I have a 1997 Plymouth Grand Voyager. We purchased the van when Brandon was 6 months old. I have always taken care of it to make sure it would last (since it is paid off and it's nice not having a car payment).
My van was looking pretty dirty, so I decided to go thru a "touchless" car wash. You know, the kind that only sprays the water - no brushes to there are no scratches on the vehicle.
When I got home I noticed that the side panel was MISSING from the van! It would seem that the "touchless" car wash blew off a piece of my van! I went back and found the piece sitting to the side. A nice person must have propped it up against the wall in hopes the owner would return.
So now what? I guess I have to go to a body shop and have it put back on?? (FYI: the white marks above the panel area were from me hitting a guard rail. Totally different day and a LONG story!)
I probably would have used stronger language than Yikes to describe that!
ReplyDeleteNever boring at the Miller's!
Hope everything is going great with the child watching :)
Bummer. Just go to Home Depot and buy a tube of GE Clear Silicone Sealant (and a caulk gun if you don't have one). Test fit the piece of trim back on the van. Make sure it will set in place correctly. Then goop a real good amount of the silicone over the back side of the piece of trim, then press it in place. Tape it there with some duct tape or masking tape until it dries about 24 hours. If you goop enough of that silicone on there, it will never come off without some force. Silicone. Great stuff. Almost as great as duct tape!
ReplyDeleteI agree w/ Ralph what a bummer.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on keeping your vehicle so long, we have a 2000 town & country. How many miles do you have on your van?
We are in the same boat, I got my car when the boys were 5. I need a new car, but it is so nice not having a car payment and as long as my car runs good I am happy!
ReplyDeleteI am happy that you found the side panel. The touchless car wash should pay the bill.
Yikes!!! I always worry about the spoiler on the front of my car blowing off while going thru the dry cycle. The duct tape comments today are entertaining to me because duct tape (also blue tarp) is Alaska's #1 remedy for most problems!!! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great idea Ralph. I was wondering how to fix it myself. I should have called you first!
ReplyDeleteWe have about 144,000 miles on the Van. I don't think that is bad for being almost 12 years old, especially with all the traveling we do (vacations, hockey, etc.)
Send me a few pics of it being fixed. I'll put a page up under my website as one of the "Cheap Tricks and Useful Tips" http://www.offroaders.com/tnt
ReplyDeleteand give you credit for the idea!
Here's a similar use for that GE Silicone Sealant. I did this several years ago to hold a skid plate to an oil pan under the engine of my Jeep. To this day that skid plate is still sticking fast to the oil pan. It'll never come off without a jack-hammer.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.offroaders.com/info/tech-corner/project-cj7/oil-pan-skid.htm
Well that's a bummer. Now I'm wary of those car washes. Great. Did you talk to the car wash at all? I'd be a little upset with them :) Here's hoping Ralph's solution works well for you!
ReplyDeleteI had the pin stripe blown right off of mine!
ReplyDeleteyikes is right!
I had the pin stripe blown right off of mine! yikes is right
ReplyDeleteI've heard that those automatic washes have to crank up the pressure so the spray can reach the vehicle. That would explain why pieces fly off.
ReplyDeleteWhen ever the rain stops I will fix the van and send pictures of my handiwork! LOL
ReplyDelete