car wash trouble

[dflanigan]

We were bringing our 2010 FFH through a car wash and when the car moved into the soap and water, an engine symbol illuminated as well as the traction light, both on the left side of the drivers display. At the end of the car wash, the engine would not start up. We turned the ignition off and then back on, but the engine would not start and the car would not go on engine or electric. I had my wife who was driving, place the car in neutral again and got out to push it. In this car wash, the driver of the car behind you is completely blinded to anyone stalled in front and the drying tabs hang down to go over the car and completely obscure the driver's vision. Before I could push our car out of the way, their front bumper hit our rear bumper and started pushing the car. At that point, I was able to push the car out of the way and off to the side. After a minute, we were able to get the engine to start and had no further problems. However until we get some answer on this, we won't be going through and car washes.

[DJE]

Wow! What a nightmare! I'm glad you weren't in between the two cars!

[Blue Oval]

Never heard of this happening before. Let your dealer's service dept. manager know next time you're there so they can check for a possible cause. Perhaps they already have a technical service bulletin on this. Hope your rear bumper cover wasn't scuffed . . . I say bring back the more durable chrome ones but that'll never happen!

[lolder]

Did you turn the car off and put it in neutral when you went through the wash? If you then turned the key to start, it will not start in neutral, only "P". If you try to start it in neutral, the yellow engine symbol will come on. It may be that the bars that push the wheels along in the car wash caused the wheels to slip or jerk triggering the traction light.

Edited March 7, 2010 by lolder

[dflanigan]

Did you turn the car off and put it in neutral when you went through the wash? If you then turned the key to start, it will not start in neutral, only "P". If you try to start it in neutral, the yellow engine symbol will come on. It may be that the bars that push the wheels along in the car wash caused the wheels to slip or jerk triggering the traction light.

 

 

Thank you for your suggestions, but my wife who was driving did turn off the ignition and put the car in park, then tried to restart and the yellow engine symbol actually came on shortly after we entered the wash, long before the end when the car would not start.

[lolder]

Thank you for your suggestions, but my wife who was driving did turn off the ignition and put the car in park, then tried to restart and the yellow engine symbol actually came on shortly after we entered the wash, long before the end when the car would not start.

You of course have to have it in "N" to go through the car wash. If the key was turned to accessory, the engine light would come on OR if you tried to start it in "N". If the car is performing normally now, I don't think you have a problem.

[mxmastro]

Same thing happened when I dropped my FFH off at a car wash. They had put it into Neutral and turned off the engine then when they tried to restart it, it wouldn't go. You have to have it in Park before attempting to start the engine. I recall reading in the manual it does this to prevent damage to the CVT. There is no issue.

[lordyourjosh]

Same thing happened when I dropped my FFH off at a car wash. They had put it into Neutral and turned off the engine then when they tried to restart it, it wouldn't go. You have to have it in Park before attempting to start the engine. I recall reading in the manual it does this to prevent damage to the CVT. There is no issue.

 

So the "right way" would be to leave the car running (though the ICE would probably shut down) while you go through? Have other people done it this way successfully? I just want to make sure - I usually do my own washing, but it's good to know in case I decide to run through a car wash.

Edited March 9, 2010 by lordyourjosh

[rpreuss]

So the "right way" would be to leave the car running (though the ICE would probably shut down) while you go through? Have other people done it this way successfully? I just want to make sure - I usually do my own washing, but it's good to know in case I decide to run through a car wash.

 

I do not understand why anyone would want to shut off the engine in a car wash like this one. I never did. Any car may have difficulty re-starting at the end. Just leave it in neutral as instructed.

 

And yes, several times I have "started" my FFH but actually failed to fully turn the key all the way to position 4. After all, we usually do not hear anything but the "sound" of the green car indicator coming on. Then I put the car into "D" and nothing happens. Realizing I have to actually "start" it, I put the gear selector into "N" (Old reaction to previously owned cars) and nothing happens. After a couple of honks from behind, I put it in "P" to "start" it, and then continue.

 

Frustating but I got used to it. But at the exit to the car wash, with the car behind you getting closer and nothing happening, I can understand the "panic".

 

Hopefully, we have all learned another "quirk" about our FFH's. :happy feet:

[lordyourjosh]

I do not understand why anyone would want to shut off the engine in a car wash like this one. I never did. Any car may have difficulty re-starting at the end. Just leave it in neutral as instructed.

 

And yes, several times I have "started" my FFH but actually failed to fully turn the key all the way to position 4. After all, we usually do not hear anything but the "sound" of the green car indicator coming on. Then I put the car into "D" and nothing happens. Realizing I have to actually "start" it, I put the gear selector into "N" (Old reaction to previously owned cars) and nothing happens. After a couple of honks from behind, I put it in "P" to "start" it, and then continue.

 

Frustating but I got used to it. But at the exit to the car wash, with the car behind you getting closer and nothing happening, I can understand the "panic".

 

Hopefully, we have all learned another "quirk" about our FFH's. :happy feet:

 

I never shut the engine off in my Ranger, though it's a manual so I can just pop it into neutral pretty easily. Unfortunately I don't have my FFH yet sicne Ford missed the posted delivery date to the dealer (it's still sitting in Michigan somewhere). Had I gotten it Saturday I could have enjoyed 4 nice, sunny days. Assuming it shows up soon, I get to enjoy taking my first drive in the rain... so it's good to know about these carwash issues ahead of time. :waiting: