Two car washes tried to eat my car... - Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community

FRSRAVEN · 08-31-2013, 12:26 PM

First stop, 8am appointment at the Toyota dealer for 7500 mile service. Went fine, except this was not a Scion dealer, and they did not have the FR-S in their system. I brought them an oil filter to use, as I figured if the car wasn't in their system, they probably don't have the "subaru" oil filter either. I was correct on this assumption.

Service techs put in 4.5 quarts of oil. Kept checking the dipstick and wondering why it was low. I got a good chuckle watching them google the oil capacity. They added more oil in short order.

Overall, they did me a favor, saved me from driving 40 miles to a Scion dealer. I will go back, they offered solid service, and honored Scion service boost.

This is where it gets hairy. I go to my favorite touch less automatic wash...a Water Wizard in bay unit
([ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc6fv4Vcz-o"]The Water Wizard in action - YouTube[/ame])

I think the sensors were dirty, as the unit was acting a bit odd before I even drove in (started spraying early). I get the green arrow, enter the bay. The unit misjudges the length of my car, and starts the washing process from the windshield area. The Water Wizard has a boom that lowers to wash the front and back of the car. But because it had miscalculated my cars size, the boom is now lined up with the base of my hood...

Through my soapy winshield I see the boom start to lower, lined up to strike the base of my hood. I panic, and put the car into gear and am about to floor it in reverse out of the bay, when the Water Wizard stops the boom and raises it back up (safety sensors FTW). It proceeds to finished the cycle, never going passed my windshield, leaving the front of my car untouched.

I exit the machine and get a refund. I then drive to another car wash, which has a boom that travels around the car in the shape of a rectangle. Washworld Razor system (not a fan) [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjSCWowTd68"]Washworld Razor Car Wash - YouTube[/ame]

So I'm sitting in the bay, watching the boom apply soap to my car. I look away for a moment, just to hear the boom crash into my drivers side door mirror! It too had misjudged the size of my car, and was WAY to close on the drivers side.

The boom gets stuck, the machine makes a horrible noise, and resets. It then goes about the wash cycle, staying almost 3' from all sides of my car (normally its about 18").

I then get out and check for damage. Thankfully, the boom was covered in foam, and is attached with a swivel mount so that when it hits an object, it just swings backwards. The only visible damage was a mild scuff and scratch on the painted portion of my drivers side window. Not even worth complaining about, I simply will not go back to that machine.

I've been to both car washes countless times. This is the first time this has happened. Long story short; wash your own damn car!

/rant

Mossyjaw · 08-31-2013, 12:48 PM

If you are trying to protect your paint I think it would be better to use a touch less car wash. I alternate between a hand wash and a touch less wash.

In my opinion the brush washes could leave swirl marks depending on how dirty the cars in front of you that day have been. I don't know what the procedure to clean the brushes is after a truck covered in mud goes through.

FRSRAVEN · 08-31-2013, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mossyjaw

If you are trying to protect your paint I think it would be better to use a touch less car wash. I alternate between a hand wash and a touch less wash.

In my opinion the brush washes could leave swirl marks depending on how dirty the cars in front of you that day have been. I don't know what the procedure to clean the brushes is after a truck covered in mud goes through.

These were touchless washes, the exact same as in the videos. But they are only touchless if they don't accidentally slam into your car lol

thill · 08-31-2013, 01:00 PM

Touchless or handwash only for me. I usually hand wash using the two bucket method, but in the Winter that is impossible here when it is 10-30 below...

oldpueblo · 08-31-2013, 01:57 PM

Hey you should use a touchless (keeping with the trend).

SloS14 · 08-31-2013, 02:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldpueblo

Hey you should use a touchless (keeping with the trend).

Better yet, I would personally suggest a touchless.

Brndn704 · 08-31-2013, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SloS14

Better yet, I would personally suggest a touchless.

In all honesty, I would use the touchless. I don't know what's wrong with you guys suggesting the touchless. I only use the touchless. Touchless.

FRSBRZGT86FAN · 08-31-2013, 02:35 PM

Laserwash 4000s are pretty good have had no problems with those in my area.

Obsidiank · 08-31-2013, 02:54 PM

TOUCHLESS!!!

Enraged21 · 08-31-2013, 03:07 PM

um. wash your own damn car.

civicdrivr · 08-31-2013, 03:19 PM

Try this:

oldpueblo · 08-31-2013, 06:49 PM

But try it without touching it.

jeffchap · 08-31-2013, 07:43 PM

Have you considered a touchless carwash?

ZionsWrath · 08-31-2013, 07:47 PM

What is wrong with you guys, I much rather pay someone to touch it than do it myself...

Wait, what are we talking about?

08-31-2013, 12:26 PM	#1
FRSRAVEN Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Drives: 2013 FR-S Location: Texas Posts: 125 Thanks: 22 Thanked 59 Times in 33 Posts Mentioned: 3 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Two car washes tried to eat my car... First stop, 8am appointment at the Toyota dealer for 7500 mile service. Went fine, except this was not a Scion dealer, and they did not have the FR-S in their system. I brought them an oil filter to use, as I figured if the car wasn't in their system, they probably don't have the "subaru" oil filter either. I was correct on this assumption. Service techs put in 4.5 quarts of oil. Kept checking the dipstick and wondering why it was low. I got a good chuckle watching them google the oil capacity. They added more oil in short order. Overall, they did me a favor, saved me from driving 40 miles to a Scion dealer. I will go back, they offered solid service, and honored Scion service boost. This is where it gets hairy. I go to my favorite touch less automatic wash...a Water Wizard in bay unit ([ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uc6fv4Vcz-o"]The Water Wizard in action - YouTube[/ame]) I think the sensors were dirty, as the unit was acting a bit odd before I even drove in (started spraying early). I get the green arrow, enter the bay. The unit misjudges the length of my car, and starts the washing process from the windshield area. The Water Wizard has a boom that lowers to wash the front and back of the car. But because it had miscalculated my cars size, the boom is now lined up with the base of my hood... Through my soapy winshield I see the boom start to lower, lined up to strike the base of my hood. I panic, and put the car into gear and am about to floor it in reverse out of the bay, when the Water Wizard stops the boom and raises it back up (safety sensors FTW). It proceeds to finished the cycle, never going passed my windshield, leaving the front of my car untouched. I exit the machine and get a refund. I then drive to another car wash, which has a boom that travels around the car in the shape of a rectangle. Washworld Razor system (not a fan) [ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjSCWowTd68"]Washworld Razor Car Wash - YouTube[/ame] So I'm sitting in the bay, watching the boom apply soap to my car. I look away for a moment, just to hear the boom crash into my drivers side door mirror! It too had misjudged the size of my car, and was WAY to close on the drivers side. The boom gets stuck, the machine makes a horrible noise, and resets. It then goes about the wash cycle, staying almost 3' from all sides of my car (normally its about 18"). I then get out and check for damage. Thankfully, the boom was covered in foam, and is attached with a swivel mount so that when it hits an object, it just swings backwards. The only visible damage was a mild scuff and scratch on the painted portion of my drivers side window. Not even worth complaining about, I simply will not go back to that machine. I've been to both car washes countless times. This is the first time this has happened. Long story short; wash your own damn car! /rant

08-31-2013, 02:35 PM	#8
FRSBRZGT86FAN Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Drives: 2023 GR SUPRA,15 FR-S (SOLD) Location: Philadelphia, PA Posts: 4,234 Thanks: 3,087 Thanked 2,101 Times in 1,397 Posts Mentioned: 31 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s)	Laserwash 4000s are pretty good have had no problems with those in my area. __________________ SOLDOFT Stage 2 UEL E85/Nameless Performance 3 inch axleback with 5 inch mufflers/ TRD CAI / CNT UEL/ Cusco Strut BAR & LHD Brake Stop / "JDM" Toyota Badges / WinJet JDM headlights - DRL MOD from fteightysix.com - 5000K Diode Dynamics HID kit / Diode Dynamics LED interior Lights and sidemarker bulbs / JDM Clear Sidemarkers / Diode Dynamics LED switchbacks/ OLM LED rear turn signals / Tap Turn RelaySOLD

08-31-2013, 03:19 PM	#11
civicdrivr Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Drives: 2018 Golf R Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 2,807 Thanks: 5,386 Thanked 1,095 Times in 647 Posts Mentioned: 68 Post(s) Tagged: 7 Thread(s)	Try this: __________________ Parting out HERE

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08-31-2013, 12:48 PM	#2
Mossyjaw Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Drives: Subaru BRZ Location: GA Posts: 35 Thanks: 0 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	If you are trying to protect your paint I think it would be better to use a touch less car wash. I alternate between a hand wash and a touch less wash. In my opinion the brush washes could leave swirl marks depending on how dirty the cars in front of you that day have been. I don't know what the procedure to clean the brushes is after a truck covered in mud goes through.

08-31-2013, 01:00 PM	#4
thill Senior Member Join Date: May 2012 Drives: 2020 SS1LE (previous 13 BRZ owner) Location: North Pole Posts: 2,753 Thanks: 328 Thanked 1,463 Times in 802 Posts Mentioned: 20 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	Touchless or handwash only for me. I usually hand wash using the two bucket method, but in the Winter that is impossible here when it is 10-30 below...

08-31-2013, 02:54 PM	#9
Obsidiank 10 Series Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2013 Drives: Scion FR-S 10 Location: Chicago Posts: 187 Thanks: 24 Thanked 112 Times in 54 Posts Mentioned: 2 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	TOUCHLESS!!!

08-31-2013, 03:07 PM	#10
Enraged21 #RememberTheBuster Join Date: Aug 2012 Drives: Firestorm FRS MT Location: Orlando, FL Posts: 597 Thanks: 637 Thanked 154 Times in 102 Posts Mentioned: 6 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s)	um. wash your own damn car.

08-31-2013, 07:47 PM	#14
ZionsWrath Thanks Join Date: Apr 2013 Drives: BRZ Location: NY Posts: 4,163 Thanks: 5,989 Thanked 3,100 Times in 1,498 Posts Mentioned: 38 Post(s) Tagged: 3 Thread(s)	What is wrong with you guys, I much rather pay someone to touch it than do it myself... Wait, what are we talking about?

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