1997 Lexus ES300 ESP

BODY
237
PROTECTING YOUR VEHICLE
FROM CORROSION
Proper care of your Lexus can help ensure long±term
corrosion prevention.
The most common causes of corrosion to your vehicle
are:

The accumulation of road salt, dirt and moisture in
hard±to±reach areas under the vehicle.

Chipping of paint or undercoating caused by minor
accidents or by stones and gravel.
The following conditions will cause or accelerate
corrosion of your vehicle, so it is important 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.

The presence of road salt or dust control chemicals, salt in
the air near the sea coast, industrial air pollution.

High humidity, especially at temperatures just above
freezing point.

Certain parts of your vehicle are wet or damp for an
extended period of time, even though other parts of the
vehicle are dry.

Components of the vehicle which are prevented from
quick±drying due to lack of proper ventilation are exposed
to high temperature.To help prevent corrosion on your Lexus, follow these
guidelines:
Keep your vehicle clean by regular washing. In addition,
observe the following points.

If you drive on salted roads in the winter or if you live near
the ocean, you should hose off the undercarriage at least
once a month to minimize corrosion.

High pressure water or steam is effective for cleaning the
vehicle's underside and wheel housings. Pay particular
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 removing 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
water in these areas can cause corrosion.

Wash the underside of the vehicle thoroughly when winter
is over.
See ªWashing and waxingº 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
immediately to prevent corrosion from starting. If the chips
or scratches have gone through the bare metal, have a
qualified body shop make the repair.

BODY
239 4. To prevent water spots, dry the vehicle using a clean soft
cotton towel. Do not rub or press hard ± you might scratch
the paint.
Automatic car wash
Your vehicle may be washed in an automatic car wash, but
remember that the paint can be scratched by some type of
brushes, unfiltered washing water, or the washing process
itself. Scratching reduces paint durability and gloss,
especially 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 Lexus
Polishing and waxing is recommended to maintain the
original beauty of your Lexus' finish.
1. Always wash and dry the vehicle before you begin
waxing, even if you are using a combined cleaner and wax.
2. Use a good quality polish and wax. If the finish has
become extremely weathered, use a car±cleaning polish,
followed by a separate wax. Carefully follow the
manufacturer 's instructions and precautions. Be sure to
polish and was 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.
CLEANING THE INTERIOR
CAUTION!
Do not wash the vehicle floor with water, or allow
water to get onto the floor when cleaning the vehicle
interior or exterior. Water may get into audio
components or other electrical components above
or under the floor carpet (or mat) and cause a
malfunction; and it may cause body corrosion.
Leather Interior
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
ventilated shaded area.
NOTICE

If a stain should fail to come out with a neutral
detergent, apply a cleaner that does not contain an
organic solvent.

Never use organic substances such as benzine,
alcohol or gasoline, or alkaline or acid solutions
for cleaning the leather as these could cause
discoloring.

BODY
240

Use of a nylon brush or synthetic fiber 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 to keep
your upholstery always clean.

Long exposure to direct sunlight may cause the
leather surface to harden and shrink. Keep your
vehicle in a shaded area, especially in the summer.

The interior of your vehicle is apt to heat up on hot
summer days, so avoid placing on the upholstery
items made of vinyl or plastic or containing was as
these tend to stick to leather when warm.

Improper cleaning of the leather upholstery could
result in discoloration or staining.
Synthetic Leather Areas (Dash)
The synthetic leather areas 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
synthetic leather. 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 cleaners are also
available which work well. Follow the manufacturer's
instructions.
NOTICE
Do not use solvent, thinner, gasoline or window
cleaner on the interior.