What's new

Just installed a PDQ 360

1gr8-wash

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2010
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
hamilton
Just got a PDQ 360 INSTALLED by Washtech here in Ontario.
The machine was delivered on time and install took about a week.
It washes great although the flash dry is not so effective, so far I know 3 operators who have this unit and none of us use the flash dry.

My distrubutor ( washtech) has been great so far with customer service, they even came in on sunday morning to check for glitches with the machine.

My only beef is that about 25% of the time when the customer puts thier money in the auto teller the doors open and close right away and the machine will start washing without any car inside.

I give credit to washtech, they have come and tried to fix the problem but so far it is a mystery.
the unit was installed on Friday and I am posting on sunday so hopefully the issue will be resolved early in the week.

I will keep you posted on my progress as well as PDq's response as well as Washtech.
Hopefully it will be of some help to anyone thinking of purchasing this touchless.

Good
PDQ 360 washes well I am pleased with the quality and speed of the wash.
Also delivery was on time.
Washtech has been very reponsive and even did a service call sunday morning to try and fix the problem, both owners gave me their private cell numbers if need them and they actually answer their phones.
Hopefully it is just a faulty ultrasonic eye and the problem will be fixed

Not Good
likes to wash before the car gets in the bay, not always but enough to have to give money back or put the customer through the wash again. one out of four times. Sometimes it will do this 4 or 5 times in a row which makes it impossible to operate if you are busy.
Also there is a clanging noise when the unit is traveling near the rear of the bay, although not serious still would like to fix sooner than later, noise will usually lead to costly repair usually a day after the warrenty expires!!
 

koliver

PDQ Sales Engineer
Joined
Sep 4, 2007
Messages
143
Reaction score
14
Points
18
Location
DePere, WI
Don't hesitate to give our tech service group a call. They can be reached at (800) 227-3373. Generally, the issue that you are describing can be fixed by going into the ultrasonic setup page, and adjusting the stop ultrasonics.
 

bigleo48

Active member
Joined
Sep 6, 2007
Messages
1,887
Reaction score
0
Points
36
Congrads on the new machine...

I too am in Ontario and Fred was telling me about yours.

"My only beef is that about 25% of the time when the customer puts thier money in the auto teller the doors open and close right away and the machine will start washing without any car inside."

This has happened to me also but with my M5. It was due to Tri-foam on the floor tricking the bridge sonics. Not saying its the tri-foam, but definitely something with the bridge sonics or the floor.

Big
 

1gr8-wash

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2010
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
hamilton
your are right it is the ultrasonics

Fred came over today (monday) and swapped out one of the ultrasonic eyes and now it seems to be working fine, I guess I will know after a few washes but the machine is great, washes great, I will keep you posted
thanks
Jim
 

1gr8-wash

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2010
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
hamilton
tried that, but it turned out to be a bad ultrasonis sensor

Don't hesitate to give our tech service group a call. They can be reached at (800) 227-3373. Generally, the issue that you are describing can be fixed by going into the ultrasonic setup page, and adjusting the stop ultrasonics.
wish it was that easy, we tried that on Sunday, it turned out to be a bad ultra sonic, hopefully the problem is fixed
thanks, Jim

One more thing.....
On the enter, stop sign in the bay PDQ uses a X for stop, it confuses customers, they think something is wrong , remember school X= mistake.
Perhapps a STOP or the universal stop sign may stop this confusion.
Just a thought.
 

1gr8-wash

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2010
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
hamilton
any soloution??

Congrads on the new machine...

I too am in Ontario and Fred was telling me about yours.

"My only beef is that about 25% of the time when the customer puts thier money in the auto teller the doors open and close right away and the machine will start washing without any car inside."

This has happened to me also but with my M5. It was due to Tri-foam on the floor tricking the bridge sonics. Not saying its the tri-foam, but definitely something with the bridge sonics or the floor.

Big
Have you found as way to stop this from happening or is it something you must live with.
 

JustClean

Active member
Joined
Mar 24, 2008
Messages
845
Reaction score
99
Points
28
Location
all over the place
1gr8-wash,
may I ask why you have chosen the Laserwash 360 ?
The reason I am asking is I can't make up my mind between the WW Razor, the Laserwash 360 and the new Mark7 Turbojet XT.

The Laserwash looks good, wide open bay but too much alu instead of stainless steel. What were your thoughts? Thanks.
 

bigleo48

Active member
Joined
Sep 6, 2007
Messages
1,887
Reaction score
0
Points
36
On the enter, stop sign in the bay PDQ uses a X for stop, it confuses customers, they think something is wrong , remember school X= mistake.
Perhapps a STOP or the universal stop sign may stop this confusion.
Just a thought.
I think they changed the 'X' issue on the latest software load for the M5.
 

bigleo48

Active member
Joined
Sep 6, 2007
Messages
1,887
Reaction score
0
Points
36
Have you found as way to stop this from happening or is it something you must live with.
No it hasn't happened in a long time. Just calibrated the ultrasonics and keep the floor relatively free of debris. We also thinned out the tri-foam (it was too thick and needed diluting.

Big
 
Etowah

bigleo48

Active member
Joined
Sep 6, 2007
Messages
1,887
Reaction score
0
Points
36
1gr8-wash,
may I ask why you have chosen the Laserwash 360 ?
The reason I am asking is I can't make up my mind between the WW Razor, the Laserwash 360 and the new Mark7 Turbojet XT.

The Laserwash looks good, wide open bay but too much alu instead of stainless steel. What were your thoughts? Thanks.
JustClean,

You buy the machine with the distributor that gives you the best support. I never considered any other machine because my distributor/installer/tech is excellent.

Big
 

JustClean

Active member
Joined
Mar 24, 2008
Messages
845
Reaction score
99
Points
28
Location
all over the place
JustClean,

You buy the machine with the distributor that gives you the best support. I never considered any other machine because my distributor/installer/tech is excellent.

Big
Apart from the distributors (all mine have pros and cons) any other reasons?
 

bigleo48

Active member
Joined
Sep 6, 2007
Messages
1,887
Reaction score
0
Points
36
Apart from the distributors (all mine have pros and cons) any other reasons?
With due respect, all other considerations are minimal...

By that I mean if the machine is properly setup and you have good water and chems, it will wash well. The question is..what do you do when the machine fails on a busy weekend?
 

tobaccofarmer

Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2007
Messages
154
Reaction score
0
Points
16
I assume, get in your truck drive to wash and fix it?
 
Last edited:

MEP001

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
16,665
Reaction score
3,946
Points
113
Location
Texas
tobaccofarmer said:
I assume, get in your truck drive to wash and fix it?
You'd be surprised how few car wash operators can diagnose and repair a problem with their equipment, in fact I know of many who can't handle something most of us would consider common sense.
 

gsgriffin

Member
Joined
Dec 13, 2008
Messages
43
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
Allen, Tx
You'd be surprised how few car wash operators can diagnose and repair a problem with their equipment, in fact I know of many who can't handle something most of us would consider common sense.
I fit in this category on one of my IBA machines. I inherited a Karcher, and that beast is way over my head on most items. In fact, most car wash repair techs can not assisst with it either. Hopefully I can afford to replace it in a couple of years.

G
 

1gr8-wash

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2010
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
hamilton
pdq 4 days later

the tech guys reloaded the software and changed out an ultra sonic eye and it has been working worry free since monday.
customers love the wash.
again my disrubutor did a great job and was on the problem first thing monday and my staff told me he was by my site today just to check things out, he must have had a call in the nieghboorhood but still a nice touch.
 

1gr8-wash

Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2010
Messages
30
Reaction score
0
Points
6
Location
hamilton
pdq and razor

1gr8-wash,
may I ask why you have chosen the Laserwash 360 ?
The reason I am asking is I can't make up my mind between the WW Razor, the Laserwash 360 and the new Mark7 Turbojet XT.

The Laserwash looks good, wide open bay but too much alu instead of stainless steel. What were your thoughts? Thanks.
I also was stuck between these two machines and both distrubutors were good, what made me choose the PDQ was, deliever time and terms.
Washworld machine could not get installed untill FEB. goodbye winter.
Also with the washworld unit I would have to put 70% of the cost of the machine down before it was shipped to Canada, sorry too much money down for something that is not at my door.
These were my driving modivators.
From my research they are very comparable machines, i would stay away from the Mark 7 a fellow has one here and he is very unhappy.
 

bigleo48

Active member
Joined
Sep 6, 2007
Messages
1,887
Reaction score
0
Points
36
I assume, get in your truck drive to wash and fix it?
Yup, unless I was already there.

But I don't have spares for everything and for the first year when I wasn't as familiar with the machine as I am now, a tech who answers his cell has helped immensely.

Big
 

pitzerwm

Active member
Joined
Aug 28, 2007
Messages
3,693
Reaction score
10
Points
36
Location
Tri-Cities, WA
1gr8, maybe its time to go to customer reviews and let the world know how good the distr. is.
 
Top