450 7-1 . Maintenance and care
Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior
7-1 . Maintenance and care
Perform the following to protect the vehicle and maintain it in prime condition :
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 .
■ Self-restoring coat The vehicle body has a self-restoring coating 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 temperature . 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 contain abrasives .
■ Automatic car washes
● Before washing the vehicle :
• Fold the mirrors
• Turn off the power back door ( if equipped )
Start washing from the front of the vehicle . Make sure to extend the mirrors before driving .
●Brushes used in automatic car
washes may scratch the vehicle surface , parts ( wheel , etc .) 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 .
●When the shift position needs to be held in N , refer to P . 239 .
■ 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 .
■ Note for a smart key system
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 batterysaving mode to disable the smart key system . ( �P . 182 )