Beware of the laser wash

[wilsonp]

So I took the 370Z to the laser wash for the second time because I had some red mud on the wheels and a lot of "salt" spray from the recent snow we had and I was worried it would rust away (+1 to the NSX ).

I pulled in and turned off the engine. About the second time around there was a loud bang and suddenly a little square was visible in the passenger side mirror. I couldn't figure out what it was at first (I told my wife the filler lid is oval) and then I realized...

After the blow dryer stopped, I got out and retrieved the fuel filler lid from the front of the wash area where it had been blown. It had snapped clean off the hinge.

Looking at it, it is incredibly cheaply made. I'm guessing they saved a few hundred dollars in two years of sales not putting much plastic there.

I thought the lid didn't unlock when the engine was turned off (I'll test later) but I think it did. Then the first spray pushed on the lid, popping it up. Then the second spray from behind flipped it open and ripped it off.

I've glued it back on temporarily with some super glue, and JB Kwik and some construction glue in the buttress spaces, so its probably stronger than factory, but I'm still ordering another one.

And I'll make sure I lock everything when I'm at the laser wash...