141 4. To prevent water spots, dry the vehicle
using a clean soft cotton towel. Do not rub
or press hardÐyou might scratch the
paint.
Automatic car wash
Your vehicle may be washed in an auto-
matic car wash, but remember that the
paint can be scratched by some type of
brushes, unfiltered washing water, or the
washing process itself. Scratching re-
duces paint durability and gloss, especial-
ly on darker colors. The manager of the
car wash should be able to advise you
whether the process is safe for the paint
on your vehicle.
Waxing your Toyota
Polishing and waxing is recommend-
ed to maintain the original beauty of
your Toyota's finish.
1. Always wash and dry the vehicle be-
fore you begin waxing, even if you are us-
ing 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, followed
by a separate wax. Carefully follow the
manufacturer 's instructions and precau-
tions. Be sure to polish and wax the
chrome trim as well as the paint.3. Wax the vehicle again when water
does not bead but remains on the surface
in large patches.
Always remove the plastic bumpers
if your vehicle is re-painted and
placed in a high heat paint waxing
booth. High temperatures could
damage the bumpers.
NOTICE
CAUTION!
Do not wash the vehicle floor with wa-
ter, or allow water to get onto the floor
when cleaning the vehicle interior or
exterior. Water may get into audio
components or other electrical com-
ponents above or under the floor car-
pet (or mat) and cause a malfunction;
and it may cause body corrosion.
Vinyl interior
The vinyl upholstery may be easily
cleaned with a mild soap or detergent
and water.
First vacuum over the upholstery to remove
loose dirt. Then, using a sponge or soft
cloth, apply the soap solution to the vinyl.
After allowing it to soak in for a few minutes
to loosen the dirt, remove the dirt and wipe
off the soap with a clean damp cloth. If all
the dirt does not come off, repeat the
procedure. Commercial foaming- type vinyl
cleaners are also available which work well.
Follow the manufacturer 's instructions.
Do not use solvent, thinner, gasoline
or window cleaner on the interior.
NOTICE
Carpets
Use a good foam-type shampoo to
clean the carpets.
Cleaning the interior
ProCarManuals.com
151 If you perform maintenance by your-
self, be sure to follow the correct pro-
cedure given in this part.
You should be aware that improper or in-
complete servicing may result in operat-
ing problems.
Performing do-it-yourself maintenance
during the warranty period may affect
your warranty coverage. Read the sepa-
rate Toyota Warranty statement for details
and suggestions.
This part gives instructions only for those
items that are relatively easy for an owner
to perform. As explained in Part 6, there
are still a number of items that must be
done by a qualified technician with special
tools.
For information on tools and parts for do-
it-yourself maintenance, see Parts and
toolsº.
Utmost care should be taken when work-
ing on your vehicle to prevent accidental
injury. Here are a few precautions that you
should be especially careful to observe:
When the engine is running, keep
hands, clothing, and tools away
from the moving fan and engine
drive belts. (Removing rings,
watches, and ties is advisable.)CAUTION
!
Right after driving, the engine
compartmentÐthe engine, radia-
tor, exhaust manifold, power
steering fluid reservoir and spark
plug boots, etc.Ðwill be hot. So
be careful not to touch them. Oil,
fluids and spark plugs may also be
hot.
If the engine is hot, do not remove
the radiator cap or loosen the drain
plugs to prevent burning yourself.
Do not smoke, cause sparks or al-
low open flames around fuel or the
battery. Their fumes are flamable.
Be extremely cautious when work-
ing on the battery. It contains poi-
sonous and corrosive sulfuric
acid.
Do not get under your vehicle with
just the body jack supporting it. Al-
ways use automotive jack stands
or other solid supports.
Be sure that the ignition is off if you
work near the electric cooling fans
or radiator grille. With the ignition
on, the electric cooling fan may au-
tomatically start to run if the air
conditioning is on.Use eye protection whenever you
work on or under your vehicle
where you may be exposed to fly-
ing or falling material, fluid spray,
etc.
Used engine oil contains poten-
tially harmful contaminants which
may cause skin disorders such as
inflammation or skin cancer, so
care should be taken to avoid pro-
longed and repeated contact with
it. To remove used engine oil from
your skin, wash thoroughly with
soap and water.
Do not leave used oil within the
reach of children.
Dispose of used oil and filter only
in a safe and acceptable manner.
Do not dispose of used oil and filter
in household trash, in sewers or
onto the ground. Call your dealer
or a service station for information
concerning recycling or disposal.
Do-it-yourself service
precautions
ProCarManuals.com
