[FelineFreddie]

Just as the threat title asks… Has anyone washed their Solterra using an automated drive-thru car wash yet?

Were there any unexpected problems or issues?

 

[sparky3903]

Hey, I just did today. No issue other than the car kept switching from my Apple Car play to the notification system showing close objects. It kept thinking I was getting too close to the brushes and such but it never did any automatic breaking or anything. I am sure theres a way to disable it but I haven't looking into it yet.

 

[Whoabear]

Page 577 on the manual says the pre collision system can be turned off using the multi-media display. I am not sure how exactly.

 

[Tucson John]

I know automated car washes are a necessity anywhere it gets really cold, but arrrrghhhhh! No, don't let those sandpaper brushes touch a Solterra! Oh the humanity.

OK, I got that out.

I tried using an automated car wash on my 2015 "beater" Toyota Camry XLE. But after 2-3 washes, there were bunches of scratches all over the headlights and a little bit less on the paint, though still visible. I just could not subject the Camry to anymore torture. I certainly would love to use automated car washes. Are there any types of automated car washes the readers have found that are much easier on the headlights & paint?

 

[JayEM]

I know automated car washes are a necessity anywhere it gets really cold, but arrrrghhhhh! No, don't let those sandpaper brushes touch a Solterra! Oh the humanity.

OK, I got that out.

I tried using an automated car wash on my 2015 "beater" Toyota Camry XLE. But after 2-3 washes, there were bunches of scratches all over the headlights and a little bit less on the paint, though still visible. I just could not subject the Camry to anymore torture. I certainly would love to use automated car washes. Are there any types of automated car washes the readers have found that are much easier on the headlights & paint?

I exclusively use touchless (spray-only) car washes and haven't had any problems. They don't do a very good job if your car is super dirty (especially in the rear of cars that are shorter than their "one length fits all" model), but they're good for getting road salt etc. off when it's too cold to wash the car in the driveway.

 

[HeyChris]

As a long Subaru owner. ... Please do not use the automated car washes.... If in desperation, the touchless.... Those spinning brushes will pinstripe your Subaru.

Hand wash or nothing.

Then again, I am not in a salted road environment....

 

[jmwk]

How about pressure washers? Either coin operated or a modest one at home?

 

[n6nl]

I will say that I was very sorry I used to wash my Land Cruiser with a pressure washer, on occasion.

It forced some water under the rubber window seal on the rear window and eventually it rusted through.

Other local Land Cruisers didn’t have the problem, so it wasn’t just the local humidity and sea/salt spray.

I would never wash a vehicle with a pressure washer, ever again.

Granted, this took 15 years, but a Land Cruiser should last a lifetime.

 

[jayrueck2]

I have used the automated washes with the clothes, not the brushes. Just turn off all the collision and detection sensors prior and turn them back on right after.
Only issue i have every time is that the blowers at the end always open the touch-latch outer charging door. I have to stop and get out after each wash to shut.

 

[JayEM]

I will say that I was very sorry I used to wash my Land Cruiser with a pressure washer, on occasion.

It forced some water under the rubber window seal on the rear window and eventually it rusted through.

Other local Land Cruisers didn’t have the problem, so it wasn’t just the local humidity and sea/salt spray.

I would never wash a vehicle with a pressure washer, ever again.

Granted, this took 15 years, but a Land Cruiser should last a lifetime.

I think if you use a sufficiently wide-angle spray tip with the pressure washer, and keep the wand far enough away from the car, you might be OK....

That said, "when I was much younger" I used an older (narrow-angle) pressure washer on my 16-year-old daughter's first car, a 13-year-old Accord. I managed to strip a good amount of the oxidized paint off the roof! Needless to say, it's taken me a long time to muster the courage to use a pressure washer on a newer car. I'm just a lot more careful now than I used to be (in a lot of things).

 

[FelineFreddie]

Age + Experience = Wisdom

 

[poodlemaster]

A pressure washer is way overkill for a car. I use the spray washers at our local self serve car wash, and the brushes there are good ones and leave no marks on the car. Those sprayers are strong enough, but nowhere near an actual pressure washer.

Lately I have been learning to use Rinseless Wash methods and chemicals, its not soap, and I am impressed by this very low impact way of cleaning your car. Mine gets dirty first on the cheeks and doors. That maybe from near laminar airflow along the sides. Anyway that is very easy to just spray down with the stuff, wait a minute or two and wipe off. I have cleaned my first set of microfiber cloths, I have a big bag, and so the only real cost, is the stuff its self. For mud I just hose it down first.

 

[bspill]

I have used the automated washes with the clothes, not the brushes. Just turn off all the collision and detection sensors prior and turn them back on right after.
Only issue i have every time is that the blowers at the end always open the touch-latch outer charging door. I have to stop and get out after each wash to shut.

How donyou turn off the collision and detection sensors? Havnt found out from manual.

 

[Kowbellski]

I use a brushless auto car wash, just the sprayers. Ran it through yesterday to get all the salt/mag chloride or whatever they use on the roads these days off. No issues. I did fold in the mirrors just to be safe.

 

[Donger703]

Had my Solterra for about 5 days and it got hammered by birds and berries. Decided to handwash since much of what was on the car dried up pretty good and required multiple passes with the sponge to get rid of it all. I think l'll be handwashing from now on.

 

[md.]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Whatcouldgowrong/comments/113rrvo

 

[HeyChris]

If window shopping for cleaning products....

I have been using Meguiars M62 & their D156 express wax for years .... Been very happy with it. (2x wax with their synthetic 2.0 item)

My silver OB doesn't have the same 'pop' as my old Forester or wife's Impreza, but it is shines nonetheless.

(Foam Cannon via garden hose application)

C.

 

[JayEM]

https://www.reddit.com/r/Whatcouldgowrong/comments/113rrvo

Eeek!

 

[n6nl]

Seen that video before. Loved it in a cringing sort of way.

 

[FelineFreddie]

I wonder if there was an extra charge for cleaning out the rear compartment…