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Re: Paint damage when washing the car by wiper blades.

Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2021 7:38 pm
by Minky92
Yep, it's happened to me too. Just the driver side wiper, mind... But it's a pretty crap design decision. Will ask them to patch it up when it's next in for service.

Re: Paint damage when washing the car by wiper blades.

Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 7:09 am
by FDAD
Nebrog23 wrote: Sat Jul 17, 2021 11:45 am I don’t think it’s a design flaw, they would have to change the appearance of many cars to avoid it. I alsothought it was deliberate to reduce wind noise from the wipers and help with aerodynamics. Certainly had it on many cars over the past few years.

That been said the Honda paint is so thin and soft. Had two Hondas and they chip very easily. Not very helpful you can’t get a touch up pen yet!
Yes.. it's also there to improve aerodynamic efficiency

Re: Paint damage when washing the car by wiper blades.

Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 7:24 am
by tim.uk
I think we might be down the wrong rabbit-hole here. The "car wash mode" is only for those automatic car washes where you leave the car in neutral and do not remain in it during the wash. It goes on a conveyor which pulls the car through the wash.
The more common car wash machines where you stay in the car and the wash goes back and forth around and over you is not relevant to this thread. In those, the only thing you need to remember is to turn off the automatic wipers!

Re: Paint damage when washing the car by wiper blades.

Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 9:24 am
by Trykpaa
Nebrog23 wrote: Sat Jul 17, 2021 11:45 am I don’t think it’s a design flaw, they would have to change the appearance of many cars to avoid it. I alsothought it was deliberate to reduce wind noise from the wipers and help with aerodynamics.
I do stuff like that for a living. In my line of business issues like this would be categorised as foreseeable misuse and have called for a mitigating design action. The fact that it's such a common occuring problem just underlines that it's poor design.

They didn't have to change the look of the car to solve the problem. A protective trim on bonnet or on whiper arm, softer materials, a locking function on the arm. Even a clear protective film could have lessened the problem

Re: Paint damage when washing the car by wiper blades.

Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 10:40 am
by bogga
Trykpaa wrote: Sun Jul 18, 2021 9:24 am
Nebrog23 wrote: Sat Jul 17, 2021 11:45 am I don’t think it’s a design flaw, they would have to change the appearance of many cars to avoid it. I alsothought it was deliberate to reduce wind noise from the wipers and help with aerodynamics.
I do stuff like that for a living. In my line of business issues like this would be categorised as foreseeable misuse and have called for a mitigating design action. The fact that it's such a common occuring problem just underlines that it's poor design.

They didn't have to change the look of the car to solve the problem. A protective trim on bonnet or on whiper arm, softer materials, a locking function on the arm. Even a clear protective film could have lessened the problem
That may be true, but it's a common issue across the industry and has been for some time.

For what it's worth, I do think it's a mistake. I'm just aware of it.

Re: Paint damage when washing the car by wiper blades.

Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2021 4:10 pm
by advance2020
Having to “Park the Wipers” is common feature on Audi's and Golfs etc. It's part of improving airflow, and hence aerodynamics, reducing drag. Surprised to learn others have not come across this before. Keeping your windscreen clean, removing bugs etc. extends life of wiper blades, and avoids glass wear, smears etc.

Re: Paint damage when washing the car by wiper blades.

Posted: Mon Jul 19, 2021 11:21 am
by Nebrog23
Trykpaa wrote: Sun Jul 18, 2021 9:24 am
Nebrog23 wrote: Sat Jul 17, 2021 11:45 am I don’t think it’s a design flaw, they would have to change the appearance of many cars to avoid it. I alsothought it was deliberate to reduce wind noise from the wipers and help with aerodynamics.
I do stuff like that for a living. In my line of business issues like this would be categorised as foreseeable misuse and have called for a mitigating design action. The fact that it's such a common occuring problem just underlines that it's poor design.

They didn't have to change the look of the car to solve the problem. A protective trim on bonnet or on whiper arm, softer materials, a locking function on the arm. Even a clear protective film could have lessened the problem
I do agree it’s not great and the paint is rubbish

Re: Paint damage when washing the car by wiper blades.

Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2021 1:39 pm
by iHansz
milligoon wrote: Sat Jul 17, 2021 9:29 am No different to a recent XC60 I owned.

It sounds like iHanz's dealer didn't know about it either! Maybe when they prepped the cars they damaged them all?
I also think that's where the damage occurred, just no one knows about it... I'll leave it at that, they didn't do it intentionally and I can't prove it either.

Re: Paint damage when washing the car by wiper blades.

Posted: Thu Jul 29, 2021 11:46 pm
by d11
It happened to my e too. Dealer promised to paint it for free and asked me to be more careful.

The wipers ruin the paint when you lift them up.