I’m very new to Model 3 ownership. One of the things I was looking forward to is automatic parking. So far, I’ve had no success getting the car to even suggest doing so. Is there some setting I’m missing? As I read the manual, it should always be enabled and is independent of Autopilot. Suggestions? Thanks.
Auto park trigger
- Thread starter ctday
- Start date
Knightshade
Well-Known Member
Do you have FSD?
Because autopark doesn't come with the base car or with Autopilot- it's part of the FSD package. (it was also part of the EAP package but that hasn't been offered for a number of months now)
For me, I find that I can park in seconds compared to the minutes that the car takes. Until advanced summons is available, I'm not trusting it.
Firmware 2019.20.1 seems to have camera controlled auto park. I’ve never succeeded before today. I sidle up to a parallel parking space and the auto park option rarely shows up. Today it drew in the open parking spot on the screen and gave me the option to Start Autopark. I did it and it worked well.
I will try it a couple more times before I show it to my friends. I don’t know that it is using cameras as well as the ultrasonics, but it seems much better than versions from months past.
I will try it a couple more times before I show it to my friends. I don’t know that it is using cameras as well as the ultrasonics, but it seems much better than versions from months past.
dmurphy
Woof.
First of all, congratulations on your Model 3!! I hope you love it as much as I love mine.
So —- please done take what I’m about to say as an indictment of Model 3. I adore mine, and am glad I also bought the FSD Package. I use auto-lane-change and navigate-on-Autopilot quite a lot.
You are right, there’s no settings for it and has nothing to do with Autopilot modes. It either detects a spot and offers to autopark, or not.
That said ... not so much Autopark. Here’s why:
It only works in VERY limited situations.
Are you trying to parallel or perpendicular park?
Parallel parking, only works between cars (ie not at the end of a block or such) that are spaced no more than about 20 feet apart. The way to activate is to drive past the spot, almost an entire car length. Once the little “P in a circle” shows up (if it shows up) - put it in reverse and press the “Start parking” button that shows up.
For perpendicular parking, same kinda thing - pass the spot - almost 2 cars away and hope the P comes up.
Both are finicky and for me, those right scenarios only appear very infrequently.
To be honest, Autopark is the only real disappointing feature on Model 3 for me. It’s finicky, unavailable more often than it’s available, slow slow slow and makes me all sorts of nervous. Gets too close to other cars for my comfort.
I can do a MUCH better job parking, in a fraction of the time.
Auto park, for me, is a parlor trick. Much like Summon today.
Both are cool, but the current implementation are of very limited practical use for me.
Thanks for the details. I guess I need to keep track of software versions before concluding anything. Off to find the release notes.
edigest
Member
Good information from @dmurphy but a couple of things to add:
- you must drive by slowly (< 15 mph for parallel and < 10 mph for perpendicular parking).
- potential parking spots are more reliably detected when driving by closer than you might expect -- no more than 2 feet or so.
And most importantly, read the limitations in the owner's manual. Several folks have posted about autopark "causing" an accident because it was used in a situation specifically described in the limitations.
- you must drive by slowly (< 15 mph for parallel and < 10 mph for perpendicular parking).
- potential parking spots are more reliably detected when driving by closer than you might expect -- no more than 2 feet or so.
And most importantly, read the limitations in the owner's manual. Several folks have posted about autopark "causing" an accident because it was used in a situation specifically described in the limitations.
I've been able to use Autopark on occasion with 2019.12.1, but it only offers spots rarely. I find that 2019.16.2 is worse at offering spots than the older version was.
Am I the only one that actually thinks autopark makes way too many possible parking suggestions?
Everytime I'm waiting for a traffic light it offers to parralel park me in the next Lane. And it's very keen on suggesting to park in some very impossible non existing "parking spots" whenever I'm driving slowly. Same happens in heavy traffic. It keeps suggesting to park in the slower moving Lane next to me
Everytime I'm waiting for a traffic light it offers to parralel park me in the next Lane. And it's very keen on suggesting to park in some very impossible non existing "parking spots" whenever I'm driving slowly. Same happens in heavy traffic. It keeps suggesting to park in the slower moving Lane next to me
It probably is just a "parlor trick" but it's a good one. I've used it several times, including earlier today. Especially when parallel parking, it relieves my anxiety about getting it right when there is traffic behind me. FWIW, in my experience, you have to drive a little farther past the front of the spot than is intuitive before the "P" lights up.
Toysla
Member
People just don't read to understand. They just see some key words and then babble their reply. BTW, here's my answer: My kid got 3 monster hits in his first Little League game and struck out 5 batters last Sunday!
You're not missing anything. It almost never seems suggest when to activate autopark. I've had the car for 14 months and I've literally only seen the autopark "P" on the screen about 5 times. I've just given up on it at this point.
WilliamG
Active Member
When we took delivery of our Model S in Dec 17 auto park worked pretty well. I could fairly accurately predict when it would pick up a space. Now I cruise big box parking lots at length and it doesn't pick up anything. Same with parallel parking. To me it is another example of what other manufactures have pretty much mastered (parallel parking anyway) that prove difficult for Tesla.
I don't think anyone would deny that, but if you would read the context of the thread, OP is talking about the Autopilot feature where the car maneuvers into a parking spot for you.
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