Lesson learned -- washing the car

[tirwin]

Solved a little mystery today. Maybe this is common knowledge. Maybe not. Thought I'd pass it along.

I'm restoring the interior on my '83. When I pulled the headliner down there was a lot of mildew and some mold growing. In the year that I've owned the car it never seemed to have a leak. The headliner was old and brittle but I figured heck it's 30 years old on a black car. The sunroof access panels looked like they came from a shipwreck.

Well the obvious water problem bothered me so I did some research and found that the sunroof drains sometimes clog up. Good thought, but I tested and didn't seem to have that problem.

I scratched my head a lot and finally called the previous owner to ask. "Oh, yea. When I first got the car I pressure washed it and water got in those vents above the rear window."

Mystery solved.

So let this be a lesson

[DRACO A5OG]

"Oh Yea"... POS.

He is lucky you are civil about it.

[szyzygy]

Sorry...I don't get the problem. Don't shoot water up those vents???

[DRACO A5OG]

POS knew about it but conveniently forgot to tell the buyer.

[timchar]

Originally Posted by szyzygy

Sorry...I don't get the problem. Don't shoot water up those vents???

Yes, don't shoot water into the vents above rear window. Once I figured it out as well, no problems. Tim

[porwolf]

That brings up an interesting question. I was always under the impression that you never use a pressure washer on the body, not even a garden hose with a lot of pressure, just more like a gentle shower, and always downward. Otherwise water could get into all kinds of cracks and openings. Am I anal about that?

[szyzygy]

Originally Posted by porwolf

That brings up an interesting question. I was always under the impression that you never use a pressure washer on the body, not even a garden hose with a lot of pressure, just more like a gentle shower, and always downward. Otherwise water could get into all kinds of cracks and openings. Am I anal about that?

That's what I do to mine. It does a good job, everyone compliments me on how shiny my car is.

[pegasus9]

This should be posted in the stupid things that POs did thread.
While we're on the subject of a good wash.

I always give her a good drive on the highway after a wash to clear away any residual water hiding in the recesses.

[Jerome74911S]

I don't have the link, but there is a video on the web of a guy pressure washing the complete interior of his car! When he's finished the whole floor is filled with soapy water several inches deep. He even washed the radio and everything else on the dashboard.

It must have really needed that washing.

[timchar]

I'm in the car wash business, express tunnels and coin -op washes. It's always smart to never shoot water into any vents or directly into any sealed areas like trunk or engine compartment. The volume of water at coin-op is far less than the hose. Just be mindful of where you are shooting the water. Tim

[tirwin]

Hehehe... Yea. I'm chalking this one up to experience. PO is a friend. How and why I came to acquire the car is a long story. Still, the up front disclosure would've been nice.

This brings up a question... I'm not exactly sure what those little vents are supposed to do. It being a triple black car, I suppose they're good for letting the heat escape a little when it's 1-oh-miserable in the summer.

Could I (or should I) put some kind of foam or something similar up there before I put the new headliner in? Something that would still let air through but would slow or stop something like... a jet of water?

[DRACO A5OG]

Hmmm, friends like that you don't need enemies. JKD. I am sure he just forgot.

I think those vents are to disapate the heat liken to roofs on homes with attic vents. You may just want keep it open for that purpose and just becarefull spraying water directly into it.

J

[KNS]

The upper vents provide an exit for interior cabin ventilation, all cars have them (somewhere).

[VaSteve]

the vents keep the windows from blowing out when you slam the door. Targas have vents too, in the bar...look for it.


How is the PO a "POS"? At the time it was his car....I fart in my cars all the time...I won't tell the new owner when I sell them. Its not an airplane where everything is meticulously logged....

[tirwin]

Originally Posted by Slasher

This should be posted in the stupid things that POs did thread.
While we're on the subject of a good wash.

I always give her a good drive on the highway after a wash to clear away any residual water hiding in the recesses.

What speed do you recommend to maximize water dispersment? After I am done putting her back together I think I need to do some research. You know... All in the name of science!

[tirwin]

You guys have heard of Occam's Razor, right? It's the idea that the most simple explanation to a problem is the most likely to be correct.

I now propose "tirwin's Corollary" which goes like this... "When troubleshooting, always remember that the PO might have done something stupid."

Several years ago my in-laws bought a house. The PO's first name was "Bunky" -- don't ask, I have no idea.

Anyway, I helped my father-in-law undo some really strange things the PO did. The wiring was a mess and it's a wonder the house didn't burn down. It became a running joke and we started calling it "Bunky Engineering". My father-in-law would call me with some problem and then all I'd say is "Bunky" which meant he knew he needed to start at the beginning and check EVERYTHING.

I'm not worried about the headliner -- it was going to come out anyway because I ran new wires for a powered rearview mirror and for the radar detector.

[Joe Bob]

I call the dirt, imperfections in paint, dings, alpha beta rash, oopsies and beer can bangs..... patina.....'then I do a little side step and move along'...

Bonus points to the line and actor....

BTW, as a part of a DE, I once got a free entre to a Coonn, con, weenie...er.....show and spell...they asked me if'n I wanted to go over to the wash....I tole dem that I'd just pee on the fender....they twarn't amused....

[tirwin]

I don't think it's right, but for some reason I keep going to Randy Quaid in Christmas Vacation.

[RWebb]

You should never use a pressure washer on the body, not even a garden hose with a lot of pressure, (instead, use the most gentle flow possible), and always downward. Otherwise water could get into all kinds of cracks and openings.

Also, high pressure water scratches the paint by increasing the force with which the tiny invisible dirt particles are dragged across the soft painted surface.

Don't rub hard with a mitt either - let the soap and some time do the work.

The PO is an idiot, but is under no obligation to tell you how they maintained the car. That is your job to find out. He sounds pretty clueless so maybe even forgot the issue.

[timchar]

Originally Posted by RWebb

You should never use a pressure washer on the body, not even a garden hose with a lot of pressure, (instead, use the most gentle flow possible), and always downward. Otherwise water could get into all kinds of cracks and openings.

Also, high pressure water scratches the paint by increasing the force with which the tiny invisible dirt particles are dragged across the soft painted surface.

Don't rub hard with a mitt either - let the soap and some time do the work.

The PO is an idiot, but is under no obligation to tell you how they maintained the car. That is your job to find out. He sounds pretty clueless so maybe even forgot the issue.

I've been in the car wash business 40 years, interesting take you have. The pressure actually takes out the microscopic particulate matter out of the pours of the paint. Which with proper detailing will increase the life of your paint. Tim