Who would have thought a touch-less Car Wash would damage a Cruiser ...

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cwmoser

cwmoser

10 Year
Joined
Mar 17, 2016
Threads
143
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1,038
Location
Advance, NC
Took my pristine 2002 LX470 to a Sheetz Car Wash.
The wind drier was so strong that if felt like it was rocking my car.
In fact their drying process yanked the rear wind deflector off my car and broke it.
Sheetz has video ... now who pays to fix this? Me, Sheetz, or my car insurance?
I've contacted Sheetz Customer Support and awaiting what they have to say.


20260413_113425.webp


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Anyone know what the part number is for this, and if it is still available?
 
Time for an upgrade?

theartisangarage.com

100 Series MSS-L Spoiler System

The Modular Spoiler System - Lightweight (MSS-L) is the ultimate blend of utility and style for the back of your 100 Series Landcruiser/LX470. While this is absolutely a drop-in replacement for the old brittle black plastic wing (not the “whale tail”) found on many 100 series, we started from...
theartisangarage.com
 
Installed an eBay one a few years ago, holding up fine. The old plastic cracks...regardless of the wash. No fault. Just get the 200 dollar part and call it a day.
 
I am sure that your insurance deductible will be greater than the cost of the part and that's if its even covered. Sheetz will say they are not responsible and will give you the runaround. Bite the bullet and order an aftermarket one. The original one has been baking in the sun for almost 25 years. It had a good run.
 
I was in Texas and they had a similar setup that also blew mine off. I think it was Blue Wave, I called to make a claim and they basically told me to read the sign. They weren’t responsible because you enter at your own risk.
 
Broke off a roof rack piece on my 2006 LC at a car wash a month or so ago.

I am afraid of the chemicals they use too; After I went thru the first time, the rubber seals around my windows leak black streaks whereas I never had that before.
 
You're a braver person than I, bringing an older vehicle through an automatic car wash. Even when taking a brand new car through one of those, I always felt like it probably wasn't great to be spraying high pressure water and soap at the entire car indiscriminately...
 
Touchless carwashes use extremely strong detergents to clean the car... and strip off the sealants/wax. Think of it as a giant dishwasher for your 100.
Those squiggly strip carwashes use milder detergents, but your paint is getting millions of micro-scratches. Same reason you don't dry your cars with terrycloth towels... but worse.
Both are fine if you're leasing or only keeping a car for a couple years.
Neither if fine if you're planning on holding on to it for a while.

I suspect Sheetz isn't going to help you. Maybe if you sued in small claims... maybe. But yeah, you'll spend more $$ than the cost of that wing.
 
I'd like to find an OEM or aftermarket Wind Deflector that uses the original brackets or at least installs without drilling new holes.
 
cwmoser said:
... now who pays to fix this? Me, Sheetz, or my car insurance?...
Click to expand...
You should be thanking Sheetz for preventing your wind deflector from failing while driving, and possibly injuring someone.
 
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