Car Wash Mode

28613 Views 14 Replies 8 Participants Last post by Summest, Nov 8, 2014

Summest

Discussion Starter · Sep 23, 2014

I heard about Car Wash Mode, but didn't fully understand till I read this somewhere online today:

Car Wash Mode

Follow the procedure below to use a conveyor-style car wash where you or an attendant do not remain in the vehicle. Make sure the wiper lever is in the OFF position. You should inform the car wash attendant of this procedure.

1. When the engine is running, apply the brake pedal and select Neutral (N).

2. Within 5 seconds, press the ENGINE START/STOP button. The vehicle goes into Accessory mode.

This mode lasts for 15 minutes before the gear changes to Park and the vehicle turns off.

I haven't used a conveyor-style car wash in some time. I know they are still around. I get mine hand-washed where I work. It's still wise to turn off the rain-sensing automatic wipers.

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r.johnson

· #2 · Oct 23, 2014

so do i need to activate car wash mode if i stay in the car?

there are those old school rail-type car washes and the newer escalator-type platforms pulls your car though type car washes at gas stations. do i need to put it in car wash mode in both situations?

Summest

Discussion Starter · #3 · Oct 23, 2014

r.johnson said:
so do i need to activate car wash mode if i stay in the car?

there are those old school rail-type car washes and the newer escalator-type platforms pulls your car though type car washes at gas stations. do i need to put it in car wash mode in both situations?

That is odd. When I used a conveyor type wash one time when I was out of time, I stayed in the vehicle (TSX) and kept it in neutral. But this TLX has so much technology, I think if you get out of the car with the car running in neutral, doesn't it go to park. Especially so on a V6. This car is too smart for its own good.

lkdav

· #4 · Oct 23, 2014

If you're in the car, you can just leave it in neutral, otherwise you need to use car wash mode.

r.johnson

· #5 · Oct 23, 2014

what difference does it make anyways if you leave the car?

im no car expert, but i dont see much difference if i step out of the car; its not like i am pressing anything while inside the car such as the brake pedal

Summest

Discussion Starter · #6 · Oct 23, 2014

r.johnson said:
what difference does it make anyways if you leave the car?

im no car expert, but i dont see much difference if i step out of the car; its not like i am pressing anything while inside the car such as the brake pedal

I remember reading something about the V6 if you unbuckle your seatbelt and open the drivers' door, it goes into Park. Is this not true?

There are so many sensors in the car to know you are not in the car.

TLX2014

· #7 · Oct 23, 2014

Correct, see p333. This is why the special procedure is required to keep the car in N if you want to exit the vehicle. It has been a decade or two since I used one of those automated washes where you leave the car, so it is a non-issue for me.

typeess

· #8 · Oct 23, 2014

Summest said:
I remember reading something about the V6 if you unbuckle your seatbelt and open the drivers' door, it goes into Park. Is this not true?

There are so many sensors in the car to know you are not in the car.

any idea if that is something required by the NHTSA or something acura could have decided on internally?

tino

· #9 · Oct 23, 2014

what about if you leave the key in the vehicle, would TLX still know you've left?

Summest

Discussion Starter · #10 · Oct 28, 2014

Oops! Got my first non-Acura car wash. I forgot to mention that I had automatic wipers, but then, I believe they washed the car with the engine/ignition off.

The car looks brand new after the wash, after a trip on the turnpike. Luckily the bugs weren't too bad and it was not the season for love bugs.

rjsimons

· #11 · Nov 7, 2014 (Edited)

Summest said:
I remember reading something about the V6 if you unbuckle your seatbelt and open the drivers' door, it goes into Park. Is this not true?

Yes, this is true.

tino said:
what about if you leave the key in the vehicle, would TLX still know you've left?

Unless you first activate Car Wash Mode, opening the driver's door and unbuckling the driver's seat belt will put the car in Park, regardless of where the key fob is located. Activating Car Wash Mode before exiting the vehicle will allow the car to remain in Neutral for 15 minutes, after which it will shift to Park and shut off.

Note: This only applies to 6-cyl models with electronic, push button shifter.

Summest

Discussion Starter · #12 · Nov 7, 2014

Welcome!

rjsimons said:
Yes, this is true.

Unless you first activate Car Wash Mode, opening the driver's door and unbuckling the driver's seat belt will put the car in Park, regardless of where the key fob is located. Activating Car Wash Mode before exiting the vehicle will allow the car to remain in Neutral for 15 minutes, after which it will shift to Park and shut off.

Welcome to the Forum! I see this is your first post.

I can see Car Wash mode working with the push button gear selector. I wonder how it works with the physical shift knob? Does it actually move the shift knob? From the documentation, I think it does. Guess I will have to try it out, unless someone else already has. I guess an easy test would be to leave the car in neutral, unbuckle and open the door.

rjsimons

· #13 · Nov 7, 2014 (Edited)

Summest said:
Welcome to the Forum! I see this is your first post.

I can see Car Wash mode working with the push button gear selector. I wonder how it works with the physical shift knob? Does it actually move the shift knob? From the documentation, I think it does. Guess I will have to try it out, unless someone else already has. I guess an easy test would be to leave the car in neutral, unbuckle and open the door.

I'm fairly certain that the Car Wash Mode only applies to vehicles with the 9-speed tranny and push button electronic shifter. I would suspect the 8-speed trannies with a physical non-electronic shift lever work just as they always have. I don't think the shift lever will move to Park on its own when you exit the vehicle.

As far as I can tell from the Owner's Manual, only the push button electronic shifter has the Auto Park Mode.

timbocool

· #14 · Nov 7, 2014

I have an old fat guy that looks exactly like me that hand washes mine and if it's too cold touchless laser wash - no scratchy car washes for me.

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Summest

Discussion Starter · #15 · Nov 8, 2014

rjsimons said:
I'm fairly certain that the Car Wash Mode only applies to vehicles with the 9-speed tranny and push button electronic shifter. I would suspect the 8-speed trannies with a physical non-electronic shift lever work just as they always have. I don't think the shift lever will move to Park on its own when you exit the vehicle.

As far as I can tell from the Owner's Manual, only the push button electronic shifter has the Auto Park Mode.

Yeah, thanks. I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I was expecting magic. On my test, the shift knob just sat there in neutral.

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