542 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 Automatic car washes
lBefore 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.
lBrushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle
surface, parts( wheel, etc.) and harm your vehicle’ s paint. lRear spoiler( if equipped) may not be washable in some automatic car washes. There may also be an increased risk of damage to vehicle.
lWhen using an automatic car
washes, etc. the shift position needs to be held in N, refer to
P. 244.
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 smart key system.( �P. 175)
lIf the electronic key is inside the
vehicle and a door handle becomes wet during a car wash, a
buzzer may sound outside the vehicle and“ Key Detected in Vehicle” may be shown on the
multi-information display. To turn off the alarm, lock all the doors.
nWheels and wheel ornaments
lRemove any dirt immediately by using a neutral detergent.
lWash detergent off with water immediately after use.
lTo protect the paint from damage, make sure to observe the following precautions.
• Do not use acidic, alkaline or
abrasive detergent
• Do not use hard brushes