[Data14]

Hey Everyone!

Just a PSA on my experience going to those automatic car washes yesterday. It knocked off my drive mirror cover and broke one of the tabs. Luckily I was able to still clip it in but I think I will be either replacing it or just super gluing the cover where the broken tabs was.

Those Rollers with the plastic strands that clean your car is the culprit and I barely noticed it was knocked off.
So if anyone is taking their car there be careful because those tabs are not that strong or just that particular roller was too strong.

Good Day!

 

[Mr. Natural]

I had the passenger side cover pop off one time. It was my own fault. I clipped the edge of my trailer with the mirror when backing out of the garage. The mirror folded and cover popped off, but no damage at all. I was pleased with that.

 

[Londawg]

Does anyone understand the procedure when taking your car to a full service car wash? The manual states to press the neutral button and then press it again holding it down This is supposed to put it in car wash mode. Are you supposed to give the car wash attendant the fob? Or just leave it somewhere in the car?

 

[shragae]

So thankful for this thread! I was planning on using auto car washes, but given all of this doubt that I will.

 

[insightfully]

It would be nice if the manual combined all the "car wash tips" and watchouts all in one place, along with the "car wash mode" section on p461. There's a warning that the door may unlock in heavy rain or car wash (p170), auto wipers should be turned off (p201), auto-parking brake feature should be temporarily deactivated (p534), brake hold should be turned off (p538), and door mirrors folded in (p597). The info is pretty spread out and not easy to find at once when prepping for an automated car wash.

With warmer weather now here, I'm following up up on my own post. I put all the "car wash" tips from various manual pages into a single document for my own glove box quick reference, since I don't go through automatic car washes often enough to remember each step. Sharing in case others want to use as well...

 

[insightfully]

Does anyone understand the procedure when taking your car to a full service car wash? The manual states to press the neutral button and then press it again holding it down This is supposed to put it in car wash mode. Are you supposed to give the car wash attendant the fob? Or just leave it somewhere in the car?

The instructions for "car wash mode"/neutral are to enable the car to be pulled thru a car wash conveyor. If the car wash service uses a conveyor system, you'll want to leave these instructions and/or leave the car in this setting which stays on for 15 minutes. If the service is full hand wash and interior cleaning, leaving the fob in the car is a good idea to allow cleaning of places that accumulate water (e.g. inside bottom door sill). I put different "car wash" tips from the Manual onto a one-pager and keep that sheet in my glovebox for quick use/reference in these situations.

 

[Verdier]

I don't understand this car wash mode stuff guys. Are your insights set to different settings than mine? I just pull up and switch to neutral when they tell me and enjoy the ride. Why are people having trouble with this? This question is aimed at you insightfully since you're very knowledgeable about all these esoteric settings. My car is basically set just as it was when purchased and I just press neutral and ride through the wash. I'm genuinely curious here. 🤔

 

[Wifey'sInsight]

I don't understand this car wash mode stuff guys. Are your insights set to different settings than mine? I just pull up and switch to neutral when they tell me and enjoy the ride. Why are people having trouble with this? This question is aimed at you insightfully since you're very knowledgeable about all these esoteric settings. My car is basically set just as it was when purchased and I just press neutral and ride through the wash. I'm genuinely curious here. 🤔

It's probably designed for the washes where you get out of the car, so that the car doesn't think "it's rolling away, or being taken" with the key outside of the vehicle. I haven't tested this, so it's just an assumption.

I assume this, because of the message that pops up on the dash when putting the car in neutral when stopped, about holding for 2 seconds to exit the vehicle in neutral.

 

[insightfully]

I just pull up and switch to neutral when they tell me and enjoy the ride. Why are people having trouble with this? This question is aimed at you insightfully since you're very knowledgeable about all these esoteric settings. My car is basically set just as it was when purchased and I just press neutral and ride through the wash. I'm genuinely curious here. 🤔

It's probably designed for the washes where you get out of the car, so that the car doesn't think "it's rolling away, or being taken" with the key outside of the vehicle. I haven't tested this, so it's just an assumption.

If you or an attendant stays in the vehicle thru the car wash, manually setting neutral will work just as you've done. However, if you need to exit the vehicle and have the car go thru a conveyor without attendant, the "extra" step of pressing and holding the neutral button a second time (after already placed in neutral) will keep the transmission in neutral state for 15 minutes, even after you've exited the car.

 

[Verdier]

Thanks. I was confused.

 

[insightfully]

As a semi-random PSA: when going thru a car wash (or during a heavy rain), the doors may cycle between locked/unlocked if the door handle gets covered with too much water AND the remote is within range. I haven't had this happen yet, but was reminded of this watchout and wanted to re-share while top of mind...

 

[rich]

Car Wash Mode:

[*]If the POWER button is pressed while the vehicle is in car wash mode, the power mode will change to ACCESSORY

Speaking of car wash mode is it just me or do local car wash emoployee's not know about this feature?

On the rare occasion I need to head to a car wash I find myself explaining this to the employee and than showing them how to enable it. When they have a hard time understanding I just tell them to say in the car with neutral enabled.

Maybe Honda should add a button in the Display Audio system to enable car wash mode. It would seem so much easier for all.

Rich

 

[insightfully]

[*]If the POWER button is pressed while the vehicle is in car wash mode, the power mode will change to ACCESSORY

Speaking of car wash mode is it just me or do local car wash employee's not know about this feature?

On the rare occasion I need to head to a car wash I find myself explaining this to the employee and than showing them how to enable it. When they have a hard time understanding I just tell them to stay in the car with neutral enabled.

Maybe Honda should add a button in the Display Audio system to enable car wash mode. It would seem so much easier for all.

The tip on car wash mode (neutral) switching to Accessory is the only currently known way to switch to that mode, without entirely powering down the car first - https://www.gen3insight.com/forum/2...250-accessory-mode-without-powering-down.html

Cars have become so varied (vs turning a key) that I kinda don't fault car wash attendants for not knowing all the nuances. Would be nice if all manufacturers got got together to agree on a standard...

If a person stays in the car thru the car wash, manually pressing neutral will work just fine. If it goes thru a conveyor without a person, pressing and holding the neutral button a second time (after already in neutral) will keep the transmission in neutral for 15 minutes (rather than shifting to Park as the driver exits).

 

[andrew28]

[*]If the POWER button is pressed while the vehicle is in car wash mode, the power mode will change to ACCESSORY

Speaking of car wash mode is it just me or do local car wash emoployee's not know about this feature?

On the rare occasion I need to head to a car wash I find myself explaining this to the employee and than showing them how to enable it. When they have a hard time understanding I just tell them to say in the car with neutral enabled.

Maybe Honda should add a button in the Display Audio system to enable car wash mode. It would seem so much easier for all.

Rich

To exit vehicle in Neutral: Press N again & Hold for 2 sec. The message shows up on the DII when shifting to N. If the employee doesn't understand that then I don't know what to say. Or go to a car wash that doesn't need you to leave your car like I do. :smile:

 

[Wolverine51]

And I'm curious. What happens after the 15 minutes are up ?

 

[andrew28]

And I'm curious. What happens after the 15 minutes are up ?

I think it switches to park and shuts the car off. You can permanently keep it in neutral by shifting to neutral and then within 5 seconds turn off the car.

 

[rich]

Car Wash Mode:

insightfully and andrew28,

You both are correct about this feature and being easy to use. Normally I like to wash and detail the Insight at home for a better part of the day :grin:

 

[andrew28]

 

[insightfully]

[car wash gif]

LOL, sometimes you just REALLY want to wash your car. And one wouldn't need to use the neutral/car wash trick. I've been known to leave a car out in the rain to give it a quick rinsing... but haven't broken out the soap sponge (yet!).

 

[tightywhitey]

Dumb question...is there a car wash mode for the car or just put in neutral and go. I know...RTFM.