Touchless car wash question

its a gamble anytime you take a car thru a car wash. i personally would never do it. i have seen some ant' break off, and some that stay on. i would take it off for peace of mind tho. try and find a "touch-free" wash and you should not have any worries then. car washes with those brushes WILL DESTROY your paint!! i detail cars for a living and i see the effects from those car washes. it causes swirl marks in paint and damages finishes. good luck

You shouldn't have to worry about it if it's a touchless car wash. I've used touchless car washes for years without any problems with the antenna.

You only have to worry about the brushes like 2loud said.

Depending on where you go, the brushes are a softer fabric, but as they get wet, they get heavy. I have seen a couple washes with cheesecloth fabric on the brushes, but as it gets wet, they are like a lead weight rubbing on the car.

thanks for the responses. and yes, i am planning to use touchless car wash. i dont like the ones with the swirling cloths.

i just wanted to be sure that even with touchless car wash, the antenae would be ok.

i guess it is.

thanks!

a little off topic but i went to a touchless carwash and they have powerful fans there that blow off the water well it put a dent in my car i didnt notice for a couple hours went back they said cant prove it etc so im SOL and the dent was under my antenna so my reception i noticed is worse I AM SO PISSED OFF

I keep a little wrench in my space under the radio. I think the correct size, 5/32" I believe it is since I'm not at home right now. Just unscrew it & leave it in the back seat. There is a drain pipe under the antenna, I saw it in my wall behind the trunk in my 5 door.

I've never had any problems with a touchless car wash while having the antennae on. Most places that use the brush/mop type car wash will remind you to remove your antennae. The hole doesn't need to be covered. You don't even need a tool to unscrew it.

Sleepered, are you sure that the car wash was what caused the dent? From my experience at all the car washes I've been to, those fans aren't strong enough to put a dent. In most cases, the jet of water is stronger than the air. If somehow the fans did do the damage, I would imagine that it could be popped back out.

i heard a noise that sounded like a pop and when i went there before it was pretty strong sounds like a F*cking jet taking off ill post pics for u 2 see tommrow

the car wash i go to is a "brushless" car wash, but they still take the antenna off. it unscrews easily, so there no point in risking it.

ah you lazy people LOL

i wash my own car even during winter, im pathetic

Most touchless car washes I've been to still leave dirt and a film on the car, Ill just spend the hlaf an hour and wash my car. And save 9 bucks in the process.

I'm with you on that one Yamaha, but one thing I've noticed about the difference in car washes in California vs car washes in the north east is that we have Mexicans that actually vacuums our car, pre-washes it before it's sent through the touchless car wash, and then they also dry your car and do your window. So, the end result would be as good as you washing it yourself. Of course your wheels won't be as clean as if you detailed it yourself but you can only ask for so much at this price. All this for as little as $6 if you do the early bird special.

My time would actually cost more if I were to wash it myself, and that's not even counting the cost of water and supplies.

i'd never touch one since i have that custom spoiler on my car kinda worried about that blower at the end where it shakes the whole car and it might brake the spoiler what do you guys think?

if it brakes the spoiler, you should get a refund scott, lol. i wouldnt worry too much. i only get these car washes when its winter, or my car is really dirty, which is rare. which reminds me, I need to get a car wash.

the spoiler is only held on by screws though

hmm... i would wash the car myself. but its winter, its silly cold and salt under the car is no good.

ok... so really. some people say take it out. some people say leave it.

the ones we have heare are jets of water and soaking of foamy soap and jet of water again. before air dry. so your saying that the jets of water might bend the wire???

yikeS!!!

i might take it off just to be sure

elantra_ON said:

Ok, i searched and i think i didnt find anything about this.

Anyway, My 5 door elantra has one of those radio antenae that doesnt shrink down to the car when the radio is off. i got the one that looks like a piece of flexible wire.

anyways, my question is, when i go into a touchless car wash machine. Do i have to unscrew it before going in? or will it be fine since its touchless and the antenae is flexible.

if you do unscrew it, what do you do with the antenae hole? do you tape something over it?

its freezing here at auto detailing bethesda md, washing car by hand not a good idea.

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When I first bought my 03' R53 a couple months back, I took it through a touchless car wash and turned off the car. Afterwards, I could barely get it to start, and it would stall with any throttle. I had to let it sit for a half hour and made it home. Left it running for a half hour and it hasn't had an issue since. So, either I shouldn't have shut my car off in the wash, or should I just not take her through auto washes anymore?