Car wash damaged my Jeep

Leinhit

Leinhit

TJ Enthusiast
Joined
Sep 26, 2017
Messages
449
Location
MI
So I take my Jeep with hardtop through the automatic car wash. I purchase the unlimited package for twenty bucks a month I get to go through as many times as I want. Great for getting salt off in the winter time.

couple weeks ago I mentioned the passenger side brushes were not even touching my jeep.

They did some checking and said it was because of my front push bar it wasn't sensing it in time to touch. They made an adjustment and now the brushes are hitting so hard it's like a rough scary roller coaster ride going through there.

well last night I went through on my way to work in the pitch-dark and this morning when I looked at the back of my Jeep I found that the LED tail light was broken off and my passenger mirror was twisted up and cracked now.

no doubt whatsoever came from the rough riding car wash. Has anyone ever try to make a claim with the car wash? any advice? They always have the sign up saying not responsible for damage.

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Every car wash I have been thru have signage to make sure your grounds for claims will be hard to find. Most print all those disclaimers on the receipt too. But just looking at how they work it should be obvious they are build for aerodynamic cars only.

That plus you made the discovery later in the day. No proof the damage happened in the car wash.

I doubt they will even acknowledge your complaint.
 
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Even with their disclaimer, it would be hard to prove the car wash machinery is what caused the damage.
 
well I stop by the car wash today. They took photos of it, took my information and they're going to send it to their corporate insurance claim department. Apparently they have over 300 car washes across the country.

having only some legal knowledge I would say this. You can put a sign up saying anything you want but that doesn't necessarily release you from civil legal responsibilities for damages.

But they did ask me to get estimates from the local AutoZone and did indicate in the past sometimes they just go get the parts themselves. I even pointed out that Amazon is cheaper.

now I made what I thought was a generous offer the unlimited wash package is $20 a month, I suggested they just give me five months of passes for that one vehicle and call it even.

that way they are saving money, don't have any cash out and no insurance claim and I'm still coming out even after buying the parts myself.

They said they would never do that they would just rather pay it. I have several vehicles that go through that car wash and still intend to keep going back. I figured they would jump at it. I was wrong.

So stay tuned..
 
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Starrs said:
Always go touchless if you can. I would think the brushes would be hard on the paint. Hope you get this resolved.
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This is what I've always believed too. Does anyone know if modern car washes with brushes are any better?
 
Leinhit said:
well I stop by the car wash today. They took photos of it, took my information and they're going to send it to their corporate insurance claim department. Apparently they have over 300 car washes across the country.

having only some legal knowledge I would say this. You can put a sign up saying anything you want but that doesn't necessarily release you from civil legal responsibilities for damages.

But they did ask me to get estimates from the local AutoZone and did indicate in the past sometimes they just go get the parts themselves. I even pointed out that Amazon is cheaper.

now I made what I thought was a generous offer the unlimited wash package is $20 a month, I suggested they just give me five months of passes for that one vehicle and call it even.

that way they are saving money, don't have any cash out and no insurance claim and I'm still coming out even after buying the parts myself.

They said they would never do that they would just rather pay it. I have several vehicles that go through that car wash and still intend to keep going back. I figured they would jump at it. I was wrong.

So stay tuned..
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some times the big corporations just stick to a protocol to eliminate bad publicity.
by handling your complaint well they just created a great reference.
sounds like they are a good company to deal with.
 
Well, this is why I never use carwashes unless they are touchless. But these days, I just use the pressure washer anyways.

I doubt you'd get anywhere filing a claim with them. Your insurance would probably cover it technically, but I wouldn't risk rising insurance rates for that amount of damage.
 
We will see.. if they stand behind me I will clearly express that to all..

And instead of the more expensive AutoZone choice I will include the cheaper again for their choice. And I don't need the mirror that says Jeep on the glass, aftermarket is fine.
 
I had my antenna get caught in the brushes of a car wash, broken off then proceed to whip around hitting the roof of the car dozens of times leaving dents all along the roof.

I heard it happen so I caught it directly out of the wash and alerted the attendant. We both took pictures and she gave me a form and number to call for their claim department. I called and we agreed to try to have paint-less dent removal done. It turned out great and the dent removal place just billed the car wash. I have to say they handled it very well and professionally so I still go to that car wash now. I think the only issue you may have is not catching it when it happened, but call and ask for their claims department and see what they will do.
 
I wouldn’t let the brushes even touch my ranger lol. Always just go through the touchless washes, or hose it down with a pressure washer and bring my own mitt to scrub my vehicles.
 
Tray Burge said:
"Touchless" Doesn't it have to be "touched" to get clean? lol
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High pressure sprays, multiple foam soaks, rinse, etc...sort of like a dishwasher.
But you knew that already, didn't you.

They aren't very good on paint either, but for different reasons.
 
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