Waterdrops are driving me crazy!!!

[V8Cobrakid]

I washed my car ( again ) last night. This morning, there are water drops all down the doors. It's those damned rearview mirrors. it was late when i washed my car, and i had to drive it a couple hours later. When i drove it, the water came out and dripped down the door. During the day, this happens to. When it's warm out, the drops will dry while driving. I'm sure this is because we have hard water out here where i live. Even though i did dry them very well, and i dry them very well during the day, i always get spots. Maybe i just need to drive it around the driveway and then dry it off. Has anyone else had this problem? I wonder if turning the defroster on will make the water evaporate. I don' t really think the rearview mirrors gets that hot... but it would be cool. :mrgreen:

I also seem to get drops on the hatchback.. no matter how i dry it. I open the door and dry the seal. but water gets up in the door where the camera would be.. and where the handle is. It's annoying too. The rest of the car is awesome. I just wish i could have a nice shiny car with no drops... even though i have scratches on the hood ( looks like someone sat on it ) a scratch and a dent on the top above the passenger side ( block of wood got lauched from an oncomming cars tire ) scratches on the front lower panel ( shrug ) and scratches on the back shelf of the hatchback ( i didnt know that usualy Toyota gives/offers a guard for this ).... my poor car ( not even 3 months old )

[swepri]

The Prius is my fourth Toyota and the rear view mirrors always seems to hold a lot of water on all of them. On all my previous Toyotas I've had spiders move in and live in the rear view mirrors. Then, everytime I wash I try to flush the spiders out of there, making the water dropping even worse.

/Paj

[Gen2]

Originally posted by V8Cobrakid
I washed my car ( again ) last night. This morning, there are water drops all down the doors. It's those damned rearview mirrors. poor car

Have you tried giving it a very good waxing with Malm's yet? I find that Malm's beads up so well that there are fewer drops that actually stick onto the surface.

It might be worth a try. The allternative would be to get on 280 and go to San Francisco at 100 MPH, then turn arouns and do the same on the way home. You might get rid of a few more drops that way.

[V8Cobrakid]

hehe.. i like that idea * runs out to go speeding to SF *... hehe.. well.. truly.. nope.. i have not tried malms yet. Funding is tight. I actualy ran out of most of my products from Moreshine.com.. i need to get more but don't have spare cash. I organized my financing so Insurance and Car Payment come first... and well.. that's enough cash. Once i do get a little extra, i'll order more products, and give Malms a try.

[Gen2]

Originally posted by V8Cobrakid
hehe.. i like that idea...i have not tried malms yet. Funding is tight. I actualy ran out of most of my products from Moreshine.com ... Once i do get a little extra, i'll order more products, and give Malms a try.

I'm currently working on a rush contract but when its done I might be able to squeeze in some time to play with the cars. I have more than enough to share, if you want to get together to give it a try.

[Smooth Operator]

Thank you for raising this topic. I thought I was the only one. Your problem does not arise from water hardness. I live in Vancouver, BC where the water is extremely soft and I see a similar effect. It hasn't mattered what I do. I wash the car and for a day or so after I have marks down the side of the doors of drips from the rear view mirrors.

I spend hours applying Zaino a couple of times a year, yet every time I wash my Black Prius I end up with drip marks down the side of the doors.

Aside from the unsightliness of it, I can't help but think that having all that water stuck inside the electric mirrors can't be good for the mirrors.

[FredWB]

I agree with all of you. The darker colors seem to be worst. My Salsa red look horrible with those bright white drops all over it. I've started to use that new ionized wash (Auto Dry from Mr Clean) with some improvement. Although I think I've been seeing some kind of film left using that. I think the harder water around here does make it worse too.

I usually drive it right afer washing and then wipe up the new drops immediately. Opening the hatch and doors and drying "everything in sight" also helps. I don't think I've ever had a red car this bad before. I'm glad we got the light tan Acura RSX because there's very little water spotting.

[Gen2]

Originally posted by Smooth Operator
Thank you ... I spend hours applying Zaino a couple of times a year, yet every time I wash my Black Prius I end up with drip marks down the side of the doors.

Aside from the unsightliness of it, I can't help but think that having all that water stuck inside the electric mirrors can't be good for the mirrors.

Water in the mirrors is probably not a problem. We have had the technology around in other cars long enough for it to be reliable now.

Question: Have you noticed if waters drops will stick to the Zaino on the doors? I know this seems obvious (they are sticking otherwise thee would be no marks), I am curious if you can see the drops sticking to the surface (before they dry off).

[Gen2]

Originally posted by FredWB
I agree with all of you.  The darker colors seem to be worst.  My Salsa red look horrible with those bright white drops all over it.  I've started to use that new ionized wash (Auto Dry from Mr Clean)  with some improvement.  Although I think I've been seeing some kind of film left using that.  I think the harder water around here does make it worse too. ...

The Mr. Clean Auto Dry system is supposed to filter the water so it shouldn't matter if the water is a bit hard. It does leave a coating on the paint (they claim its some sort of polymer) to help the water roll off so it dries "spot free".

I have owned black cars (with and without clearcoat) for many years and have not had this problem. My Prius is Driftwood so i don't know if I'm doing something different or using different products, but I haven't seen any spotting. I do dry the car off very well, including opening the hatch and drying the left and right channels (I can't reach the top channel easily so I just ignore it).

The license plate and rear spoiler do hold on to several drops every time, but if I neglect to catch them later, they don't seem to leave any spots.

[FredWB]

On the salsa red car....the spots are bright bright white! One of my outside faucets is soft water. I don't normally use it but I think I'm going to try it and see if it helps.

Fred