Toyota Highlander (2018 year). Manual - part 123

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7-1. Maintenance and care

● Remove dirt and dust using a vacuum cleaner. Wipe dirty surfaces

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 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 leather areas

Cleaning the synthetic leather areas

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■

Caring for leather areas
Toyota recommends cleaning the interior of the vehicle at least twice a year to
maintain the quality of the vehicle’s interior.

■

Shampooing the carpets
There are several commercial foaming-type cleaners available. Use a sponge
or brush to apply the foam. Rub in overlapping circles. Do not use water.
Wipe dirty surfaces and let them dry. Excellent results are obtained by keep-
ing the carpet as dry as possible.

■

Seat belts
Clean with mild soap and lukewarm water using a cloth or sponge. Also
check the belts periodically for excessive wear, fraying or cuts.

WARNING

■

Water in the vehicle

●

Do not splash or spill liquid in the vehicle.
Doing so may cause electrical components, etc. to malfunction or catch
fire.

●

Do not get any of the SRS components or wiring in the vehicle interior wet. 
(

→P. 42)

An electrical malfunction may cause the airbags to deploy or not function
properly, resulting in death or serious injury.

■

Cleaning the interior (especially instrument panel)
Do not use polish wax or polish cleaner. The instrument panel may reflect
off the windshield, obstructing the driver’s view and leading to an accident,
resulting in death or serious injury.

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NOTICE

■

Cleaning detergents

●

Do not use the following types of detergent, as they may discolor the vehi-
cle interior or cause streaks or damage to painted surfaces:

• Non-seat portions: Organic substances such as benzene or gasoline,

alkaline or acidic solutions, dye, and bleach

• Seats: Alkaline or acidic solutions, such as thinner, benzene, and alco-

hol

●

Do not use polish wax or polish cleaner. The instrument panel’s or other
interior part’s painted surface may be damaged.

■

Preventing damage to leather surfaces
Observe the following precautions to avoid damage to and deterioration of
leather surfaces:

●

Remove any dust or dirt from leather surfaces immediately.

●

Do not expose the vehicle to direct sunlight for extended periods of time.
Park the vehicle in the shade, especially during summer.

●

Do not place items made of vinyl, plastic, or containing wax on the uphol-
stery, as they may stick to the leather surface if the vehicle interior heats
up significantly.

■

Water on the floor
Do not wash the vehicle floor with water.
Vehicle systems such as the audio system may be damaged if water comes
into contact with electrical components such as the audio system above or
under the floor of the vehicle. Water may also cause the body to rust.

■

When cleaning the inside of the windshield
Do not allow glass cleaner to contact the lens. Also, do not touch the lens. 
(

→P. 275)

■

Cleaning the inside of the rear window and the rear quarter windows

●

Do not use glass cleaner to clean the rear window and the rear quarter
windows, as this may cause damage to the rear window defogger heater
wires or antenna. Use a cloth dampened with lukewarm water to gently
wipe the window clean. Wipe the window in strokes running parallel to the
heater wires or antenna.

●

Be careful not to scratch or damage the heater wires or antenna.

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7-2. Maintenance

General maintenance should be performed on a daily basis. This can
be done by yourself or by a Toyota dealer.

Scheduled maintenance should be performed at specified intervals
according to the maintenance schedule.

For details about maintenance items and schedules, refer to the “Sched-
uled Maintenance Guide” or “Owner’s Manual Supplement”.

You can perform some maintenance procedures by yourself. 
Please be aware that do-it-yourself maintenance may affect warranty
coverage.

The use of Toyota Repair Manuals is recommended.

For details about warranty coverage, refer to the separate “Owner’s War-
ranty Information Booklet” or “Owner’s Manual Supplement”.

Maintenance requirements

To ensure safe and economical driving, day-to-day care and reg-
ular maintenance are essential. It is the owner’s responsibility to
perform regular checks. Toyota recommends the following main-
tenance:

General maintenance

Scheduled maintenance

Do-it-yourself maintenance