how to wash tesla

How To Wash Your Tesla. Tips and Tricks

Of course, you can also take a Tesla to a car wash. However, there are a few things that one should pay more attention to avoid unnecessary stress. The exact procedure should be read through before visiting the car wash, so that the necessary steps can be carried out quickly on site. If there are a few other customers waiting behind you in the queue, it will otherwise quickly become stressful.

The procedure depends on the type of car wash, or whether the parking brake is applied or the vehicle must roll freely. A distinction is made between the following variants:

  • Portal system: Vehicle stands still in a wash box, does not move and only the brushes move around the vehicle.
  • Car wash with conveyor belt: The vehicle stands with the wheels on one side only on a conveyor belt and is pushed through the car wash.
  • Washing bay with large conveyor belt: The vehicle stands with all four wheels on a conveyor belt and is pushed through the washing bay.

A further distinction is made whether the driver can/must get out or remain seated.

 

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Portal system

In the portal system, the vehicle is parked with the parking brake applied and does not roll.

  1. Set vehicle to mode “P”. The parking brake is then activated automatically.
  2. Fold in the mirrors.
  3. Disable automatic wipers.
  4. Deactivate alarm system and guard mode.
  5. Lock the vehicle and deactivate Bluetooth on the mobile phone in the Model 3 for safety reasons. This avoids the risk that, for example, the flap of the charging port might accidentally open under pressure and be torn off by the brushes.

Tesla car wash system with conveyor belt

The vehicle stands either left or right with two wheels on a conveyor belt and is pushed through the washing line. This must allow the wheels to rotate freely and no brakes must be active.

Driver stays in the car

  1. Fold in the mirrors.
  2. Disable automatic wipers.
  3. Deactivate alarm system and sentry mode.
  4. Before being pushed onto the conveyor belt, the vehicle must be set to mode “N”. (DO NOT set to “P”, otherwise the parking brake is activated).
  5. IMPORTANT: The driver must keep his seat belt fastened. Otherwise, the car will jump to “P”.
  6. Lock the vehicle with the lock symbol on the screen. (Vehicle can continue to roll freely)
  7. During the entire washing process, sit still and do not step on the brakes. There is a sensor in the seat. When no weight is on the driver’s seat, the car jumps to “P” and thus activates the parking brake. In this case the whole car wash stops immediately.
  8. At the end of the washing process, unlock the vehicle, step on the brake and then switch to “D” (on Model 3, switch Bluetooth on the mobile phone to ON again).

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Driver must get off

  1. Fold in the mirrors.
  2. Disable automatic wipers.
  3. Deactivate alarm system and guard mode.
  4. Before being pushed onto the conveyor belt, the vehicle must be set to “P” so that the towing mode can be activated.
  5. With the brake depressed, activate the “towing mode” in the vehicle settings under “Service”. The vehicle now automatically switches to “N” and remains in this mode even after getting out of the car.
  6. Get out and lock the vehicle (vehicle can continue to roll freely).
  7. After the washing process, open the vehicle and get in (on Model 3, switch on Bluetooth on the mobile phone again).
  8. Deactivate the “towing mode” under “Service” again when the brake is depressed. (goes faster by pressing “P” once briefly and confirming the message).

Tesla car wash system with large conveyor belt

The vehicle stands with all four wheels on the conveyor belt and is pushed through the car wash. The parking brake must be activated.

  1. Set vehicle to mode “P”. This activates the parking brake.
  2. Fold in the mirrors.
  3. Disable automatic wipers.
  4. Deactivate alarm system and guard mode.
  5. Lock the vehicle and deactivate Bluetooth on the mobile phone in the Model 3 for safety reasons. This avoids the risk that, for example, the flap of the charging port might accidentally open under pressure and be torn off by the brushes.

More tips and tricks about Tesla.

Discussions about the car wash on TMC Forum.

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