Toyota Corolla (2020 year). Owner's manual - part 27

422

7-1. Maintenance and care

7-1.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 and harm your vehicle’s 

paint.

●

Vehicles with a rear spoiler: In cer-

tain 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 (vehi-

cles 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 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.112)

■

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 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

■

Bumpers and side moldings

Do not scrub with abrasive cleaners.

Cleaning and protect-

ing the vehicle exte-

rior

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

Cleaning instructions

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7-1. Maintenance and care

7

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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 pipe to become quite hot.

When washing the vehicle, be 

careful not to touch the pipe until it 

has cooled sufficiently, as touch-

ing a hot exhaust pipe can cause 

burns.

■

Precaution regarding the rear 

bumper with Blind Spot Moni-

tor (if equipped)

If the paint of the rear bumper is 

chipped or scratched, the system 

may malfunction. If this occurs, 

consult your Toyota dealer.

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.

■

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 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

424

7-1. Maintenance and care



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

• 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.

Cleaning and protect-

ing the vehicle interior

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

Protecting the vehicle 
interior

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7-1. Maintenance and care

7

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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.29)

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.405) 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:

• Areas other than the seats and 

steering wheel: 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

• Steering wheel: Organic sub-

stances, such as thinner, and 

cleaner that contains 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.180)

426

7-1. Maintenance and care



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

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7-2. Maintenance

7

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7-2.Maintenance

■

Repair and replacement

It is recommended that genuine 

Toyota parts be used for repairs to 

ensure performance of each sys-

tem. If non-Toyota parts are used in 

replacement or if a repair shop other 

than a Toyota dealer performs 

repairs, confirm the warranty cover-

age.

■

Allow inspection and repairs to 

be performed by a Toyota 

dealer

●

Toyota technicians are 

well-trained specialists and are 

kept up to date with the latest ser-

vice information. They are well 

informed about the operation of all 

systems on your vehicle.

●

Keep a copy of the repair order. It 

proves that the maintenance that 

has been performed is under war-

ranty coverage. If any problem 

should arise while your vehicle is 

under warranty, your Toyota 

dealer will promptly take care of it.

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 inter-
vals according to the mainte-
nance schedule.

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

Maintenance require-

ments

To ensure safe and econom-
ical driving, day-to-day care 
and regular maintenance 
are essential. It is the 
owner’s responsibility to 
perform regular checks. 
Toyota recommends the 
maintenance below.

WARNING

■

If your vehicle is not properly 

maintained

Improper maintenance could 

result in serious damage to the 

vehicle and possible death or seri-

ous injury.

■

Handling of the battery

●

Engine exhaust, some of its 

constituents, and a wide variety 

of automobile components con-

tain or emit chemicals known to 

the State of California to cause 

cancer and birth defects and 

other reproductive harm. Work 

in a well ventilated area.

●

Oils, fuels and fluids contained 

in vehicles as well as waste pro-

duced by component wear con-

tain or emit chemicals known to 

the State of California to cause 

cancer and birth defects or 

other reproductive harm. Avoid 

exposure and wash any 

affected area immediately.

●

Battery posts, terminals and 

related accessories contain lead 

and lead compounds which are 

known to cause brain damage. 

Wash your hands after han-

dling. (P.442)

General maintenance

Scheduled maintenance

428

7-2. Maintenance

■

Resetting the message indicat-

ing maintenance is required

After the required maintenance is 

performed according to the mainte-

nance schedule, please reset the 

message.

To reset the message, follow the 

procedure described below:

1

Press 

 or 

 of the meter 

control switch to select 

.

2

Press 

 or 

 to select “Vehi-

cle Settings” and then press and 
hold 

.

3

Press 

 or 

 to select 

“Scheduled Maintenance” and 
then press 

.

4

Press 

 or 

 to select “Yes” 

and then press 

.

A message will be displayed on the 

multi-information display when the 

reset procedure has been com-

pleted.

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

The use of Toyota repair manuals is 
recommended.
For details about warranty cover-
age, refer to the separate “Owner’s 
Warranty Information Booklet” or 
“Owner’s Manual Supplement”.

Do-it-yourself mainte-
nance

General maintenance

Listed below are the general 
maintenance items that 
should be performed at the 
intervals specified in the 
“Owner’s Warranty Informa-
tion Booklet” or “Owner’s 
Manual Supplement/Sched-
uled Maintenance Guide”. It 
is recommended that any 
problem you notice should 
be brought to the attention 
of your Toyota dealer or 
qualified service shop for 
advice.

WARNING

■

If the engine is running

Turn the engine off and ensure 

that there is adequate ventilation 

before performing maintenance 

checks.

Engine compartment

Items

Check points

Battery

Check the connec-
tions. (P.442)

Brake fluid

Is the brake fluid at 
the correct level? 
(P.441)

Engine coolant

Is the engine cool-
ant at the correct 
level? (P.440)

Engine oil

Is the engine oil at 
the correct level? 
(P.437)

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7-2. Maintenance

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Exhaust sys-
tem

There should not 
be any fumes or 
strange sounds.

Radiator/con-
denser

The radiator and 
condenser should 
be free from for-
eign objects. 
(P.440)

Washer fluid

Is there sufficient 
washer fluid? 
(P.443)

Vehicle interior

Items

Check points

Accelerator 
pedal

The accelerator 
pedal should move 
smoothly (without 
uneven pedal effort 
or catching).

Continuously 
variable trans-
mission “Park” 
mechanism

When parked on a 
slope and the shift 
lever is in P, is the 
vehicle securely 
stopped?

Brake pedal

• Does the brake 

pedal move 
smoothly?

• Does the brake 

pedal have 
appropriate 
clearance from 
the floor? 
(P.530)

• Does the brake 

pedal have the 
correct amount 
of free play? 
(P.530)

Items

Check points

Clutch pedal

• Does the clutch 

pedal move 
smoothly?

• Does the clutch 

pedal have 
appropriate 
clearance from 
the floor? 
(P.530)

• Does the clutch 

pedal have the 
correct amount 
of free play? 
(P.530)

Brakes

• The vehicle 

should not pull to 
one side when 
the brakes are 
applied.

• The brakes 

should work 
effectively.

• The brake pedal 

should not feel 
spongy.

• The brake pedal 

should not get 
too close to the 
floor when the 
brakes are 
applied.

Head 
restraints

Do the head 
restraints move 
smoothly and lock 
securely?

Indica-
tors/buzzers

Do the indicators 
and buzzers func-
tion properly?

Lights

Do all the lights 
come on?

Items

Check points

430

7-2. Maintenance

Parking brake

• Does the park-

ing brake oper-
ate normally?

• When parked on 

a slope and the 
parking brake is 
on, is the vehicle 
securely 
stopped?

Seat belts

• Do the seat belts 

operate 
smoothly?

• The seat belts 

should not be 
damaged.

Seats

Do the seat con-
trols operate prop-
erly?

Steering wheel

• Does the steer-

ing wheel rotate 
smoothly?

• Does the steer-

ing wheel have 
the correct 
amount of free 
play?

• There should not 

be any strange 
sounds coming 
from the steer-
ing wheel.

Vehicle exterior

Items

Check points

Doors/trunk

Do the doors/trunk 
operate smoothly?

Engine hood

Does the engine 
hood lock system 
work properly?

Items

Check points

Fluid leaks

There should not 
be any signs of 
fluid leakage after 
the vehicle has 
been parked.

Tires

• Is the tire infla-

tion pressure 
correct?

• The tires should 

not be damaged 
or excessively 
worn.

• Have the tires 

been rotated 
according to the 
maintenance 
schedule?

• The wheel nuts 

should not be 
loose.

Windshield 
wipers

• The wiper blades 

should not show 
any signs of 
cracking, split-
ting, wear, con-
tamination or 
deformation.

• The wiper blades 

should clear the 
windshield with-
out streaking or 
skipping.

Items

Check points

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7

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The OBD system determines 
that a problem exists some-
where in the emission control 
system. Your vehicle may not 
pass the I/M test and may need 
to be repaired. Contact your 
Toyota dealer to service the 
vehicle.



When the battery is discon-
nected or discharged

Readiness codes that are set 
during ordinary driving are erased.
Also, depending on your driving 
habits, the readiness codes may 
not be completely set.



When the fuel tank cap is 
loose

The malfunction indicator lamp 
comes on indicating a temporary 
malfunction and your vehicle may 
not pass the I/M test.

The error code in the OBD sys-
tem will not be cleared unless 
the vehicle is driven 40 or more 
times.

Contact your Toyota dealer to 
prepare the vehicle for re-test-
ing.

Emission inspection 

and maintenance (I/M) 

programs

Some states have vehicle 
emission inspection pro-
grams which include OBD 
(On Board Diagnostics) 
checks. The OBD system 
monitors the operation of 
the emission control sys-
tem.

If the malfunction indica-
tor lamp comes on

Your vehicle may not pass 
the I/M test in the follow-
ing situations:

When the malfunction 
indicator lamp still 
remains on after several 
driving trips

If your vehicle does not 
pass the I/M test

432

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

7-3.Do-it-yourself maintenance

Do-it-yourself service 

precautions

If you perform maintenance 
by yourself, be sure to fol-
low the correct procedure 
as given in these sections.

Maintenance

Items

Parts and tools

Battery 
condition 
(P.442)

• Warm water
• Baking soda
• Grease
• Conventional 

wrench (for terminal 
clamp bolts)

Brake fluid 
level 
(P.443)

• FMVSS No.116 

DOT 3 or SAE 
J1703 brake fluid
FMVSS No.116 
DOT 4 or SAE 
J1704 brake fluid

• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only 

for adding brake 
fluid)

Engine 
coolant 
level 
(P.440)

• “Toyota Super Long 

Life Coolant” or a 
similar high quality 
ethylene gly-
col-based non-sili-
cate, non-amine, 
non-nitrite and 
non-borate coolant 
with long-life hybrid 
organic acid tech-
nology
For the U.S.A.:
“Toyota Super Long 
Life Coolant” is 
pre-mixed with 50% 
coolant and 50% 
deionized water.
For Canada:
“Toyota Super Long 
Life Coolant” is 
pre-mixed with 55% 
coolant and 45% 
deionized water.

• Funnel (used only 

for adding coolant)

Engine oil 
level 
(P.437)

• “Toyota Genuine 

Motor Oil” or equiva-
lent

• Rag or paper towel
• Funnel (used only 

for adding engine 
oil)

Fuses 
(P.461)

• Fuse with same 

amperage rating as 
original

Light bulbs 
(P.464)

• Bulb with same 

number and wattage 
rating as original

• Flathead screw-

driver

• Wrench

Items

Parts and tools

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7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

7

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Radiator 
and con-
denser 
(P.440)



Tire infla-
tion pres-
sure 
(P.453)

• Tire pressure gauge
• Compressed air 

source

Washer 
fluid 
(P.443)

• Water or washer 

fluid containing anti-
freeze (for winter 
use)

• Funnel (used only 

for adding water or 
washer fluid)

WARNING

The engine compartment contains 

many mechanisms and fluids that 

may move suddenly, become hot, 

or become electrically energized. 

To avoid death or serious injury, 

observe the following precautions.

■

When working on the engine 

compartment

●

Keep hands, clothing and tools 

away from the moving fan and 

engine drive belt.

●

Be careful not to touch the 

engine, radiator, exhaust mani-

fold, etc. right after driving as 

they may be hot. Oil and other 

fluids may also be hot.

●

Do not leave anything that may 

burn easily, such as paper and 

rags, in the engine compart-

ment.

●

Do not smoke, cause sparks or 

expose an open flame to fuel or 

the battery. Fuel and battery 

fumes are flammable.

Items

Parts and tools

●

Be extremely cautious when 

working on the battery. It con-

tains poisonous and corrosive 

sulfuric acid.

■

When working near the elec-

tric cooling fan or radiator 

grille

Be sure the engine switch is OFF.

With the engine switch in ON, the 

electric cooling fan may automati-

cally start to run if the air condi-

tioning is on and/or the coolant 

temperature is high. (P.440)

■

Safety glasses

Wear safety glasses to prevent 

flying or falling material, fluid 

spray, etc. from getting in your 

eyes.

NOTICE

■

If you remove the air cleaner 

filter

Driving with the air cleaner filter 

removed may cause excessive 

engine wear due to dirt in the air.

434

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

1

Pull the hood lock release 
lever.

The hood will pop up slightly.

2

Pull the auxiliary catch lever 
to the left and lift the hood.

3

Hold the hood open by insert-
ing the support rod into the 
slot.

Hood

Opening the hood

WARNING

■

Pre-driving check

Check that the hood is fully closed 

and locked.

If the hood is not locked properly, 

it may open while the vehicle is in 

motion and cause an accident, 

which may result in death or seri-

ous injury.

■

After installing the support 

rod into the slot

Make sure the rod supports the 

hood securely preventing it from 

falling down onto your head or 

body.

NOTICE

■

When closing the hood

Be sure to return the support rod 

to its clip before closing the hood. 

Closing the hood with the support 

rod not clipped could cause the 

hood to bend.

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7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

7

Maintena

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re

■

Front

■

Rear

Positioning a floor 

jack

When using a floor jack, fol-
low the instructions in the 
manual provided with the 
jack and perform the opera-
tion safely.
When raising your vehicle 
with a floor jack, position 
the jack correctly. Improper 
placement may damage 
your vehicle or cause injury.

Location of the jack point

436

7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance



1.8 L 4-cylinder (2ZR-FAE) engine

Washer fluid tank (P.443)
Engine coolant reservoir (P.436)
Fuse boxes (P.461)
Engine oil level dipstick (P.437)
Engine oil filler cap (P.438)
Battery (P.442)
Brake fluid reservoir (P.441)
Radiator (P.440)
Condenser (P.440)
Electric cooling fan

Engine compartment

Components

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7-3. Do-it-yourself maintenance

7

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

2.0 L 4-cylinder (M20A-FKS) engine

Washer fluid tank (P.443)
Engine coolant reservoir (P.436)
Fuse boxes (P.461)
Engine oil filler cap (P.438)
Engine oil level dipstick (P.437)
Battery (P.442)
Brake fluid reservoir (P.441)
Radiator (P.440)
Condenser (P.440)
Electric cooling fan

With the engine at operating 
temperature and turned off, 
check the oil level on the dip-
stick.

■

Checking the engine oil

1

Park the vehicle on level 
ground. After warming up the 
engine and turning it off, wait 
more than 5 minutes for the 
oil to drain back into the bot-
tom of the engine.

Checking and adding the 
engine oil