New owner here. Can someone tell me how to go through a conveyor type car wash WITH driver in the vehicle. I managed to stop the conveyor today because I didn’t know the proper procedure. I put the car in Neutral and at the end of the wash, it wouldn’t go. I think I put it in Park and restarted it. I’m not really sure what I did. I was frantically watching the Ford F-250 quickly approaching the back of my car. I’ve always hand washed my cars and this was a reminder why I do that. I would still like to know what I did or didn’t do. I looked in my owners manual and didn’t find anything.

Thanks in advance.

 

From the 2024 Owner's Manual:

 

You asked about the driver staying in the vehicle. Same concept. But, when the Go sign appears at the end, just quickly put your foot on the brake and press the drive button.

 

You probably had Brake Hold active. That negates putting the car in Neutral!

 

And don’t unbuckle safety belt during wash. Car doesnt like that when you try to move forward later. Panic ensues.

 

Put in neutral - when you get the green light to go at the end of the car wash, slightly having one foot on the brake very lightly (the other on the gas) push Drive - and off you will go.

 

Did the same thing several weeks ago. Wife's car & we usually take my truck. Now I'm driving through the wash, in neutral. Went to slip it into drive, nope. Panic ensues. "where in the h*** is park?" Wasn't fun.......

 

Seat belt on (car could brake or go in park automatically otherwise), car in neutral to begin; lightly tap the brake pedal while simultaneously pressing the drive button and accelerate out of the wash after the dryer stage/green light.

Separately, I did learn not to use the brake hold feature right before a car wash however. For some reason the car’s system puts the car in park when you shift to neutral when brake hold is activated. I was so confused because I knew I put the car in neutral but the attendant was screaming at me as the conveyor roller was thumping over my stationary car’s tire. So then I had to frantically figure out what was happening and finally fumbled and turned off the brake hold button and pressed neutral again. Lesson learned!

 

Exactly what happened to me. When I felt that thump I was sure the F-250 behind had hit me.