Dial Shifter causes accident in car wash

[apstephen]

Don't you have to apply the brake to put it in gear? Either there's more to the story or a defect. Don't think you can just spin the dial and have the vehicle start rolling. Seems more likely OP never put it in neutral.

he entered the car wash in "D", applied brakes, came to a stop and put XMSN in "N". Usually there is no lockout to go from "N" to "D", or from "D" to "N".

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[gte105u]

he entered the car wash in "D", applied brakes, came to a stop and put XMSN in "N". Usually there is no lockout to go from "N" to "D", or from "D" to "N".

Interesting. Strange design choice.

 

[NJBob]

Just got my Mav and in NJ I have to go through a wash to get the salt off. I have 2 I like where you have to get out of the car and let it run on the track unoccupied. Guess that ain't happening with the Mav.

 

[NJ Pinelands]

So after the rain stopped and looks like a few days of good weather. I decide to stop in the car wash. I pull and the guy directed me in. I roll down the window to accept his 'dash wipe' to dust off the dash and other components. Windows are getting suds. I open the pack and start wiping things down. Steering, radio, top of the dash, console... I glance out the window and it appears that I am moving rather quickly. Thinking I got just the basic wash, maybe it was jumping ahead and skip a process. Then I remember, there was a car in front of me and through the soapy windshield, I see it. BAM!! I had just applied the brakes, but not before contact. It appears that while dusting off the console, it had brushed against the shifter and rotated it one notch to drive. Very minor damage but if one had hit the gas instead of the brake, a real catastrophe could have occurred.

Any ideas on how to remedy this other than don't clean the interior while in the car wash? Maybe a button to press to put in drive?

Two reasons this would never happen to me. One, GOD provides me Free car washes whenever the time is right for Him. Two, I only clean/vacuum when it is time to trade-in for a new vehicle. Saves a lot of money. People who wash their car/truck are like those crazies that make their bed everyday or wash dishes before they are out of dishes.

 

[Big Kahuna]

I wrote about this before - the shifter dial is actually a hazard. I've had it happen where it got barely bumped and moved position. My kid was getting in the front seat and put their hand down as they were pulling it a backpack and bumped it. I bumped it putting a drink in the cup holder and I mean barely bumped it and it changed.

I think it is too easy to move it. You shouldn't be able to accidently bump a shifter into drive or reverse. Old style shifters made this very difficult and they were notched.

 

[1929]

Well, a problem with the Mav that I know will not affect me and my Mav. I stay away from all car washes touch less or otherwise.

How is that helpful for the rest of us that utilize car washes?

 

[Maverick2023]

Speaking of car wash. This bad boy is ready for the winter. Ceramic coated.

 

[jtpc2021]

How does that work when the vehicle needs to be in Neutral so it can roll on through?

Guess it wouldn’t apply there, but I never recommend those kind of car washes for any vehicle.

 

[jtpc2021]

Speaking of car wash. This bad boy is ready for the winter. Ceramic coated.

that is a safe car wash that won’t damage vehicles

 

[Maverick2023]

that is a safe car wash that won’t damage vehicles

Actually I got some scuff marks from using this stupid clay mit today. Man, I’m still pissed at myself. On a positive note, the car is smooth as a baby’s bottom.

 

[710-oil-614]

So after the rain stopped and looks like a few days of good weather. I decide to stop in the car wash. I pull and the guy directed me in. I roll down the window to accept his 'dash wipe' to dust off the dash and other components. Windows are getting suds. I open the pack and start wiping things down. Steering, radio, top of the dash, console... I glance out the window and it appears that I am moving rather quickly. Thinking I got just the basic wash, maybe it was jumping ahead and skip a process. Then I remember, there was a car in front of me and through the soapy windshield, I see it. BAM!! I had just applied the brakes, but not before contact. It appears that while dusting off the console, it had brushed against the shifter and rotated it one notch to drive. Very minor damage but if one had hit the gas instead of the brake, a real catastrophe could have occurred.

Any ideas on how to remedy this other than don't clean the interior while in the car wash? Maybe a button to press to put in drive?

Title should read - Owner bumps shift dial in car wash causing an accident.

This is 100% operator error.

Sorry it happened bub - not the Mav's fault.

 

[fossil]

Actually I got some scuff marks from using this stupid clay mit today. Man, I’m still pissed at myself. On a positive note, the car is smooth as a baby’s bottom.

fine or medium grit? thinking about buying one in fine.

 

[Maverick2023]

fine or medium grit? thinking about buying one in fine.

I think it was medium. I got it off Amazon for $13 for a set of 2.

 

[fossil]

for those of you who have a woman in their life, have them read you the owners manual on neutral mode

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