Toyota Lead The Way

Protect Your Vehicle from Corrosion
Toyota’s designers and engineers making use of the most advanced technology available have done their best to help prevent corrosion and have provided you with the finest quality vehicle construction. Now, it is up to you. Proper care of you vehicle can help ensure long-term corrosion.

Common Causes of Corrosion:

• The accumulation of dirt and moisture in hard-to reach areas under the vehicle.
• Chipping of paint or undercoating caused by minor accidents, stones and gravel.

Harsh Conditions?
Take extra special care of your body work if you live or drive your vehicle under harsh environment conditions like the following:

• Near the sea
• Areas of industrial pollution
• Rough / Off-road Terrain
• High humidity accelerates corrosion especially when temperatures range just above the freezing point
• Wet or damp on certain parts of your vehicle for an extended period of time, may cause corrosion even though other parts of the vehicle may be dry
• High temperatures will cause corrosion to those components of the vehicle, which are prevented from drying to lack of proper ventilation.

Steps to Preventing Corrosion:

Wash your car frequently following this guide:

• If you drive on dusty road or live near the ocean, hose off your undercarriage at least once a month to minimize corrosion.
• High pressure water or steam is effective for cleaning the vehicle’s underside and wheel housings. Pay particular attention to these areas as it is difficult to see all the mud and dirt.
• It will do more harm than good to simply wet the mud and debris without removing it.
• The lower edge of doors, rocker panels and frame members have drain holes, which should not be allowed to clog with dirt as trapped water in these areas can cause corrosion.
• See Washing & Waxing your Vehicle for more tips.

Check the Condition of your Vehicle’s Paint and Trim

• If you find any chips or scratches in the paint, touch them up immediately to prevent corrosion from starting.
• If the chips or scratches have gone through to the bare metal, have a qualified Toyota approved body shop make the repairs.

Check the interior of your vehicle

• Water and dirt can accumulate under the floor mats and could cause corrosion.
• Occasionally check under the mats to make sure the area is dry.
• Be particularly careful when transporting chemicals, cleansers, fertilisers, etc; these should be transported in proper containers.
• If a spill or leak should occur, immediately clean and dry the area.

Use mud shields on your wheels

• If you drive on dusty or gravel roads, mud shields help protect your vehicle.
• Full-size shields, which come as near to the ground as possible, are the best.
• We recommend that the fittings and the area where the shields are installed be treated to resist corrosion.
• Your Toyota dealer will be happy to assist in supplying and installing the shields.

Keep your vehicle in a well ventilated garage or a covered parking

• Do not park your vehicle in a damp, poorly ventilated garage.
• If you wash your vehicle in the garage, or if you drive it in the garage covered with water, your garage may become so damp it will cause corrosion.

For regular off-road or dirt road usage:

• Rubberize all under-body and fender areas and check periodically for gaps or breaks due to stone damage.
• The use of a Toyota-approved sealer is advised to prevent damage to PVC-sealed areas on the under-body and inside fenders.

For regular beach front usage:
All exterior seams, joints and hardware should be coated with Toyota-approved sealers.
Examples are:

• Door seams.
• Engine compartment seams and hardware items.
• The area behind the grille.
• Inside door areas.
• Under hood and "roof-bow".

The sealer must be brushed into joints and seams.