Toyota Camry (2018 year). Manual - part 101

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● 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.

● For hard-to-remove marks, use car wash soap and rinse thoroughly

with water.

● Wipe away any water.
● Wax the vehicle when the waterproof coating deteriorates.

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

■

Automatic car washes

●

Fold the mirrors before washing the vehicle. Start washing from the front of
the vehicle. Make sure to extend the mirrors before driving.

●

Brushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle surface and
harm your vehicle's paint.

●

Vehicles with a rear spoiler: In certain automatic car washes, the rear spoiler
may interfere with machine operation. This may prevent the vehicle from
being cleaned properly or result in damage to the rear spoiler.

■

High pressure car washes

●

Do not allow the nozzles of the car wash to come within close proximity of
the windows. 

●

Before using the car wash, check that the fuel filler door on your vehicle is
closed properly.

Cleaning and protecting the vehicle 

exterior

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

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When using a car wash (vehicles with a smart key system)
If the door handle becomes wet while the electronic key is within the effective
range, the door may lock and unlock repeatedly. In that case, follow the fol-
lowing correction procedures to wash the vehicle:

●

Place the key in a position 6 ft. (2 m) or more separate from the vehicle
while the vehicle is being washed. (Take care to ensure that the key is not
stolen.)

●

Set the electronic key to battery-saving mode to disable the smart key sys-
tem. (

→P. 151)

■

Aluminum wheels (if equipped)

●

Remove any dirt immediately by using a neutral detergent.

●

Wash detergent off with water immediately after use.

●

To protect the paint from damage, make sure to observe the following pre-
cautions.
• Do not use acidic, alkaline or abrasive detergent
• Do not use hard brushes
• Do not use detergent on the wheels when they are hot, such as after driv-

ing or parking in hot weather

■

Bumpers
Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.

WARNING

■

When washing the vehicle
Do not apply water to the inside of the engine compartment. Doing so may
cause the electrical components, etc. to catch fire.

■

Precautions regarding the exhaust pipes
Exhaust gasses cause the exhaust pipes to become quite hot.
When washing the vehicle, be careful not to touch the pipes until it has
cooled sufficiently, as touching a hot exhaust pipes can cause burns.

■

Precaution regarding the rear bumper with Blind Spot Monitor (if
equipped)
If the paint of the rear bumper is chipped or scratched, the system may mal-
function. If this occurs, avoid using the system and consult your Toyota
dealer.

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6-1. Maintenance and care

■

To prevent paint deterioration and corrosion on the body and compo-
nents (aluminum wheels, etc.)

●

Wash the vehicle immediately in the following cases:
• After driving near the sea coast
• After driving on salted roads
• If coal tar or tree sap is present on the paint surface
• If dead insects, insect droppings or bird droppings are present on the

paint surface

• After driving in an area contaminated with soot, oily smoke, mine dust,

iron powder or chemical substances

• If the vehicle becomes heavily soiled with dust or mud
• If liquids such as benzene and gasoline are spilled on the paint surface

●

If the paint is chipped or scratched, have it repaired immediately.

●

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

●

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

●

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

■

When using a high pressure car wash
Do not bring the nozzle tip close to boots (rubber or resin manufactured
cover), connectors or the following parts. The parts may be damaged if they
come into contact with high-pressure water.

• Traction related parts
• Steering parts
• Suspension parts
• Brake parts

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with a cloth dampened with lukewarm water.

● If dirt cannot be removed, wipe it off with a soft cloth dampened with

neutral detergent diluted to approximately 1%.
Wring out any excess water from the cloth and thoroughly wipe off
remaining traces of detergent and water.

● Remove dirt using a soft cloth or synthetic chamois dampened in a

baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) solution.

Use a solution of approximately 9% baking soda dissolved in water.

● Wipe the surface with a dry, soft cloth to remove any remaining

moisture.

● Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner.
● Wipe off any excess dirt and dust with a soft cloth dampened with

diluted detergent.

Use a diluted water solution of approximately 5% neutral wool detergent.

● Wring out any excess water from the cloth and thoroughly wipe off

all remaining traces of detergent.

● Wipe the surface with a dry, soft cloth to remove any remaining

moisture. Allow the leather to dry in a shaded and ventilated area.

● Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner.
● Wipe it off with a soft cloth dampened with neutral detergent diluted

to approximately 1%.

● Wring out any excess water from the cloth and thoroughly wipe off

remaining traces of detergent and water.

Cleaning and protecting the vehicle 

interior

The following procedures will help protect your vehicle’s interior
and keep it in top condition:

Protecting the vehicle interior

Cleaning the areas with satin-finish metal accents

Cleaning the leather areas

Cleaning the synthetic leather areas