Wet windows after lowering/raising post car washing

spearfish25 · 03-09-2011, 09:15 AM

One thing that drives me crazy is that after washing my car, my windows will get coated in residual water if I lower and then raise them. This happens for the next few days after washing the car, and I now carry a towel around to wipe the windows so they don't dry with unpleasant water marks. I've tried using painter's tape to mask off the bottom of the windows to keep the water out but it doesn't work.

Does anyone have any tricks for keeping water out of the doors when washing the car?

Liquid_G · 03-09-2011, 09:37 AM

Nothing for keeping it out, but when I wash the car at home I usually dry it with a leaf blower and spend some extra time with the blower on the window gasket. Seems to help a little.

christian370z · 03-09-2011, 11:38 AM

I use painter's tape and it works perfectly fine, but using compressed air or a blower is how I dry them out when they get wet and while it never completely dries them, it does help a lot.

spearfish25 · 03-09-2011, 12:35 PM

I'm amazed the painters tape worked. I masked the edges off meticulously, washed the car with a yard sprayer (3 gal) and the damn windows were as wet as if I didn't mask at all. It was the delicate blue tape, since I don't want gorilla tape residue on my car.

Maybe I'll buy a Milwaukee portable wet/dry vac that also doubles as a blower.

Pelican170 · 03-09-2011, 01:41 PM

This bothers me as well. That and how the water drains out onto the side skirts continually after haha.

6MT · 03-09-2011, 01:52 PM

I usually don't open the windows until the car has had a night's sleep first. But every car I've ever owned does the same thing.

spearfish25 · 03-09-2011, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 6MT

I usually don't open the windows until the car has had a night's sleep first. But every car I've ever owned does the same thing.

Yeah. I'm not blaming the Z. I just would like a solution. I find it usually takes 3 or 4 days before the windows come back up dry.

christian370z · 03-09-2011, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spearfish25

I'm amazed the painters tape worked. I masked the edges off meticulously, washed the car with a yard sprayer (3 gal) and the damn windows were as wet as if I didn't mask at all. It was the delicate blue tape, since I don't want gorilla tape residue on my car.

Maybe I'll buy a Milwaukee portable wet/dry vac that also doubles as a blower.

Hmmm, I forgot to mention that I only use Optimum No Rinse with no hoses so that makes a big difference. Another thing I have done in the past is to pull that window seal back and run a dry MF towel between it and the window to dry it out after using a blower/compressed air to dry it out prior.

kenchan · 03-09-2011, 03:15 PM

yah, this is one reason why i hate washing my hobby cars. in 2010 i didnt wash either of them using water.

i just used QD and Griot's SprayOn CarWash.

i rarely drive in the wet.

Ezra · 05-13-2012, 09:58 PM

My nismo does this as well. I used to have a 350z and it would do the same for like a day max. But this car seems to take at least 3 days to go away. One thing i noticed is when the windows are fully closed, the window seal at the bottom isn't doing a good job of being flush against the window. I can even push the seal with my finger and it bounces back leaving a slight crack for water to fall into.

stratburst · 05-23-2012, 06:04 PM

I agree Ezra. The gaskets are much more lose than any other car I've owned. .

kellyefields · 05-23-2012, 06:58 PM

after I wash the car and dry the windows i raise and lower once and then dry it again this along with letting it set overnight usually does the trick. I also raise the hood and trunk to do the same thing since water settels there as well.

Juice14 · 09-08-2012, 01:47 AM

Washed my car yesterday afternoon and went for a drive today and the windows got wet as soon as i pu them down, drives me crazy

omm370z · 09-08-2012, 03:53 AM

Easy and simple wait until it is really dry. That is how i did with my 350z. End of the story.

nepali · 09-08-2012, 09:12 AM

I do the same! I let the car dry really well before rolling the windows up/down. In fact, I hardly open the windows.

03-09-2011, 09:15 AM	#1 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	Wet windows after lowering/raising post car washing One thing that drives me crazy is that after washing my car, my windows will get coated in residual water if I lower and then raise them. This happens for the next few days after washing the car, and I now carry a towel around to wipe the windows so they don't dry with unpleasant water marks. I've tried using painter's tape to mask off the bottom of the windows to keep the water out but it doesn't work. Does anyone have any tricks for keeping water out of the doors when washing the car? __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

03-09-2011, 09:37 AM	#2 (permalink)
Liquid_G A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Chicago Burbs Posts: 1,439 Drives: 09 370z Supercharged Rep Power: 44	Nothing for keeping it out, but when I wash the car at home I usually dry it with a leaf blower and spend some extra time with the blower on the window gasket. Seems to help a little. __________________

03-09-2011, 11:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
christian370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Newport Beach Posts: 3,900 Drives: 2010 370Z/Saab 900se Rep Power: 432	I use painter's tape and it works perfectly fine, but using compressed air or a blower is how I dry them out when they get wet and while it never completely dries them, it does help a lot. __________________ -320whp / 259wftlbs- SP Rays -- RE-11s -- SpecialtyZ Tune -- Swift Springs -- Stillen 25R Oil Cooler -- Stillen G3 Intakes -- Berk HFCs -- F.I. 12" CBE -- Stillen Sway Bars -- Es14 Spring -- INGS+1 lip -- CF Spoiler -- GTR Start Button -- VLED Parking Lights -- PWJDM V2 shift knob

03-09-2011, 12:35 PM	#4 (permalink)
spearfish25 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Naples, FL Posts: 4,117 Drives: to work Rep Power: 1856	I'm amazed the painters tape worked. I masked the edges off meticulously, washed the car with a yard sprayer (3 gal) and the damn windows were as wet as if I didn't mask at all. It was the delicate blue tape, since I don't want gorilla tape residue on my car. Maybe I'll buy a Milwaukee portable wet/dry vac that also doubles as a blower. __________________ 2013 Cadillac V-Wagon, RIP Z

03-09-2011, 01:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
6MT A True Z Fanatic Join Date: May 2009 Location: ITU Zone 2 Posts: 22,459 Drives: Reliant Robin Rep Power: 1790	I usually don't open the windows until the car has had a night's sleep first. But every car I've ever owned does the same thing. __________________ Andrew 2009 370Z Sport/Touring 6MT sold 2013 Honda Civic Si coupe D/D

03-09-2011, 01:41 PM	#5 (permalink)
Pelican170 Track Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Sandy Hook, CT Posts: 972 Drives: Nissan 370z Nismo Rep Power: 16	This bothers me as well. That and how the water drains out onto the side skirts continually after haha.

03-09-2011, 03:15 PM	#9 (permalink)
kenchan A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: N/A Posts: 76,801 Drives: N/A Rep Power: 141521	yah, this is one reason why i hate washing my hobby cars. in 2010 i didnt wash either of them using water. i just used QD and Griot's SprayOn CarWash. i rarely drive in the wet.

05-13-2012, 09:58 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ezra Base Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Grayslake, IL Posts: 25 Drives: 2012 MB Nismo #0484 Rep Power: 14	My nismo does this as well. I used to have a 350z and it would do the same for like a day max. But this car seems to take at least 3 days to go away. One thing i noticed is when the windows are fully closed, the window seal at the bottom isn't doing a good job of being flush against the window. I can even push the seal with my finger and it bounces back leaving a slight crack for water to fall into.

05-23-2012, 06:04 PM	#11 (permalink)
stratburst Base Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Nashville, TN Posts: 78 Drives: 370z - Sport Touring Rep Power: 13	I agree Ezra. The gaskets are much more lose than any other car I've owned. .

05-23-2012, 06:58 PM	#12 (permalink)
kellyefields A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Lexington Ky #BBN Age: 48 Posts: 1,156 Drives: Supercharged Rep Power: 16	after I wash the car and dry the windows i raise and lower once and then dry it again this along with letting it set overnight usually does the trick. I also raise the hood and trunk to do the same thing since water settels there as well. __________________ MY 2009 SC BUILD.

09-08-2012, 01:47 AM	#13 (permalink)
Juice14 Base Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: International Posts: 132 Drives: Red 370Z Rep Power: 14	Washed my car yesterday afternoon and went for a drive today and the windows got wet as soon as i pu them down, drives me crazy

09-08-2012, 03:53 AM	#14 (permalink)
omm370z Track Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Perú Posts: 671 Drives: The Amuse! Rep Power: 14	Easy and simple wait until it is really dry. That is how i did with my 350z. End of the story. __________________ ITEMS FOR FREE! PROJECT FAST TURTLE!

09-08-2012, 09:12 AM	#15 (permalink)
nepali Track Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Dallas, TX Posts: 597 Drives: like a maniac! Rep Power: 15	I do the same! I let the car dry really well before rolling the windows up/down. In fact, I hardly open the windows. __________________ '11 SR/6MT/T/S

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