Automatic Carwash Lockup Chaos

[user 1096]

I ran my car through a good automatic carwash the other day (the one with rollers and a track under the wheels) and I put it in Neutral as is required. At some point through the rinse cycle, apparently the car shut down and by the time I got through the blow-dry cycle, apparently the hill brake or something came on, locking the rear wheels. I tried to restart it, but was told the car had to be in Park with my foot on the brake. Meanwhile, succeeding rollers were coming along, jacking my rear wheels up and letting them bounce back down, and of course, the pickup truck grill in my rear-view mirror kept getting closer.

I finally bit the bullet, put it in Park got heisted a couple more times by the rollers but got it started and drove out on to the apron, unscathed, except for palpitations. I don't recall this happening before, but it's been awhile since I hand wash it in warm weather. What am I or it doing wrong?

 

[janner]

Last time this happened to me (with an ICE car) was when the car wash grabbed the rear wiper and bounced the car up and down a few times.

 

[rtanov]

Someone else suggested this and I've tried it several times, and it works great: when they tell you to switch to Neutral don't do it. Just leave the car in Drive and get your foot off the pedal. The rollers are strong enough to push the car while it is in Drive, and at the end of the track you just step on the accelerator and drive off instead of struggling to put the car back in Drive from Neutral. And you would even get some juice back into the battery while being pushed through the car wash

 

[frandy08]

Anyone else verify leaving in drive works? Had a similar nightmarish experience in a car wash.
Thanks,
RP