Accidental Interior Wash

BjornBeserker

Aug 18, 2024

Ah, technology. It works in mysterious ways…..

So, yesterday morning I am on my way to work at 0-dark-30 after a night of thunderstorms had dropped a ton of tree debris on the Bronco (Bronco ghillie suit?). Because everything was still wet and not blowing off as I drove, I pulled into a DIY car wash to spray off the debris.

As I worked my way down the driver’s side of the Bronco with the pressure washer, it looked like my driver’s window and windshield were running water down the INSIDE! I stopped spraying, opened the door and yes, the windshield, window, door, dashboard, steering wheel and my seat were soaking wet!

A bit peeved, I shut the door and the driver’s window jumped up a half inch. What the……. You guessed it. As I sprayed the Bronco with the key fob in my pocket the stream of water hit the door handle and the window did its programmed courtesy drop.

Oh well, I was going to give the inside a wipe down anyway. I just wasn’t planning to do it at 5:30 am!

Paul

Jakob1972, Chief Ron

Sort by date

Reaction Score

Aug 18, 2024

Dang! So the tech’s “water resistance” got tested… Hopefully everything still works.

2023 Wildtrak 4D Lux MIC Tow Oxford White

Chief Ron, Deano Bronc

Aug 18, 2024

I roll with my top off most of the year (only goes back on during winter months) and my interior gets wet - a lot. I also off-road every few weeks with the top off and the interior gets wet, muddy and generally has cakes of dust inside.

No issues at all on my end. FWIW, I live in the PNW were it rains, and rains a lot!

onX Trail Guide & Tread Lightly Member
2023 Badlands 2 door in Hot Pepper Red 🌶️ 🌶️

Chief Ron, UserError

Aug 18, 2024

Yeah, I'm not convinced that's possible. Any chance the door wasn't completely closed? The window drops as the door opens/closes. I have used pressure washer car washes and drive through car washes very regularly having alot of water touching and brushes touching the handle with zero incident. The door handle is very specific in my experience. I've tried opening the door with gloves on when locked and with key fob in my pocket with no success and have had to take the gloves off. You have to touch the small marked portion of the handle very deliberately. Humans are electrical conductors and I don't know if that's how it registers but mine won't work unless it's a very deliberate hand or thumb pressure. For piece of mind I'd test opening and closing the door repeatedly and see if the window motor is keeping up and closing the window entirely every time.

Supreme Leader of the Wandering but NOT Lost
2022 OBX Cyber Orange Metallic with random acutriments.

UserError

Aug 18, 2024

The door was completely closed. The only thing that “touched” the handle was the water via the metal wand in my hand.

Just for fun, I tried it again today with the garden hose (metal spray gun) and it still triggered the windows to drop (and the turn signals to flash).

Don’t tell NASA, I might just be a superconductor!

Jakob1972, Chief Ron

Aug 18, 2024

Did you open your drain plugs afterward? I've been meaning to give "Lebowski" a good interior washdown since off-roading. There's dust and grit everywhere! Always carry a towel with you. No Arthur Dent references are necessary. :geek:

Chris here. I drive a 2-door Velocity Blue 2023 Ford Bronco Badlands with Sasquatch, Lux, a 2.7L V6, and an automatic transmission. It’s fun.

TK1215, Mal

Aug 18, 2024

BjornBeserker
The door was completely closed. The only thing that “touched” the handle was the water via the metal wand in my hand.

Just for fun, I tried it again today with the garden hose (metal spray gun) and it still triggered the windows to drop (and the turn signals to flash).

You might need a trip to the dealership. Mine gets sprayed down all the time at self serve spray car washes and I've never had this happen.

onX Trail Guide & Tread Lightly Member
2023 Badlands 2 door in Hot Pepper Red 🌶️ 🌶️

UserError, BuckYeah

Aug 19, 2024

BjornBeserker
The door was completely closed. The only thing that “touched” the handle was the water via the metal wand in my hand.

Just for fun, I tried it again today with the garden hose (metal spray gun) and it still triggered the windows to drop (and the turn signals to flash).

Don’t tell NASA, I might just be a superconductor!

Very interesting. I wonder if it's a calibration thing that could be adjusted.

Supreme Leader of the Wandering but NOT Lost
2022 OBX Cyber Orange Metallic with random acutriments.

UserError

Aug 19, 2024

BuckYeah
Did you open your drain plugs afterward? I've been meaning to give "Lebowski" a good interior washdown since off-roading. There's dust and grit everywhere! Always carry a towel with you. No Arthur Dent references are necessary. :geek:

Lol. I always keep towels in my Bronco. Never know when I might happen across a beach or flash rainstorm.

Supreme Leader of the Wandering but NOT Lost
2022 OBX Cyber Orange Metallic with random acutriments.

UserError, BuckYeah

Aug 19, 2024

OrangecrushBronco
Yeah, I'm not convinced that's possible. Any chance the door wasn't completely closed? The window drops as the door opens/closes. I have used pressure washer car washes and drive through car washes very regularly having alot of water touching and brushes touching the handle with zero incident. The door handle is very specific in my experience. I've tried opening the door with gloves on when locked and with key fob in my pocket with no success and have had to take the gloves off. You have to touch the small marked portion of the handle very deliberately. Humans are electrical conductors and I don't know if that's how it registers but mine won't work unless it's a very deliberate hand or thumb pressure. For piece of mind I'd test opening and closing the door repeatedly and see if the window motor is keeping up and closing the window entirely every time.

I think it's dependent on model year or if you've had that update done.
I believe the 24s or if you've taken a 21-23 to a dealer for that software update will drop the windows when you unlock vs my 22 without the update that won't drop them until you actually open the handle.

So I do think what he's describing is plausible - I know mine will unlock the doors when I'm washing it because the lights will blink every time.

Jakob1972, Chief Ron

Aug 19, 2024

#10

Yeah my MY22 doesn’t drop the windows but it does flash the lights every time I spray the drivers, passenger, or rear gate handle. But I usually wash the door jambs and door panels when i’m washing the Bronco with the wand just don’t pull the trigger. You get some stuff wet inside but not too bad. Still have not used the drain plugs yet, my floor liners catch almost everything.

Bronco Nation 1100. Everglades, Desert Sand
Res: 7/30/20 ordered 1/22/21 reorder 10/15/21 changed to Everglades 3/9/22 schedule 8/29/22 bumped to 9/5; 9/7/22 blend, 9/9 Mods, 9/26/22 completed, 10/7 shipped, 11/3/22 delivery

Chief Ron

Aug 23, 2024

#11

OrangecrushBronco
Lol. I always keep towels in my Bronco. Never know when I might happen across a beach or flash rainstorm.

I got caught in a flash storm a couple of weeks ago with about a quarter of an inch of water in the cup holders. I wiped it off, drained it and went to bed. Next morning I turn it on and all electronics go haywire. Lights flashing, horn going off and won’t crank, never seen anything like it. Unplugged the battery to reset and same thing except this time screen said Vehicle Network Communication Error. So had it towed to nearest dealer. 5 days until a tech was able to see it and lo and behold, cranked up just fine no issues. They put some miles on over two days and runs like new. Guessing electronics got wet and needed to dry out. Don’t know what the moral of the story is…

Deano Bronc

Aug 23, 2024

#12

Antimatter21
I got caught in a flash storm a couple of weeks ago with about a quarter of an inch of water in the cup holders. I wiped it off, drained it and went to bed. Next morning I turn it on and all electronics go haywire. Lights flashing, horn going off and won’t crank, never seen anything like it. Unplugged the battery to reset and same thing except this time screen said Vehicle Network Communication Error. So had it towed to nearest dealer. 5 days until a tech was able to see it and lo and behold, cranked up just fine no issues. They put some miles on over two days and runs like new. Guessing electronics got wet and needed to dry out. Don’t know what the moral of the story is…

I haven’t been stuck in a storm with the top off, I don't imagine towels would do alot of good nor my sham-wow knock offs either. I have towels in case I personally end up in a rainstorm outside of the truck while exploring a spot it got me to.

Interesting regarding the cup holders. I had a bottle of Gatorade poor entirely into the cup holder/wireless charger area and in drained right through. The noise of it rushing through the Bronco and hitting the ground below is what caught my attention.

Supreme Leader of the Wandering but NOT Lost
2022 OBX Cyber Orange Metallic with random acutriments.

Deano Bronc

You must log in or register to post here.