Neutral

[GatorRiv]

Today a colleague's Tesla bricked itself in our parking garage. The garage has very short ceiling and a claustrophobic spiral exit. Terrible design. Anyhow a tow truck was able to get him out because it was a small Model 3.

I don't believe the tow truck could have got me out which got me thinking about worse case.

Does neutral work essentially the same as an ICE car?

I've never messed around in neutral but I assume if I have some power I could shift to neutral and find a couple of people to push. Once I hit the spiral exit, I would need to use the friction brake. I assume you stay in neutral until you shift out of it?

I suppose the true worst case is a totally bricked truck. I think in that case Rivian would have to come out and somehow get it into neutral.

Thanks for thoughts.

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[TollKeeper]

I think I remember reading someone on the forums that their is a manual parking brake release somewhere. Not sure how the neutral would work thou.

 

[HighVoltOverland]

As long as the power is still present neutral will function like normal.
There is a setting for tow trucks to ensure that the motors don't fight when loading onto a flat bed.
Tow companies could always use wheel dollies if truly bricked.

 

[MacO512]

There is actually no park or transmission in an EV. The brakes are applied when the vehicle is in "park".

So if you put the EV into "neutral" it just releases the brakes and the vehicle will roll. Similar with tow mode. The vehicle would actually roll if you had removed brakes and put it into park, as theres no transmission.

So in the event the vehicle was stuck or inoperable and would not enter those modes you could release the brakes manually. I've done it in a Tesla; you hook up a 9v battery to a section on the rear brake and it will retract the "parking brake" section on the rear brake caliper. It's a required step to replace brake pads. That "parking brake" section uses the same normal rear brake pads, there is no separate pads or seperate mechanical brake as there is with a parking brake of an ICE vehicle.

I believe Rivians have a similar setup to Tesla - however I don't know exactly how to retract that rear caliper, that would be great to know. Also not sure if Rivians use the fronts too - wouldn't shock me since its such a capable off road vehicle.

 

[GatorRiv]

There is actually no park or transmission in an EV. The brakes are applied when the vehicle is in "park".

So if you put the EV into "neutral" it just releases the brakes and the vehicle will roll. Similar with tow mode. The vehicle would actually roll if you had removed brakes and put it into park, as theres no transmission.

So in the event the vehicle was stuck or inoperable and would not enter those modes you could release the brakes manually. I've done it in a Tesla; you hook up a 9v battery to a section on the rear brake and it will retract the "parking brake" section on the rear brake caliper. It's a required step to replace brake pads. That "parking brake" section uses the same normal rear brake pads, there is no separate pads or seperate mechanical brake as there is with a parking brake of an ICE vehicle.

I believe Rivians have a similar setup to Tesla - however I don't know exactly how to retract that rear caliper, that would be great to know. Also not sure if Rivians use the fronts too - wouldn't shock me since its such a capable off road vehicle.

This is great to know.

This parking garage is incredibly low, narrow and has sharp turns. I believe wheel dollies would be too wide to get out. I think it can only get out in "neutral".

 

[W1SE]

I have been in some of these garages. When I entered one of them my roof height bed rack hit the garage’s height limit bar on the way in. I then promptly lowered to sport mode. Haha

 

[Cascadian]

From the Rivian Towing Guide p24

https://assets.rivian.com/2md5qhoea...7447/R1-tow-operator-guide-en-us-20231010.pdf


Settings
Vehicle
Service
Turn on Park Brake Release

 

[Spaceball1]

From the Rivian Towing Guide p24

https://assets.rivian.com/2md5qhoea...7447/R1-tow-operator-guide-en-us-20231010.pdf


Settings
Vehicle
Service
Turn on Park Brake Release

I had to do this once. That was a fun day. ?

FYI if your truck has power to turn on but not enough battery to allow you to put it in gear, it also won’t let you put it in neutral via the stalk! Really dumb idea if you ask me. You have to go through the service menu mentioned above.

Now if your truck is bricked completely, then it seems the recommended way is to dolly or lift the rear wheels, according to the manual linked above. Which means only the rear wheels utilize the parking brake.

I did remember seeing this device being sold by Rivian, so there is a way, but I doubt many tow truck drivers will have this. I guess if you want to be super prepared you can get one for yourself for $500 ?

https://rivianservicetools.com/Catalog/Product/TSN00547-300-B

 

[MacO512]

I had to do this once. That was a fun day. ?

FYI if your truck has power to turn on but not enough battery to allow you to put it in gear, it also won’t let you put it in neutral via the stalk! Really dumb idea if you ask me. You have to go through the service menu mentioned above.

Now if your truck is bricked completely, then it seems the recommended way is to dolly or lift the rear wheels, according to the manual linked above. Which means only the rear wheels utilize the parking brake.

I did remember seeing this device being sold by Rivian, so there is a way, but I doubt many tow truck drivers will have this. I guess if you want to be super prepared you can get one for yourself for $500 ?

https://rivianservicetools.com/Catalog/Product/TSN00547-300-B

I actually have that 12v battery pack pictured - its a 3rd party Lithium Ion battery jump starter that can start an ICE vehicle. So they must have a bunch of expense for items that could have a generic replacement in this kit.

Curious exactly what tools are needed and what that process entails. As I said with a tesla you can use a 9v battery you just need to know what connector to attach the leads or build a cheap adapter with a custom harness to plug in and have them retract. So you might just need a few inexpensive parts not this $500 kit.

If there is a documented way to change the rear brakes in the Rivian maybe that would be the same process.

 

[GatorRiv]

Today a colleague's Tesla bricked itself in our parking garage. The garage has very short ceiling and a claustrophobic spiral exit. Terrible design. Anyhow a tow truck was able to get him out because it was a small Model 3.

I don't believe the tow truck could have got me out which got me thinking about worse case.

Does neutral work essentially the same as an ICE car?

I've never messed around in neutral but I assume if I have some power I could shift to neutral and find a couple of people to push. Once I hit the spiral exit, I would need to use the friction brake. I assume you stay in neutral until you shift out of it?

I suppose the true worst case is a totally bricked truck. I think in that case Rivian would have to come out and somehow get it into neutral.

Thanks for thoughts.

So I jinxed myself. This exact situation came to pass this evening. 12v stone cold dead in parking garage. No prior warnings or indications 7000 pound paperweight. Rivian wants to try the tow truck exit. I'm not so sure. To be determined tomorrow.

 

[Engineer]

If it’s just the 12V system, can you use a jump pack just long enough to drive out of the garage?

 

[GatorRiv]

If it’s just the 12V system, can you use a jump pack just long enough to drive out of the garage?

Maybe. Trying to get hands on a substantial enough pack to deliver the continuous current needed.

I will let the tow truck driver render judgement if possible.

 

[Engineer]

Maybe. Trying to get hands on a substantial enough pack to deliver the continuous current needed.

I will let the tow truck driver render judgement if possible.

Or maybe see if rivian mobile service can rush you a new battery.

 

[GatorRiv]

I suggested as much but they said they wanted to try tow to service center and if that fails they would send service van. I'm happy enough to follow their playbook but yeah seems a little bit of a foolish exercise.

I did get them to put in writing that if the truck is damaged in the process, Rivian will rectify.

 

[GatorRiv]

Well. The tow truck company got it done. They had to downsize from an F-450 to 350 to fit in garage. It took 2 hours to exit. Featuring the front wheels of the wrecker lifting off the ground at times. Literally sliding down the ramps. But not a scratch. Miami Service center fixed it within an hour and now picking it up.

Big well earned tip to the tow truck driver.

.....but there has to be a better way.....real mobile service or better still some warning that the 12v is gonna crap out.

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