Caution: Automatic Electronic Braking in a Carwash....?

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by LouG123, Feb 1, 2018.

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  1. LouG123

    LouG123 Member

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    So last week I ran my Prime through a carwash, and in the middle of the wash tunnel the car wash's moving gears / arms (whatever) caused the Prime's electronic brakes to be applied. Fortunately the car behind me, which while on the conveyor track wasn't going to stop, was far enough behind so that it didn't bump me.

    I looked through the owner's manual but I can't find anything that discusses how to temporarily disable the electronic brake feature for these types of situations. Just curious to know if anyone knows how to temporarily disable the system. Admittedly, I've ran the Prime through this wash before and last week was the first time this happened.....
     
    #1 LouG123, Feb 1, 2018
  2. I'mJp

    I'mJp Senior Member

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    Pick a different car wash.
     
    #2 I'mJp, Feb 1, 2018
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  3. ttait

    ttait Active Member

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    Were you in Neutral?
     
    #3 ttait, Feb 1, 2018
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  4. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

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    Never been a problem for our Prime. The front proximity beepers sound off, but otherwise no problem.
     
    #4 PT Guy, Feb 1, 2018
  5. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Stick with the kind of car wash where the car is stationary, the equipment moves. Or better, if it's practical: wash the car yourself, by hand.
     
    #5 Mendel Leisk, Feb 1, 2018
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  6. ct89

    ct89 Active Member

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    I would love to know the answer to this. I thought I read somewhere that the auto-brake would not happen in neutral but I'm not really sure how to test that safely....
     
    #6 ct89, Feb 1, 2018
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2018
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  7. priuscatprimeguy

    priuscatprimeguy Senior Member

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    @LouG123
     
    #7 priuscatprimeguy, Feb 1, 2018
  8. LouG123

    LouG123 Member

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    Yes.......I was in neutral.......is there any other way to maneuver through a moving car wash ?
     
    #8 LouG123, Feb 2, 2018
  9. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    upload_2018-2-2_10-36-57.png
    upload_2018-2-2_10-37-32.png
     
    #9 Tideland Prius, Feb 2, 2018
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  10. Prodigyplace

    Prodigyplace 2025 Camry XLE FWD

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    There is still the issue of running the car in Neutral. It can drain the 12 volt battery since it does not get charged when in Neutral.

    The proper solution is to pick a different type of car wash.
     
    #10 Prodigyplace, Feb 2, 2018
  11. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The danger is draining the BIG battery I think. I concur: the Prius, not capable of freewheeling when off, is not a good fit with this style of car wash. Belabouring my earlier post: use the stationary style car wash, or DIY, if at all possible.
     
    #11 Mendel Leisk, Feb 2, 2018
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  12. CraigM

    CraigM Active Member

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    I really doubt the two minutes it takes to go through a car wash would do anything to either battery
     
    #12 CraigM, Feb 2, 2018
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  13. Jessecee

    Jessecee Junior Member

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    Just turn off the pre-collision system temporarily. Pretty simple to do
     
    #13 Jessecee, Feb 2, 2018
  14. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    One would think that would happen AUTOMATICALLY when in Neutral.......right ??
    I think it probably does and it accidentally was NOT in Neutral.

    But if the OP feels strongly that it WAS in Neutral, he should report this to the NHTSA and the NTSB and Toyota......as it is a safety defect.
    That could interfere with a LOT of things that Neutral is intended to be used for.
     
    #14 Sam Spade, Feb 2, 2018
  15. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

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    My understanding was that PCS activates the brakes regardless of drive gear selected if the car is moving.

    Emergency responder neutral would be for when the car is off. PCS would be off then too.
    Would think DRCC would have turned off unless you drove straight in to the wash with out stopping.

    Need some clarification on what could be active under these various conditions.
     
    #15 JamesBurke, Feb 2, 2018
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2018
  16. Jessecee

    Jessecee Junior Member

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    True. I mean Neutral is a driving mode right? Maybe only when it’s on Park it deactivates it.
     
    #16 Jessecee, Feb 2, 2018
  17. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    The only way a Prius will roll through a pull-through car wash is with the car on, in Neutral ideally, maybe/possibly in Drive, though that sounds like a really bad idea.

    Virually every other production car can roll through that same car wash completely OFF, and in Neutral.
     
    #17 Mendel Leisk, Feb 2, 2018
  18. JamesBurke

    JamesBurke Senior Member

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    Does this work for the Gen 4/Prime? When parked go to acc mode then hold shift lever in N position till it shifts to N. Prius V example.


    If your backing up in reverse and someone comes flying at you from the front what happens?
     
    #18 JamesBurke, Feb 2, 2018
    Last edited: Feb 2, 2018
  19. LouG123

    LouG123 Member

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    So here's the thing....

    I've been using this car wash for probably 20 years now. Last week wasn't the first time I've ran the Prime through it. I usually handwash all of my cars with a pressure washer and foam canon, but when Chicago winter calls with 20 below temps and road salt, handwashing is not an option. I use this wash because it's a brushless wash, and it has a good reputation for its quality.

    The only way to maneuver through the wash is to be in neutral. For those who think that I must have accidently shifted into Drive - how on earth does one "accidently" move the shift lever left and down into Drive ? Sorry folks, but that didn't happen....

    The front end sensors are always beeping and sounding off during the wash, that's (I guess) to be expected and has never bothered me. When this happened last week, the red BRAKE screen came on the dash, and the car jerked into a stop. It then released almost just as quickly as it stopped and the car continued on the track through the car wash.

    Anyways....I took the car back to for another wash at the same place on Friday 2/2 and all was fine. I'm just putting this thread out there as a statement that this did happen, and for all to just keep it in the back of their heads that one shouldn't stray from paying attention, even in a car wash. In regards to the possibility of draining the battery while in neutral, if a 2-3 minute roll through a car wash is prone to draining a battery, there are certainly other issues that we all should be concerned with.

    Many thanks to Tideland for sharing the info from the owner's manual, and many thanks to all of you for listening and for all of your comments.....
     
    #19 LouG123, Feb 3, 2018
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  20. Sam Spade

    Sam Spade Senior Member

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    WRONG. Neutral is there entirely and only for non-driving situations.
     
    #20 Sam Spade, Feb 3, 2018
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