1996 TOYOTA SUPRA Owners Manual

135
Before towing, release the parking brake
and put the transmission in neutral
(manual) or
Nº (automatic). The key must
be in ACCº (engine off) or ONº (engine running).
CAUTION!
If the engine is not running, the
power assist for the brakes and
steering will not work so steering
and braking will be much harder
than usual.
If you cannot shift the selector lever
out of Pº position to other positions
even though the brake pedal is de-pressed, use the shift lock override
button as follows:
1. Turn the ignition key to LOCKº
position. Make sure the parking brakeis on.
2. Pry up the cover with a flat-bladed screwdriver or equivalent.3. Insert the screwdriver or equivalent
into the hole to push down the shift
lock override button. You can shift out of Pº position only while pushing thebutton.
4. Shift into Nº position.
5. Insert the cover.
6. Start the engine. For your safety, keep the brake pedal depressed.
Be sure to have the system checked by
your Toyota dealer as soon as possible.
If you cannot shift automatic
transmission selector lever

136Many Toyota dealers can make a new
key if you can give them the key num-
ber. See the suggestion given in Keysº in Chapter 1-2.
If your keys are locked in the vehicle and
you cannot get a duplicate, many Toyota
dealers
can still open the door for you, us-
ing their special tools. If you must break a
window to get in, we suggest breaking the
smallest side window because it is the least expensive to replace. Be extremely cautious to avoid cuts from the glass.
If you lose your keys

Part 5Protecting your Toyota from corrosion
137
CORROSION
PREVENTION AND APPEARANCECARE
Protecting your Toyota from corrosion
Washing and waxing your
Toyota
Cleaning the interior
Toyota, through its diligent research, de-
sign and use of the most advanced
technology available, has done its part to
help prevent corrosion and has provided you with the finest quality vehicle
construction. Now, it is up to you. Proper
care of
your Toyota can help ensure long-
term corrosion prevention.
The most common causes of corro-
sion to your vehicle are: The accumulation of road salt, dirt and
moisture in hard-to-reach areas un- der the vehicle.
Chipping of paint, or undercoating
caused by minor accidents or by
stones and gravel.
Care is especially important if you live
in particular areas or operate your ve-
hicle under certain environmentalconditions: Road salt or dust control chemicals will
accelerate corrosion, as will the pres-
ence of salt in the air near the sea-
coast or in areas of industrial pollution.
High humidity accelerates corrosion
especially when temperatures rangejust above the freezing point.
Wetness or dampness to certain parts
of your vehicle for an extended period
of time, may cause corrosion even
though other parts of the vehicle may
be dry.
High temperatures will cause corro-
sion to those components of the ve-
hicle which are prevented from quick-
drying due to lack of proper ventilation.
The above signifies the necessity to keep
your vehicle, particularly the underside,
as clean as possible and to repair any
damage to paint or protective coatings as
soon as possible.
To help prevent corrosion on your
Toyota, follow these guidelines:
Wash your vehicle frequently. It is, of
course, necessary to keep your vehicle
clean by regular washing, but to preventcorrosion, the following points should be observed: If you drive on salted roads in the win-
ter or if you live near the ocean, you
should hose off the undercarriage atleast once a month to minimize corro- sion.
High pressure water or steam is effec-
tive for cleaning the vehicle's under-
side and wheel housings. Pay particu-
lar attention to these areas as it is
difficult to see all the mud and dirt. It
will do more harm than good to simply
wet the mud and debris without remov-
ing them. The lower edge of doors,
rocker panels and frame members
have drain holes which should not be
allowed to clog with dirt as trapped wa-
ter in these areas can cause corrosion.

138
Wash the underside of the vehicle
thoroughly when winter is over.
See Washing and waxing your Toyotaº
for more tips.
Check the condition of your vehicle's
paint and trim. If you find any chips or
scratches in the paint, touch them up im- mediately to prevent corrosion from start- ing. If the chips or scratches have gone
through the bare metal, have a qualified
body shop make the repair. Check the interior of your vehicle. Wa-
ter and dirt can accumulate under the floor
mats and could cause corrosion. Occa-
sionally check under the mats to make sure the area is dry. Be particularly careful
when transporting chemicals, cleansers,
fertilizers, salt, etc.; these should be
transported in proper containers. If a spill
or leak should occur, immediately clean
and dry the area.
Use mud shields on your wheels. If you
drive on salted or gravel roads, mud
shields help protect your vehicle. Full-size shields, which come as near to the
ground as possible, are the best. We rec-
ommend that the fittings and the area
where the shields are installed be treated
to resist corrosion. Your Toyota dealer will
be happy to assist in supplying and instal-
ling the shields if they are recommended for your area. Do not park your vehicle in a damp,poorly ventilated garage.
If you wash
your vehicle in the garage, or if you drive
it in covered with water or snow, your ga- rage may be so damp it will cause corro-
sion. Even if your garage is heated, a wet
vehicle can corrode if the ventilation is
poor. Washing your Toyota by hand
Work in the shade and wait until the ve-
hicle body is not hot to the touch.
1. Rinse off loose dirt with a hose. Re- move any mud or road salt from the un-
derside of the vehicle or in the wheel wells.
2. Wash with a mild car-wash soap, mixed
according to the manufacturer's in-
structions. Use a soft cotton mitt and keep it wet by dipping it frequently into the wash
water. Do not rub hardÐlet the soap and water remove the dirt. Aluminum wheels: Use only a mild soap or
neutral detergent.
Plastic bumpers: Wash carefully. Do not
scrub with ab rasive cleaners. The bumper
faces are soft.
Road tar: Remove with turpentine or
cleaners that are marked safe for painted surfaces.
Do not use gasoline or strong
solvents, which may be toxic or
cause damage.
NOTICE
Washing and waxing your
Toyota

139
3. Rinse thoroughlyÐdried soap can
cause streaking. In hot weather you may need to rinse each section right after youwash it.
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. Also, automatic car wash equipment may interfere with and
damage the rear spoiler if your vehicle is
equipped with one. The manager of the car wash should be able to advise you whether the process is safe for the paint
on your vehicle or the vehicle body itself.
Waxing your Toyota
Polishing and waxing is recommended
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. Ifthe 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 thechrome 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 waxingbooth. 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 re-
move loose dirt. Then, using a sponge or
soft cloth, apply the soap solution to the vi-
nyl. 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, re-
peat the procedure. Commercial foam-
ing-type vinyl cleaners are also available
which work well. Follow the manufactur-
er'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

140Begin by vacuuming thoroughly to re-
move as much dirt as possible. Several
types of foam cleaners are available;some are in aerosol cans and others are
powders or
liquids which you mix with wa-
ter to produce a foam. To shampoo the
carpets, use a sponge or brush to apply the foam. Rub in overlapping circles. Do not apply waterÐthe best results are obtained by keeping the carpet as dry as possible. Read the shampoo instructions
and follow them closely. Seat belts
The seat belts may be cleaned with mild
soap and water or with lukewarm water. Use a cloth or sponge. As you are clean-
ing, check the belts for excessive wear,
fraying, or cuts.
Do not use dye or bleach on the
beltsÐit may weaken them.
NOTICE
Windows
The windows may be cleaned with any
household window cleaner.
When cleaning the inside of the win-
dows, be careful not to scratch or
damage the heater wires on the rear window.
NOTICE
Air conditioning control panel, car au-
dio, instrument panel, console panel,
and switches Use a soft damp cloth for cleaning.
Soak a clean soft cloth in water or luke-
warm water then lightly wipe off any dirt.

Do not use organic substances(solvents, kerosene, alcohol, gas-
oline, etc.) or alkaline or acidic
solutions. These chemicals cancause discoloring, staining or
peeling of the surface.
If you use cleaners or polishingagents, make sure their ingredi-
ents do not include the sub-
stances mentioned above.
If you use a liquid car freshener,do not spill the liquid onto the ve-
hicle's interior surfaces. It maycontain the ingredients men-
tioned above. Immediately clean
any spill using the method men-tioned above.
NOTICE
Leather Interior
The leather upholstery may be cleaned
with neutral detergent for wool. Remove dirt using a soft cloth dampened with 5% solution of neutral detergent for
wool. Then thoroughly wipe off all traces
of detergent with a clean damp cloth. After
cleaning or whenever any part of the
leather gets wet, dry with a soft clean
cloth. Allow the leather to dry in a venti-
lated shaded area.

If a stain should fail to come outwith a neutral detergent, apply a
cleaner that does not contain anorganic solvent.
Never use organic substances
such as benzine, alcohol or gaso-line, or alkaline or acid solutionsfor cleaning the leather as these
could cause discoloring.
Use of a nylon brush or syntheticfiber cloth, etc. may scratch the
fine grained surface of the leather.
Mildew may develop on soiled
leather upholstery. Be especially
careful to avoid oil spots. Try tokeep your upholstery alwaysclean.
Long exposure to direct sunlight
may cause the leather surface toharden and shrink. Keep your ve-
hicle in a shaded area, especiallyin the summer.
NOTICE

141

The interior of your vehicle is apt
to heat up on hot summer days,
so avoid placing on the uphol-
stery items made of vinyl or plas-tic or containing wax as these
tend to stick to leather when
warm.
Improper cleaning of the leatherupholstery could result in discol-
oration or staining.
If you have any questions about the
cleaning of your Toyota, your local To-
yota dealer will be pleased to answer them.

142