PDQ M5: why do they program it this way?

[GoBuckeyes]

I don't own any Laserwashes but I've been through plenty. I typically go through them to compare their wash quality and 'show' to our in-bay automatics to make sure we're doing a good job. Yesterday I went through an M5 and couldn't figure out the logic behind the pass programming. The wash started at my passenger side front, went across the bumper, down the driver side, across the back then home applying presoak. We'll call this counter clockwise. It did the same for the second presoak pass as well, but then the wash reversed itself and went clockwise for the rest of the passes. Why? I've only seen this one other time at a wash near me, and when I went back to that wash it no longer did it...all passes were counter clockwise. I figured they had programmed it incorrectly and then fixed it. Can someone explain the logic? They are washing off the presoak that was most recently applied...makes no sense to me?

 

[gearhead]

That does seem strange. Mine don't do that. Had no idea that was possible.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

Wow, I'm shocked no one can explain this. So I take it it's not just me right....it makes no sense right? No PDQ guys here care to chime in?

 

[BBE]

An M5 can't go both ways. Only the G5's and 360's can go counter clockwise and clockwise. If it didn't have the bucktooth arch, and started at the front of your vehicle, it was most certainly a 360.

But as far as why the wash passes were set up that way, I have no idea

 

[GoBuckeyes]

An M5 can't go both ways. Only the G5's and 360's can go counter clockwise and clockwise. If it didn't have the bucktooth arch, and started at the front of your vehicle, it was most certainly a 360.

But as far as why the wash passes were set up that way, I have no idea

I'm not saying you're incorrect, but I am 100% sure both sites I witnessed this at are running M5's.

 

[koliver]

The only way the arch can go clockwise would be after a productivity pass (front to back). The arch can then turn on at the back of the car and rinse. This is typically done after a 3X pass. If the spray arch is at the home position (front right/passenger side), it will only go counter clockwise.

 

[bigleo48]

I concur what Koliver says. The reason to go counterclockwise is that you are pulling the boom around and not pushing it.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

The only way the arch can go clockwise would be after a productivity pass (front to back). The arch can then turn on at the back of the car and rinse. This is typically done after a 3X pass. If the spray arch is at the home position (front right/passenger side), it will only go counter clockwise.

Damn it, now I have to go spend money at another guys wash to see if I'm crazy or not. The washes menu says it has tri-color conditioner but it certainly didn't put it on, definitely didn't put it on with the pods. The wash had 'Hot Gloss' which I'm sure is someone's knock off of hot wax. I did notice one pass from the arch putting something purple on, which may have been the hot gloss, but at that point it was already going clockwise. KOliver, I'm pretty sure the spray arch started it's clockwise direction from the home position. I'll try to check it out this week.

 

[DiamondWash]

Make a video of it

 

[bigleo48]

Looked at my settings and there are no clockwise rotation settings except for the initial offset.

I suspect the machine is confused about where it is and believes its at the back.

Anyway, if it's starting from the front in a clockwise rotation...something is messed up and not a programming selection.

 

[JGinther]

Someone was obviously changing the phases in the backroom while you were in the wash to mess with you...

 

[GoBuckeyes]

Okay, finally had a little bit of time to revisit the site. I bought the same wash as last time and used the same bay. Here's how it ran:
PS 1, counter clockwise from home.
PS 2, ccw from home, when it got back to home it then went down passenger side to back of car.
HP Rinse, clockwise, starting at back passenger corner and finishing there.
Triple Foam, from back of car to front using pods.
Rinse, productivity arch from front to back to front.
Super sealant, CCW from home.
Rinse, productivity arch, front to back.
Spot free rinse, CW starts and finishes at passenger side back corner
Dryer

What I can say is that today was 40F, last week when I came it was about 20F. The triple foam pods definitely weren't working when I came last probably because of the cold. I think it was putting it on thru the arch. The productivity arch also wasn't working last time. Is that normal to turn off the productivity arch when it's below freezing? If so, that seems like a waste.

Does this sequence of passes sound right? I took video, I'll try to post it if need be.

 

[BBE]

I'd love to see the video. I'm having a hard time putting all those passes into visuals in my head

 

[bigleo48]

That is the way it should go with those selections. However, I would tell the owner not to give access to wash programming to their children...totally bizarre wash!

 

[koliver]

Agree with bigleo48. Not sure why they would be set up that way. Not knowing the owners equipment, they have the option to order weep with the machine which would allow the 3X and Productivity to operate in the cold.

 

[GoBuckeyes]

I'd love to see the video. I'm having a hard time putting all those passes into visuals in my head

Here is a youtube link to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtQkV5URD-I&feature=youtu.be

So if someone has a productivity arch in a cold weather climate how does the weep work? It seems like other M5's I've seen air purge after a wash, but sometimes I see them actually weep water (from the spray arm). How would the factory recommend it be set up?

 

[koliver]

There are a couple different ways. PDQ sends the machines out with a water weep. As it gets colder, it will weep more often. Some of our distributors will set them up with an air purge instead to reduce water consumption.

 

[Rondo]

M5

I don't own any Laserwashes but I've been through plenty. I typically go through them to compare their wash quality and 'show' to our in-bay automatics to make sure we're doing a good job. Yesterday I went through an M5 and couldn't figure out the logic behind the pass programming. The wash started at my passenger side front, went across the bumper, down the driver side, across the back then home applying presoak. We'll call this counter clockwise. It did the same for the second presoak pass as well, but then the wash reversed itself and went clockwise for the rest of the passes. Why? I've only seen this one other time at a wash near me, and when I went back to that wash it no longer did it...all passes were counter clockwise. I figured they had programmed it incorrectly and then fixed it. Can someone explain the logic? They are washing off the presoak that was most recently applied...makes no sense to me?

We have M5's in the Cleveland area and use "HotGloss" First and Second pass are counter clockwise. We then dry move the bridge to the back of the car. The wand then goes clockwise for the remainder of the passes.

 

[Rondo]

Water Weep

There are a couple different ways. PDQ sends the machines out with a water weep. As it gets colder, it will weep more often. Some of our distributors will set them up with an air purge instead to reduce water consumption.

We purge our M5's with an air-blowdown system. As you know Kris, you cannot blow down the productivity and tri-foam shower heads. It works great until temperature get's into the teens, then we have to switch to water weep.

In order to keep the tri-foam heads and productivity arch from freezing during very cold temperatures, it would require an enormous amount of water. In this case, we run our polish through the arch.

We put on the cleaning solutions counterclockwise, then do a dry productivity move to the back of the vehicle. This allows more dwell time on the front of the car and windshield to help during tough cleaning times.