automatic car wash -- what happened?

[courtgal]

I went to the car wash today, and after finally getting the car in neutral all seemed to go well until I reached the end of the wash. I felt a bump and sat there, realizing the car behind me was getting closer and I was not moving. The little wheels on the car wash came up behind me but would just roll under the tire. It seems I came off track, and the attendant had no idea in the world as I waited desperately hoping he would help me.

Split second decision, right or wrong, I put it in drive and went (and slid and the traction light came on in the car) and I finally got out and was able to drive off.

I'm new with the Prius and this is my first car wash. Was it a fluke it came off track, did I do something incorrectly, or is an automatic car wash in a hybrid car not a good idea? The car did not come out of neutral until I put it in drive, so I have no idea why it came off track on the line.

[Eve]

OK i will say it.. cause these guys are too nice to say it
Your prii was protesting, cause you took it to an automatic car wash...

Technically speaking I haven't a clue!
So I will leave that to all these beautiful people here, who answer all my inane questions.
I am sure they will be along shortly

[lefat1]

eve is correct, wash it yourself. it is your baby. would you send your baby thru a mechanized cleaning system. i live in s fl and i know it gets dirty, but , i wash it once a week and take pride in the results and no scratchs either.btw i'm almost 60 years old so no excuses.

[Patrick Wong]

Originally Posted by courtgal

I went to the car wash today, and after finally getting the car in neutral all seemed to go well until I reached the end of the wash...Split second decision, right or wrong, I put it in drive and went (and slid and the traction light came on in the car) and I finally got out and was able to drive off...

I'm not sure what happened - but whatever the problem was, it was unrelated to the Prius being a hybrid. I'm glad that you quickly decided to exit under your own power.

[ZC1]

Originally Posted by courtgal

all seemed to go well until I reached the end of the wash..... I felt a bump... realizing the car behind me was getting closer and I was not moving ....but would just roll under the tire. It seems I came off track ......the attendant had no idea ....waited desperately hoping he would help me.

...I put it in drive and went (and slid and the traction light came on in the car)

This is exactly the basis for the stuff of NIGHTMARES.

ZC1

[courtgal]

Originally Posted by lefat1

eve is correct, wash it yourself. it is your baby. would you send your baby thru a mechanized cleaning system. i live in s fl and i know it gets dirty, but , i wash it once a week and take pride in the results and no scratchs either.btw i'm almost 60 years old so no excuses.

I thought I was being environmentally contentious. I have read car washes use less water than home washes and also recycle the water.

[cyberprius]

Originally Posted by courtgal

I thought I was being environmentally contentious. I have read car washes use less water than home washes and also recycle the water.

They do. On the other hand, I like to help out the "neighbor kids" and usually hire them to do the wash jobs around here. What's a few gallons of water vs. helping some budding young businesspeople....btw, my closest neighbor is half-mile away and closest neighbor kid is about a mile...so actually I usually convince my nephew or niece....

[rkskeet]

If you want to use an automatic car wash, try another to be sure it wasn't something to do with the track system that moves the car forward. Or, go to an auto wash where your car stays still and the boom moves over the car to dispense the soap and rinse water.. If you should try the auto car wash again (the type you tried before), I would be interested to know the outcome. Where I live in the Northeast, it snows and a car wash is usually the method of cleaning the car in the winter time. All other seasons it is washed in my driveway.. Best

[Godiva]

I've turned my driveway into a 'raingarden'. Well, not really, but instead of the runoff going down the sewer it soaks into the ground of my driveway. No automatic carwash can wash your car like you can. You can even learn to detail it.

[richard schumacher]

You might try a commercial do-it-yourself wash. Get some of the advantages of both.