Mr. Monk's Favorite Show - S8-E1
Revealing mistake: The car that explodes isn't sitting in a striped parking lot space. In fact, it's very obviously parked out in the middle of the lot's traffic lane, well away from any other vehicles, precisely because the special effects crew are about to blow it up.
Answer: Notice also that in the opening credits scene when he is touching parking meters her also wipes his hand on his clothes each time he does it.