David Fulton 0 Posted January 11, 2014 Share Posted January 11, 2014 I just bought my 2014 Spark with a cvt about two weeks ago and I love it. My question is about going through a carwash. Is that big antennae on the roof going to be safe with all of the spinning brushes etc? Thank you for your response Link to post Share on other sites
austex04 48 Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 The antenna unscrews from the roof, I suggest taking it of before going through a car wash. I've left mine on while going through numerous washes, and mine now has a permanent curve to it from the top brushes pulling on it. David Fulton 1 Link to post Share on other sites
Greg_E 211 Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Not sure getting all that stuff wet is a good idea either, I'd have to see what is under the antenna when it is removed. Link to post Share on other sites
Lovgun7 75 Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 is it safe ? sure... should you ? no lol wash it yourself ... the thing with car washes is they use dirty rags that have been reused all day ... all that dirt accumulates on the rags and leave fine scratches on the paint... i would advise against it. im so against car washes that i voluntarily wash my ladies 2013 altima ... that car is sweet Link to post Share on other sites
Dori 13 Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 +1 to washing it yourself. I thought I would give Beown Bear a try during these winter months. First 2 times great. Loved the outcome. 3rd time, scratches on my wheels from the auto track. Let's just say I was less then pleased..... Never again! Link to post Share on other sites
NoSprak 17 Posted January 13, 2014 Share Posted January 13, 2014 (edited) I don't know if you are in the NE but this would be a bad time of year to go through an automatic car wash. Best thing you can do is to put on a GOOD wax in the fall, and not touch it (except underneath, maybe) until it's spring. The automatic car washes around here recycle the water. While they do filter it, your car is still getting blasted with salt water. On top of that, the rags tend to do micro scratching to the paint, they are slapping your car with previous dirt, and they are scraping the wax off and exposing the car's paint to the elements. Salt is activated at warmer temperatures when mixed with water. If you are going to rinse the car off on warmer days in the winter, make sure to be thorough and get the entire thing. Otherwise it's going to start rusting from the inside out. Edited January 13, 2014 by NoSprak David Fulton 1 Link to post Share on other sites
21783mike 17 Posted January 14, 2014 Share Posted January 14, 2014 Honestly I thought car washes with brushes were pretty much extinct. All of the ones in my area are brushless. This time of year I just buy the cheapest wash that includes the undercarriage wash to knock the salt off the areas underneath that I can't get to doing a hand washing. Link to post Share on other sites
Dori 13 Posted February 12, 2014 Share Posted February 12, 2014 Something else about auto car washes i have noticed is that it doesnt fully remove all the soap from the car. When being rinsed it pushs a substantial amount of soap into the door cracks as well as under the hood. I ALWAYS pull to the side and take a rag and wipe all the excess soap away. Who knows what kind of foreign cheap reused soap concentrate the use. Places do anything to save a penny..... Link to post Share on other sites
Dgolden 7 Posted February 14, 2014 Share Posted February 14, 2014 Yea I don't trust those brush wash systems either. Many dealers offer free washing service with the purchase of a vehicle. I know my dealer anytime I go in and ask for a wash they take it back and handwash it for me. I'd much rather handwash the car myself most of the time though, that way you can pick up on any imperfections or new dents/scratches and address them rather than let them go and see rust. Besides this car is just the right size, ten-fifteen minutes tops (depending on if you hand dry or not) Link to post Share on other sites
bluer101 241 Posted February 15, 2014 Share Posted February 15, 2014 What's a car wash? I have never used one on my personal vehicles and never will. Link to post Share on other sites
Tim Harmon 3 Posted February 27, 2014 Share Posted February 27, 2014 The thing is so small, 10 minutes to wash it by hand....................... Link to post Share on other sites
Lovgun7 75 Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 The thing is so small, 10 minutes to wash it by hand....................... that too... super fast wash and super fast wax =D Link to post Share on other sites
Littlebluepearl 1 Posted March 2, 2014 Share Posted March 2, 2014 Took the car to a touch free carwash yesterday and that worked fine. Link to post Share on other sites
Trancer07 30 Posted March 3, 2014 Share Posted March 3, 2014 All the touch-free carwashes in my area suck. Washing by hand is not practical during the dead of winter. The only choice I have is to take it through a soft cloth wash. Link to post Share on other sites
Pam 0 Posted May 15, 2020 Share Posted May 15, 2020 (edited) NO automatic car washes!! I have a 2018 Spark and I had it only a few weeks and took it to the car wash. It is so small it got stuck between the rails that guide the car through the car wash and tore up my hubcap and left side. Of course they didn't tell me this and of course I was left with a brand new car with damage the first few weeks ugggg. Funny thing is I take it to a place to have it washed now and have to pay EXTRA for hand wash which is the amount charged to trucks. I thought they should only charge me 1/2 price since it is the size of 1/2 of a car lol. Edited May 15, 2020 by Pam Link to post Share on other sites
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