Neutral Shifting - Car Wash or Other

[scoutdogg]

Another tip, especially if you find it difficult to do everything at just the right time pulling into a car wash:

As you approach the entrance and the attendant is waving you onto the track, roll down your window and say “give me an extra second to shift into neutral once I’m on the track, this is an EV.” They have a button they press that sends the rollers onto the track to escort your vehicle along once you’re in place. Normally they just hit it as soon as they can…but if you give them a friendly heads up, they’ll just be looking at you waiting for a thumbs up, then they’ll send you on your way. This is also a good technique if you don’t like being bunched in right behind another vehicle, it gives you some breathing room.

Sponsored

 

[Svitenko]

I haven't seen any need for car wash mode so far. I do what I've always done in a car wash and check my windows are up, then I just stop when the attendant says so and shift to Neutral using the shifter and off I go. I haven't seen any need to fold the mirrors so far as this truck has plenty of room on every wash I have been through so far. The cameras and sensors beep at me in the wash, but that doesn't bother me. Is there an advantage of Car Wash mode I am missing out on, or a risk if not using that mode in a wash?

 

[VandalSibs]

I haven't seen any need for car wash mode so far. I do what I've always done in a car wash and check my windows are up, then I just stop when the attendant says so and shift to Neutral using the shifter and off I go. I haven't seen any need to fold the mirrors so far as this truck has plenty of room on every wash I have been through so far. The cameras and sensors beep at me in the wash, but that doesn't bother me. Is there an advantage of Car Wash mode I am missing out on, or a risk if not using that mode in a wash?

Car Wash mode actually doesn't fold your mirrors. It leaves them out. What it does do is keep the charge port door from opening if the button is hit from water or foam, and it also keeps the exterior door handles closed even if the doors are unlocked (if you are manually washing or hand washing the vehicle, you push in on the handle to open the door).

My wife and I use car wash mode even though we manually wash our truck - keeping the charge port door closed and the door handles flush are two less things to worry about.

 

[Svitenko]

Car Wash mode actually doesn't fold your mirrors. It leaves them out. What it does do is keep the charge port door from opening if the button is hit from water or foam, and it also keeps the exterior door handles closed even if the doors are unlocked (if you are manually washing or hand washing the vehicle, you push in on the handle to open the door).

My wife and I use car wash mode even though we manually wash our truck - keeping the charge port door closed and the door handles flush are two less things to worry about.

Ok, I can understand those points. The charge port door sensor on the outside is a capacitive touch sensor, so water and foam should not trigger it--it should need a person to touch it. However, that door may be better safe than sorry, as I'm sure it would lose a fight with the spinning wash brushes. The shift to Neutral should also leave the doors locked to take care of the handles. I can appreciate what you are saying for manually washing though for sure. Thanks for adding these points!

 

[irv4know]

I've been having a hell of a time at my local car wash....I get the truck setup in "car wash" mode & upon approach to the wash (waiting to shift to neutral on the screen), the sensors often go off & take me off the page. There is a short window of time between braking when the attendant directs me to do so & get it into neutral. With the screen changing I miss that window & it screws up the whole wash, happens often enough to be a major annoyance to everyone. In car wash mode should all the sensors be shuttered, & why can't I simply shift into neutral whenever I want?

I had the same problem when I go to the car wash.

 

[csharp]

Ok, I can understand those points. The charge port door sensor on the outside is a capacitive touch sensor, so water and foam should not trigger it--it should need a person to touch it.

Water definitely can open / shut the door. Yesterday I was rinsing all the pollen off so it was just a quick 30 second hose down and I didn't turn on car wash mode. I sprayed over the charge port door once and it opened the charge door and then as I sprayed over it again, it shut the door.

 

[Svitenko]

Water definitely can open / shut the door. Yesterday I was rinsing all the pollen off so it was just a quick 30 second hose down and I didn't turn on car wash mode. I sprayed over the charge port door once and it opened the charge door and then as I sprayed over it again, it shut the door.

Interesting…thank you for the head’s up!

 

[SRO]

Ok, I can understand those points. The charge port door sensor on the outside is a capacitive touch sensor, so water and foam should not trigger it--it should need a person to touch it. However, that door may be better safe than sorry, as I'm sure it would lose a fight with the spinning wash brushes. The shift to Neutral should also leave the doors locked to take care of the handles. I can appreciate what you are saying for manually washing though for sure. Thanks for adding these points!

When I wash by hand the charger port keeps opening just from water pressure. That was my 2022 T. Not sure about my 2025 because I always use car wash mode.

 

[madhat]

Don't live so far from a car wash? Everyone's life is different. It's OK if they aren't identical to you.

I used to always wash my own cars, but the Rivian is big and collects a lot of bugs. I drive an hour each way between cities and need a wash every couple days during bug season. There's a wash on the way, but also i use it as stimulation for the dog most of the time. Then there's the time I don't have on a weekend, and the fact it's 120F outside in the summer and nowhere to park in shade (don't wash in direct sun).

 

[MacO512]

Have you ever gone to a restaurant?

Cook your food yourself. Works great. Good exercise. Takes less than 2 hours. It's way cheaper to buy groceries and control everything you eat. Takes less time than putting on nice clothes, driving, and waiting at some other building.

 

[MacO512]

Don't live so far from a car wash? Everyone's life is different. It's OK if they aren't identical to you.

I used to always wash my own cars, but the Rivian is big and collects a lot of bugs. I drive an hour each way between cities and need a wash every couple days during bug season. There's a wash on the way, but also i use it as stimulation for the dog most of the time. Then there's the time I don't have on a weekend, and the fact it's 120F outside in the summer and nowhere to park in shade (don't wash in direct sun).

I have a monthly membership and drive right by the wash every day anyways. Takes about 5 minutes. My car is black and sometimes I wash 2-3 times a week. I washed my cars myself back in my 20s but with busy work and young kids it's something I never do any more and have zero regrets.

 

[TTedP]

Car wash anxiety is real!

I resorted to using the DIY bays because my one time on the track getting to neutral was a pain and held up the rollers (clunking under the wheels because he didn't stop the track). Now I've gotten to where I can shift to N pretty quickly - can even do it rolling in traffic. Might try a drive through wash again when it's slow.

 

[MacO512]

Car wash anxiety is real!

I resorted to using the DIY bays because my one time on the track getting to neutral was a pain and held up the rollers (clunking under the wheels because he didn't stop the track). Now I've gotten to where I can shift to N pretty quickly - can even do it rolling in traffic. Might try a drive through wash again when it's slow.

Just practice in your driveway or empty lot so you know exactly what to quickly do. Try tapping the screen for neutral and using the stalk so you know how each work. Once you've got used to it, then it's easy. But I can understand the panic if unprepared.

Once in my Tesla I didn't realize some setting screen was overlayed on the screen to select car wash mode and I spent 3 minutes in the wash with them yelling at me. Was super upsetting. Now I know exactly how to do it in each vehicle so there's zero concerns.

I have the vehicle on the lowest sport suspension setting before doing car wash mode and then fold my mirrors every time too. Once forgot to fold mirrors and the wash hit it out of place. Mirror clicked back fine but it's damage I don't want to risk.

 

[LL75]

Using automatic car wash at least twice a week

1. Use the stalk to put it in neutral. (I have never use the screen to put it on neutral).
2. Immediately put the car in car wash mode then fold the mirrors by use the upper left short cut icons.
3. put on drive when done and it will automatically take car wash mode off if you drive above 10 mph.

Sponsored