BODY
234
PROTECTING YOUR VEHICLE FROMCORROSION
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 are\
as
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 t\
he
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 ºWashing 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 f\
rom
starting. If the chips or scratches have gone through the bare metal, have a
qualified body shop make the repair.
BODY239
Air Conditioning Control Panel, Car Audio, Instrument
Panel, Console Panel, and Switches
Use a soft damp cloth for cleaning.
Soak a clean soft cloth in water or lukewarm water then lightly wipe off any
dirt.
NOTICE
Do not use organic substances (solvents, kerosene, alcohol, gasoline,
etc.) or alkaline or acidic solutions. These chemicals can cause
discoloring, staining or peeling of the surface.
If you use cleaners or polishing agents, make sure their ingredients do
not include the substances mentioned above.
If you use a liquid car freshener, do not spill the liquid onto the
vehicle's interior surfaces. It may contain the ingredients mentioned
above. Immediately clean any spill using the method mentioned
above.
If you have any questions about the cleaning of your Lexus, your local
Lexus dealer will be pleased to answer them.
