Fuel Door Broken by High Pressure Car Wash.
 

My fuel door broke off today in the car wash. It's one of those newer robotic high-pressure car washes at a local gas station which I used before with no problems. I heard a loud noise during the wash (you stay in the car while it's being washed) but thought it was just the normal noise of the mechanisms. When I finished drying it outside the wash bay I noticed the fuel door missing. I retreived it from the wash bay, but of course the hinge piece was broken off completely.

Here's what must have happened:
On the first pass of the sprayers, the high-pressure stream released the fuel door just as if you pressed the door with your finger to release it. On the second pass the high-pressure stream opened the door fully and then blasted it off, breaking it at the hinge point.

Ordered a new one from the dealer, 79 bucks (painted). Didn't even mention it to the station staff, only one kid on duty, no manager, and signs all over the place advising they're not responsible for damage. I guess that point could be debated, but my time is more important to me, and I really don't need the aggravation. Now on the other hand it were, say, a mirror, then I might be looking for some relief.

Dude that sucks... Sorry to hear that.:shakes head:

With that much pressure, I'm surprised it didn't sand your whole car down.

I'd avoid it. Can modern Nissan paint handle frequent pressure washes like that?

Yeah i avoid them too.
Id be more worried about the paint being scratched from dirt and grime stuck on to the scrubbers from previous dirty cars.

You guys are quite correct, and I won't be going to that type of car wash any more. I usually go to the hand wash across the street from where I live, but today I was on my way back from Laughlin, NV, 300 miles away from home and picked up a lot of road dust (no mud or heavy dirt though) and bugs. First chance I got I went to the car wash mentioned above, big mistake.

And just FYI, this car wash does not use scrubbers, nothing actually touches the car except the water sprays and soap spray.

I guess your doors were unlocked. I guess this is a good reminder to lock your doors when going through an automatic car wash.

not to be a ****...but

who the hell drives through those car washes, i wouldn't even take my 95 geo metro through that.

Lesson learned, wash your own ride.

regardless if there are brushes or not

All good advice. I thought about locked doors = locked fuel door AFTER THE FACT. Bummer.

I live in a huge apartment complex, I can't wash or work on any of my vehicles on the property. That's why the hand wash across the street that I usually use works well. That's why I'm buying a house after the new year. I like maintaining and repairing my vehicles myself, and I like to play music loud; all things I cannot do where I live now. Plus I won't have to deal with all the jagovvs that live on the property; they don't rent apts., they're vagrants that live ON the property. Landlord and police say they can't do anything about it.

Not relishing the idea of having to maintain a house again at my age, but staying in an apt. is just out of the question.

That thing comes no where even close to as clean as hand washing does. There is still a thin layer of dirt film that is all over your car. Take a bucket to a coin pressure wash yourself and do it that way. Thats what I did when i lived in an apartment.