Harry Gibson on March 2, 2023 1 Comment
Have been thinking to take your Tesla to a car wash and you have heard among Tesla owners that there is a special car wash mode on these vehicles? So, you want to learn how to use it? Well, if this is the case then you are at the right place because there will be a lot to cover on this topic.
- Car Wash Mode?
- Which Tesla Models?
- How To Use It?
- Pros & Cons
- Car Wash Cost
- Detailing
- Detailing Cost
- Conclusion
- F.A.Q
Owning a Tesla nowadays is trendy. Everyone wants to jump on the EV bandwagon and purchase a new Tesla to drive on the cheap (and lets you get into learning how to drive a Tesla). But nobody expects that a Tesla will be different from the standard gas-powered cars. All people think that it is the same deal, the only difference will be to charge the car at an EV station.
And that assumption is somewhat correct. But you should understand that these cars also have a fair share of complexity in them. And that is the big center screen. Everything in these cars is activated by this enormous screen and if you don’t know how to use it, you will end up damaging the car possibly. Like in the case with the car wash. But you shouldn’t worry because we are going to help you out.
First, we are going to learn what is the Tesla car wash mode and how you can use it. Then we will learn the pros and cons of using this mod and after that, we will cover more on the car wash. We will learn how much this service costs and whether or not it is better to wash your Tesla at home. So, if you want to learn more about this topic, follow along.
Tesla Car Wash Mode
Now before we dive into how you can use the car was mode on your Tesla. Let’s first learn what this mode is all about. Knowing this will really help you out in terms of knowing how this works and what is its main purpose on a Tesla vehicle. So, let’s cover the basis real quick before we dive into more complex topics.
So, what is a Tesla car wash mode? Well, this is a special mode that was installed on more modern Tesla vehicles. This mode is specifically designed if you drive your vehicle through an automated car wash. But why it was needed?
Well, this mode is needed in order to prevent damage to the car. When you are driving through a car wash the vehicle needs to be in neutral.
In addition to this, the Tesla car wash mode will also lock all the doors, close the open windows, and will deactivate some features like automated windshield wipers, sentry mode, parking sensor chimes, and also walk-away door locking.
By doing so, the car will guarantee that nothing will get damaged. Imagine that you forgot to close one of the windows. The car will get completely soaked if you don’t notice it. Or possibly if you forget the automated windshield wipers on.
The windshield wipers can get all mangled up and destroyed. In addition to this, the windshield can also get damaged. So, you quite understand the essentiality of this Tesla car wash mode.
Whenever you are using this type of car wash, you better activate this mode. But does your Tesla support this feature in the first place? Well, that’s what we are going to cover next and learn which models do support this mode.
Which Tesla Models Support It?
We cleared the basis of this mode and learned what it does. It mainly serves the purpose to protect your vehicle while you are in the car wash and making sure that all of the interior and exterior are safe until you roll out from the car wash. But which Tesla cars support this feature in the first place? Let’s explain in-depth.
So, what Tesla cars support this mode? Well, in the most recent cars like the Model 3 and Model Y, this mode comes as a standard. This means that any new Tesla that you purchase nowadays will include this mode.
On older models like the Model X and Model S, this feature comes with the newer models. More precisely the 2021.24. 4 update.
While on the early models of the Model X and Model S, this function sadly doesn’t come as an update. Mainly because their hardware is old and probably does not support features like this, so these vehicles were not updated.
Even though, it is worth it that you check the menu and learn more about the updates that are available. Because who knows, maybe you are eligible for this update or the update is already installed on your Tesla vehicle.
Just browse your menu and see if this mode is there or not. And in the following chapter, we are going to cover precisely where we will investigate how you can find this feature in the menu of your car and how you can activate the Tesla Model 3 car wash.
So, you don’t want to miss that. Learning how you can activate this mod should be one of your top priorities, this is why follow along.
How To Use Wash Mode
We learned what the Tesla car wash mode is all about and which of the models by Tesla are supporting it. But do you know how you can use this mode on your Tesla?
A ton of owners even though they have a Tesla, have never tried it and do not know how to activate this mode and how to use it in the first place.
This is why in this chapter, we are going to explain in-depth how this is done the right way, so whenever you have to use this mode, you don’t stumble and wait for half an hour to get orientated throughout the menu. So, how you can use this mode? Let’s elaborate.
Using this mode is plain simple. But still, you need to learn how it’s done, either you will be stuck there for half an hour trying to figure out how you can do this.
The first thing you need to follow the Touch Controls, Then you need to go into Service and then enter the Car Wash Mode Settings. There you have another option, and that is to fold down the mirrors and also enable free roll.
Enabling free roll is somewhat useful. Especially if you go out of the car while the car is washed. This is how you will avoid the parking brake engaging while you are out of the car if you are using an automatic car wash. This means that it will not go into Park but will stay in Neutral gear.
Then after you are done using the car wash, you can enter the car and exit the car wash mode. Or if you are into the car and you accelerate above 16 mph, the car will automatically disengage the car wash mode.
Pros & Cons Of Using Automated Car Wash
Now as we cleared what is the Tesla car wash mode and how you can use this mode to wash your car. Let’s now learn more about the pros and cons of visiting an automated car wash.
As you probably know, everything has its pros and cons and so is the case with carwash. And frankly, there are a ton of cons to using this way of washing your car.
Especially for car lovers who just adore their cars and don’t want something bad ever happening to them. So, what are the pros and cons of using a car wash for your vehicle? Let’s elaborate more on this in the following chapters.
Pros
So, let’s first cover some of the pros of the Tesla car wash? What are the positives of using an automated car wash and the wash mode in your Tesla? Let’s elaborate.
The biggest pro of using an automated carwash is convenience. This type of washing is effortless. Everything is done by the machine and when your car is completely washed it is bone dry and you don’t have to do anything. Drive in, and then drive out. Simple as that.
And frankly, this is one of the best ideas that were put into practice because, since its inception, it has saved billions of hours of manual labor. And that is quite a lot of time, to be honest.
This means that you will never do anything that will make you sweat and make you feel tired. Everything is done by the machine. Even the drying is done automatically. So, you understand why this is the way to go.
Another pro of using an automated car wash is the cheapness of this service. If you didn’t know, a carwash is really affordable and will not make any difference if you take your car once or twice a month through the car wash.
And this cost is frankly a small price to pay considering that you will save a ton of time. You can use this time on other more fulfilling things, such as going on a date or possibly having a good time with your friends.
This is why we recommend doing an automated Tesla Model Y car wash. But it cannot everything be all sunshine and roses, there could also be something wrong with this service or not? Well, more on that we’re going to cover next.
Cons
We learned how to use the Tesla car wash mode and we covered all of the pros of using an automated car wash service. But what are the cons when it comes to this type of service? Let’s elaborate more on them in the following chapter.
One of the biggest cons of using an automated carwash service is the problem of getting your car damaged.
A ton of people do not have the Tesla car wash mod. So, they accidentally forget the sunroof open and then water sips into the car and floods the whole car, or they forget the windows open and water gets inside.
Another con of automated carwash services is the damage to the paint that is done by the machine. The brushes of the machine can create swirls on the paint of the car and after a few car wash treatments, they get even worse.
This is why you should find a carwash that will not damage your paint. So, you will need to test a few places and see which of these works best for your paint.
Also, whenever you run a car through a car wash it is often advised that you have it protected before you do so. Using ceramic coating or wax will prevent any damage to be done to the paint itself and you will not have any issues whatsoever.
Overall, the cons do not outnumber the pros. So, you should never be afraid of taking your car to the automated carwash. Just make sure that you enable the Tesla car wash mode if you own a Tesla and you will be good to go. But how much does a service like this cost? Well, that’s what we are going to cover next.
How Much Is A Car Wash On The Average
We learned more about the Tesla car wash mode and how it works, we think that now it is time to learn more about how much can you expect to pay in order to wash your car at a Tesla automatic car wash? What is the figure?
On average, an automated carwash costs about $10 to $20. Depending on where you take your car to. But this doesn’t mean that it is worth the high price.
In some places, the prices are high because there is simply no automated carwash in the area. So, people must take their cars to this specific place in order to wash them. So, owners can charge even $50 in some cases. Which is not cool. But that’s one of the perks of being only in town.
Even though we would recommend always learning about the places in your area and you will definitely find a place where you can do this work on the cheap.
Just remember that whenever you take your car to an automated carwash always turn on the Tesla car wash mode in order to make sure that everything is closed properly and your sensors do not freak out while the car is washing.
But let’s say that you want to go a step ahead and you want to fully detail your car. How much money you can spend if you decide to go for a detail job? Let’s learn more about that in the following chapter.
What Is Tesla Detailing?
Now as we learned the pros and cons of the Tesla car wash and learned the average cost of taking your car to an automated carwash. We think that now it is time to learn more about the detailing. What this process involves?
As you probably know, detailing and washing are completely different things. When the car is washed, it is only washed from the debris that accumulated on the paint. But when a car is detailed, there is a lot that goes into this job. And what precisely?
Well, if we talk about a proper detailing job that everyone should do every year we mean removing all the wheels and cleaning the brake dust from both sides of the wheel with a special solution.
Then we also mean cleaning the wheel wells from all the mud that has accumulated on them as well as cleaning the engine bay from dust.
Then follows the process of removing dirt from the paint with a clay bar (before that, make sure you understand how to clay bar a car) and then polishing the whole car with a buffer. After that, a coating is applied. Whether a wax coating or possibly ceramic coating.
In addition to this, you can do interior detailing and clean all the interior of your vehicle. This is done first by vacuuming the interior and then vacuuming all the seats if they are cloth with a special vacuum that washes the cloth material.
For the leather there are also special solutions that can be used, first to clean the dirt and then to rejuvenate and rehydrate the leather material. Also, cleaning the air condition vents and replacing the cabin filter when you are doing this type of work is useful to get rid of the dust particles and your interior will be nice and fresh.
How Much Money To Detail A Tesla?
So, we learned what is the Tesla car wash mode and what it costs. Now let’s discuss more about the detailing. How much can you expect to pay for a good detailing of your Tesla?
In the previous chapter, we mentioned a lot of things that can be done during the detailing process. And all these procedures require certain time and cost differently. So, when it comes to the price, it is really difficult to get the exact number.
But we can say that prices can go from $200 up to $1,200 for a good detailing depending on the experience of the detailer and the job. And more than $1,200 for paint correction, applying ceramic coating, and cleaning everything inside and out of the car.
Also, if you apply PPF also known as a paint protection film, you can expect to pay even up to a few thousand dollars for the complete job.
So, whenever you decide on spending money on a detail job, you should consult with other people who did a full detail on their cars. By doing so, you will avoid getting ripped off if you know what I mean. Car detailing isn’t cheap. Now let’s cover the last thing in this article when it comes to the Tesla car wash mode.
Tesla Car Wash Near Me
So, we learned what is the Tesla car wash mode, now let’s take a look at how to find a carwash in order to test this feature in the first place. Where you can find a good service to wash your Tesla?
Well, just type into your browser the phrase “Tesla car wash near me”. Then you will probably get a request to allow your location and then the browser will list the closest carwash services near your place of living.
Also, if you have friends that take their cars to the carwash regularly, you can just go ahead and ask them for recommendations. This is how you will not make a mistake and you will get the right service that you need.
In addition to this, there are commercials throughout the town. You will probably come across one or two on your way to work. So, finding these places is not as big of a problem as it was in the past when we didn’t have internet and other technology. Now let’s conclude this article about the Tesla car wash.
Tesla Car Washing Facts:
- Hand washing your Tesla at home can reduce the chances of scratches being caused.
- The two-bucket method is recommended for washing your Tesla from top to bottom.
- Microfiber towels are recommended for drying your Tesla as they are non-abrasive and can absorb large amounts of water.
- The waterless car wash method can be used with a waterless car wash product and some microfiber towels.
- Visiting a touchless car wash is recommended if you don’t have time to wash your Tesla at home.
- Tesla recommends visiting only touchless car washes and not using regular automated car washes that use brushes and bristles.
- Tesla recently released the ‘car wash mode’ for Model 3 and Model Y vehicles to make your car wash experience hassle-free.
- The car wash mode closes all windows, locks the charge port, disables windshield wipers, sentry mode, walk-away door locks, and parking sensor chimes.
- Microfiber towels are recommended for drying your Tesla as drying it under sunlight or letting it dry on its own can cause water spots.
- To enable the car wash mode in Tesla Y, touch control > services > car wash mode.
Conclusion
In this article, we have covered quite a bit when it comes to the Tesla car wash. First, we learned what this mode is all about and why it is so important. Then we covered how you can use this mod on your car and when you should use it.
After that, we learned the pros and cons of taking your Tesla to the automated carwash service and learned the costs of both carwash and also the costs of doing a detail job on the car.
F.A.Q
Now let’s answer some frequently asked questions.
What Is Tesla Car Wash Mode
The car wash mode on the Tesla is a special mode that allows you to go through an automated carwash and not worry if the car will get wet inside or the sensors will start to freak out. With this mode, you basically acknowledge the car that is being washed.
Where Is The Car Wash Mode Tesla
The carwash mode is in the menu of your Tesla. There is no specific button, you just need to use your screen for this thing to work. So, just press on Controls > Service > Carwash Mode. Then you will be good to go.
How To Put Tesla In Car Wash Mode
The only way that you can put your Tesla in this mode is by using the touch screen. Just select Controls. Then select Service and then select the carwash mode from the menu.
How To Put Tesla In Neutral
In order to put your Tesla into neutral, you need to select the car wash mode. First, you need to go into Controls > Service > Carwash Mode and when you are on the carwash mode, select Enable Fre Roll. This will allow your car to go in neutral.
Can Tesla Disable Your Car
They probably can do it since the car is connected online. But your car will not get disabled. There is no scenario that will make Tesla disable a car. Even though, they do not like people to Frankenstein their cars and do DIY work. And if they notice so, they will limit your charging ability to the supercharger. Even though some people say that they reversed that decision and will allow salvaged vehicles to be supercharged as of 2021.
That is a nice answer about tesla. I agree with you. Tesla vehicles are unlike any other cars in the market. Beyond its unique in-vehicle features, Tesla cars are completely battery-powered, which appeals to those who are conscious of their carbon emissions. Hope you write more