Automatic Car Wash: How to put the 2004 Prius in neutral:

Ken Cooper · 03-19-2004, 02:59 AM

So ... If you take your car to an automatic car wash that has those rollers that pull your car along at the wheels, here's what you do:

1. Explain the following to the guy who will be driving your car around to the conveyor after the interior is cleaned up:

... Press your foot on the brake, push the start button, release the brake, drive the car around.

... Press the start button to turn off the car.

... Take your foot off the brake.

... Push the start button two times.

... Place your foot on the brake for two seconds.

... Move the shift lever to the left and watch the display switch from Park to Neutral.

He'll then thank you and proceed to do exactly what you described (HA).

Then talk to the guy who will be driving your car off the conveyor and explain to him that he'll need to push the start button turning off the accessories while placing the car back in Park (hopefully after your car has already rolled off the end of the conveyor) and then explain to him how to start and drive the car. He, of course, needs to be able to follow these instructions quickly and exactly before the next car (probably a high bumper pickup truck) on the conveyor plows into the rear of your car.

In other words, I'm going to miss going to my local Octopus Car Wash and getting their interior clean, spray-on wax, and an occasional special wheel clean and dressing for the tires.

It looks like the only alternative is the gas station car wash where you drive your own car through the bay. I wonder which type is least harmful for your car? The one with the very high pressure rotating nozzles, or the brushless ones that flop those soft wet floppy things all over your car?

Anyhow, after reading a comment about not being able to place our cars in neutral, I decided to do a search on the subject, found nothing in the manual, but then discovered, on a car-wash site, this technique (Again: With car off and no foot on the brake ... Push the start button twice ... Note the display shows the car in Park ... Press your foot on the brake for two seconds ... Move the shift lever to the left for a second and watch the display switch from Park to Neutral. It will stay in neutral (also in accessory mode) until you push the start button again. At that time you'll watch the display make its transition from Neutral to Park and then all displays will turn off. Only then will you be allowed to use your normal car starting procedure.

daniel · 03-19-2004, 08:09 AM

I think I'll stick to the self-service car wash, where I put quarters in the machine and squirt and scrub the car myself.

(Being careful not to spray the rear wiper off!)

randalla · 03-19-2004, 09:08 AM

I think I'll stick to washing my car in the driveway! (after it arrives, of course...)

Batavier · 03-19-2004, 10:45 AM

Wash your car in the driveway? :cry: Now that's a bad thing to do!

In some cities in NL that's against the law because it's bad for the environment. While your washing your car clean, you flush the dust and oil residues and what not into the sewage system.

Most car washes (including the ones described by daniel) have filter systems to clean the water before it's send to the sewage or even re-used.

SoFlaJB · 03-19-2004, 10:47 AM

I just had the car wash experience yesterday and it was traumatic to say the least. I had no idea about this procedure and probably wouldn't have gotten the guy to do it anyway, given his language problems. Ultimately, I just left the car on and in neutral, probably a violation of all sorts of safety rules!!

Like you, I've decided that I will have to find another way to get the thing washed - safely. I may have to just find someone to do it by hand. Those do it yourself bays and gas station varieties just don't look good to me - who knows how clean that water is or how mangled those cloths/brushes are!

Stan Wilson · 03-19-2004, 10:55 AM

I have found the Laserwash system works well and avoids the trauma of the carwash.

**efusco** · 03-19-2004, 11:18 AM

I go to Auto Magic Car Wash. I explain to the first guy how to start/stop, shift, etc. the car, I watch carefully, and they've done the service successfully with only a few bewildered looks and a few extra punchs at buttons noted.

I take off the antenna, but otherwise they seem to figure it out just fine. I've been trying to use the same place in hopes that they'll get used to seeing me and my car and become more familiar. I've probably gone to the car wash 10+ times since I got it with no major or even minor incidences.

randalla · 03-19-2004, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Batavier
Wash your car in the driveway? :cry: Now that's a bad thing to do!

In some cities in NL that's against the law because it's bad for the environment. While your washing your car clean, you flush the dust and oil residues and what not into the sewage system.

Most car washes (including the ones described by daniel) have filter systems to clean the water before it's send to the sewage or even re-used.

well, considering what is already spewed on the roads and highways across the country (and ultimately on our cars), I can't imagine how washing one's car in the driveway using about two ounces of biodegradeable detergent intended for car washing would add much of anything more to the sewage system than what a good rainfall would rinse off of everyone else's cars (clean or otherwise) and road surfaces and down into the sewer system. Not to mention least of which is if you know how to properly hand wash your own car, you avoid the potential damage that can take place in most any automatic carwash.8)

xlarimer · 03-19-2004, 01:13 PM

Uhm...am I missing something?

I just go up to the car wash and tell them that I'm taking it through because the car is different and you could hurt it.

I then drive it up and put the lever into N. When it comes out I put it into D and move it to the next station at which time they do the cleaning. (I tell them to leave the center screen alone.)

That's it. Is there a reason to shut off all the accessories? I don't think having the radio and things on does any damage. Now I'm going to have to read the manual again...I don't remember seeing anything like what is described.

I don't even take off the antenna or the back wiper and I have had no problems yet.

**efusco** · 03-19-2004, 01:20 PM

Yea, Xlarimer, I'm not sure what all the fuss is about either. We have 2 different AutoMagic's here, one of them you pull up, get out, and they do the initial vacuuming and stuff there then one of the AM guys drives it to the auto-washer pull through.

I've used them, and they didn't seem to have any big problems.

The other wash, the one I use most, you pull the car into the auto-washer/pull through thing so I'm in charge there, but then you pull around for the inside cleaning part and there they put the car on an oversized conveyor belt. But the car is shut off during the conveyor ride and can be in park. I just have to explain once how to start, stop, put in gear, they catch on as fast as I did and never seem to have issues.

03-19-2004, 02:59 AM	#1
Ken Cooper Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 339 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Automatic Car Wash: How to put the 2004 Prius in neutral: So ... If you take your car to an automatic car wash that has those rollers that pull your car along at the wheels, here's what you do: 1. Explain the following to the guy who will be driving your car around to the conveyor after the interior is cleaned up: ... Press your foot on the brake, push the start button, release the brake, drive the car around. ... Press the start button to turn off the car. ... Take your foot off the brake. ... Push the start button two times. ... Place your foot on the brake for two seconds. ... Move the shift lever to the left and watch the display switch from Park to Neutral. He'll then thank you and proceed to do exactly what you described (HA). Then talk to the guy who will be driving your car off the conveyor and explain to him that he'll need to push the start button turning off the accessories while placing the car back in Park (hopefully after your car has already rolled off the end of the conveyor) and then explain to him how to start and drive the car. He, of course, needs to be able to follow these instructions quickly and exactly before the next car (probably a high bumper pickup truck) on the conveyor plows into the rear of your car. In other words, I'm going to miss going to my local Octopus Car Wash and getting their interior clean, spray-on wax, and an occasional special wheel clean and dressing for the tires. It looks like the only alternative is the gas station car wash where you drive your own car through the bay. I wonder which type is least harmful for your car? The one with the very high pressure rotating nozzles, or the brushless ones that flop those soft wet floppy things all over your car? Anyhow, after reading a comment about not being able to place our cars in neutral, I decided to do a search on the subject, found nothing in the manual, but then discovered, on a car-wash site, this technique (Again: With car off and no foot on the brake ... Push the start button twice ... Note the display shows the car in Park ... Press your foot on the brake for two seconds ... Move the shift lever to the left for a second and watch the display switch from Park to Neutral. It will stay in neutral (also in accessory mode) until you push the start button again. At that time you'll watch the display make its transition from Neutral to Park and then all displays will turn off. Only then will you be allowed to use your normal car starting procedure.

03-19-2004, 11:18 AM	#7
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 19,611 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 214 Thanked 870 Times in 505 Posts Friends: 47	I go to Auto Magic Car Wash. I explain to the first guy how to start/stop, shift, etc. the car, I watch carefully, and they've done the service successfully with only a few bewildered looks and a few extra punchs at buttons noted. I take off the antenna, but otherwise they seem to figure it out just fine. I've been trying to use the same place in hopes that they'll get used to seeing me and my car and become more familiar. I've probably gone to the car wash 10+ times since I got it with no major or even minor incidences. __________________ Evan E. Fusco, MD "It's a damn poor mind that can only think of one way to spell a word." -Andrew Jackson

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Automatic car wash	buckeyeb	Gen II Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting	5	08-19-2010 01:52 AM
Prius Parking Footbrake and N (neutral) Stick Position.	ronhowell	Gen II Prius Technical Discussion	21	11-09-2007 07:58 PM
Car wash or hand wash. Which is better for the environment?	SSimon	Environmental Discussion	9	10-12-2007 11:27 AM
Hey Prius Clubs...Make your cars Carbon Neutral!	Suburban600	Environmental Discussion	0	06-17-2007 08:36 AM
Automatic Headlight Control Missing from 2004 BC (#9)	Steve Goldenberg	Gen II Prius Main Forum	7	01-28-2004 04:49 PM

03-19-2004, 08:09 AM	#2
daniel Cat Lovers Against the Bomb Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Spokane, WA Posts: 14,311 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #6 Thanks: 453 Thanked 1,326 Times in 928 Posts Friends: 0	I think I'll stick to the self-service car wash, where I put quarters in the machine and squirt and scrub the car myself. (Being careful not to spray the rear wiper off!)

03-19-2004, 09:08 AM	#3
randalla Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Lexington, SC Posts: 360 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: Five Package: Navigation Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Friends: 0	I think I'll stick to washing my car in the driveway! (after it arrives, of course...)

03-19-2004, 10:45 AM	#4
Batavier Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 431 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Wash your car in the driveway? :cry: Now that's a bad thing to do! In some cities in NL that's against the law because it's bad for the environment. While your washing your car clean, you flush the dust and oil residues and what not into the sewage system. Most car washes (including the ones described by daniel) have filter systems to clean the water before it's send to the sewage or even re-used.

03-19-2004, 10:47 AM	#5
SoFlaJB Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 5 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I just had the car wash experience yesterday and it was traumatic to say the least. I had no idea about this procedure and probably wouldn't have gotten the guy to do it anyway, given his language problems. Ultimately, I just left the car on and in neutral, probably a violation of all sorts of safety rules!! Like you, I've decided that I will have to find another way to get the thing washed - safely. I may have to just find someone to do it by hand. Those do it yourself bays and gas station varieties just don't look good to me - who knows how clean that water is or how mangled those cloths/brushes are!

03-19-2004, 10:55 AM	#6
Stan Wilson Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 53 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I have found the Laserwash system works well and avoids the trauma of the carwash.

03-19-2004, 01:13 PM	#9
xlarimer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: berkeley, california Posts: 135 My Car: Model: Package: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	Uhm...am I missing something? I just go up to the car wash and tell them that I'm taking it through because the car is different and you could hurt it. I then drive it up and put the lever into N. When it comes out I put it into D and move it to the next station at which time they do the cleaning. (I tell them to leave the center screen alone.) That's it. Is there a reason to shut off all the accessories? I don't think having the radio and things on does any damage. Now I'm going to have to read the manual again...I don't remember seeing anything like what is described. I don't even take off the antenna or the back wiper and I have had no problems yet.

03-19-2004, 01:20 PM	#10
efusco Troll Slayer Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Nixa, MO Posts: 19,611 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 214 Thanked 870 Times in 505 Posts Friends: 47	Yea, Xlarimer, I'm not sure what all the fuss is about either. We have 2 different AutoMagic's here, one of them you pull up, get out, and they do the initial vacuuming and stuff there then one of the AM guys drives it to the auto-washer pull through. I've used them, and they didn't seem to have any big problems. The other wash, the one I use most, you pull the car into the auto-washer/pull through thing so I'm in charge there, but then you pull around for the inside cleaning part and there they put the car on an oversized conveyor belt. But the car is shut off during the conveyor ride and can be in park. I just have to explain once how to start, stop, put in gear, they catch on as fast as I did and never seem to have issues.