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Car Wash Mode - Instructions!

Discussion in 'Model 3' started by Glenn90, Aug 15, 2020.

  1. Master Chief

    Master Chief Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2020
    Messages:
    83
    Location:
    Norfolk, VA
    I had recommended that via Twitter not long after I got my Model X and right when the water started spraying and the dangly rags started dangling my wipers came on at high speed. I froze for a few seconds, not knowing what to do. And that was after the rollers started trying to push my car through in Park.

    It really seems like a no-brainer addition to their OS.
     
    • Funny x 1
  2. ChMyName

    ChMyName Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2020
    Messages:
    7
    Location:
    Seattle, WA
    Thanks to the OP for the pdf. I printed it out for the car, now I will likely not need it. I too have experienced the moment of panic when the rollers start and you cannot remember how to go to neutral because one does it so rarely. The last couple of times I have been through I know that I have forgotten to turn the wipers off, and they have not come on. Wonder if they are now smart enough to recognize car wash environment - not likely but who knows. I have also moved and taken my seat belt off and had the car go into park in the middle of the car wash. Now I take care to remove my seat belt before entry and then sit very still while going through the tunnel.
    No apparent problems using the car wash, although I will only use one near me that was built in the last couple of years and uses all the latest car wash equipment. I believe most of the problems are from old under maintained, under invested car washes. There are some near me and I would never consider using them.
     
    • Funny x 1
  3. AimStellar

    AimStellar Supporting Member

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    NJ, USA
    Seriously? Another post from you made solely to mock/insult @EmOne? Are these necessary? Do you feel better now, having made fun of someone on the internet?
     
    • Like x 3
    • Disagree x 1
    • Funny x 1
  4. toolman335

    toolman335 Member

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    Oct 3, 2019
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    Rochester
    Ok so you guys are talking about carwashes where you go on a belt/track and/or are getting whacked by brushes?
    I thought we were told by Tesla and in this forum to never use them?
    I only use the touchless washes. If you put the car in park the windshield wipers don't come on. Carwash mode isn't necessary at all. I want my mirrors open so it can spray all around them.
     
    • Like x 2
  5. Gasaraki

    Gasaraki Active Member

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    Oct 21, 2019
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    Location:
    Syracuse, NY
    Step one is wrong. All you have to do is step on the brake, shift to N from D. This can be one in about one second.
     
  6. George702

    George702 Member

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    Oct 26, 2019
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    Location:
    Las Vegas, NV
    Which one in Las Vegas did you use? One I use hasn't left anything on the car.
     
  7. Wennfred

    Wennfred Supporting Member

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    #27 Wennfred, Aug 17, 2020
    Last edited: Aug 17, 2020
    Let me look it up, was close to the airport,

    Oasis Car wash on E. Warm Spring Road, stay far from this place. Nasty brown recycled water and at over 100 degrees in the wash bay the brown water spots dry up fast and hard to remove.

    Which one do you use so I can go there next time?

    Fred
     
  8. Terryaki

    Terryaki Member

    Joined:
    Feb 24, 2019
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    10
    Location:
    Ogden
    When you car goes into "hold", if you want it out of "hold" for whatever reason, just press in the brake pedal again. You'll see hold disengage.
     
  9. Xcelerator

    Xcelerator Member

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    Feb 27, 2017
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    Location:
    Dallas
    That's one way, but, in my X, the car has decided to jump from neutral to park when I've tried it. To avoid that problem, I recommend tow mode. Go to Controls, Service, tow mode, and make sure your wipers are off. The will allow the car to roll freely and it will not jump back into park. Then when done, put it back into normal mode by shifting into park.
     
  10. EVolVEr

    EVolVEr Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2020
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    Location:
    Texarkana, TX
    I have a monthly account with my two local Zip’s Car Washes for unlimited washes. I’ve used them for the 6 months I’ve had my 2014 Model S.

    They do a great job every time. They usually attach a sticker on your windshield that’s read every time you go, but on Mercedes and Tesla, they can’t be read. They just give these owners an unattached sticker to hold out the window.

    They have a great “de-bugger” wand, and the wheels are always spotless.
     
  11. cypho

    cypho Member

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    Dec 20, 2018
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    755
    Location:
    USA
    Why can't you just put the car in "roll" mode and then leave it in drive?
     
    • Helpful x 1
  12. Fanboy

    Fanboy New Member

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    Location:
    New Jersey
    Don’t you also have to put the key card on the center console?
     
  13. RayK

    RayK Active Member

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    Location:
    San Jose, CA
    Whoa! Major error by me and am surprised nobody caught it. I meant that you can shift into NEUTRAL from Hold Mode or Drive by lifting up on the stalk. I would also reverse the order of steps #1 and #2; turn off the wipers before shifting into Neutral. The reason being is that if you are ready to put the car into Neutral it means your front tire(s) is probably engaged in the towing track. By then the front of the car may be getting sprayed with water and you'll have to fumble with the screen to get to the wiper menu.

    Getting out of the car wash also can be tricky. I've found that you have to time it just right when exiting the track and putting the car back into Drive. More than once it has taken me two or more attempts to switch from Neutral back to Drive.
     
  14. Butler75080

    Butler75080 New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 27, 2018
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    Location:
    Dallas

    Exactly! Had to replace the rear bumper as seat belt was off and reached around. Went into Park, jumped car wash bumper and car behind rammed the rear bumper; only hand wash now...
     
  15. tonyb99

    tonyb99 Member

    Joined:
    Mar 22, 2020
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    157
    Location:
    Tucson
    A car wash is a car wash, just give the card to the attendant, they know what to do. (And if a Tesla cannot work with a car wash something is very wrong)
     
  16. MrShakeHands

    MrShakeHands Member

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2018
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    Location:
    Toronto
    Same. Not sure with the 3, but in my X I just have to slightly press the brake pedal enough to light up the brake lights, and then it allows me to shift back into drive. You don't have to do a full brake / come to a complete stop to shift out of Neutral.
     
  17. FRE0

    FRE0 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2020
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    56
    Location:
    San Diego, California, United States of America
    "Has anyone tried tweeting at Elon for a "car wash mode"..."

    Do Elon or Tesla ever respond to requests?

    Many owners, including me, have requested a larger type size for some touch screen items because we cannot read them while wearing our distance glasses. There has been no response.
     
  18. mrbulk

    mrbulk Member

    Joined:
    Sep 5, 2017
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    415
    Location:
    Las Vegas NV
    I go through car washes from time to time (my lease expires in March) but I only go to the ones where you stop and put it in park and the wash/spray mechanism moves over the car. Works well and I don’t have to mess with none of that car wash mode stuff
     
    • Like x 1
  19. FRE0

    FRE0 Member

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    Apr 3, 2020
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    Location:
    San Diego, California, United States of America
    But we have been told that all the controls are logically arranged. If that were true, why would any of us have trouble going into "Park"? It doesn't seem to be a problem with other cars.
     
  20. Winzzz

    Winzzz New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2020
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    2
    Location:
    60035
    There is a car wash mode in the model three. Go to mirrors and instruct to fold at this location, ditto wipers That is you need If you have trouble putting the car in neutral, well I have nothing to say.
     

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