Getting a car wash sounds like it should be a pretty straightforward process. You pay the machine, choose your car wash, drive inside, and wait. However, modern automotive technology, especially in EVs, has made automatic car washes a little more complicated. For modern GM models, there’s a Car Wash Mode that many owners might not know about, and we’ll explain how to use it.
For starters, Car Wash Mode isn’t really a “Mode,” per se, like a drive mode. However, GM lays out specific procedures for what you need to do when entering a car wash in some of its newer models.
If you’re staying in the car during the car wash, depress the brake pedal and put the car in neutral. If you want to turn off the car, turn it off while keeping the brake pedal pressed down, then release the pedal. You can also just take your foot off the pedal and leave the car on. Then, make sure to press the door lock button from inside the car. In models with retractable door handles, like the Chevy Equinox EV and Cadillac Lyriq, hitting the lock button will prevent the door handles from popping out. It will also prevent the hands-free liftgate from opening, if so equipped.
If you intend to get out of the car before the car wash, the process is similar. Get out of the car after you shift it into neutral and hit the door lock button on the key fob. If you want the car off, turn it off before you get out. Since modern GM models are prevented from staying in neutral for extended periods of time, it may have shifted itself into park by the time you get back in.
Then there are a couple of good car wash practices that GM recommends that apply to all cars. Fold in your mirrors, which is easy if you have power-folding mirrors. If not, it’s worth the effort to get out of the car to manually fold both mirrors before entering a car wash. It’s also a good idea to turn off the rain-sensing wiper feature while in a car wash if your car has the feature.
If you have a GM model with a matte finish paint, GM advises against using an automatic car wash at all. This isn’t specific to GM – all automakers that offer matte paint from the factory make the same recommendation. Matte paint is available on Cadillac Blackwing models, the Cadillac Escalade IQ and Escalade IQL, the Cadillac Lyriq-V, the Chevrolet Silverado EV, the GMC Hummer EV and the GMC Sierra EV, among others.
Comments
My Caddy doesn’t get these traditional drive through automatic car washes. NEVER. It only gets either one of those DIY wash bays when I am more focused on blasting the undercarriage (especially in the winter time to get the salt off), an automated touch free car wash that uses no brushes touching it, or I do it myself with microfiber cloths. The goal to limit the swirl marks as much as possible although it is nearly impossible to prevent them. It also gets an annual sealer wax in the spring time.
As for the Rav, well the wife left enough scars on that car for me to care too much. I keep it free of salt as much as possible and clean. But I gave up keeping it in like new condition.
Good luck at drive thru washes where the attendant drives it thru.
What an incredible pain in the backside. Another ding against EVs. This is ridiculous.
Putting the car in neutral? That is every automatic wash I have been to. Locking the doors is exercising caution that has nothing to do with being an EV, it is their silly door handles that are not on every model and not at all required (Blazer EV does not use them). The hatch opening would apply to any car. Locking the car if you get out before the wash, it said it applied to all modern GM vehicles and I don’t know why you would get out anyways? The washes by us require you to stay in, so guessing that applies to washes I haven’t been to, but I guess nice they accommodate the ability to do that by locking your doors. None of this seems any different than what is normal.
Neutral in an EV just allows the motor to spin freely. The motors are always mechanically connected to the wheels so all it does is effectively kill off power to the motor. It doesn’t do any harm to the motor. You’re right. Its all the other dumb s*** like the pop-out door handles.
Holy crap!!
That’s ridiculous!!
It is hand wash only for my 2021 C8 Stingray convertible.
Even the owners manual warns against automatic car washes damaging the undercarriage of such low vehicles.
I use a touch-free automatic wash on my Caddy. Its basically like one of those single DIY wash bays that use the high pressure nozzles. You drive it in and put it in park and stay in the car. The system measures the size of the car and a robotic arm the shape of an L goes around the car and sprays it with high pressure water, soap, and any other stuff like spray wax or RainX you pay for. The end result is an automatic wash without even touching the car. Of course I mostly do this when I’m pressed with time.
Otherwise hand wash for me too at home or in a DIY wash bay only using the spray soap and rinse (no foam brush).
When I go to the car wash with my Bolt:
Put the key fob in the car, leave the car on, shift to Neutral.
Done.
My 87 S10 Pickup is due for its yearly car wash. Should I do anything special ?
Yes,,keep it!
Yes. Let it sit out in the rain. And all done.
If it’s an extended cab, make sure the rear windows have a good seal.
This is the month of May not the 1st of April, right ?
When will the craziness end ?????
On one of the first washes on my new 2023 Yukon XL I folded in the mirrors. The car wash has the baloney strip curtains, and one strip got caught on the sharp corner that was now exposed from the folded in mirrors and it snagged and tore off the baloney strip and broke the mirror mechanism. I had a 4ft piece of the blue strip hanging off the mirror when I exited the wash. They fixed it but I of course never fold the mirrors in anymore, and have not had the problem again with lots of washes.
My Rav has manual folding mirrors. And like I said above, I keep the car clean but with my wife carelessly leaving so many scars and scuffs on it and coming back with “Sweetie don’t get mad but…” I’ve thrown my hands up in the air and stopped babying it. But now she wonders why I never let her drive the Cadillac.
Anyways, I take it to one of these traditional “pull through” car washes in and every time I take it those vertical side spinning brushes wacks the mirrors forward. On this car its not a big deal as the mirrors are manual so I just fold them back into place but I don’t dare take my Caddy with fully powered mirrors there.
This is exactly why I’m at my tech overload point with all cars. This is not just about EV’s either. The days of just simple stuff is gone. I have both a 2023 VW ID.4 EV and a 2025 Chevy Equinox EV. Running either through a car wash is a pain for sure. The Chevy is easier, but then it has those stupid door handles that keep going in/out. On the flip side, the 2023 Bolt I had was super simple. Pull up, hit the neutral shift button and in you go. But those days are gone and it’s only going to get worse.
Corvettes don’t do car washes or instant oil change places…
Why. Would. You!
I have a 2022 Hummer EV and I take it to touchless washes only. I’ve never had to do any of that and haven’t had any issues. I have the mirrors set to fold in as soon as I hit park. It’s my wife’s car. The C8 is hand wash only on the rare occasion when it gets a bug smashed on it. I have all of my cars paint corrected and ceramic coated before they are driven and bugs come right off. You would be surprised to see how mush more shine a paint correction will bring out even on a new car.
The only thing I have to remember to do at a car wash with my Mazda CX-3 is put in neutral and turn off the automatic wipers.
Forget shutting the car off. Most new vehicles will automatically go into ‘park’ when you do. Then good luck when the conveyor grabs your front wheel!