Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior

Lexus LX / Lexus LX Owners Manuals / Maintenance and care / Maintenance and care / Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior

Perform the following to protect the vehicle and maintain it in prime condition.

l Working from top to bottom, liberally apply water to the vehicle body, wheel wells and underside of the vehicle to remove any dirt and dust.

Wash the vehicle body using a sponge or soft cloth, such as a chamois.

l For hard-to-remove marks, use car wash soap and rinse thoroughly with water.

l Wipe away any water.

l Wax the vehicle when the waterproof coating deteriorates.

If water does not bead on a clean surface, apply wax when the vehi- cle body is cool.

- Automatic car washes
l Fold the mirrors back before washing the vehicle.
l Brushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle surface and harm your vehicle’s paint.

- High pressure car washes
l Do not allow the nozzles of the car wash to come within close proximity of the windows.
l Before car wash, check that the fuel filler door on your vehicle is closed properly.

- Aluminum wheels
l Remove any dirt immediately by using a neutral detergent. Do not use hard brushes or abrasive cleaners. Do not use strong or harsh chemical cleaners. Use the same mild detergent and wax as used on the paint.
l Do not use detergent on the wheels when they are hot, for example after driving for long distance in the hot weather.
l Wash detergent from the wheels immediately after use.

-Bumpers and side moldings
Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.

CAUTION

- When cleaning the windshield

Set the wiper switch to off.

Set the wiper switch to off.

If the wiper switch is in “AUTO”, the wipers may operate unexpectedly in the following situations, and may result in hands being caught or other serious inju- ries and cause damage to the wiper blades.

l When the upper part of the windshield where the raindrop sensor is located is touched by hand
l When a wet rag or similar is held close to the raindrop sensor
l If something bumps against the windshield
l If you directly touch the raindrop sensor body or if something bumps into the raindrop sensor

- Caution about the exhaust pipe
Exhaust gasses cause the exhaust pipe to become quite hot.

When washing the vehicle, be careful not to touch the pipe until it has cooled sufficiently, as touching a hot exhaust pipe can cause burns.

NOTICE

- To prevent deterioration and corrosion on the body and components (alumi- num wheels etc.)
l Wash the vehicle immediately in the following cases:
• After driving near the sea coast
• After driving on salted roads
• If you see coal tar or tree sap on the paint surface
• If you see dead insects or insect droppings on the paint
• After driving in an area contaminated with soot, oily smoke, mine dust, iron powder or chemical substances
• If the vehicle becomes heavily soiled in dust or mud
• If liquids such as benzene and gasoline are spilled on the paint surface

l If the paint is chipped or scratched, have it repaired immediately.
l To prevent the wheels from corroding, remove any dirt and store in a place with low humidity when storing the wheels.

- Cleaning the exterior lights
l Wash carefully. Do not use organic substances or scrub with a hard brush.
This may damage the surfaces of the lights.

l Do not apply wax on the surfaces of the lights.
Wax may cause damage to the lenses.

- When using an automatic car wash
Turn off the wiper switch.

If the wiper switch is in “AUTO”, the wipers may operate and the wiper blades may be damaged.

    See also:

    Emissioinspectioand maintenance (I/M) programs
    Some states have vehicle emission inspection programs which include OBD (On Board Diagnostics) checks. The OBD system monitors the operation of the emission control system. - If the malfunction i ...

    Operating a USB memory
    Connecting a USB memory enables you to enjoy music from the vehicle speakers.  - Connecting a USB memory Slide the auxiliary box lid. Open the cover and connect a USB memory. Turn on the ...

    Floor mats
    Use only floor mats designed specifically for vehicles of the same model and model year as your vehicle. Fix them securely in place onto the carpet. Insert the retaining hooks (clips) into the f ...