe for the paint on
your vehicle.
Vehicles equipped with the raindrop detec-
tion type windshield wipers—
Turn the wipers off before washing the
vehicle. For details, see "Windshield wip-
ers and washer (raindrop detection type)"
on page 189.
NOTICE
z To prevent damage to the antenna,
make sure it is removed before
driving your Toyota through an au-
tomatic car wash.
z Before driving, ensure that the an-
tenna is installed.
RAV4_EE
soap can
z When the antenna is removed, 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.
Waxing your Toyota
Polishing and waxing is recommended
to maintain the original beauty of your
Toyota's finish.
Apply wax once a month or if the vehicle
benzine or
surface does not repel water well.
1. Always wash and dry the vehicle be-
fore you begin waxing, even if you are
using a combined cleaner and wax.
2. Use a good quality polish and wax. If
the finish has become extremely weath-
ered, use a car−cleaning polish, fol-
lowed by a separate wax. Carefully fol-
low the manufacturer's instructions and
precautions. Be sure to polish and wax
the chrome trim as well as the paint.
Windshield washer nozzles: Make sure
that the nozzles do not become blocked
when waxing.
blocked, contact authorized Toyota dealer
or repairer, or another duly qualified and
equipped professional, to have the vehicle
serviced.
If a nozzle becomes blocked, do not
try to clear it with a pin or other
object. The nozzle will be damaged.
Exterior lights: Do not apply wax on the
surfaces of the lights. Wax may cause
damage to the lenses. If you accidentally
put wax on the light surfaces, wipe or
wash it off.
3. Wax the vehicle again when water
does not bead but remains on the sur-
face in large patches.
489
If a nozzle becomes
NOTICE
Finish