Toyota GR Corolla (2023 year). Manual in english

240

6-1. Maintenance and care

6-1.Maintenance and care



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 deterio-
rates.

If water does not bead on a clean
surface, apply wax when the vehi-
cle 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, parts (wheel, etc.) and

harm your vehicle’s paint.

●

In certain automatic car washes,

the rear spoiler may interfere with

machine operation. This may pre-

vent the vehicle from being

cleaned properly or result in dam-

age to the rear spoiler.

■

High pressure car washes

As water may enter the cabin, do

not bring the nozzle tip near the

gaps around the doors or perimeter

of the windows, or spray these

areas continuously.

■

When using a car wash

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 following correction pro-

cedures 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 bat-

tery-saving mode to disable the

smart key system. (



P.97)

■

Wheels and wheel ornaments

●

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 follow-

ing precautions.

• 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 driving or parking in hot

weather

■

Brake

●

Painted brake calipers

• When using detergent, use neu-

tral detergent. Do not use hard

brushes or abrasive cleaners, as

they will damage the paint.

• Do not use detergent on the brake

calipers when they are hot.

• Wash detergent off immediately

Cleaning and protect-

ing the vehicle exte-

rior

Perform cleaning in a man-
ner appropriate to each
component and its material.

Cleaning instructions

241

6-1. Maintenance and care

Maintena

nce
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nd ca

after use.

●

Rust may form if the vehicle is

parked with wet brake pads or

disc rotors, causing them to stick.

Before parking the vehicle after it

is washed, drive slowly and apply

the brakes several times to dry the

parts.

■

Bumpers

Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.

■

Plated portions

If dirt cannot be removed, clean the

parts as follows:

●

Use a soft cloth dampened with an

approximately 5% solution of neu-

tral detergent and water to clean

the dirt off.

●

Wipe the surface with a dry, soft

cloth to remove any remaining

moisture.

●

To remove oily deposits, use alco-

hol wet wipes or a similar product.

WARNING

■

When washing the vehicle

Do not apply water to the inside of

the engine compartment. Doing

so may cause the electrical com-

ponents, etc. to catch fire.

■

Precautions regarding the

exhaust pipe

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 touch-

ing a hot exhaust pipes can cause

burns.

■

Precaution regarding the rear

bumper

If the paint of the rear bumper is

chipped or scratched, the follow-

ing systems may not function cor-

rectly. If this occurs, consult your

Toyota dealer.

●

Toyota Safety Sense 3.0

●

BSM (if equipped)

●

RCTA (if equipped)

●

Safe Exit Assist (if equipped)

NOTICE

■

To prevent paint deteriora-

tion and corrosion on the

body and components (alumi-

num 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 contami-

nated with soot, oily smoke,

mine dust, iron powder or chem-

ical 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 cor-

roding, remove any dirt and

store in a place with low humid-

ity when storing the wheels.

242

6-1. Maintenance and care

NOTICE

■

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 sur-

faces of the lights.

Wax may cause damage to the

lenses.

■

To prevent damage to the

windshield wiper arms

When lifting the wiper arms away

from the windshield, pull the driver

side wiper arm upward first, and

repeat for the passenger side.

When returning the wipers to their

original position, do so from the

passenger side first.

■

When using a high pressure

car wash

●

When washing the vehicle, do

not spray the camera or its sur-

rounding area directly with a

high pressure washer. Shock

applied from high pressure

water may cause the device to

not operate normally.

●

Do not spray water directly on

the radar which is equipped

behind the emblem. Otherwise

it may cause the device to be

damaged.

●

Do not bring the nozzle tip close

to boots (rubber or resin manu-

factured 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

●

Keep the cleaning nozzle at

least 11.9 in. (30 cm) away from

the vehicles body. Otherwise

resin section, such as moldings

and bumpers, may be deformed

and damaged. Also, do not con-

tinuously hold the nozzle in the

same place.

●

Do not spray the lower part of

the windshield continuously. If

water enters the air conditioning

system intake located near the

lower part of the windshield, the

air conditioning system may not

operate correctly.

●

Do not wash the underside of

the vehicle using a high pres-

sure car washer.

■

Hood vents (if equipped)

●

The hood vents are covered in

order to protect the engine from

water or foreign matter (dry

leaves, etc.).

Do not remove the covers, as

they are designed to release the

heat from the engine compart-

ment and to drain external water,

such as rain, properly.

243

6-1. Maintenance and care

Maintena

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

Remove dirt and dust using a
vacuum cleaner. Wipe dirty
surfaces with a cloth damp-
ened with lukewarm water.



If dirt cannot be removed,
wipe it off with a soft cloth
dampened with neutral deter-
gent diluted to approximately
1%.
Wring out any excess water
from the cloth and thoroughly
wipe off remaining traces of
detergent and water.

■

Shampooing the carpets

There are several commercial foam-

ing-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 keeping the carpet as

dry as possible.

■

Handling the 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.

NOTICE

●

When washing the vehicle, do

not allow a large amount of

water to enter the hood vents at

once, such as when using a

bucket, etc. or point the nozzle

of a high pressure washer at the

hood vents.

Water may get inside the engine

compartment and affect the

engine and other components.

■

Front fender vents

When washing the vehicle, do not

allow a large amount of water to

enter the fender vents at once,

such as when using a bucket, etc.

or point the nozzle of a high pres-

sure washer at the fender vents.

Cleaning and protect-

ing the vehicle interior

Perform cleaning in a man-
ner appropriate to each
component and its material.

Protecting the vehicle
interior

244

6-1. Maintenance and care

WARNING

■

Water in the vehicle

●

Do not splash or spill liquid in

the vehicle.

Doing so may cause electrical

components, etc. to malfunc-

tion or catch fire.

●

Do not get any of the SRS com-

ponents or wiring in the vehicle

interior wet. (



P.31)

An electrical malfunction may

cause the airbags to deploy or

not function properly, resulting

in death or serious injury.

●

Vehicles with wireless charger:

Do not let the wireless charger

(



P.231) get wet. Failure to do

so may cause the charger to

become hot and cause burns or

could cause electric shock

resulting in death or serious

injury.

■

Cleaning the interior (espe-

cially 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.

NOTICE

■

Cleaning detergents

●

Do not use the following types

of detergent, as they may dis-

color the vehicle interior or

cause streaks or damage to

painted surfaces:

• Non-seat portions: Organic sub-

stances such as benzene or

gasoline, alkaline or acidic solu-

tions, dye, and bleach

• Seats: Alkaline or acidic solu-

tions, such as thinner, benzene,

and alcohol

●

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 deteriora-

tion of leather surfaces:

●

Remove any dust or dirt from

leather surfaces immediately.

●

Do not expose the vehicle to

direct sunlight for extended peri-

ods of time. Park the vehicle in

the shade, especially during

summer.

●

Do not place items made of

vinyl, plastic, or containing wax

on the upholstery, as they may

stick to the leather surface if the

vehicle interior heats up signifi-

cantly.

■

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 con-

tact the lens. Also, do not touch

the lens. (



P.150)

245

6-1. Maintenance and care

Maintena

nce
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

Remove dirt using a
water-dampened soft cloth or
synthetic chamois.



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

■

Cleaning the areas with

satin-finish metal accents

The metal areas use a layer of real

metal for the surface. It is necessary

to clean them regularly. If dirty areas

are left uncleaned for long periods

of time, they may be difficult to

clean.



Remove dirt and dust using a
vacuum cleaner.



Wipe off any excess dirt and
dust with a soft cloth damp-
ened 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.

■

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.



Remove dirt and dust using a
vacuum cleaner.



Wipe it off with a soft cloth
dampened with neutral deter-
gent diluted to approximately
1%.



Wring out any excess water
from the cloth and thoroughly
wipe off remaining traces of
detergent and water.

NOTICE

■

Cleaning the inside of the rear

window

●

Do not use glass cleaner to

clean the rear window, as this

may cause damage to the rear

window defogger heater wires

or antenna. Use a cloth damp-

ened with lukewarm water to

gently wipe the window clean.

Wipe the window in strokes run-

ning parallel to the heater wires

or antenna.

●

Be careful not to scratch or

damage the heater wires or

antenna.

Cleaning the areas with
satin-finish metal accents

Cleaning the leather areas

Cleaning the synthetic
leather areas

246

6-2. Matte paint care guide

6-2.Matte paint care guide



Normal clear coat



Cross section

Light
Clear
Base



Enlarged surface



Matte clear coat



Cross section

Light
Matting agent
Clear
Base



Enlarged surface

Basic knowledge

about matte clear coat

(vehicles with a CFRP

[Carbon Fiber Rein-

forced Plastic] roof)

The body of a vehicle is
painted with layers of sev-
eral different coatings to
enhance its durability and
appearance. The top layer is
called a clear coat.

Unlike a normal clear coat,
which enhances the glossy
appearance of the base
paint, matte clear coat gives
the base paint a non-glossy
finish with a unique texture.

In order to ensure the lon-
gevity of the matte clear
coat and its texture, special
care must be taken when
cleaning and storing the
vehicle.

Difference between gen-
eral clear coat and matte
clear coat

247

6-2. Matte paint care guide

Maintena

nce
a

nd ca

Illustrations in this manual are
simplified for explanation and
may not represent the actual
vehicle.
Glossiness of a surface is seen
by the human eyes by a differ-
ence in the amount of light that

reflects off the surface.
A surface painted with normal
clear coat is flat and smooth. As
the amount of light that reflects
off the surface is large, the vehi-
cle body will appear glossy.
A surface painted with a matte
clear coat is slightly uneven due
to the added matting agent. As
the light shining on an uneven
surface is diffused significantly,
the amount of light reflected is
small, making the vehicle body
look not glossy, with a unique
texture.

If the painted surfaces of the
vehicle are dirty, wash the vehi-
cle immediately. (



P.250)

Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior

248

6-2. Matte paint care guide

Dirt

Due to the slight unevenness,
matte clear coat surfaces are
more likely to trap dirt and other
foreign matter compared to nor-
mal clear coat surfaces.
If dirt or foreign matter is left on
the vehicle, it may settle into the
textured surface of the matte
clear coat, making it more diffi-
cult to remove. Additionally, as
the surface of the matte clear
coat will become more flat when
dirty, the vehicle body will start
to look glossy, ruining the tex-
tured finish.
Therefore, make sure to clean
the vehicle regularly and not
allow dirt to remain on the vehi-
cle for extended periods of time.
If dirt or foreign matter is
allowed to settle and cannot be

cleaned off with normal wash-
ing, it will be necessary to
remove the dirt with the upper
layer of the textured finish and
then to repaint the entire part.
Ask your Toyota dealer for
details.

■

Materials that may become diffi-

cult to remove

The following are likely to settle into

the vehicle body and should be

cleaned off immediately.

●

Rain water, sea water, and other

liquids that may cause water

stains

●

Sand, pollen, volcanic ash, and

other particulate matter

●

Dead insects, bird droppings, etc.

●

Sap, leaves, flowers, etc.

●

Mud, snow, anti-freezing agents,

and other road debris

●

Gasoline, engine oil, asphalt, and

other oily materials

■

Do not wax or apply a coating

to the vehicle

Do not wax the vehicle or apply a

coating to the vehicle body, as they

will form a film over the painted sur-

faces, filling the matte clear coat

249

6-2. Matte paint care guide

Maintena

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a

nd ca

surface, making it more flat. As a

result, it will become more glossy,

possibly permanently losing its

matte properties.

Take care in order to not dam-
age the painted surfaces.
When minor damage occurs to a
vehicle with a normal clear coat,
it can be repaired by polishing it
or using touch up paint. In con-
trast, a matte clear coat cannot
be repaired using these meth-
ods.
If these methods are used the
unevenness of the matte clear
coat may be removed or filled in.
In either case, the surface will
become more flat, making it
appear more glossy, possibly
permanently losing its matte
properties.

In order to maintain the matte
finish when repairing damage, it
will be necessary to repaint the
entire part.



Vehicle paint can be deterio-
rated by ultraviolet rays, rain,
and other natural factors. In
order to ensure the life of the
paint, it is recommended that
the vehicle be stored in a
paved garage which blocks
the paint from direct sunlight,
rain, wind, and ground mois-
ture.



If a vehicle cover is to be
used, use one with an inner
side which is fleece,
non-woven, etc. as it is less
likely to damage the paint.
Even when using a vehicle
cover, storing the vehicle in a
paved garage is recom-
mended.

Repair of paint damage

Daily vehicle storage

250

6-2. Matte paint care guide

■

Using a vehicle cover

●

Use an appropriately sized vehicle

cover for your vehicle. For details,

contact the manufacturer of the

vehicle cover.

●

Use a vehicle cover suitable for

the environment the vehicle is to

be stored. For details, contact the

manufacturer of the vehicle cover.

●

Proper use a vehicle cover

depends on the weather and vehi-

cle condition. If a vehicle cover is

used improperly, it may damage

the vehicle's paint or body. Follow

the instructions included with the

vehicle cover and use it properly.

Apply a large amount of
water to the vehicle body
from the top to the bottom to
remove sand and dust.

If the tires or chassis parts are

excessively dirty, make sure to

wash them first, otherwise dirt be

sprayed onto the washed vehicle

body.
If dirt is not easily washed off, bring

the hose or sprayer nozzle closer to

the vehicle body to slightly increase

Washing your vehicle

(vehicles with a CFRP

[Carbon Fiber Rein-

forced Plastic] roof)

In order to avoid damage to
the vehicle's paint, washing
the vehicle by hand with
only water is recommended.

How to wash your vehicle

251

6-2. Matte paint care guide

Maintena

nce
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nd ca

the water pressure.

Using a soft chamois cloth,
wipe the vehicle body gently
while applying plenty of
water.
Wipe the vehicle body from
top to bottom.

If dirt persists (



P.251)

Using another soft chamois
cloth, dry the vehicle while
taking care to not rub the
vehicle body.

Make sure to remove any standing

water before it evaporates.
Do not use the same chamois cloth

that was used to wash the vehicle

(step

■

If dirt cannot be washed off with

water alone

●

Water stains

If liquid, such as rain water or tap

water, evaporates on a painted sur-

face, dirt or minerals in the liquid

may be left behind. If not cleaned

off, the contaminants may settle into

the textured surface of the matte

clear coat, making it difficult to clean

off with water alone.

Contaminant
Citric acid

●

In this case, to remove the con-

taminants, use dilute citric acid.

Dissolve citric acid powder in dis-

tilled water at the following ratio:

252

6-2. Matte paint care guide

Citric acid powder: 0.01 to 0.02 lb.

(5 to 10 g) (1 to 2 teaspoons)

Distilled water: 0.2 qt. (0.2 L, 0.2

Imp. qt.)
Thoroughly soak a soft chamois

cloth in the citric acid and place the

chamois cloth over the dirty area.

Wait for the contaminants to be dis-

solved by the acid. Then, gently

wipe the area several times with the

chamois cloth, taking care to not rub

the vehicle body. After that, apply

plenty of water to the area to wash

off the contaminants and acid.

●

Dead insects, bird droppings, and

oil stains

If these materials are not cleaned

off, contaminants, such as proteins

and oil, may settle into the textured

surface of the matte clear coat,

making it difficult to clean off with

water alone.

Contaminant
Neutral detergent

●

Create a thick lather with the solu-

tion.

Thoroughly soak a soft chamois

cloth in the neutral detergent solu-

tion, covering it in the lather, and

place the chamois cloth over the

dirty area. Wait for the contaminants

to be dissolved by the solution.

Then, gently wipe the area several

times with the chamois cloth, taking

care to not rub the vehicle body.

After that, apply plenty of water to

the area wash off the dirt and deter-

gent solution.

NOTICE

■

Avoiding damage to the

painted surfaces

Observe the following precau-

tions.

Otherwise, the painted surfaces of

your vehicle may be damaged

and permanently lose their matte

properties.

●

When washing the vehicle, do

not use a brush.

●

Do not use rubbing or polishing

compounds (ex. scratch

remover).

●

Do not rub the vehicle body.

●

When washing the vehicle, do

not use alkaline (including

weakly basic) detergents.

●

Do not attach a stickers to or

vinyl wrap the vehicle body.

●

Before attaching a magnet

(sign, etc.) to the vehicle body,

make sure to wash and thor-

oughly dry the area of the vehi-

cle body where the magnet is to

be attached.

253

6-2. Matte paint care guide

Maintena

nce
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nd ca

■

General washing tips (



P.250)

■

If the vehicle body is dirty (



P.247)

Question: What should I do if any of the following have attached to
the vehicle?

Frequently Asked Questions (vehicles with a

CFRP [Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic] roof)

The following are frequently asked questions about the matte
clear coat and their answers:

Washing the vehicle

Question

Answer

Can the vehicle be
washed?

Yes. The vehicle should be washed immediately
if it is dirty.

Can the vehicle be
washed frequently?

What is the proper
method for washing the
vehicle?

The vehicle should be washed by hand, using
only water and a chamois cloth.

Is there anything I
should be careful about
when washing the vehi-
cle?

Make sure to start by rinsing the entire vehicle
with plenty of water from top to bottom.

Can I wash the vehicle
in an automatic car
wash?

Can I use a high-pres-
sure pressure washer to
wash the vehicle?

254

6-2. Matte paint care guide

Item

Answer

Leaves, flowers,
branches, etc.

Remove immediately.
They may scratch the matte clear coat and if they
are allowed to remain on the vehicle, dirt may
settle into the matte clear coat, making it more
flat. As a result, it will become more glossy, pos-
sibly permanently losing its matte properties.

Dead insects, bird drop-
pings, etc.

Sand, pollen, and other
particulate matter

Wash off with water immediately.
If the contaminants cannot be removed with
water alone, use a neutral detergent solution. If
the contaminants are allowed to remain on the
vehicle, they may settle into the matte clear coat,
making it more flat. As a result, it will become
more glossy, possibly permanently losing its
matte properties.

Oil stains

Asphalt (tar)

Water stains

Use dilute citric acid (citric acid powder dissolved
in distilled water) to remove the water stains.

Water repellent glass
coating

Remove immediately.
Even if removed, depending on the contaminant,
the matte clear coat may be damaged, possibly
permanently losing its matte properties.

Glass treatment
remover

Tire cleaner

Gasoline

Oil

Washer fluid

255

6-2. Matte paint care guide

Maintena

nce
a

nd ca

■

Vehicle washing products (



P.250)

Question

Answer

Can I use car wash
shampoo/soap?

Only use a neutral detergent which is approved
for car wash use and water. Make sure to rinse
the vehicle with plenty of water after using deter-
gent.
Do not use alkaline (including weakly basic)
detergents, as they may damage the matte clear
coat.

Can I use a general
household neutral deter-
gent?

Only use a neutral detergent which is approved
for car wash use and water. Make sure to rinse
the vehicle with plenty of water after using deter-
gent.

What should I use to
wipe off dirt?

Use a soft chamois cloth.

What should I use to dry
the vehicle?

Can I use a water stain
remover?

Toyota does not recommend the use of water
stain removers, as they may damage the matte
clear coat.
Do not use alkaline detergents or products con-
taining abrasives.

Can the vehicle be
waxed?

No. Do not wax the vehicle or apply a coating to
the vehicle body, as they may cause the matte
clear coat to lose its matte texture.

Can a coating be
applied to the vehicle
body?

Can I use an iron
remover?

No, as it may cause the matte clear coat to lose
its matte texture

Can I use tar and pitch
remover?

No, as they may damage the matte clear coat.

Can I use a matte paint
cleaner/wax?

Toyota does not recommend the use of matte
paint cleaners or waxes, as they may cause the
matte clear coat to lose its matte texture.

Toyota GR Corolla (2023 year). Manual in english - page 15