I took my son to a movie yesterday in the RX and afterwords, went for a car wash then jumped on the QEW at Burloak going east. Startred bogging and losing power...finally died before I even got on the highway.

Managed to get it to the side of the ramp/road but couldn't get it started again.
First problem since I've had her in '07. She's not a tow virgin any more!

Hope to find out what's wrong on Monday.

 

I think people who know me would expect me to be the 2nd post to chime in

Do you have the MS CAI? LOL

 

Advice for all MS CAI owners... do not take your car to a carwash below 0 C. period.

It is safe to go to automatic car washes above 0 C provided that you plot the filter dry with a microfibre immediately after exiting the car wash and that you go easy on the throttle (below 5000 rpm, and no full throttle depressing for the next several hours (depending on how warm it is) For example, if it's hovering around 0 - 3 C, you don't want to use >5000rpm for the next 24 hours. Even WOT from idle to 5000 rpm is dangerous, hence go slowly up the RPMs.

If it's summer, probably an hour or two and you can redline her no problem.

 

Wait and see what he comes back with. He could have just dried it out on the side of the road.

 

I get washes all the time, supreme washes under 0 and nothing has gone wrong for me....

Boy do you have bad luck...did the dealer install your CAI? Sunday which was pretty cold maybe around -5 high; I got a carwash and went on the qew to work and had no probs...

 

Hmmm,
Good call.
I picked it up from dealership today. Turns out they had to take a heat gun to her to get the ice out. They never mentioned anything about the MS CAI and this is the very first I've heard of it.
I've had the car washed on a regular basis for some time without any problems.
They also replaced the plugs and mentioned there was some carbon build up on them (39,000kms on odom).

Runs great now...

 

It really depends on your driving style and how aggressive you are with the throttle...

i.e.. some people are "spirited drivers" 365 days a year.... I mean when you have PERFORMANCE WINTER tires, you just gotta..... some people.... I won't say who...

 

I just went for Petro-Canada's Glide Wash at hwy 7 and kennedy yesterday, the car was fine after it, but i kept it under 3000 for a while before really pumping it up.

 

I tried the "Garbage bag over CAI filter" technique at Glide a few weeks ago and here are my observations. First and foremost, it works, but with exception:

- As soon as the car passes the powerful undercarriage jets, shortly after, the car stalls itself. The jets of water have blasted the garbage bag and essentially plastered itself tightly around the CAI filter, suffocating the engine of air.
- You can start the car right at the exit, give it a little gas just to give it enough momentum to roll away from the area. It will again stall shortly (from lack of oxygen).
- Once parked, remove the garbage bag, and feel your DRY CAI FILTER

Car starts, drives away no problems =)

The pizza box does not work as water gets splashed all around on the sides and such. You still come out with a soaked CAI filter and a very wet-soaked piece of card board.

So remember guys... plastic bag from grocery store!

 

be careful with this. Ive seen this happen when the bag makes a perfect seal around the filter and absolutely no air can get in, it can CRUSH the air filter if the bag doesnt rip first. I would also think this is an easy way to flood your car, starving it of oxegen.

 

I don't know about you guys, but I just turn off my car and then start it up again afterwards, that way the engine doesn't need to draw in air to keep it going. Just start it up again after the wash.

 

That was my first reaction. I always shut the car off completely when going through the carwash. Don't want to risk shorting out the electrical system.