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Automatic car wash -- stock antenna / roof damage?

Bill K

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Depends on where you live. Here in the NE brushes pick up sand, gravel and other abrasives during the winter.
I would never send my Maverick thru a brush car wash.
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Mareys

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i worry more about the high pressure blower at my touchless car wash. Anyone know if i waited a minute or so they would automatically turn off? I have only hand washed in the rain so far (no access to outside hose) but in the winter would like a little more high pressure for the underside.
 

TNFurb

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In answer to the OP’s actual question, I have not had an issue with the stock antennae on my Mav nor on my Bronco Sport (same antennae) When I have used the Automatic Carwash at my Costco nor at the Tommy’s location I go to in FL. I have not gone through any other automatic carwashes.
 

paneubert

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Yeah sure bro. What happened to you? Did your antennae break on multiple vehicles causing roof damage or was there irreparable damage to your clear coat and paint?
Clear coat. Not sure about paint. And I am also not sure why you are so hostile to people who claim this has happened to them. I have no reason to make it up. What do I have to gain? What do you have to lose by accepting it happens to others even if it hasn't happened to you?

I wrote up a longer reply about exactly what I experienced in a prior thread a while back, but don't want to go digging for it. And I am not going to write it up again. Short version is something like "black vehicle, multiple "wavy" scratches that were 2-3 feet long all over the hood from those octopus arm style fabric things in the car wash rubbing back and forth as I rolled thru".

That is just one experience on one of my prior vehicles. It has happened to me prior to that on another vehicle as well (years earlier), but I didn't learn my lesson the first time. Learned it the second time.
 

bbhaag

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Clear coat. Not sure about paint. And I am also not sure why you are so hostile to people who claim this has happened to them. I have no reason to make it up. What do I have to gain? What do you have to lose by accepting it happens to others even if it hasn't happened to you?

I wrote up a longer reply about exactly what I experienced in a prior thread a while back, but don't want to go digging for it. And I am not going to write it up again. Short version is something like "black vehicle, multiple "wavy" scratches that were 2-3 feet long all over the hood from those octopus arm style fabric things in the car wash rubbing back and forth as I rolled thru".

That is just one experience on one of my prior vehicles. It has happened to me prior to that on another vehicle as well (years earlier), but I didn't learn my lesson the first time. Learned it the second time.
Don't take it personally bro. Just because I don't agree with you doesn't mean I'm "getting hostile" with you or anyone else.
 

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Topdown70

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52,000 miles, car wash (brush style) ATLEAST once a week, often every other day ZERO damage. Same goes for my Expedition!
 

THagen

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Clubs
 
I'm going to join our local automatic car wash club with rolling brushes. I saw on here or another forum that someone with the stock antenna got roof damage over 1k from a automatic car wash.. I replaced my antenna with the 2 inch stubby. Anybody have any issues with the stubby? Thanks!
Have to add I live in upstate NY so can't hand wash in the winter and I need a automatic car wash to wash off salt.
I have the stubby and have had no issues with the carwash or reception.
 

DreamWeaver21

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The car wash I use has a sign to remove the antenna before go into the wash so I remove the antenna before going into the wash.

No problems so far... :)
 

Ranger 87

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Just changed mine to a 1.4 " stubby antenna, $5.00 on Ebay. They're pretty much universal so it fits fine. I didn't like the long stock one.

Ford Maverick Automatic car wash -- stock antenna / roof damage? Stubby antenna
 
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Glen Baker LLC

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THE HORROR
IMG_2688.jpeg
Damn you beat me to it.
I guess this dog hadn't heard those brushes will rip rip his clear coat off.
I guess dog considers himself lucky


52,000 miles, car wash (brush style) At least once a week, often every other day ZERO damage. Same goes for my Expedition!
I will agree, that hand washing is better and easier on the paint or clear coat, than a tunnel car wash is with brushes. I think some folks tend to embellish without proof, to prop up their bias against automatic car washes. But that's my opinion.
 
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Glen Baker LLC

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The car wash I use has a sign to remove the antenna before go into the wash so I remove the antenna before going into the wash.

No problems so far... :)
I live dangerously and leave my antenna on.
It's still attached after the tunnel of torture.
Ford Maverick Automatic car wash -- stock antenna / roof damage? IMG_20241025_163105
 

swijo

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I've done several wash jobs using the brushes and have not noticed any paint damage.
 

Deleted member 5597

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I'm going to join our local automatic car wash club with rolling brushes. I saw on here or another forum that someone with the stock antenna got roof damage over 1k from a automatic car wash.. I replaced my antenna with the 2 inch stubby. Anybody have any issues with the stubby? Thanks!
Have to add I live in upstate NY so can't hand wash in the winter and I need a automatic car wash to wash off salt.
I have the stock antenna and have ran my Mav through the auto car wash since I bought it two years ago without any damage. I think it may all depend on the car wash itself.
FYI, I live in Florida, but moved to the Buffalo area from Sept ‘23 to Sept 24 to visit my mom in a nursing home. She wasn’t doing well. While there, I joined a brand new car wash and took it there at least twice a week in the winter. I made sure to buy the package with the undercarriage wash. I would use a microfiber towel to wipe the outside, wheel wells, and the inside of the doors and frame really good. I’ve seen a lot of older rust buckets on the road while I was up there, and hope I don’t end up the same way down the road. That salt and sand will do a number on metal!
 

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The best way is to hand wash with a sponge that you rolled around in some dirt.

Trust me these internet nerds don't know shit.

The grit on the sponge will help get the paint nice and clean.
As I told my buddy's 6 year old when he was wiping the dirt off his hands on his mom's towels "Friction is an acceptable method of dirt removal"

On topic, wand wash only. I'm still hale and healthy enough to get my butt out of the truck and wave a pressure washer nozzle around for 15 minutes 3-4 times a month so I'll continue to do so.
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