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Automatic Car Wash Technique w/ Push-Button Transmission?

4734 Views 9 Replies 6 Participants Last post by  2ndHyundai
What's the smoothest way to do this? From what I understand we MUST push the brake to put our Tucson back in drive, but this is definitely an awkward move in an automatic/conveyor type car-wash! You're not supposed to touch the brakes on these systems, meanwhile the Tucson won't allow me to put my car back in gear at the end of the carwash without hitting the brakes... WHILE there may be a car directly behind me.

Solutions?
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I accidentally shut down the whole car wash with everyone in it, because I couldn’t get my Tucson hybrid into gear from neutral and I hit the brakes for too long. The next time that I went, I figured out that if I barely (very lightly) tap the brake pedal and push the “D” button at almost the same time, it has worked every time without stopping my car or the car wash ;)
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I accidentally shut down the whole car wash with everyone in it, because I couldn’t get my Tucson hybrid into gear from neutral and I hit the brakes for too long. The next time that I went, I figured out that if I barely (very lightly) tap the brake pedal and push the “D” button at almost the same time, it has worked every time without stopping my car or the car wash ;)
Thank you, yes... I did that today and it worked okay. Fortunately there wasn't anyone too close behind, and this was an acceptable solution!
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Fwiw…I feel that they space the cars way too close for comfort at the car wash that I go to. Since I figured out my method, I haven’t had any close calls or unfortunate incidents. I go to the wash frequently because of the Midwest road salt. The deep sea color of my Tucson looks beautiful when clean, but looks filthy with the slightest road grime on it.
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This is a handy thing to know. Thank you for sharing it.
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Fwiw…I feel that they space the cars way too close for comfort at the car wash that I go to. Since I figured out my method, I haven’t had any close calls or unfortunate incidents. I go to the wash frequently because of the Midwest road salt. The deep sea color of my Tucson looks beautiful when clean, but looks filthy with the slightest road grime on it.
I'm trying to figure out the smartest 2nd car option, and I like my Tucson enough that I'm actually considering a 2nd one in a lower trim. I've been debating colors. I already have blue, so blue is out, but I've been going back and forth between Gray, Silver, Black... I like the Amazon Gray when the sun reveals the buried green, but I like Silver cars overall for how long they look clean... and of course black is like your dark blue, and it just looks stunning when it's clean. I felt like the Gray is another nice "almost black, but more interesting" color, like your Deep Blue.

Even with the Intense Blue... it definitely looks drastically better shined up. ;-)

Hence my car-wash post... I'm a fan of the "local club" and just keep it shiny all the time. For anyone reading this who has a stick instead of buttons... you don't realize how fortunate that is in many practical ways, the least of which is this whole topic doesn't apply to you.. you get the luxury of pushing your car back in gear directly from neutral... you know, the way the entire rest of the planet does it without thinking. The brake thing works... but it's not ideal, it's a patch.
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I'm trying to figure out the smartest 2nd car option, and I like my Tucson enough that I'm actually considering a 2nd one in a lower trim. I've been debating colors. I already have blue, so blue is out, but I've been going back and forth between Gray, Silver, Black... I like the Amazon Gray when the sun reveals the buried green, but I like Silver cars overall for how long they look clean... and of course black is like your dark blue, and it just looks stunning when it's clean. I felt like the Gray is another nice "almost black, but more interesting" color, like your Deep Blue.

Even with the Intense Blue... it definitely looks drastically better shined up. ;-)

Hence my car-wash post... I'm a fan of the "local club" and just keep it shiny all the time. For anyone reading this who has a stick instead of buttons... you don't realize how fortunate that is in many practical ways, the least of which is this whole topic doesn't apply to you.. you get the luxury of pushing your car back in gear directly from neutral... you know, the way the entire rest of the planet does it without thinking. The brake thing works... but it's not ideal, it's a patch.
I have the Amazon Gray in the Limited PHEV and am picking up the Shimmering Silver SEL PHEV for my wife in two days. I love my color and think I will love hers as well. Not sure how the dash will look different as I could not get the convenience package. The cars are really hard to find here
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Thank you, yes... I did that today and it worked okay. Fortunately there wasn't anyone too close behind, and this was an acceptable solution!
You really have to do the action of quickly putting your foot on the brake and touching the D (Drive) button in the Tucson Limited touch transmission when exiting a car wash.
so glad you guys started this thread, I am going to get my first car wash sometime today and I doubt my addled mind would have figured out how to get it back in drive to avoid disaster. lol.
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I accidentally shut down the whole car wash with everyone in it, because I couldn’t get my Tucson hybrid into gear from neutral and I hit the brakes for too long. The next time that I went, I figured out that if I barely (very lightly) tap the brake pedal and push the “D” button at almost the same time, it has worked every time without stopping my car or the car wash ;)
You are right! I go through the Car Wash weekly. On my 2022 Limited with push button transmission, I quickly and lightly put my foot on the brake as I quickly press the "D". I realize you do have to act quickly, but I am in my late 70s and I can do this even though the old body moves slowly in most instants. It works every time, and it can be done before the car behind you is close.
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