Car Wash Damaged Car

[philoret]

Around 6pm Friday at the Circle K gas station next to Publix on Wedgewood Lane off 466, the car wash damaged a car being washed. The overhead roller crashed into the front windshield cracking severely and pressing inwards as well as denting the roof. The owner said the store admitted the wash was broken, but it was not shut off or blocked. As not on the street the damage is not a traffic incident involving police, just a civil matter.
I had never heard of such a mechanical failure in these car washes, and would have thought they were "fail safe".
While conveniently located for me, and inepensive, I think I will stick to the specialty car washes not added on to gas stations.

[Number 10 GI]

Around 6pm Friday at the Circle K gas station next to Publix on Wedgewood Lane off 466, the car wash damaged a car being washed. The overhead roller crashed into the front windshield cracking severely and pressing inwards as well as denting the roof. The owner said the store admitted the wash was broken, but it was not shut off or blocked. As not on the street the damage is not a traffic incident involving police, just a civil matter.
I had never heard of such a mechanical failure in these car washes, and would have thought they were "fail safe".
While conveniently located for me, and inepensive, I think I will stick to the specialty car washes not added on to gas stations.

Nothing is failsafe especially mechanical devices.

[bagboy]

And I might add, I have never seen a sign at a car wash that said "we are totally responsible for any and all damage to your vehicle" But there is a chance the car wash owner will do the right thing and fix the damage.

[Topspinmo]

My Car rarely gets dirty enough around here to warrant full car wash. I might have used bucket of soap maybe 4 times in the 5 years I’ve been here. Usually towel and bottle of watered down windex all it needs to get the dust off and little road grime at bottom. Never liked automatic car washes.

[FenneyGuy]

My Car rarely gets dirty enough around here to warrant full car wash. I might have used bucket of soap maybe 4 times in the 5 years I’ve been here. Usually towel and bottle of watered down windex all it needs to get the dust off and little road grime at bottom. Never liked automatic car washes.

I use my pressure washer in the driveway. Careful that you don't rub the abrasive dirt into your finish.

[karostay]

I never let anything mechanical touch the exterior of my vehicle

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Must be one of those cars I see where you can’t see the paint anymore on front just a wall of dead bugs 🙄🙄

[Rwirish]

Never, never take a car thru an automatic car wash.

[noslices1]

Why don’t you wash it yourself. No damage and it will get you outside and getting some exercise.

[davem4616]

this stuff happens more often than we realize

they have insurance and you have insurance...between the two of you someone should be submitting a claim

I hope you come out of it whole

[bncuhler@verizon.net]

All operations like that have garage keepers liability coverage. While your vehicle is riding on their conveyor, it is in their care, custody and control. They are liable for a mechanical failure that damages the vehicle. Their insurance would pay.

[greenflash245]

stick with the high end wash. skip the low buck deal

[kman32446]

That is one in a million. When was the last time you heard of something like that happening.

[J1ceasar]

Hope you DID call the police - just so there is an incident report

[John_W]

Seems like most car washes have some sort of signage.

https://www.oasiscarwashanddrye.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/signs05.1280.png

Look at the bottom of this one.

https://scontent-mia3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/53474654_2682727211767979_955856465057284096_o.jpg ?_nc_cat=108&_nc_sid=110474&_nc_ohc=4ehGmL-7MPcAX97goMF&_nc_ht=scontent-mia3-1.xx&_nc_tp=6&oh=bd73cf10e90c42c54a8c0782ec12e920&oe=5ED34213

[Topspinmo]

I use my pressure washer in the driveway. Careful that you don't rub the abrasive dirt into your finish.

I use garden hose Nozzle spray wheel wells and road grim off first. I make sure it hasn’t dried yet. I found if you spray it with watered down windex and use folded large towel and don’t wipe with dirty fold it works good. Eventually the windex will remove the wax also. So I wax every three months if it rains a lot and I drive the car in rain. When the pollen falls thick I use blower first. My Honda 8 years old and still looks like new inside and out except for few rock chips I dab with matching paint.

[Topspinmo]

That is one in a million. When was the last time you heard of something like that happening.

Across America? Probably more than convid19 illnesses?

[photo1902]

That is one in a million. When was the last time you heard of something like that happening.

You read my mind. I’ve never heard of it happening, and it sure wouldn’t stop me from using a car wash.

[PugMom]

stick with the high end wash. skip the low buck deal

wow-thats it there. many moons ago i drove a caddy thru the 'touchless' wash, the kind with just sprayers. it stripped the paint off the trunk of the car. bad mistake. i like the wash over in lake deaton @ the marathon. is all cloth & the town car can actually fit in it. i go for the Eagle wash, with clear coat--it helps repel lovebugs. good luck to the poor soul who had their vehicle damaged. i had to pay out of pocket to get it fixed

[Topspinmo]

Must be one of those cars I see where you can’t see the paint anymore on front just a wall of dead bugs 🙄🙄

No, , that who be the one’s that don’t know where the dipstick is or what goes in the tires.:shocked::popcorn:

[PugMom]

:1rotfl::D

[photo1902]

No, , that who be the one’s that don’t know where the dipstick is or what goes in the tires.:shocked::popcorn:

One more time, in English.

[Joe V.]

Why don’t you wash it yourself. No damage and it will get you outside and getting some exercise.

Fine if you have the full use of your legs. For some of us, not so good.

[EdFNJ]

I use garden hose Nozzle spray wheel wells and road grim off first. I make sure it hasn’t dried yet. I found if you spray it with watered down windex and use folded large towel and don’t wipe with dirty fold it works good. Eventually the windex will remove the wax also. So I wax every three months if it rains a lot and I drive the car in rain. When the pollen falls thick I use blower first. My Honda 8 years old and still looks like new inside and out except for few rock chips I dab with matching paint.

There are some great wash (and pre-wash) soaps out there that won't remove your wax. Try Griots Car Wash available in most of the local auto stores. The guy who detailed my vehicle recommended it and it gets great reviews on all the "detailing" forums. It could easily save you at least 1 wax a year assuming you used a good wax to start.

That being said, I will never put my car through ANY car wash.

[philoret]

It wasn't my car, I was just there for gas when it happened to someone else. It looked to me like some kind of entire mounting had to fail for so much force to be applied to the windshield, but I did not see the exact failure. Those drive through washers are also different equipment than ones in dedicated wash businesses where you do not ride in the car, maybe more durable. I suspect it was a faulty installation in that one that failed.

[justjim]

Never, never take a car thru an automatic car wash.

Why not? I have been taking my car through car washes for many years and never had any kind of issue or problem . Always tip the guys/girls too. When you had Ice/snow/salt for 3 or 4 months out of the year a car wash really was a wise choice. That said, there is a difference in car washes and I always looked for a “full service” type car wash.

[Topspinmo]

One more time, in English.

No, that would be for the ones that lease vehicle and don’t keep them over 2 or 3 years. Due to there inability to service or check fluids it’s more cost effected for them to lease.