Automatic Car Wash and Auto Park

[rk911]

This is *not* a discussion of whether taking a soft top Wrangler thru an automatic car wash is a good idea. I've taken our soft top TJ thru automatic car washes for 20-years with zero leaks or other issues. And I intend to do the same with my new '23 soft top, 8-speed auto tranny 2-door JL. But this is the first vehicle we've had with Auto Park which is causing some concern.

I've been reading old posts on this forum and others online about the best way to take an Auto Park enabled Wrangler thru an automatic car wash. There seems to be one and only one way to send the Jeep thru the wash without triggering the Auto Park and that's to re-buckle the driver's seat belt after getting out of the vehicle.

- Leave fhe engine running for the attendant
- Put the auto tranny in park and get out
- Re-buckle the driver's seat belt and retain the key fob

These steps, allegedly, will prevent the Wrangler from jumping into Auto Park. True? Are other new vehicles eauipped with Augo Park? Are car wash attendants aware of Auto Park and how to trick it?

One old post suggested purchasing a plastic selt belt clip (link below) to insert into the seat belt receiver instead of the actual belt. That seems like a good idea to avoid car wash attendants from unbuckling the seat belt but I can't locate one on line. Anyone have a lead on that?

https://www.wranglerforum.com/attachments/sb-clip-jpg.4205691/

Thanks.

Rich

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[Beachcomber72]

Search for forum member Jeff Bezos he started a website called Amazon that may help…

 

[azjl#3]

I could google that for you, but anytime you try to move with a door open, it's going to snap into park. Regardless of seatbelt.

Thank the Russian actor.

 

[Roky]

Been using a seatbelt extension for nearly 5 years now, and it does disable auto park. I don’t know about the newer models……you can get them on Amazon…..

 

[rk911]

Search for forum member Jeff Bezos he started a website called Amazon that may help…

Did that. eBay as well.

 

[rk911]

Been using a seatbelt extension for nearly 5 years now, and it does disable auto park. I don’t know about the newer models……you can get them on Amazon…..

ahhh. a seat belt extenstion. didn't think about that. thanks!

 

[dragoneggs]

What am I missing? Why do you get out of the car during a car wash?

 

[rk911]

What am I missing? Why do you get out of the car during a car wash?

Automatic car wash. Drive up, tell the attendant the type of wash desired + any options (wax, under carriage, etc). The attendant programs the computer and puts the vehicle’s left front tire into a track which pulls the vehicle thru the wash. At the end another worker drives the vehicle off the track to an area where workers dry the vehicle. Vehicle’s engine is off and tranny in neutral while being washed.

 

[2nd 392]

At the end another worker drives the vehicle off the track to an area where workers dry the vehicle.

Acceptable ? Not to me. I drive to the hand wash area, pull onto the track for the sprayers only tunnel, then to the dry and interior area and park. I checked out every wash in the area, it’s ~ an extra 20 minutes from the closest one, the next best uses horse hair brushes and is almost as far. I do not relinquish control of my Jeep at any time other than for service. https://seatbeltextenderpros.com 3” rigid black for Wrangler, good match, good product, $20 a year+ ago .

 

[dragoneggs]

Automatic car wash. Drive up, tell the attendant the type of wash desired + any options (wax, under carriage, etc). The attendant programs the computer and puts the vehicle’s left front tire into a track which pulls the vehicle thru the wash. At the end another worker drives the vehicle off the track to an area where workers dry the vehicle. Vehicle’s engine is off and tranny in neutral while being washed.

I guess I’m living in another part of the world. Why do you get out of the car? I put my car on the track… ride through the adventure. Car is on and in neutral, I eat my fast food or make a phone call. I don’t get it. Why get out of the car? What does does that get you?

 

[Wabujitsu]

I guess I’m living in another part of the world. Why do you get out of the car? I put my car on the track… ride through the adventure. Car is on and in neutral, I eat my fast food or make a phone call. I don’t get it. Why get out of the car? What does does that get you?

Mark, I’m pretty sure he’s talking about a full-service wash where you park, with engine running, pay an attendant, and turn it over to them. One or two folks vacuum out your interior, and drive it into the track wash. When it comes out the back side, another worker drives it to another area where your vehicle is hand-dried and/or waxed, the hard interior surfaces are wiped clean, and a coat of protectant is applied inside (e.g. Armor All). Many of these places do a full detailing while you wait.

I‘ve taken our Jeeps to one of these a few times. They seem to know which vehicles they can or cannot leave running while leaving them in neutral on the track wash. I’ve never had to tell them their job regarding that.

 

[2nd 392]

Mark, I’m pretty sure he’s talking about a full-service wash where you park, with engine running, pay an attendant, and turn it over to them. One or two folks vacuum out your interior, and drive it into the track wash. When it comes out the back side, another worker drives it to another area where your vehicle is hand-dried and/or waxed, the hard interior surfaces are wiped clean, and a coat of protectant is applied inside (e.g. Armor All). Many of these places do a full detailing while you wait.

I‘ve taken our Jeeps to one of these a few times. They seem to know which vehicles they can or cannot leave running while leaving them in neutral on the track wash. I’ve never had to tell them their job regarding that.

The hand wash I use does all the mentioned services with me staying in the drivers seat until I park in under the canopy for hand drying and other exterior and interior services. You do have to hunt for them and may have to drive a little but it’s worth it to me. Ever watch and see the results of a wet foot just after a wash slipping from the brake to WOT into a brick wall? Both the Chevy and the wall required extensive repairs. It will be me should anyone F-up my Jeep in such a manner.

 

[Dale's Jeep]

Colorado use to have a car wash like this. Weirdest shit I've ever seen. Drive up tell them the wash you want get out go inside building and watch vehicle travel down wash track. Pick up vehicle after the dry it.

 

[Zandcwhite]

Colorado use to have a car wash like this. Weirdest shit I've ever seen. Drive up tell them the wash you want get out go inside building and watch vehicle travel down wash track. Pick up vehicle after the dry it.

We had one like this locally in CA, it's out of business. Labor rates are too high for all the extra steps. To make money with all the extra hands involved they have to price so high I can literally get a mobile detailer to come to my house and spend 4 hours on the Jeep for an extra $50. All the auto washes locally now have the same model, you pull up, pay, ride through the wash, pull out, they dry, you vacuum yourself. $20 vs $80-100 at the other type of place. Once a year I'll drop the $150-200 on a full detail. Our Jeeps get drug through branches, I'm not worried about potential micro scratches or swirls from the car wash.

 

[Wbino]

I wash my own 95% of the time but when I do have it washed I go to a real hand wash with no track.
Just pull up on line get out and wait in the waiting room for 20 minutes.
It's like 40 bucks for the hand wash but no machines involved.

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