Strange Alerts when "Stay In Neutral" activated.

[austin-tatious]

Took our new to us 2017 black label 3.0 T to the car wash for the first time (maybe the last).  Made sure rain sensing was turned off, put it in "Stay in Neutral" as it started through.  All of a sudden, the dreaded wrench symbol appeared and power train issue notifications started popping up.  The one I remember most was the all wheel drive not working alert.  What is that?  I did not touch anything since we're being passively moved through the wash.  When the car was all clear of the car wash track I put it in drive and off we go.  The alerts stopped but I think the wrench symbol stayed for a bit.  I don't remember if I turned the car off and then restarted when I got to a place to safely stop.  However, the wrench symbol is gone now. 

 

What should I make of this?

 

Thanks!

Edited December 10, 2021 by austin-tatious
clarity\\

[austin-tatious]

Two more things:

First, I put the car in stay in neutral in the driveway which as a little slope, verified by flashing N on the gear select stack.  Let it coast down the slope about 15 ft.  No alerts.

Second, could I have failed to get it in to stay in neutral and it was just in neutral?  I don't remember if I saw the flashing N or not when in the car wash.

Edited December 7, 2021 by austin-tatious
clarity

[bbf2530]

43 minutes ago, austin-tatious said:

Two more things:

First, I put the car in stay in neutral in the driveway which as a little slope, verified by flashing N on the gear select stack.  Let it coast down the slope about 15 ft.  No alerts.

Second, could I have failed to get it in to stay in neutral and it was just in neutral?  I don't remember if I saw the flashing N or not when in the car wash.

 

Hi austin. Yes, sounds as though you may have answered your own question. It is entirely possible you did not actually engage "Stay in Neutral Mode" and were still in regular "N"/Neutral, which was why you received the warning lights when the car rolled forward through the car wash.
   
If you did not open the drivers door after engaging plain old "Neutral", the transmission would have stayed in Neutral and possibly lit up the dash like a Christmas tree when the vehicle started moving.
   
Give it another try next time you go to the car wash.
   
Or alternately, try this test: Pull or back your car into your sloped driveway again...whichever will allow it to roll forward a good distance while in Neutral, without going through the garage/house. ?

Place the transmission in regular "N"/Neutral this time. Then let it roll forward down the driveway again, and see if the dash lights up.

 

Or if your driveway is not very long, try this experiment on a hill, so the car can roll a similar distance to how far it rolled in the car wash.
   

Let us know how you make out and good luck.

Edited December 7, 2021 by bbf2530

[austin-tatious]

Thanks.

I hope the trip through the car wash in plain neutral (if that's what actually caused the light show) did no harm other than upset the computer(s).

 

I'll try your idea when the car comes back from the dealer.  Car's in the shop right now to be repaired for DTC code P04F0 a SECOND time.  I've got a call into the service mgr to try to find out why it happened again and if they see this DTC very often.

[bbf2530]

16 minutes ago, austin-tatious said:

Thanks.

I hope the trip through the car wash in plain neutral (if that's what actually caused the light show) did no harm other than upset the computer(s).

 

I'll try your idea when the car comes back from the dealer.  Car's in the shop right now to be repaired for DTC code P04F0 a SECOND time.  I've got a call into the service mgr to try to find out why it happened again and if they see this DTC very often.

 

Hi austin. No need to worry. Rolling through the car wash in regular "N"  would not have caused any harm. And hopefully that was the reason you got the warning lights.

 

Keep us updated and good luck.

Edited December 7, 2021 by bbf2530

[austin-tatious]

Oh, BTW.  To read the code(s) myself I went to Auto Zone and borrowed their ODBII reader.  Subsequently I bought my self an OBDII reader.  When I plugged it in with the car in Key On Engine Off, got another light show.  Did show the same DTC.

[austin-tatious]

On 12/7/2021 at 12:48 PM, austin-tatious said:

Thanks.

I hope the trip through the car wash in plain neutral (if that's what actually caused the light show) did no harm other than upset the computer(s).

 

I'll try your idea when the car comes back from the dealer.  Car's in the shop right now to be repaired for DTC code P04F0 a SECOND time.  I've got a call into the service mgr to try to find out why it happened again and if they see this DTC very often.

 

Here's the result of the above test (put it in neutral on a slope and let it roll downhill, then put it in "stay in neutral" where the 'N' flashes and let it roll downhill). No light show in either mode.

Maybe it has something to do with the car wash track and how it pushes the car through the wash.

 

[leftoverture]

Did you consider that one of your sensors or connections got wet going through the car wash and caused the warning lights?  It could also just have been an electrical fluke,  which cars these days are prone to.

[austin-tatious]

12 hours ago, leftoverture said:

Did you consider that one of your sensors or connections got wet going through the car wash and caused the warning lights?  It could also just have been an electrical fluke,  which cars these days are prone to.

Well, I did not consider that.  I can't rule it out, but the "light show" started when the car started moving into the car wash before a drop of water was on it.  Thanks for your idea!

[Ghallatt]

Have all 4 speed sensors checked. They will cause your dash to light up like a Christmas tree with codes:hill assist, traction control etc. etc. etc.