I almost never go to a car wash because I always wash the jeep at home but I was in a hurry and wanted all those highway bugs off the windshield. So I took it to a carwash and once the dryer aimed at my hood and the center of the hood caved in. Fortunately it somehow popped back out on its own but has anyone else experienced anything like this?

 

I've been through several touchless car washes and haven't experienced that with the hood... I have had the dryers blow my windshield wipers off the window a bit but that's it.

It was just air that caused it right? Not a big cloth roller thing?

 

I've been through the local automated car wash many times. The force of the air from the dryer at the end causes my hood to dent in as well. I was freaking out the first time it happened. It hasn't caused any damage though. I use it frequently & it always dents in & pops back out with no problems.

 

Mine does that too...it's because the hood if so flimsy

 

Maybe this is a good thing. Can I justify an AEV hood to my wife over this?

 

You guys are brave. I would never send my jeep through a automatic vehicle wash. Hand washing is the only way. Maybe cause I have a softtop.

 

I have both softtop and hard top and my softtop is dryer

 

Just happened last week to me,had the whole family in jeep.I freaked out,but then it popped out.I`m not risking it again.

 

What?..we're supposed to wash our jeeps??? at the carwash at that????

 

As was pointed out earlier, the JK hood is about as thick as an aluminum can so it's not abnormal for that to happen. It has bracing support to prevent it from caving in entirely; however unlike its predecessors, there isn't an elevated rise or indention to prevent the hood from flexing. Makes the vehicle a bit lighter and more fuel efficient, but can be annoying if you go through a car wash. After I lifted mine, auto car washes was no longer an option. So the flexing hood under air pressure no longer an issue.