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MACE
Dodge Dakota
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2/20/2002
14:17:10
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 Subject: Brushless car washes
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Any problems taking a DAK through a brushless
car wash, with the plastic bug shield and window
visors?
Anyone ever have these pieces get damaged, cracked, fall off, etc?
Thanks in advance
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Dave
Dodge Dakota
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2/20/2002
14:23:17
| RE: Brushless car washes
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DONT EVER TAKE A DODGE TO A CARWASH, espically one with brushes. Brushless carwashes, take the wax off the truck, leaving it nice and dull. DC uses the softest paint possible. Black is the worst. Car washes that have brushes will lieave millions of scratches. I use only Meguiars products on mine. Find a friend that has a garage that will let you wash the truck in doors.
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Bill
Dodge Dakota
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2/20/2002
16:27:06
| RE: Brushless car washes
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I have a black CC 2001 and have taken it through the carwashes a bunch. THe one I go to uses the soft close brushes, not the hard plastic ones that really scratch the paint. My old Jeep Grand Cherokee had the plastic bug deflector and I NEVER took it through a car wash with brushes. Can really do a number on them from what I have heard. I would do that either at a brushless or do it by hand.
Bill
http://members.aol.com/btaylor04/BTruck.html
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Clevite 77
Dodge Dakota
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2/20/2002
16:42:12
| RE: Brushless car washes
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this is almost related,
I had a 99 s10 xtreme with gts headlight covers, I went through the car wash at work (I worked at a Chrysler Dealer) and it ripped one of the velcro turn signal covers right off, didn't notice it till later that night, the next morning I got to the car wash before they opened and there it was in pieces, I'm assuming I ran it over after it was ripped off. Oh yea it was black to, Do not take any vehicle through one of those things, unless it's a beater that you could care less about. I use basic car soap (the blue kind) with one of those soft cotton mitts, then dry it with a California water-blade, the blade is awesome it acts as a squeegee. It's made of silicon so it's pliable enough for the contours, and it's also soft enough not to scratch the paint.
sorry about the novel
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Bill
Dodge Dakota
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2/20/2002
17:08:41
| RE: Brushless car washes
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I should have said that I only take my truck through a car wash when I can't do it myself. I have always felt doing it yourself does a better job and you have that sense of pride when people compliment you on it.
Clevite,
Where did you get that blade? It sounds really interesting.
Bill
http://members.aol.com/btaylor04/BTruck.html
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2THEXTRM
GenIII
2/20/2002
17:58:39
| RE: Brushless car washes
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I use the touchless car wash when I can't do it myself. It uses high pressure and nothing touches my Dak, clean underneath too and comes out better than if I hand washed it. The one near my work is called a Laser 6000 and it kicks ass. I have learned my lesson when I got lazy once and went through a brushless car wash, the stupid dryers at the end left scratches that I had to buff out.
Flowmaster cat back, Air Raid CAD and homemade TB connect, Poweraid TB Spacer, Splitfire Plugs
3 inch body and 1.5 Block Lift, 33x11.50-16's
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Tim™
Dodge Dakota
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2/20/2002
18:13:15
| RE: Brushless car washes
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I don't bother taking my truck through a carwash, brush or brushless.
I once took my dad's old minivan, which was covered with heavy dust, through a brushless carwash. After the wash, I observed that it didn't remove ALL of the dust. All I found was huge swirls from the water pressure which left the minivan looking like it was made for the military.
With dust and grime left on the truck, small enough that you can't even notice it, you'll likely scratch the clear coat when drying it.
I had my truck waxed several times in the last month since I brought it home from the dealer. Since then, I've had no problems washing the truck with soft sheepwool mitt and plain cold water, then drying it with terry cloth towels WITH minimal scratches.
Although I am hesitant to use the Californian Blade on my truck, since black worst and easiest to see visible scratches.
Tim™
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Lesley
GenIII
2/20/2002
18:50:47
| RE: Brushless car washes
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I don't like the touchless car wash at all. I find it leaves dirt and film in the space between bed and cab, and quite often the lower panels are still dirty. And if you have any grit in the rear of the truck, it flies around and sands your paint job and windows.
I take mine to one of those do-it-yourself places. I have a bucket full of supplies that I take, including waxes, chamois and 4 towels. I find you can direct the power wash where you want, and the finish is much nicer dried by hand.
97 3.9 CC Sport. Black. Auto 3.55
Quick D Intake, JBA Stainless headers, Autolite 3923s, stainless Borla Turbo XL, V8 R/T TB,
19 lb.FMS fuel injectors. Coming 17" Boyd Coddington Smoothies
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CW
GenIII
2/20/2002
19:32:27
|  RE: Brushless car washes
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I bought a electric pressure washer to get all the big stuff off then sponge to get rid of the grime. Pressure wash off the soap and use a old windshield wiper to wipe off of the water. Then if I am in the mood I touch up with a chamis. I am going to get one of those car sqeegees off of the detailing truck that comes around to the shop. Works way better than the chamis.
2001 RC 4.7 5sp 9.25" 3.92 LSD
Ported 68mm throttle body, IAT adjuster, 3" flowmaster cat back, TPS @ .76V, 4" cold air, Roadmaster active suspention, Removed Third cat. Electric fan Convertion, Awaiting HO cams.
Working on adjustable fuel pressure with return.
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dakdar
Dodge Dakota
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2/20/2002
19:54:40
| RE: Brushless car washes
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I used to work at a major gas station two new stations opened one touchless and one with brushes, I asked why would't they make both touchless. I was told the chemicals in the touchless were corrosive in there concentrated forms and still cause paint damage over long periods of use(years) when diluted. they apparantly are different chemicals than used in the brush washes. So they wanted to give consumers the choice of scrathes or faded damaged paint.
Stick to a bucket and a soft cloth
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92dakotahd
GenII
2/20/2002
22:49:20
| RE: Brushless car washes
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So are those squeegees safe for the paint, I have a 92 dak with it's share of battle scars and I usually use the local do-it-yourself place and hand dry it. with terry cloth towels. I was worried that the squeegee would scratch the paint. I find that with a dark green paint job handwashing can take too long and the water and/or soap usually dries on the truck and I have to rewash it.
WARNING: NEVER LET YOUR MOTHER OR ANYOTHER UNEDUCATED PERSON WASH YOUR DRYING TOWELS, IF YOUR LEATHER CHAMOIS GETS BLEACHED IT WILL COME OUT LOOKING AND FEELING LIKE BACON, TAKE IT FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOWS. :(
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CW
GenIII
2/20/2002
23:15:01
| RE: Brushless car washes
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Just make sure that every little bit of dirt is off of the paint and it is safe. I have used the old wiper blade many times and never hurt the paint at all.
2001 RC 4.7 5sp 9.25" 3.92 LSD
Ported 68mm throttle body, IAT adjuster, 3" flowmaster cat back, TPS @ .76V, 4" cold air, Roadmaster active suspention, Removed Third cat. Electric fan Convertion, Awaiting HO cams.
Working on adjustable fuel pressure with return.
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DeaPee
Dodge Dakota
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2/20/2002
23:35:01
| RE: Brushless car washes
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I take my truck through the touchless washes every now and then. They do a decent job, but, obvoiusly, not as good as a person could do.
I eat lunch at a Wendy's every now and then and I usually sit by the window. There's a touch car wash across the lot and I've seen cars come out of there with antennas ripped off or spare tire covers flailing in the wind. Avoid the touch car washes at all costs.
- Dave
- 01 RC SLT 4x4 3.9 BLACK
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dodgeee-O
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2002
00:50:07
|  RE: Brushless car washes
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Bill, I bought a California Blade at my local Canadian Tire. If you don't live in Canada then try one of those as seen on tv booths in malls (if they have one).
Black is a B1TCH of a color! Every week I find yet another nick in the paint after washing, and I can't get the damn truck to look perfect no matter what I do. If i hadn't put a stereo/tint/alarm/starter on the thing i would most likely sell it and buy a intense blue dakota. I've taken it to the dealership 3 times to get buffed. I had swirl marks so bad from one of their dumb@ss serviceman that they had to bring the shop to a professional shop that hand buffed it for 6 hours. Black trucks/cars look better than any other color just after buffing or waxing but doesn't last !
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12GA.Dak
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2002
09:28:49
| RE: Brushless car washes
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I've owned my black '02 QC for two weeks now and have brought it to the local carwash twice. Now its COVERED with little scratches. :-(
I'm stopping at the automotive store on my way home tonight and buying a bucket and supplies. NO MORE CARWASHES FOR MY DAK!
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FastRT6dakota
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2002
10:53:29
| RE: Brushless car washes
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I work at an auto parts store for about another two weeks here, and I've had the opportunity to try just about every wash, wax, soap, shammy, towel, cloth, and additive around. I found that the best combo for getting clean and an awesome shine is to wash with just plain wesley's (blue soap), then dry with the california blade (got mine free), finish up the spots you can't get with the blade with a normal towel, use the Mothers Clay bar, then reflections polish, then mothers or meguires pure wax. after the polish, I can't set my wax bottles on the truck anymore, or they slide right off. The wax just makes the shine last. Oh yeah, don't use aluminum cleaner spray on factory wheels. It eats the clear coat. Use all wheel cleaner. learned that the hard way.
see ya!
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Tim™
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2002
11:09:57
| RE: Brushless car washes
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12GA.Dak, sorry to hear that. Try using Meguiar's X-scratch before applying good quality wax. I'm sure you'll be able to fill in those scratches, but how much you can remedy the problem--I'm not sure.
Tim™
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12GA.Dak
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2002
13:28:37
| RE: Brushless car washes
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Okay, I have my shopping list together now:
bucket, sheepwool mit, cotton towels, plain wesley's (blue soap), california blade, mothers clay bar, reflections polish, meguires x-scratch, and meguires pure wax. I hope I can get all this stuff at the local Advance Auto Parts store. Thanks for the help.
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daniel
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2002
13:54:38
| RE: Brushless car washes
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12GA, where did you take your truck to get washed? I brought my car (not my Dak) to get washed at Hoffman's (they use the soft cloth wash method) and it came out great!!! ..... and that car had caked on (and I mean CAKED ON) grime and salt and everything else from the winter. Also, the wheels were covered with crud and brake dust and they came out shining! I got what they call "The Ultimate" wash with the wheeltire cleaner option. The car looks like new again. All I have to do is clean up the few water spots from the water that drained from the mirrors etc. Has anyone ever brought their DAK through a soft cloth carwash?
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12GA.Dak
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2002
14:02:03
| RE: Brushless car washes
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well, I USE to bring it to the Jiffy Lube car wash in Delmar. Never again. Man, I can't believe all the little scratches! daniel, you don't have any of them on your dak??
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daniel
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2002
14:08:41
| RE: Brushless car washes
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I have never put my Dak through a car wash yet. I was using my Cavalier as the guinea pig (heh heh). Surprisingly it came out fine. And I took it to the Hoffman's on Delaware Ave Delmar. Is that the same as the Jiffy Lube place? I can't remember if they are one and the same or not. What comes into contact with the vehicle is the soft soapy cloth material. No brushes. I read the Hoffman's website about the technology they use at their carwashes and decided to give it a try. Do you live around Delmar? I live right in Bethlehem. We might be neighbors.
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12GA.Dak
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2002
14:20:36
| RE: Brushless car washes
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daniel, they are one and the same. don't take your dak there! yes, I'm in Delmar - howdy neighbor! :-)
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daniel
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2002
14:28:50
| RE: Brushless car washes
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Howdy neighbor! Unfortunately, black is the worse color to have when it comes to scratches. Are your scratches a bunch of swirls? What do they look like? Thanks for telling me. I was going to bring it there tomorrow after work. whereabouts are you? I am in Elm Estates on Fairlawn.
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12GA.Dak
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2002
14:44:18
| RE: Brushless car washes
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they are swirls in the clearcoat and can be seen from most any angle. I've used hoffman's for years on my wife's gold minivan and never had a problem. the dak's black paint apparantly cannot take the abuse. I live on McGuffey Lane near the Hamagrael school.
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daniel
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2002
15:00:12
| RE: Brushless car washes
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Unfortunately black just magnifies everything about 10 fold. My cousin complained about that with his TransAm. He took real good care of it and it didn't matter. I don't think it's your Dak as much as it's the color (IMHO). Pretty much every car from the factory has swirl marks if you look at it closely, just that black makes it where you really don't have to look as close! Did you notice the swirls before you took it through the carwash? Next time I go by a Dodge dealer, I am going to look at the new black Daks and see if they have noticeable swirls. Now I am curious.....
Wow. You are close. about 5 minutes tops.
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Lesley
GenIII
2/21/2002
15:06:03
| RE: Brushless car washes
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I have lots of swirls in my paint - course it is a 97 and it lives outside. I have taken it to one of those places with the soft cloth, and a team of guys at the end that hand towel dry it and vacuum it out... but it costs $20! And, I get a lot of satisfaction from doing it myself, I call it "detail therapy."
I keep black wax (for scratches), wheel cleaner, upholstery shampoo, 4 types of Meguiar's wax and cleaner, meguiar's vinyl conditioner, throttle body cleaner, scrub brush and engine shampoo in my "detail bucket"
As well as 4 terry towels and a roll of that shop towel that looks like j-cloth. Also, steel wool, to clean up my tailpipe. If I do all of those things, it takes hours. Great way to get a lot of thinking done :)
97 3.9 CC Sport. Black. Auto 3.55
Quick D Intake, JBA Stainless headers, Autolite 3923s, stainless Borla Turbo XL, V8 R/T TB,
19 lb.FMS fuel injectors. Coming 17" Boyd Coddington Smoothies
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daniel
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2002
15:12:25
| RE: Brushless car washes
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I don't mind washing vehicles myself. I agree it's nice to take pride in keeping it detailed using your own hands. One question though. What do you do in the winter time (for those in cold climates)? Myself, I find it VERY difficult to wash a vehicle when it's 10 degrees out! :) If I knew someone with his own autoshop where I could wash it inside in a heated garage, that would be different!
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MACE
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2002
20:09:54
| RE: Brushless car washes
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Thanks for all the feedback re: carwashes and products...guess I can turn the outside spikets on (live in the NE, turned them off and bled the lines) since we haven't had a real cold winter and won't have to worry about a deep freeze bursting the pipes...and wash the truck by hand.
Hey 2THEXTRM, where in NY are ya?
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Lesley
GenIII
2/21/2002
20:25:36
| RE: Brushless car washes
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I still wash mine, just powerwash it at the do it yourself. Unless it is really freezing cold out, I try to power wash it once or twice a week. I can't stand the salt & sand on it. If it is too cold though, I don't bother, the salt won't harm it until it warms up, and it isn't worth having the windows freeze up.
97 3.9 CC Sport. Black. Auto 3.55
Quick D Intake, JBA Stainless headers, Autolite 3923s, stainless Borla Turbo XL, V8 R/T TB,
19 lb.FMS fuel injectors. Coming 17" Boyd Coddington Smoothies
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jesse
Dodge Dakota
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2/21/2002
22:23:13
| RE: Brushless car washes
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I live in Ohio and I will occasionaly run my truck through the touchless car wash especially during the winter when they salt the roads. I like to get the underneath spray to help get all the salt dust off where I can't reach with a hose / wand.
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dk
Dodge Dakota
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2/22/2002
11:09:40
| RE: Brushless car washes
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When it's really cold out I go to the do it yourself places where you sink quarters in for so much time. If you go later in the evening when it's not busy you can stay in the bay and dry it off after your done.
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