Do you have a manual? If so its possible that they have no idea how to drive one, and thus fucked it up that way.

Probably just a coincidence.

I have a automatic - I wouldn't have a clue how to drive a manual at this point, it's been over a decade since I tried ;)

If you can't find 'em, grind 'em. :-)

But seriously, it was problem the automatic wash got soap or water into something that shorted out a circuit in the auto tranny. Maybe an under carriage wash.

If it was of those automated ones that tows the car through, they might have had in park or reverse?

That doesn't normally hurt anything becuase the rollers that push the wheels forward are designed to go under the wheels if there is too much resistance. The other possibility is that they spilled some cleaner on the tranny shifter (automatic on the floor, not the steering column, right?) and it got down into the sensor.

I rescind my last statement. If it was an automatic carwash it definitely could have damaged something.

I have a VW camper van (1990 Westfalia) with a manual transmission. Most manuals in the U.S. have reverse on the right after fourth and fifth gear. But VW put it on the left and to get to it you have to push in/down on the stick then over to the left and then up/forwards. Took it to a non-VW place to work on one minor thing and they forced it into reverse the hard way fucking it up.

What's worse is if you drive a diesel and tell the gas station attendant to fill it up with diesel and they put gasoline in instead. Yes, I live somewhere where it is illegal to pump my own gas. I think Oregon is the only state in the U.S. that doesn't allow self service. Really annoying. Especially when your engine is killed because the high school drop out, who is apparently more qualified than you to pump fuel, didn't hear you say diesel.

Nightmare car wash story involving something too big for the car wash...

Of all things, this was on my Corvette. The 295ZR17 tires on my old 93 were too wide to go through the local car wash. Seems the two rails that keep the car moving straight were set too close together for anything over about a 275 width. But then that car also had issues with tall curbs and tire chalks hitting and snagging the front air dam. Anyhow, the 275s on the front made it up to the mark and as it started to pull it through, it suddenly stopped. That's when I discovered those rollers have tension under them so they retract under the tires if the pull of the car is too much. I hand washed the car after that incident.

@Alderian, my old Fiat Spyder and 280 ZX both had the same "push-left-up for reverse" gear box as your VW.

>I think Oregon is the only state in the U.S. that doesn't allow self service.

Nope, NJ does it as well.... but I remember the first time I drove into Oregon and they flipped out when I tried to fill up my car

That's funny.

What I hate in MA is that the clip that lets you fill up without standing there is illegal, so everyone has to stand next to their car like tools.

I've thought very seriously of fleeing Southern California for Oregon in years past. Land is cheap(er), the weather is more to my liking, no traffic, better job opportunities, lower taxes and regulations, et cetera, et cetera. Those thoughts all went away when I found out the State of Oregon doesn't trust me to pump my own frickin gas. When it comes to idiotic laws, California has it's share. But there are some I can tolerate, and some I can't.

I think the intent of the law was to increase employment. I wonder if any studies show if there is any difference in the rate of fires started during fueling.

"but I remember the first time I drove into Oregon and they flipped out when I tried to fill up my car"

I hate it when I drive into Washington or California and sit in my car for ten minutes cursing out the crappy service before realizing I need to get my lazy ass out of the car to pump my own gas.