Rubber strip on the roof flies off in car wash

[JosephD05]

The roof rubber strip on the passenger side came flying off when the truck was under the air dryer in the car wash. Whats worse is that it left a scratch on my passenger rear door when it was fying around. Should I just have the dealer glue it while the truck is there for other minor issues?

 

[sharp4runr]

Yup, I would. Unless you won't be able to get it in there anytime soon, then I'd just do it myself. It may fly off even more while you are on the highways so I wouldn't let it go unnoticed too long.

 

[BenSD]

That's why I have never taken my truck through a car wash. I've heard horror stories about all kinds of things that get caught up in the brushes.... car antennas, etc. Imagine that hitting your car over and over again.
I give mine nothing but hand washing. I'd do a touch free car wash in a pinch though.

 

[JosephD05]

The carwash I go to is brushless. It's all hand wash. They also hose the truck down BEFORE the wash. Some of these places are so bad, they use a wet broom with soapy water BEFORE hosing the dirt and grime off, which leads to scratches.

 

[Herd72]

Mine has done the exact same thing 3 times. I have not glued it back in just slid it back in there. Only one car was does it. It is a brushless one though. I drove off and didn't notice it hanging down until it made a flapping noise.
At least I know I am not the only one!

 

[bonedoctor]

The roof rubber strip on the passenger side came flying off when the truck was under the air dryer in the car wash. Whats worse is that it left a scratch on my passenger rear door when it was fying around. Should I just have the dealer glue it while the truck is there for other minor issues?

Uh oh, I had something similar happen. Had been through the car wash (touchless) and noticed a whistling sound on the drive home. Later discovered a black rubber strip laying on the roof, but couldn't figure out where it came from and assumed it came from the car wash. I'm gonna go look again now--I think it's still in the trash can, hopefully, if it came from my vehicle. Didn't notice anything different other than it stopped the whistling sound! It was completely free, black, about 3 ft long, with two channels on either side. Still not sure where it came from.

 

[JosephD05]

Re: Re: Rubber strip on the roof flies off in car wash

Uh oh, I had something similar happen. Had been through the car wash (touchless) and noticed a whistling sound on the drive home. Later discovered a black rubber strip laying on the roof, but couldn't figure out where it came from and assumed it came from the car wash. I'm gonna go look again now--I think it's still in the trash can, hopefully, if it came from my vehicle. Didn't notice anything different other than it stopped the whistling sound! It was completely free, black, about 3 ft long, with two channels on either side. Still not sure where it came from.

longer than three feet. I would say at least 5 maybe 6ft long.

 

[bonedoctor]

Well, sum bitch, it did come off my vehicle! I looked closely and there's a metal channel in the roof directly below the passenger side rail on the roof rack and it came from there--still not sure what it does, but there's one on the other side in the channel. The thing laid around for a couple of weeks and I had a sneaking suspicion it was from my vehicle but didn't notice that channel. Finally threw it in the trash--good thing I was lazy and haven't take out the trash. Also good that I happened to see this post--mystery solved (sort of).

 

[bonedoctor]

Re: Re: Re: Rubber strip on the roof flies off in car wash

longer than three feet. I would say at least 5 maybe 6ft long.

I was going by memory of the piece in the trash can. I pulled it out and measured it. It's 56" (4 ft 8). Still don't know exactly what it does since I've been driving around for about 3-4 weeks with it gone.

The car wash uses jets of water (kinda like a bad-ass water hose), no whirling brushes or the wiggly-waggly strips that drag across the surface. Probably came off with the jets of air that dry the vehicle. Doesn't seem to be glue or anything holding it in. Guess it snap down in that channel.

 

[sharp4runr]

The thing laid around for a couple of weeks and I had a sneaking suspicion it was from my vehicle but didn't notice that channel. Finally threw it in the trash--good thing I was lazy and haven't take out the trash.

Good gawd man! You haven't taken out the trash in weeks!!! :

 

[bonedoctor]

Good gawd man! You haven't taken out the trash in weeks!!! :

See, being lazy finally paid off! Actually, there was only a little bit in the can, otherwise I would have thrown away that critical (what exactly does it do?) rubber strip.

 

[Uneek]

I think the strip is mainly for cosmetic purposes. It probably covers up the seam between the roof sheetmetal and the side above the doors. Damn, this means I can't use the power washer on my truck. I guess they just don't make cars like they use to. :

 

[4x4v8]

That exact same thing happend to me. I was looking in the mirror to find something hanging down so I stopped and it was that strip. Needless to say I wasn't very happy. I figure I would just tell the dealership next time I took it in to be serviced.

 

[Falls]

I go through the touchless carwashes where it spray's soap and soak's , then pressure washes it off and you go through the blow dryer's.......so far no problem's....knock wood !

 

[4rundan]

Well, I don't normally go to car washes. Hearing all of this, I don't think i will start now.

 

[dingo]

I used the strong 3M double sided tape to hold it down in the channel when mine popped out. No problems so far. I would NEVER wash my car at an automatic car wash. Not even a touchless carwash. It's all hand wash in my driveway for me.

 

[pipspeak]

Are we talking the strip than runs from the windshield along each side of the roof and under the roofrack supports?

On each side of my 2004 SE those strips are bulging out of the channel just above the windshield. Guess I'll have to add this to my increasing list of warranty issues.

 

[toto]

Are we talking the strip than runs from the windshield along each side of the roof and under the roofrack supports?

On each side of my 2004 SE those strips are bulging out of the channel just above the windshield. Guess I'll have to add this to my increasing list of warranty issues.

I noticed the same thing with the bulge shortly after I got it home from the dealer new. I tried pushing them in farther, but they don't stay. They symmetric on both sides, so I figured it's just a feature.
I wouldn't expect the dealer to do anything, but post if they do.

I'd love to wash my car myself all the time, but it's not practical in a winter climate.

 

[pipspeak]

They symmetric on both sides, so I figured it's just a feature.

I'm not sure it's a feature, but who knows. Seems very un-aerodynamic to me.

 

[Aztlan]

I know there was a previous post that mentioned there was a TSB about this issue. Maybe I can find it again.