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PROTECTING YOUR VEHICLEFROM 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 ambient 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. 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 Washing and waxingº on page 611 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.
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3. Rinse
thoroughly Ð dried soap can cause streaking. In hot
weather you may need to rinse each section right after you
wash it.
4. To prevent water spots, dry the vehicle using a clean soft
cotton towel. Do not rub or press hard Ð you might scratch the
paint.
Automatic car wash
NOTICE
Vehicles with Lexus link system: To prevent damage to the antenna, make sure it is removed before drivingyour vehicle through an automatic car wash.
Your vehicle may be washed in an automatic car wash, but
remember that the paint can be scratched by some types 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.
Apply wax once a month or if the vehicle surface does not repel
water well.
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 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.
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NOTICE
If a stain should fail to come out with a neutraldetergent, apply a cleaner that does not contain anorganic solvent.
Never use organic substances such as benzine,alcohol or gasoline, or alkaline or acid solutions forcleaning the leather as these could causediscoloring.
Use of a nylon brush or synthetic fiber cloth, etc. mayscratch the fine grained surface of the leather.
Mildew may dev elop 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 yourvehicle in a shaded area, especially in the summer.
The interior of your vehicle is apt to heat up on hotsummer days, so avoid placing on the upholstery
items made of vinyl or plastic or containing wax asthese tend to stick to leather when warm.
Improper cleaning of the leather upholstery couldresult in discoloration or staining.
