Thin sheet metal and powerful carwash dryers do not mix

Yikes! That's yet another reason not to drive the car through the Grind-O-Wash. Good to hear it didn't cause any noticeable damage.

 

I've taken my c through 2 car washes and that same thing happened to me both times as well. I don't have the sunroof, but I guess you having less sheet metal up there doesn't make a difference. There wasn't any damage to the roof on mine either. I'll have to try to remember not to take it through the car wash again, though.

 

I've got my eye on a place across town that is supposed to do a complete interior and exterior cleaning and detailing with no nasty machines involved. Entu is quite dirty, but with winter setting in I'm not sure I want to spend the money.

 

Hm. I never have had any issues at my normal touchless carwash. Then again, I don't have the sunroof. I've had four different cars through it with no issues.

 

I have only washed my Prius by hand so far but you folks really have me nervous, have any other folks experienced this? I had no problem going out on a limb with a new model but this isn't exactly one of the issues I was hoping to hear about.

 

I haven't used a touchless wash (yeah, yeah), but the drying portion of my car wash hasn't done anything like that. I do not have a sunroof. The little front windshield wiper does move around a bit and make me nervous, though.

 

I have been through the touchless about 3 times now. Haven't had an issue, but perhaps the dryer fan speed is lower than some on the market?

 

Speaks more to poor construction on the Prius C as it's not an issue with other cars or other Prius.

 

Ah, another advantage to being CHEAP. I, when not washing at home, use the manual/wand washes in the area.

 

I've taken mine to a brush-less car wash multiple times no issues what so ever with the air dryer. I try not to use those brushes I think they cause scratches on the paints surface. So the other day I took it to a regular and used the nozzle only. If weather permits I just hand wash it.

 

I normally go to a self-service place - I have no idea if you guys have an equivalent - and basically just go around with the high pressure hose through its various settings. I don't use the "foam brush" stage which is basically a broom with suds coming out of it. When done, I chamois it down. This is normally enough as I do it quite regularly.

Occasionally I'll wash it by hand in the wash bay here at home with sponge and bucket etc. I do it in sections and must be a perfectionist because it takes me foooooooorever*. Like every car I've handwashed since my mother had a 1996 Camry, the roof is not built solid like a tank. If you are putting a moderate amount of pressure on it, there is give in it. I don't have a sunroof, but it seems normal to me for a modern car.

* Admittedly the last time I handwashed it was because I was asked to fill in at the last moment as a wedding car, so I did want it utterly spotless.

 

I've been taking my C2 through the touchless wash at my local gas station since I bought it in April and I've never had any issues using the "blow dry". And I always use the dry cycle, and I don't have a sunroof.

 

I bet this was caused by thermal expansion of the sheet steel. Your 30F roof was changed to 120F roof and in the process got slightly larger until it cooled off

 

have my C4 wash last night, no problem on the blow dry, I do have a moon roof though