Note from Sunset North Car Wash: An advantage of being 100% All Hand Wash is that it’s not only safer for your finish, but also won’t trigger current car automation tech!
Here’s how automatic car washes clash with vehicle tech when automotive technology when a vehicle moves through an automatic “tunnel style” car wash.
It’s important to know that all the advanced systems function appropriately. However, one visit to the car wash can wreak havoc because advanced systems weren’t built with old-fashioned car washes in mind.
Experts offer the following tips to ensure that fleet vehicles make it through the car wash safely, and that important safety systems remain functional afterwards:
Fobs and Lockouts
Modern cars have keypads or little buttons on the door handles to lock them. All it takes is the pressure of a big, heavy brush going by to automatically lock them. Now, the keys are inside and the car is running. Suddenly, your locking system has become a safety hazard.
Collision Avoidance Systems
These systems were designed to help drivers avoid collisions with vehicles or objects in the roadway ahead. But at a car wash, if the technology is left on, the system detects heavy wet things, metal framework and even a sudsy vehicle a few feet away. It’s important to turn off this technology before entering the car wash.
Automatic Start-Stop Technology
The car is supposed to be put in neutral and always running. But at a car wash it needs to be put in gear and dragged out of the shoot. For a safer, smarter car wash, disengage this technology before your car enters the tunnel.
Cars That Don’t Move in Neutral
People that work at car washes move cars around a lot. They don’t always use “drive” and the gas peddle. But modern cars don’t necessarily want to budge. For example, it’s impossible to roll some cars forward with the door open — it will put a stake in the ground unless your seat belt is attached.
Taping Over Automatic Wiper Sensor
At a car wash, high-tech wipers sense moisture and that can put the wipers into motion. Now your wipers — a critical safety feature when on the road — are in a battle with several hundred pounds of machinery. They could easily get broken. The smart strategy is to check to see if they can be manually turned off or use tape to keep the wiper sensor from automatically turning on during a car wash.
