4WDrift

Either engine shut off or all 3 conditions must be met to enable auto Park - car stopped, driver's belt unbuckled, AND driver's door opened. So buckle the belt after getting out and tell the attendant to leave it alone!

tlxsteve

Wow! Seems like that could become a serious problem one day. I am surprised there is no manual override like we used to have next to the gearshift under a cover some where.

Do you know if the parking is locked if the battery goes dead on an I4?

heisnuts

The I4 has a manual override for when there is no power to the car. But there does not seem to be any override for the electronic push button selector is the car has no power or will not start.

TSXV6Guy

There is also no "user-friendly" manual override to release the electric parking brake - power is required.

For the V6, power appears to also be a must for getting out of P.

So if there is no power, you can't even manually push the car! I guess we're completely dependent on a tow truck...

smoore

Great analysis. I think this is the safest approach. The car wash guys are much less likely to mess up this instruction.

Davinci547Acura

Slightly off subject question but still related:

Scenario:

V6 Tech, car in P, Parking Brake set, no battery power available due to whatever the failure might be, car must be towed by flatbed to prevent body and drivetrain damage.

Question in the heat of the moment all this is happening:

How does the car get from the ground, moved into position and on top of flatbed without causing $$$$$$ drivetrain, electric and/or body damage?

I had to much turkey yesterday to figure out this problem.

tlxsteve

I have the same question and meal plan.

Quandry

Are you offering a meal plan for the solution?

Typically the rear of the car is raised and a dolly tow is placed under the two sets of wheels. The wheels sit on the dolly an the dolly has four small wheels. The front of the car is raised by the hoist on the back of the tow truck and off you go. In this case a flatbed is not used.

4WDrift

Was just going to say that; otherwise it's dragged up the back of the flatbed scrubbing all the way.

heisnuts

The tow driver will have to use a dolly (aka go go jacks) to lift the front wheels off the ground to move it up onto the flatbed.

Davinci547Acura

Can't, parking brake is activated.

Davinci547Acura

I've had several new cars towed over the years and personally will only allow flatbeds for numerous reasons. BTW: Many new car dealers will only dispatch a flatbed, at least in most metropolitan areas. Ever seen a hoisted car front plastic fascia damaged by the hoist or wheels scraped when side racks are used or car come off a wrecker dolly traveling down the freeway at 70 mph? Ain't pretty.

BTW: What's for dinner?

Quandry

That should not prevent the car from being raised.

So we have come full circle. How then do you get the car onto the flatbed with all the wheels locked

Stew4HD

I can answer that. My '12 SH-AWD was disabled by a break-in. The towing company used dollies on each wheel to roll the car onto the flatbed

heisnuts

You got it. Tow drivers carry at least 4 (probably more) dollies since they come across so many different scenarios on a daily basis that require them to load vehicles that won't roll on their own.

ptbarnett

This is what I have decided to do with my RLXh. I haven't taken it to a full-service wash yet, but I'm planning to tell them up front: either I ride through with it, or I take it somewhere else.

The full-service car wash I used to patronize had a "quick wash" mode where the driver rode it through, then pulled around the detailing station to exit. But, I moved about a year ago, and I don't know if the most convenient one will allow that.

There's a self-service automated wash a couple of blocks away, so I may be using that instead.

Quandry

There are four methods used for washing my cars, in priority sequence:

1. Waterless product, hand applied in my underground parking spot year round. Fast, convenient, and saves water.
2. Self wash bay with spray hose (water, soap, and wax), foaming brush, plus air spray and vacuum for interior. I spray the foaming brush before using it on the car. This facility is periodically used when there is an extensive amount of grime and after winter to clear out wheel wells.
3. Dealer free wash - yes I trust them and no issues in 10 years
4. Standard pull thru car wash in touch free mode (only sprays soap and water) with brushed disabled. Good for underbody cleaning.