Convertible save in soft touch car wash?

[solarguy from Ohio]

I have a 2002 SLE, and the owners manual(at least in the 2002s) does not mention if you can take the convertible through a car wash. In fact there is nothing on how to care for it! I can see, not taking it through a brush wash, but a cloth wash I would think would be Ok.
Being in Ohio and the high today is 7 degrees I can’t wash by hand, and the salt is starting to build up big time.
I know there used to be a convertible section to solarguy.com, buy I don’t see it anymore.

Thanks in Advance

[Missay]

you know..i don't have a convertible, but i could of sworn this was a topic ages ago...i don't know tho if all the convertible threads were deleted, cause i can't search for them..so who knows where they went.

i could be way off..but i think people said you weren't suppose to. like you should use a soft cloth to clean it. something like that.

if it's a reputable/large car wash that knows what they're doing or if there's a detailing place near you, i'd ask them and see what they suggest.


don't you hate that bout the cold! i wanted to try to wash it one day when we had a heat wave of 39degrees!! but the damn hose was frozen!!

[CraCol]

I run mine through no-touch units. You have to be careful of the way they spray, as some will push water up under the window seals on the sides.. It's quick to figure out which ones...

The only other issue I've seen is the dryers.. there is one I use that rattles the heck out of the rear window..

Craig

[ChiroCop]

Check the owner's manual under the section for care & maintenance. I'm pretty sure it specifically says no for convertibles. The main concern is the water being able to get in through the seam between the side windows and the rubber gasket from the top. I was desperate, and brought mine through. They raised the machinery (wheel) that rolls on top of the car, and it did no harm to the top. No water got in either. This was a thread before the merging of sections, and the overwhelming consensus was NO.

[mattacosta]

I would say do it yourself, cuz some Car Washes have signs saying they are not responsible for damage, so ur top can get f-d up and ur paying $$ for something they did. Trust me, do it yourself, my car got numerous scratches from the Car Wash, now i do it myself.!!!

[mattacosta]

I would say do it yourself, cuz some Car Washes have signs saying they are not responsible for damage, so ur top can get f-d up and ur paying $$ for something they did. Trust me, do it yourself, my car got numerous scratches from the Car Wash, now i do it myself.!!!

[Guest]

Ya what he said! Twice!

[Guest]

Ya what he said! Twice!

[adam2562]

Yes its safe in those carwashes, at my toyota we have one and we run them thru all the time, dont worry

[trinityragtopper]

Yikes - would NOT recommend driving it through a car wash. I asked when I purchased it, and called the dealer several times about mine, as well as read the owners manual--I hand wash it as directed with plain water, then dry with a chamois only (towels leave lint). I hand wash every 1-2 weeks, year-round; cover with a car cover in the summer when parked outside at work, and garage at night. Even so, at only 7 months old, it is developing dark spots on the ribbed areas and on both sides under the window in back.
I returned to the dealer last week, where I was sold some 'special' cleaner for the dark spots. Doesn't work very well. I have a white car with beige top, and was told 'that's just the way it is' with soft tops, that 'it's like a crease in pants'.
So--I would NOT recommend driving through a car wash - if I'm having this trouble with delicate hand care, I can't imagine drive through damage.
Advice anyone??

[trinityragtopper]

Yikes - would NOT recommend driving it through a car wash. I asked when I purchased it, and called the dealer several times about mine, as well as read the owners manual--I hand wash it as directed with plain water, then dry with a chamois only (towels leave lint). I hand wash every 1-2 weeks, year-round; cover with a car cover in the summer when parked outside at work, and garage at night. Even so, at only 7 months old, it is developing dark spots on the ribbed areas and on both sides under the window in back.
I returned to the dealer last week, where I was sold some 'special' cleaner for the dark spots. Doesn't work very well. I have a white car with beige top, and was told 'that's just the way it is' with soft tops, that 'it's like a crease in pants'.
So--I would NOT recommend driving through a car wash - if I'm having this trouble with delicate hand care, I can't imagine drive through damage.
Advice anyone??

[trinityragtopper]

Yikes - would NOT recommend driving it through a car wash. I asked when I purchased it, and called the dealer several times about mine, as well as read the owners manual--I hand wash it as directed with plain water, then dry with a chamois only (towels leave lint). I hand wash every 1-2 weeks, year-round; cover with a car cover in the summer when parked outside at work, and garage at night. Even so, at only 7 months old, it is developing dark spots on the ribbed areas and on both sides under the window in back.
I returned to the dealer last week, where I was sold some 'special' cleaner for the dark spots. Doesn't work very well. I have a white car with beige top, and was told 'that's just the way it is' with soft tops, that 'it's like a crease in pants'.
So--I would NOT recommend driving through a car wash - if I'm having this trouble with delicate hand care, I can't imagine drive through damage.
Advice anyone??

[trinityragtopper]

Yikes - would NOT recommend driving it through a car wash. I asked when I purchased it, and called the dealer several times about mine, as well as read the owners manual--I hand wash it as directed with plain water, then dry with a chamois only (towels leave lint). I hand wash every 1-2 weeks, year-round; cover with a car cover in the summer when parked outside at work, and garage at night. Even so, at only 7 months old, it is developing dark spots on the ribbed areas and on both sides under the window in back.
I returned to the dealer last week, where I was sold some 'special' cleaner for the dark spots. Doesn't work very well. I have a white car with beige top, and was told 'that's just the way it is' with soft tops, that 'it's like a crease in pants'.
So--I would NOT recommend driving through a car wash - if I'm having this trouble with delicate hand care, I can't imagine drive through damage.
Advice anyone??

[trinityragtopper]

Yikes - would NOT recommend driving it through a car wash. I asked when I purchased it, and called the dealer several times about mine, as well as read the owners manual--I hand wash it as directed with plain water, then dry with a chamois only (towels leave lint). I hand wash every 1-2 weeks, year-round; cover with a car cover in the summer when parked outside at work, and garage at night. Even so, at only 7 months old, it is developing dark spots on the ribbed areas and on both sides under the window in back.
I returned to the dealer last week, where I was sold some 'special' cleaner for the dark spots. Doesn't work very well. I have a white car with beige top, and was told 'that's just the way it is' with soft tops, that 'it's like a crease in pants'.
So--I would NOT recommend driving through a car wash - if I'm having this trouble with delicate hand care, I can't imagine drive through damage.
Advice anyone??

[regtor]

Don't do it unless it is one of those 'touchless' jobs -- and only if you're truly desperate. I don't bother with mine -- and I'm in Massachusetts.

Conventional carwashes, especially the drying blades, will bend the 'ribs' of your top.

The touchless spray washes do a pretty lousy job, at least the ones I've been to. And, you will get drips on the insides of the windows.

My advice is to wait for a 30+ degree day and go to one of the self serve bay washes (with the gun). Unfortunately, this winter has not given us many of those days.

Best of luck.

regtor