Should I Put the Car in N or P Gear for Automatic Car Wash?
2 Answers
When using an automatic car wash, you should first drive the car into the washing area using D gear, then stop and apply the brakes before shifting to N gear. The process for rail-guided automatic car wash equipment is as follows: 1. Before the vehicle enters the car wash machine, ensure that the front wheels correctly enter the rail position, with the wheels securely placed in the rails to prevent them from coming loose. Usually, staff will guide you to correctly enter the rails. 2. Upon entering, there will be clear signage near the automatic car wash equipment or in prominent locations indicating the car wash operation steps, such as: shift to neutral, release the handbrake, and take your foot off the brake. Staff on-site will also provide guidance to the driver.
After driving for so many years, I'm always extra careful about shifting gears when washing my car. When using an automatic car wash, you must shift to Neutral (N)! Because Parking (P) gear locks the transmission, and if the car wash pulls your vehicle while in P gear, the gears could be forcibly strained, potentially damaging internal components – repairs for that aren't cheap. N gear is neutral, allowing the wheels to rotate freely, making the car wash's push-pull motion much smoother. I remember one time my friend accidentally left it in P gear – as soon as the car moved, the transmission made awful grinding noises, scaring him into shifting immediately. Before washing, remember to close all windows and retract wipers to prevent water intrusion or equipment damage. Safety first – don't skip these steps to save time, as dealing with problems afterwards would be far more troublesome.
