Car Wash in Orange county

[Roger3125]

Having the prius only a week I am hestitant to take it through a wipe-with-old psuedo-rag type drive through car wash. Would much prefer to use a touchless car wash that does interior as well. Can anyone recommend a car wash in the Tustin/Orange/Santa Ana area of Orange County, CA?

If you used with satisfaction a non touchless I'd like to hear as well.

Also from your expereince do most car wash workers know how to start and turn off a Prius? Can I assume we just take our keyless thingie and slip it into the dashboard slot and leave it there?

[JMcPhee]

Originally posted by Roger3125@Feb 6 2006, 11:27 AM
Having the prius only a week I am hestitant to take it through a wipe-with-old psuedo-rag type drive through car wash.  Would much prefer to use a touchless car wash that does interior as well.  Can anyone recommend a car wash in the Tustin/Orange/Santa Ana area of Orange County, CA?

If you used with satisfaction a non touchless I'd like to hear as well.

Also from your expereince do most car wash workers know how to start and turn off a Prius?  Can I assume we just take our keyless thingie and slip it into the dashboard slot and leave it there?

[snapback]204586[/snapback]

Hi Roger! I'm in down in Ladera Ranch, but grew up in Tustin at 17th and the 55. Good luck with your search - I'm washing mine by hand for now. The car wash on 1st street next to the post office (Tustin) once locked my Saturn on its way through in neutral - it took 6 guys to prevent it from rolling into the street, and then they had to break into it for me :-)... Sorry I have no suggestions - just wanted to say hi to someone local!

- Jim

[NuShrike]

Originally posted by Roger3125@Feb 6 2006, 11:27 AM
Having the prius only a week I am hestitant to take it through a wipe-with-old psuedo-rag type drive through car wash.  Would much prefer to use a touchless car wash that does interior as well.  Can anyone recommend a car wash in the Tustin/Orange/Santa Ana area of Orange County, CA?

[snapback]204586[/snapback]

I use the one (Shell) on the corner of Irvine Blvd and Jamboree. $5 for the mid-level wash and leaves no scratches, but I always screw the antenna off first.

Of course, it can't wash some "special" areas of the Prius that well such as the lower rear "kamm" window. But this place does in a pinch when there isn't time to spend half a day doing a full self-wash, clay, and wax.

Certainly do not gas here though.. way tooo expensive.

[Godiva]

Don't live in L.A area so no info there.

But I'm taking the time to wash my car myself. I had to replace the leather interior of my last car because the car wash didn't know the difference between leather and...vinyl?...and STEAM cleaned it. It was soaking wet when I picked it up. It shrunk, cracked and split. Took them to court and award only covered half the cost of replacement. (BTW Never go to the Kwik n Kleen on Genesee Ave in San Diego. They are morons.)

And after going to the Meguiar's clinic I am now aware of swirls, et al.

I'm not even going to take my car to a touchless.

I've learned to wash and wax it myself and I'll make the time to do it. I've bought the correct equipment and learned how to use it.

Depends on how concerned you are with your car's appearance. Mine is black, so I've committed to making the time.

[Roger3125]

Originally posted by Godiva@Feb 7 2006, 06:03 PM
Don't live in L.A area so no info there.

But I'm taking the time to wash my car myself. I had to replace the leather interior of my last car because the car wash didn't know the difference between leather and...vinyl?...and STEAM cleaned it. It was soaking wet when I picked it up. It shrunk, cracked and split. Took them to court and award only covered half the cost of replacement. (BTW Never go to the Kwik n Kleen on Genesee Ave in San Diego. They are morons.)

And after going to the Meguiar's clinic I am now aware of swirls, et al.

I'm not even going to take my car to a touchless.

I've learned to wash and wax it myself and I'll make the time to do it. I've bought the correct equipment and learned how to use it.

Depends on how concerned you are with your car's appearance. Mine is black, so I've committed to making the time.

[snapback]205318[/snapback]

Thanks for the reply. I too would much prefer to care for the Pruis myself as I know we don't have too many college graduates working at our local car washes.

<<I've bought the correct equipment and learned how to use it.>>

What equipment did you buy and if you can share your secrets to making it less than a half day job my ears are wide open.

Again thanks for the info.

[Godiva]

I bought a Dual Action Polisher from Meguiar's (G100). I use Meguiar's products and their five step system.

I could spend an entire day detailing the car but I'm not as fastidious about the interior and wheels and such.

I use two buckets to wash the car using a wool mop. I use NXT shampoo and each bucket has a grit guard. Rinse in one bucket. The other has soap.

I dry with an Absorber.

If needed, I clay with NXT detailer and Meguiar's clay. I don't clay every week or even every month.

About once a month I:

Then I apply Meguiar's deep polish (non-abrasive) with the DA and quickly remove with a microfiber towel before it dries.

Then I apply NXT wax with DA. After it dries I remove with the DA (pad has microfiber bonnet).

In between I:

I use the NXT detailer. I don't use the NXT wax every time, sometimes just the NXT spray wax.

Every wash I:

I also use NXT glass cleaner and glass towels.

I have a tire brush and Insane Shine.

I have some interior wipes and trim detailer foam for the interior and some detail brushes.

I can do a pretty good job between breakfast and lunch.

Make sure you wash/detail car in the shade.


Here are some links from the Meguiar's page. The bottom was in the five step treatment.

PriusClubSD info page

In case I need it, I have ScratchX and pads.

[Roger3125]

Originally posted by Godiva@Feb 7 2006, 09:58 PM
I bought a Dual Action Polisher from Meguiar's (G100). I use Meguiar's products and their five step system.

I could spend an entire day detailing the car but I'm not as fastidious about the interior and wheels and such.

I use two buckets to wash the car using a wool mop. I use NXT shampoo and each bucket has a grit guard. Rinse in one bucket. The other has soap.

I dry with an Absorber.

If needed, I clay with NXT detailer and Meguiar's clay. I don't clay every week or even every month.

About once a month I:

Then I apply Meguiar's deep polish (non-abrasive) with the DA and quickly remove with a microfiber towel before it dries.

Then I apply NXT wax with DA. After it dries I remove with the DA (pad has microfiber bonnet).

In between I:

I use the NXT detailer. I don't use the NXT wax every time, sometimes just the NXT spray wax.

Every wash I:

I also use NXT glass cleaner and glass towels.

I have a tire brush and Insane Shine.

I have some interior wipes and trim detailer foam for the interior and some detail brushes.

I can do a pretty good job between breakfast and lunch.

Make sure you wash/detail car in the shade.
Here are some links from the Meguiar's page. The bottom was in the five step treatment.

PriusClubSD info page

In case I need it, I have ScratchX and pads.

[snapback]205463[/snapback]

Being not familar with either a Prius (only owned it for 8 days) or Meguiar's I have to plead ignorance with mos of the names used in the above. I did hower notice you said your two pales both have "grit guards". Can you explain what they are and how they work.

Also I've been convince to no longer use dish soap to wash. What type of wash would any of you use? My Prius is "Super White". I don't know if that has ClearCoat.

Advice and suggestions all welcome

[Widdletink]

Hi Roger,
Congrats on your new car! If you are half as happy with your Prius as I have been with mine you will be one happy guy indeed.

My car is 1 year and 4 days old and with the exception of a door ding (@#%#$) that only I can see and a couple of tiny nicks on the leading edge of the hood from road grit it still looks perfect.

I have always hand washed my car either at home or at one of those self wash places with the foaming brush and spray hose.

I purchased the car wash kit that is sold at Costco and use most of the products that came with it. Costco also sells carwash solution separately. The kit consisted of a long-handled brush, a tire cleaning brush, a detailing brush and a multi spray patterned nozzle.

I also purchased a package of their microfiber towels and keep a clean one in my glove box for quick interior dustoffs. Incidentally, those microfiber towels do a better job drying your car off after they are slightly damp.

It ususally takes me around 1 hour from start to finish to shower, shampoo and shine my baby. That includes the time it takes to vaccum the interior as well. This of course is for a wash only not for waxing.

And for longer paint life, be sure that you only bathe your car either in the early morning hours or after the mid-day sun has passed. Shade is better than sun so that you don't wind up boiling your finish off the car over time.

If you are like me, you will find that taking the time to wash your Prius by hand will not feel like a chore. I always feel like I am lucky to get the extra chance to put my hands on the car :-)

Take care, enjoy your car and have a wonderful day. And if you see me cruising around in your neck of the woods( Millenium Silver with "Save a Soldier, Buy a HYBRID" Decal on my back lower window) be sure to toot and wave!

Tisza

[Excellerator]

OK, I have a question speaking of car washes. On first generation ("classic") Priuses, positioned at the C-pillar on the left side of the vehicle, there is like a vent or something which I'm told is supposed to allow the vehicle's batteries to cool down. Someone told me that it should always be covered up before going into a touchless car wash. Another person told me it's OK to not do anything to it. Then the first person replied and said that water should not be forced into the vent, and could cause problems if it did so.

So, has anyone taken a Classic Prius through a touchless car wash without needing to cover the "vent" that seems to only be on the left-rear side of the vehicle? Is it OK to leave it be and not cover it? If you don't know what I'm talkng about, I could add a picture.

[Roger3125]

Originally posted by Excellerator@Feb 13 2006, 10:55 PM
OK, I have a question speaking of car washes.  On first generation ("classic") Priuses, positioned at the C-pillar on the left side of the vehicle, there is like a vent or something which I'm told is supposed to allow the vehicle's batteries to cool down.  Someone told me that it should always be covered up before going into a touchless car wash.  Another person told me it's OK to not do anything to it.  Then the first person replied and said that water should not be forced into the vent, and could cause problems if it did so. 

So, has anyone taken a Classic Prius through a touchless car wash without needing to cover the "vent" that seems to only be on the left-rear side of the vehicle?  Is it OK to leave it be and not cover it?  If you don't know what I'm talkng about, I could add a picture.

[snapback]208978[/snapback]

Yes, a picture is woth a thousand words. Which brings up my new question and here too a picture would be nice. I'll have to red up on how to do that.

Question: to the left of the glove box and a little lower I see a black lever or knob. There is no mention of it in the manual. Anyone have any idea what this thing does? If you can not find it let me know and maybe by then I'll figure out how to post a jpg pic.