[Sunnysue]

I took my Monte Carlo there, all the time. Touchless and brushless....but somewhere through the line, those big strips go over the top of the car. My question is......would this be a bad thing, for my 2011 Equinox, because of the antenna, on top? Does the antenna come off, and if so, should I take it off, before washing. Or........should I avoid touchless all together, and hand wash? How do you wash your car?

Sue

 

[NoobNox]

it isn't really "touchless" if something other than water touches your car at any point. Having said that, those microfiber strips used in "brushless" washes aren't too bad...as long as your car doesn't have a heavy layer of grit on it when those strips flop down. I use a brushless carwash that does a pretty good job of making sure most of the heavy stuff is rinsed off before the strips ever touch the paint....but it still isn't as safe as truly touchless.

 

[KFUDGE88]

I've taken my Terrain through many car washes and have not had a problem with the antenna.

 

[GMCdriver]

... and as long as the vehicle that went in there before you wasn't some kind of mud covered pig.

I only use the 'soft touch' car washes at my dealership because thay are not generlly speaking 'open to the public.'

For public carwashes I only use the true touchless ones that only spray water or blow air but don't have cloth contact with the vehicle.

 

[nuclear1986]

Does the antenna come off, and if so, should I take it off, before washing.

Yes, it does come off. If you are worried about it, you can unscrew it before a wash.

 

[reako]

Sure they're a good idea! Keeping your vehicle clean is a great way to get some more life out of it. All that salt and road grime takes it's toll on some parts of the vehicle. However I have tried 2 or 3 new touch-less car wash places recently with fairly poor results. Generally there are a few key areas that never get quite clean enough for me (windshield, rear of vehicle, wheels/wheel wells/tires etc.) and the water spots they leave can create even more work for you later. These days they skimp on soap and the water does not seem as clean. Try a few different places until you find one that really works well, I can think of at least one in my area that generally does a passable job.

 

[RNOX]

Place near me does a hand wash for $14. 2 guys soap the car and then they drive it through a rinser and foam wax. They do the door jams too, have dryers and then they towel dry. The rinser is high enough to do the rig for an 18 wheeler. If I'm in a rush I go to a touchless Mobil wash (Has a sprayer arm go aroung the vehicle. It does a good job. No car wash even "brushless" are touching my Nox.

 

[KFUDGE88]

A place near me I just started going to offers $16 for a high pressure spray down, scrub the tires and bumpers, put you through a soft cloth wash, hand dry vehicle, vacuum interior, wash mats, and clean interior and exterior windows. They do a phenomenal job and no water spots.

 

[Sunnysue]

On the same subject...........what causes the swirl marks I sometimes see on dark colored vehicles? I have the jet black Equinox, and I want to avoid this problem.

Thanks for the help and advice!!

Sue

 

[KFUDGE88]

I believe it is the way you wash your car....most people "swirl" the sponge/cloth when washing causing the small particles of dirt to scratch the clear coat. There is a thread on here on how to properly wash your car to minimize that. Basically I think if you wash it up and down instead of swirling it will help from the scratches showing. I might be wrong so someone please correct if I am but I'm pretty sure that is why.

 

[GARYD]

Summer = I hand wash, Winter = brushless car wash.
If my car was really dirty and there was only a regular car wash, I wouldn't hesitate to take it there. I'm just not that anal about where to get it washed.
I've never been that picky about washing my cars, even my Vettes(except for concourses).
I use plenty of water and "auto" type soap. I have never in 50 years had any kind of paint problem on any of my vehicles.
Hand washing is the best because you can get the jump on any scratches or chips and touch them up before they get worse. A good wash and a couple waxes a year and you should not have any problems.

And don't use the same wash mitt/sponge on the car that you use for the wheels. Wash from the top down......with lots of water.

 

[RNOX]

On the same subject...........what causes the swirl marks I sometimes see on dark colored vehicles? I have the jet black Equinox, and I want to avoid this problem.

Thanks for the help and advice!!

Sue

Don't take to any commercial wash unless it is "touchless" ("Brushless will still leave swirl marks) or take to a good handwash place when cold. If you DIY use clean wash mitts and , like said before top to botton and use a seperate rag for wheels (I do the wheels last so they do not get the brake dust in the bucket. Wax regularly and clean all wash mitts after use.