TERROR at the CAR WASH 🫧💦

[leehinde]

I know most people prefer to hand wash at home. I take it to a brushless car wash (I sit in the car and drive through myself). I would never dream to take it to a car wash like you described.

@OutofSpecKyle mentioned, in a recent video, a touch-less carwash near him that had the added benefit of less abrasive chemicals in the wash. I'm seeking that local unicorn.

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[eleven24]

So, I decided to take my first, filthy, nasty Mustang Mach E to the car wash at lunch. When I got out of the car, I explained to the attendant that you have to follow the prompt on the screen and press the L button to keep the car in neutral. (To his credit, he did ask if I wanted to ride through the tunnel. I declined because they (usually) know what they’re doing. I then go inside and watch my car go through the tunnel. I noticed the back wheels weren’t “rotating”, but rather staying still, as if the brake was on and they were being dragged, then, they would suddenly jerkily turn maybe a quarter revolution. I thought to myself “that’s not right!”, and ran over and told the owner (who knows my car well) what was going on. He ran to the tunnel, stopped it, went to my car, and properly put it in reverse. They’re still cleaning the interior now, and my fingers are crossed. ?

I wasn't expecting this story to have "To be continued...."

 

[Mach-E-avelli]

They have touchless car washes these days. Drive in, put it in park and let the water swirl around you as you enjoy the show from the comfort of your car.
Its the only type of car wash i take my Mach E to.

 

[DreamU]

Nice to hear about Auto Hold. I generally don't read the manual so might not have discovered it. My Mach-W was being built Mar 20 but still no word on completion.

Although I might read the manual re: car washes. On Saturday I took my Escape though a car wash and within 10 mins of driving the Check Engine light came on. Mechanic could find nothing wrong and light is off now. We suspect the under body spray got into something. Do not plan to ever use the under body spray again. It was OK in MN where you need to wash the salt off the vehicle but here in TX I cannot see any reason for it.

 

[EasyPass]

I agree with all who mentioned the Touchless Car Wash services. I'm averse to having to do research on how to "put my car in neutral" when the urge to auto-car-wash my vehicle arises. Those touchless type of washes are a complete no brainer in operation, do a great job, and have serveral levels of wash procedures from just get the heavy stuff off to several passes including a hot wax finish. The only way to go, IMHO.

 

[Motomax]

Update:
Car seems no worse for the west ?

I thought this car wash had the safety systems others have described. My front wheels were rotating normally, it was only my rear wheels that were misbehaving. My suspicion is that the safety system only detects the front wheel since that is the wheel that is being pulled. I thought it was weird that the front wheels seemed to be rotating fine. I have an AWD ER MY 21 Premium

Parking pawl is only on the rear motor. If you open the door in neutral (without pushing L) the vehicle goes into park.

 

[GuliblGuy]

I generally don't read the manual

@RickMachE is spinning in his grave.

But wait he's alive!

Happy Easter everyone. ?

 

[RickMachE]

Nice to hear about Auto Hold. I generally don't read the manual so might not have discovered it. My Mach-W was being built Mar 20 but still no word on completion.

Although I might read the manual re: car washes. On Saturday I took my Escape though a car wash and within 10 mins of driving the Check Engine light came on. Mechanic could find nothing wrong and light is off now. We suspect the under body spray got into something. Do not plan to ever use the under body spray again. It was OK in MN where you need to wash the salt off the vehicle but here in TX I cannot see any reason for it.

I think it's fine for you to not read the manual for your Mach-W. They aren't very complicated vehicles.

Now the Mach-E, which costs $60,000+, that has a lot of features that have never been in most vehicles. Some may choose to not read the manual and stay ignorant of these features, and post enlightening things like "I've owned this for a year and I had no idea it had this feature".

But with a Mach-W, you don't have those concerns, I get it.

For those waiting on a Mach-E, manual in PDF form is at owner.ford.com. ?

 

[RKinWA]

I actually created a "CarWash" profile that had Auto Hold off and Rain Sensing Wipers off, and I won't go unless I can drive through the tunnel and stay with the car (then no need for "L" as I am not opening the door). I also don't turn the vehicle off. Not sure if that makes a difference or not.

 

[mdolan92869]

I think I watched Terror at the Car Wash on Svengoolie a few weeks ago. ?

 

[Electrifiedsince2013]

Solution: Garden hose, bucket of suds, micro-fiber mitt, chamois, a little sunshine, and a maybe cold beverage. Zero terror.

That is basically my weekend routine, weather permitting.

 

[MisterSofa]

I would never trust my $60,000 car to a car jockey, whether it's a car wash attendant or a parking lot valet attendant.

What you described is not good.

Rick,
Have you ever done the wrong thing? It’s amazing, I don’t think so.

 

[Garbone]

My 21 did not come with this "manual" referenced here in.... Need to check my glove on my 22 to see if it has one....

Who am I kidding, no I will not.....

 

[i8iridium]

Why do you have to go through the whole song and dance with wipers, autohold and whatnot? As soon as you put it in N, and hit L, it's in 30 min Neutral mode. It disables the autohold. Moreover you can shut it off and get it out and it stays that way. It doesn't switch back to P, doesn't apply the parking brake. That thing will roll until the 30 minutes are up.

 

[Mrn]

I've been washing cars at home for a very long time and still keep learning (or forgetting and relearning) new things about that process. After towel drying the outside of the car, I now know to open the doors and hatches to dry the hidden water inside the doors and hatches to avoid later drips showing up.

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