490 7-1. Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior
7-1. Maintenance and care
Perform cleaning in a manner appropriate to each component and its material.
Cleaning instructions
• 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.
n Self-restoring coat
The vehicle body has a self-restoring coating that is resistant to small surface scratches caused in a car wash, etc.
lThe coating lasts for 5 to 8 years from when the vehicle is delivered from the plant.
lThe restoration time differs
depending on the depth of the scratch and outside temperature.
The restoration time may become shorter when the coating is warmed by applying warm water.
lDeep scratches caused by keys, coins, etc., cannot be restored.
lDo not use wax that contain abrasives.
n Automatic car washes
lBefore washing the vehicle:
• Fold the mirrors
• Turn off the power back door( if equipped)
Start washing from the front of the vehicle. Extend the mirrors before driving.
lBrushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle
surface, parts( wheel, etc.) and harm your vehicle’ s paint.
lRear spoiler may not be washable
in some automatic car washes. There may also be an increased
risk of damage to vehicle.
lWhen using an automatic carwashes, etc. the shift position
needs to be held in N, refer to P. 229.
nHigh 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.
nNote for a smart key system
lIf 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