[SteveJ10]

I realize that this is the world's dumbest question, but does anyone have any issues with a Gen 2 Volt in a regular car wash? Any issues keeping the car running as it goes through the wash? Any problems with water getting under the car (and into the battery, for example). Any concerns about giving a car wash employee your fob -- we've had several incidents in my neighborhood of fobs getting cloned with the result that the car is easily stolen (not related to a car wash, but clearly it's possible).

Any thoughts?

Steve

 

[jcanoe]

I realize that this is the world's dumbest question, but does anyone have any issues with a Gen 2 Volt in a regular car wash? Any issues keeping the car running as it goes through the wash? Any problems with water getting under the car (and into the battery, for example). Any concerns about giving a car wash employee your fob -- we've had several incidents in my neighborhood of fobs getting cloned with the result that the car is easily stolen (not related to a car wash, but clearly it's possible).

Any thoughts?

Steve

My only issue with taking my 2017 Volt through my local car wash is that for the last six months something the car wash changed in their equipment pops open my charging port cover. This was not a problem when I first purchased my Volt in July 2016, have been using the same car wash. Now I place a small piece of duck tape on the charge port cover just before I head to the car wash to keep the charge port cover closed. I have not had a problem since I started taping the cover closed.

No issue with keeping the Volt powered on while going through the car wash. I always use the car wash's Express Wash service and stay in my Volt as it goes through the car wash. Be sure to pay attention that you shift into Neutral and not Drive if you normally drive in L. Be sure to set the climate control system to recirculate the cabin air as this minimizes the tendency of the HVAC to pull in the pungent scent of the car wash detergent.

 

[Off Oil]

No issues, it's completely sealed. I mostly hand wash it myself, however if time is tight I'll occasionally run it through the touch-free automatic wash.

I personally don't let valets or others have access to my car, but that's just me.

 

[Steverino]

Water testing the Volt

 

[MP81]

I never had a problem with the car in the local touch-free my wife and I frequent during the winter.

 

[dznf0g]

If I am not mistaken, GM cars have a rolling code strategy with key FOBs. That means, if a FOB were cloned, it would, I believe be ineffective the very next time you used your own FOB, as the codes for the original and the clone would no longer match.

The only thing I worry a bit about, for a GEN 2 and my usual car wash, is that the tire "scrubber" contacts the lower piano black molding, since it protrudes out quite a bit. After two washes there, I don't see any marks on the molding, but the tire dressing gets smeared on the edge of the molding.

 

[FI Spyder]

Any concerns about giving a car wash employee your fob -- we've had several incidents in my neighborhood of fobs getting cloned with the result that the car is easily stolen (not related to a car wash, but clearly it's possible).

Any thoughts?

Steve

In Canada you can not clone a fob unless two fob's are present. I don't know why they didn't institute that in the US as well.

 

[Synovialbasher]

Be sure to set the climate control system to recirculate the cabin air as this minimizes the tendency of the HVAC to pull in the pungent scent of the car wash detergent.

Pungent scent? I turn off recirc, put the fan on the highest setting, and let the fresh soapy scent fill the cabin! It's one of my favorite reasons for going to a car wash.

 

[SteveJ10]

Apparently, rolling codes aren't as safe as they seem. Here's a link from 2015 describing a device that can defeat them. The article mentions that a Cadillac spokesman says that their cars are not vulnerable to this kind of hack. I hope Volts work the same way.

https://www.wired.com/2015/08/hackers-tiny-device-unlocks-cars-opens-garages/

 

[MNikkaS]

I have had no issues whatsoever, either in the car wash or driving through rainy/ soaking wet weather

 

[tramvaj]

I have a 2014 model, washing it monthly, never had issues. Hand wash about 80% of time, the remainder is an Automated wash (or whatever is the name of that gas station washing system).

Hope this helps.

 

[freshcut]

Agreed that I never have any issues with my gen 1. I even usually opt for the undercarriage wash which blasts the underside as you enter the wash and have never had an issue.

+1 on setting the fresh air option and high fan speed when going through. My car wash uses soap that is very pleasant smelling and tend to prefer that scent over the little air vent thing they give me.

 

[luis138]

I hand wash 99% of the time. Hate the micro scratches those automated car washes give my car.

 

[simplex]

The only time you will have problem is when you have freezing temperatures and the GEN2 and go to the carwash.
The front air grille shutters will get stuck with the ice, resulting in a CEL with code P059F, the CEL disable remote start and this is exactly what you need in cold weather.
If you're not living in the great white north, no problem at all.

 

[P0234]

I hand wash 99% of the time. Hate the micro scratches those automated car washes give my car.

Unless its one of the old school bristles on the spinning wheels, you'll probably get less scratches than an average hand wash.

The bigger issue is the chemicals used. They are mostly paint safe but hard on trim and other components. Most washes use a strong acid followed by a neutralizing base. Also the vast majority of washes use recycled water for all but the final rinse. In the winter months this becomes a real problem as they do not have anything to reduce the salt content of their recycled water, other than occasional dilution.

 

[Tomt]

I did have a problem with a brushless wash that cleans by high pressure water. It apparently got in to the shark-fin antenna and crippled the AM reception. The dealer replaced the antenna under warranty.

 

[marcusm]

The only issue I’ve seem to have is sometimes the automatic collision warning system gets discombobulated by the water blast on the sensors temporarily, clears up shortly thereafter.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[FI Spyder]

Never use a car wash. Hand washing is gentler than car wash brushes. Not keen on high pressure jets getting water in every nook and cranny. Any water used washing the car drains over the edge of the cliff to water trees and plants below (a premium in dry summer months). Not a drop gets wasted whereas a car wash water goes down the drain to put pressure on the community sewage system.

 

[Tomt]

Actually, no; almost all car washes - often by law - recycle their water these days...

Not a drop gets wasted whereas a car wash water goes down the drain to put pressure on the community sewage system.

 

[FI Spyder]

Actually, no; almost all car washes - often by law - recycle their water these days...

You're right. I knew bigger centres had that but didn't think ours did. I checked their web page. They do.