2009 Lexus SC 430 Owners Manual - Page 200

4-1. Maintenance and care Cleaning and protecting the vehicle exterior Follow these guidelines when washing and waxing your Lexus. l Working from top to bottom, liberally apply water to the vehicle body, wheel wells and underside of the vehicle to remove any built up dirt and dust. Wash the vehicle body using a sponge or soft cloth, such as a chamois. For hard-to-remove dirt, use car wash soap and rinse thoroughly with water. Thoroughly dry your vehicle. Apply polish or wax only when the vehicle body is cool. Wax or polish your vehicle when the existing coating of wax or polish begin to deteriorate. A good way to determine this, is by checking to see if water beads on the painted surface of your vehicle. If it does not bead, that means the wax or polish is no longer protecting the finish, and therefore should be reapplied. l l l n Automatic car washes l Fold the mirrors back and retract the antenna before washing the vehicle. l Brushes used in automatic car washes may scratch the vehicle surface, which can harm your vehicle's paint. l Vehicles equipped with a rear spoiler may not be washable in some automatic car washes. There may also be an increased risk of damage to vehicle. l Do not use automatic car washes with the compact spare tire installed, as the vehicle may get caught. n High pressure automatic car washes Do not allow the nozzles of the car wash to come within close proximity of the windows or door weather seals of your vehicle. Before entering the automatic car wash, check that the fuel filler door on your vehicle is closed properly. 204