$15 carwash = $4047.18 in damages and repairs

Mikedezzy · Mar 11, 2015

Hey everybody,

I ran my T4R through the drive through carwash in Tyler Texas and my roof rack and light bar got caught in the overhead spinning brush and it ripped my Baja Utility rack and my Light bar upward tearing my wires off my light bar and bending the front of my roof rack to 90 degrees. Once the Rack bent all the way upward it pushed my sunroof in and bent it all the tracking up and soap and water began pouring into my vehicle. After about 45 seconds of honking they managed to stop the car wash and two guys had to hang on the rack to bend it down enough to get me out of the wash..

I filed an incident report at the car wash on Saturday and on Monday I got a call from the GM and they said they are not liable and will not help in anyway to get my vehicle fixed "Because we have 2 signs that clearly state that NO aftermarket parts or luggage racks are covered if damaged".

But now I am left to file it on my own insurance and the CAR WASH didnt even apologize for the damages.. Heck they didnt even refund the 15$..

Here are the pics.

Took my light bar off and this wash after the car wash:

DeathCougar · Mar 11, 2015

Why would anyone trash on their company? Guys like you are the very reason they even have signs like that. Lifted truck with an aftermarket roof rack (and a Baja rack with no front support at that), and you choose to drive it through a car wash. The brushes hooked your protruding rack and lights, and yanked it upward.

You should chalk this up to a lesson learned and take your medicine instead of blaming it on someone else. Not even trying to be a jerk about it but...this is your fault bud. It definetly sucks though having to deal with damage like that. I feel for you, especially on a nearly brand new truck. I know I would be pretty upset as well.

FactoryRide · Mar 11, 2015

Not trying to kick you while you're down, but definitely wouldn't call the car wash out on this being their fault. Especially since they have signs posted up. I would go touchless next time you decide to take it through a carwash.

Either way, it sucks to hear about your truck. Hopefully you can get it all worked out.

blkhwk · Mar 11, 2015

I have to agree with above said posts.

Mikedezzy · Mar 11, 2015

Well okay then guys.. Lesson learned.

02SE · Mar 11, 2015

Yeah, I don't feel the need to trash a Business that took appropriate steps to alert patrons to a potential issue. I'd reconsider the complaint to the BBB, too.

Sorry it happened, but it's not the car wash's fault.

Mikedezzy · Mar 11, 2015

I hear ya .. point taken and lesson learned.. I would have never expected this to happen. I also deleted that portion on my thread.

I will never go through that type of wash again for sure.

Cree · Mar 11, 2015

I mean, yeah, that isn't their fault. You're lucky you didn't do any damage to their equipment, or you'd be liable for that as well I'm sure. Why you would think it'd be a good idea to go through with a rack and light bar to hook on in the first place is beyond me. I get nervous about the stock cross bars.

Mikedezzy · Mar 11, 2015

I have used this wash since i bought my truck too.. I was a 1 in 25 occurrence. Also, the only reason i needed the wash was i finally decided to have some real fun and took it for a afternoon in the mud and then bam..

MedicLt · Mar 11, 2015

that sucks dude,,sorry for your troubles

NoDak · Mar 11, 2015

yeah I don't even trust touchless car washes. I still ended up with scratches from one on the 12 Tacoma with only factory oem equipment installed by the port.

just adding my opinion.

as least my Toyota dealer offer a exterior hand wash for $35 if you do it with your oil change

its the same guys that prep the new sale vehicles before someone comes and drives a new purchase away.

Range · Mar 11, 2015

Was this your first time going through that type of car wash? If not a good indication of a problem waiting to happen is your front license plate folding in on both sides like I see in the picture. Thats sucks though man. Worst feeling ever I'm sure.

Edit: I see it wasn't your firs time

tS_kStin · Mar 11, 2015

That is pretty much the reason I have never used an automated Car wash. I always hand wash at home. Then nothing can happen and I can wash with more detail if I want to.

BlackWorksInc · Mar 11, 2015

Our dealership actually hands out liability waivers for customers to sign since we give complimentary car washes, people with non factory roof racks, bed units, ect. don't get a wash and our porters remove the antennas to further cover their butt.

Its pretty common for this type of damage to occur with roof racks and such, so many places post signs and won't cover liability for ignoring them.

Don't get me wrong, it sucks; but the reality is that you should have thought about the fact that roof rack would be an issue with spinning brushes. Its an expensive lesson for sure.

NoDak said:
yeah I don't even trust touchless car washes. I still ended up with scratches from one on the 12 Tacoma with only factory oem equipment installed by the port.

just adding my opinion.

as least my Toyota dealer offer a exterior hand wash for $35 if you do it with your oil change

its the same guys that prep the new sale vehicles before someone comes and drives a new purchase away.

How in the hell did a touchless car wash scratch your paint? Hard water?

m85476585 · Mar 12, 2015

BlackWorksInc said:
How in the hell did a touchless car wash scratch your paint? Hard water?

Some of them use sensors to move the wash thing around the car. Laser wash is one example, but I think there are less sophisticated systems out there, too. Maybe it didn't sense some part of the vehicle and ran into it?

jicko · Mar 12, 2015

Mikedezzy said:
I have used this wash since i bought my truck too.. I was a 1 in 25 occurrence. Also, the only reason i needed the wash was i finally decided to have some real fun and took it for a afternoon in the mud and then bam..

Sorry for you bro. Thanks for the lesson, so we don't have to go thru something like that.

Have you gone thru the car wash with this rack before? You are lucky that this didn't happen the first time round. Your luck will eventually run out tho.

Do you think Baja rack will warranty the broken rack? If not, hop on my Gobi rack group buy......

CookieRoe · Mar 12, 2015

Dude, that sucks. Sorry to see this. I know all about "expensive lessons". Let's just say mine cost me nearly $7500 in damage (electrical). That's an expensive lesson I'll never forget.

Your rig looked sharp............. and it will again! :thumb:

NoDak · Mar 12, 2015

m85476585 said:
Some of them use sensors to move the wash thing around the car. Laser wash is one example, but I think there are less sophisticated systems out there, too. Maybe it didn't sense some part of the vehicle and ran into it?

in a nutshell what is above ^

since it was in the rear, I didn't notice it until I got home. but eh I got over it. its a truck and its expected since the warden drives it. she parks in places where I would never park too dang close to everyone else.

she complains all the time I park in the freaking boonies and then I go even further out past the boonies just to piss her off

Saker · Mar 12, 2015

Thats why I always hand wash my T4R...
Machines will scratch the HELL out of it.....

Now just think, someone like the OP, that has just been "Mudding", runs thru the car wash right before you have your T4R run thru.... now all some/most of the sand & dirt particles imbedded in the brushes are now doing a nice little job to your clearcoat and paint....

maybe it's just me.....nahhhh I doubt it!!!

just sayin'

Saker · Mar 12, 2015

BlackWorksInc said:
How in the hell did a touchless car wash scratch your paint? Hard water?

In our area, Touchless car washes use brushes...
There used to be, but no longer, car washes described as Brushless, they had no brushes just strong detergents, high pressure water and Blowers....nothing touched the paint.

$15 carwash = $4047.18 in damages and repairs

New member

New member

New member

Member

New member

Senior Member

New member

New member

New member

New member

Senior Member

New member

Member

New member

New member

New member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Senior Member

Similar threads

Forum statistics

Share this page

Trending content