Car Wash Mode PLEASE!

[scottysize]

First off, I had my car wrapped with paint protective film with the express intent of being able to go through those types of washes without having it damage my paint. (I heard Tesla paint is soft and cannot stand the brushing effect.) So don't judge me.

Neutral is very hard to master.

I like having Creep turned off, so if you have that on, Neutral is easier. Off it’s a nightmare. We’ve been programmed to hold our foot on the break anytime we shift or do anything to the car. By leaving your foot on the brake, it cancels out neutral with Creep Mode off. So I hold my foot on the break, move the stick up a little bit nothing. I hold it up further, it goes into reverse. Crud. Too far. Try it again only down this time, since it’s in reverse it’s only natural to want to go the other way. Still keeping my foot on the brake and still nothing halfway, then too far; Drive. Try it two more times in both directions with the foot on the brake and now I'm freaking out. The rollers have already cleared my car several times. The attendant has to stop the wash while others are behind me furious. Finally I take my foot off the break and find the perfect tiny little spot to hold the lever and N. Awesome! He turns the conveyor belt back on and I start moving.

Then he sprays my car with the bug pre-treatment. That’s when the automatic wipers take over. Of course I can’t remember exactly how to turn them off, so as I enter the wash he's yelling, "Turn your wipres off!" and finally he stops the belt again. See he has had wipers pulled off cars before and they have a policy that no car can enter with wipers on. I finally figure it out how to turn them off and giving him a thumbs up, he turns the belt back on.

Halfway through, the oscillating mitters grabs my drivers mirror and rips it forward. Needless to say I forgot to fold them in.

It’s an experience every time I go though it. I’ve got a monthly wash contract and I can go through every day. I’m getting better, but Carwash Mode is VERY much needed.

One more funny thing: I wasn’t able to wash my car last week and was out of town. Wifey decided to take it out for a spin with my niece. I told her she should take it through the wash and knock some bugs off. (No, it wasn’t because I wanted a good laugh, or a kick in the arse when I got home.) As I driving through New Mexico in my pickup with 1 bar of cell phone service, I get a call from my niece. It would seem they too are having the exact same problems I have had, and would like help. However, it wasn’t said in a normal, "Hey can ya give us a hand" voice. It was a mixture of my wife yelling in the back ground, the attendant saying try this, and my niece laughing hysterically. I lost signal and continued on my way…

 

[voip-ninja]

It looks like there's an alternative way to get the car into neutral by pressing the emergency brake release from the touchscreen when the car is in park.

And it looks like you're not the only one who wants a "wash mode" button.

Getting the Model 3 into Neutral- software update | Tesla

 

[Frieda’s Boss]

@scottysize I agree!
Full disclosure: I’m fat, old, lazy and have little kids, so the less time I spend on maintaining the car, the happier I am.

I’ll gladly send in a Feature Request to Tesla for a one-touch Car Wash Mode button that:
- Auto shifts into Neutral by pressing the Park button (letting the car know ‘you’re ready’)
- Turns off Auto Wipers
- Tucks in Mirrors
- Then a final press of the Park button (or in-clicking the Car Wash Mode button) reverts the car back to normal operations and to all the previous settings

Basically, this seems like it would be straightforward and wouldn’t take much effort because all the functionality is there, it just needs to be bundled in a macro.

 

[ngogas]

1. Neutral - foot off the brake and shift down a notch (or up) and hold there for 2 seconds. This shift it to neutral.
2. Turn wipers off
3. Fold mirrors
4. Make sure all windows are rolled up

Sound like the above checklist could easily have a wash button with a confirmation yes / no.

 

[Need]

Let go of the brake, 2 quick consecutive ups (not all the way up) will put you in Neutral. You can practice it while driving (preferably downhill). I practiced it quite a bit after I read about people having trouble putting the car in neutral entering car wash. I have not gone into a car wash yet.. been hand washing my car every week LOL. BTW, even if you manage to put it in neutral, you have to be careful when you are inside the car wash. Because I read that if you shift your weight... like trying to grab something from the back seat, the car will think that you left the seat and put the car in Park. I read that it is better if you put it in TOW mode using the screen, but I don't really know if that's what you are supposed to do in a car wash.

 

[rtanov]

If creep is off there is no need to go to neutral. Just make sure the brake is off and let the rollers push you in D - car will easily roll forward and you will accumulate some electrons from the regenerative braking. I've been doing this for years - first with my i3 now with the Model 3 - works just fine. And makes going through the wash easier than with an ICE car... just like everything else.

 

[ngogas]

Ah that is interesting to note @rtanov.

Still babying my m3 with hand washes.

 

[voip-ninja]

Ah that is interesting to note @rtanov.

Still babying my m3 with hand washes.

I agree... automatic washes are great for making your paint look like hell after a year or two.

 

[SigNC]

I agree... automatic washes are great for making your paint look like hell after a year or two.

Agreed, but a non issue if your car is wrapped like OP.

 

[voip-ninja]

Agreed, but a non issue if your car is wrapped like OP.

Local shops quoted me $7,000-$8,000 for a full wrap.

Nooooooo Thanksssssss

 

[ngogas]

Local shops quoted me $7,000-$8,000 for a full wrap.

Nooooooo Thanksssssss

For that price just get a model 3 in 4~5 years and you still save money.

 

[Avid]

If creep is off there is no need to go to neutral. Just make sure the brake is off and let the rollers push you in D - car will easily roll forward and you will accumulate some electrons from the regenerative braking. I've been doing this for years - first with my i3 now with the Model 3 - works just fine. And makes going through the wash easier than with an ICE car... just like everything else.

If you have creep off, just think of it as a manual transmission when stopped. It will roll forward or backward if there is any incline.

But yes, a car wash mode would be nice.

 

[voip-ninja]

For that price just get a model 3 in 4~5 years and you still save money.

I originally thought I would keep this Model 3 for 6-7 years but now I'm thinking there will be a lot of improvements to these cars in 3-4 years time. power hatchback option, power-close frunk, adjustable headrest. LIDAR!

I might end up just doing a minimal PPF on the front end of the car and a basic ceramic on it... with an eye towards flipping it in 3-4 years for whatever upgraded version replaces it.

 

[HankLloydRight]

I read that it is better if you put it in TOW mode using the screen, but I don't really know if that's what you are supposed to do in a car wash.

I put my Model S into tow mode for car washes. Works great.

 

[Garlan Garner]

You don't need a car wash mode for the Model 3.

All car washes will pull the car through while the car is in "drive". There is no transmission.


All you have to do is turn the "auto wiper" feature off.

 

[rtanov]

All you have to do is turn the "auto wiper" feature off.

That's my problem - remembering to turn it off. Three things I need to do: fold mirrors, turn auto wipers off and make sure brakes are not in Hold. Maybe a car wash mode will help with that

 

[Uncle Paul]

One of the reasons I chose a white car. White and silver simply do not need to be wash as often as the dark colors, and they do not show the swirls from cleaning.

While they do not look as spectacular as a dark color when freshly washed/waxed they are much easier to live with on a daily basis.

No need to ceramic coat or plastic armor. Just a little touch up paint once a year and you are good to go.

 

[scottysize]

If creep is off there is no need to go to neutral. Just make sure the brake is off and let the rollers push you in D - car will easily roll forward and you will accumulate some electrons from the regenerative braking. I've been doing this for years - first with my i3 now with the Model 3 - works just fine. And makes going through the wash easier than with an ICE car... just like everything else.

You are correct, but it beep and bings and yells the entire time because of the sensors. However, I've gone through several times this way because I couldn't get it in to neutral.

 

[scottysize]

You don't need a car wash mode for the Model 3.

All car washes will pull the car through while the car is in "drive". There is no transmission.


All you have to do is turn the "auto wiper" feature off.

Yes, but it goes nuts trying to get you to stop and not get "hit" lol

 

[ewoodrick]

I agree... automatic washes are great for making your paint look like hell after a year or two.

I have to so totally disagree with this statement. I've used automatic car washes for probably over 30 years. And I'd place my cars up against most any other car. Matter of fact, I just about always get a "your car is how old?" response.

Keeping the car cleaned and washed and stored in a garage is by far the best way to take care of it. Heck, just leaving it sitting outside is going to cause so much damage in very few years.