Anyone ever notice damage from a car wash?

[minimalist]

Every time I take my 4runner to my local car wash my back bumper has some new scratch, scuff, or gouge. do you guys know if they are liable?

 

[1engineer]

They are not liable for any damage. Judging from your pictures it looks like those scratches are caused by you dragging something across the bumper.

A simple google search will cause you to never take your vehicle through a car wash that has brushes and such contact the vehicle. Go touchless or don't go at all if you want to take care of the vehicle's finish.

 

[FrenchToasty]

Is there a cute girl there? If not, why do you keep going somewhere that keeps mistreating your baby?

 

[MinecraftGriefer]

That looks like normal wear and tear. Btw automatic carwashes are bad for your car. Ones with giant brushes damages your exterior and the "touchless" ones use strong soaps that destroy your paint and clearcoat. If you really love your car, pay a real professional car detailer to give you a handwash.

 

[minimalist]

Is there a cute girl there? If not, why do you keep going somewhere that keeps mistreating your baby?

First time I didn't think anything of the scuff on the valance. Second time was a big ole gouge and got me thinking. This time I took a photo before going I'm and made sure to pay extra attention. Confirmed when I pulled out of the car wash and got home.

 

[minimalist]

That looks like normal wear and tear. Btw automatic carwashes are bad for your car. Ones with giant brushes damages your exterior and the "touchless" ones use strong soaps that destroy your paint and clearcoat. If you really love your car, pay a real professional car detailer to give you a handwash.

I had honestly never even heard of that. I see much nicer cars than mine going through there regularly. Never really considered they'd do damage.

 

[Yukon4Runner]

Running a new vehicle through a non-touchless car wash? Expect scratches and be happy when there are none.

Many new auto owners (and even old auto owners) NEVER NEVER NEVER use a car wash.

 

[Brandonium]

Yeah, I am surprised that you are surprised that this would happen in an auto carwash. I NEVER have and NEVER will take anything that I value through one of those. You're just asking for it.

If I can't find the time to hand wash it myself then the washing will have to wait.

Time to go ask Walter White for some cash...

 

[Yukon4Runner]

....

 

[(none)]

No automated carwash is going to help your vehicle paint. The ones with brushes scratch the paint. The brushless ones still do damage with the harsh chemicals.

Wash and wax by hand for best results, otherwise just keep doing what you're doing.

 

[BLACK-FL4RUNNER]

I'm pretty sure all this happened at a car wash....
:spy:

 

[Wasatch]

I run my IS 350 and the my new T4R through the local brush car wash weekly not worrying about very small scratches. I've learned to let many more things slide as a I get older (only 37) and my stress and anxiety level has come down tremendously.

 

[mybabydaddy]

I run my IS 350 and the my new T4R through the local brush car wash weekly not worrying about very small scratches. I've learned to let many more things slide as a I get older (only 37) and my stress and anxiety level has come down tremendously.

^^^This.

I used to care; now I don't. I used to hand wash all my toys. Don't have the time these days. I apply a good wax job, keep up with it as best as possible, car wash 90% of the time and finish detailing at home. Hand wash it a couple times a year to really clean it up.

Besides, there are times now I actually like her a little "dirty"....



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[jwkilgore]

Maybe I'm wrong, but those really do look like classic drag scratches generally caused during loading/unloading.

Is it possible the scratches were there before you went through the wash but were hidden by dirt? It wouldn't take much dirt, dust, or grime to camouflage a light scratch; just enough to obscure the reflection. Or is it just a coincidence that the scratches caused by the car wash just happen to have occurred in the exact same place most SUVs get their first "wear and tear" scratches?

This reminds me of my wife's reaction the first time she saw me load the rear of my 4Runner with a load of firewood. It was about 6 months old, and she absolutely freaked out becasue of the scratches. It was worse than the time I took her off-road and whacked the front air dam. She just couldn't handle the fact I was using a SUV as a vehicle for sport and utility.

 

[wfo9]

I'm pretty sure all this happened at a car wash....
:spy:

Yea, the local car wash has put scratches all over my 4runner. Where else would all that pin striping have come from?:loco: It was flawless before I ran it through that machine of destruction.

 

[jtc44]

Every time I take my 4runner to my local car wash my back bumper has some new scratch, scuff, or gouge. do you guys know if they are liable?

As 1eng said, they aren't liable.

Since you seem to care about your vehicle (I do too btw,) do yourself a favor and order a bottle of Optimum No Rinse. It's super easy, saves money/water AND it 'can' be enjoyable. I wash my vehicles this way in the warmer months and it stays cleaner for longer.

For all the automatic car wash bashers, I'll take ANY of them over a mag chloride covered vehicle all day!

 

[amalik]

As 1eng said, they aren't liable.

Since you seem to care about your vehicle (I do too btw,) do yourself a favor and order a bottle of Optimum No Rinse. It's super easy, saves money/water AND it 'can' be enjoyable. I wash my vehicles this way in the warmer months and it stays cleaner for longer.

For all the automatic car wash bashers, I'll take ANY of them over a mag chloride covered vehicle all day!

Not only what you said...

Winter months makes it damn near impossible to wash at home unless you use rinsless, which i imagine is not worth destroying microfiber clothes in the dirty winter.

How often do you clean rig after driving on mag chloride streets? They use that posion here in CO also.

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[amalik]

You guys have some pretty crappy experiences. My newest vehicle is a 2007 civic (my t4r is 20 yrs old) with bright silver paint. After auto wash, i can't notice any scratches. Local carwash uses what appears to be microfiber or other soft cloths on the spinning machines in the auto. Is that unheard of or something?

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[atchcraft]

I was at a car wash this summer and had to take an important call. I stepped away from the crown for privacy, which was next to the machine exit, out of view of the waiting area. As I was talking, a Tahoe came off the conveyor thingy, completely unattended, rolled down the exit and crash into a planter box. As I was looking for someone to tell, a Mercedes rolled out right behind. It rolled right out and crashed into the Tahoe. Finally, someone came running over, still out of everyone's sight, and separated the cars. I walked over to the waiting area and asked the crowd who owned a Tahoe or a Mercedes. 1/2 of them ignored me, the other 1/2 looked at me like I was crazy. As the cars pulled around, with the attendants pretending like nothing had happened... "no one?... Ok"

 

[Mybuddytmil]

I never use automatic car washes. I road through one of these things back in the day and the car physically was pushed around, jerked, shook, vibrated from the force of the spinning brushes beating on the car. They even have a sign that states they are not liable for damage when you drive in.