Few Model S/Tesla Questions...

[Paul_W]

Hi all,

New to Tesla ownership and electric vehicles as a whole. Got a push from work to go electric so I've bought a 2015 P85D. The garage I purchased it from weren't too knowledgeable on it which led to a good price in negotiating but I've got some questions I need some help with.

1) The 2 "inner" front parking sensors have some damage and the car is displaying GTW_w290 "Park Assist Unavailable" which I'm assuming is because of the damage to these sensors. I can only describe the damage as similar to a very large stone chip you'd expect to see on a bonnet. Tesla have given an estimate of around £450 to replace, but I can see some sensors available online for about £35, is the work a lot of hassle for a non-electric car specialist to do? I've got a garage 5 min walk away that usually do my servicing, MOT's etc. and did the MOT on this Tesla too.

2) Quite often when I use the app to do something like unlock the car, it rarely seems to work and I just find myself using the key. Using it for things like the air conditioning seems to work fine, just not unlocking the car. Is there anything I could be doing wrong or is it just not too brilliant to use?

3) The car has Auto Pilot 1.0, which when I'm pulling on the leaver twice just seems to activate a cruise control. None of the graphics on the dash turn blue as I've seen in some YouTube videos, am I doing something wrong?

4) Is it really worth paying the £1,400 for the upgrade to the MCU2? So far I've not had any issues with the screen or MCU1, albeit it just a little slow sometimes.


Thanks for any help/guidance to a Tesla newbie...

 

[Paul_W]

Pictures of the sensors/warning

 

[Kansalis]

I can't really speak to the other questions, but,

2) Quite often when I use the app to do something like unlock the car, it rarely seems to work and I just find myself using the key. Using it for things like the air conditioning seems to work fine, just not unlocking the car. Is there anything I could be doing wrong or is it just not too brilliant to use?

This may be because the car is asleep when you first open the app. For some actions you need to wait for the car to wake up before they work. When you first open the app you'll likely notice the image of the car is shimmering/pulsating, which means the app is trying to wake the car. Once it's a solid image, you should find all the commands will work straight away.

Sometimes the commands will "queue" and work once the car wakes up, sometimes they don't if you're too quick when opening the app.

Edit: Though the car should automatically be unlocked on approach if you have set your phone as a key, rather than using the unlock command in the app.

 

[Paul_W]

I can't really speak to the other questions, but,

This may be because the car is asleep when you first open the app. For some actions you need to wait for the car to wake up before they work. When you first open the app you'll likely notice the image of the car is shimmering/pulsating, which means the app is trying to wake the car. Once it's a solid image, you should find all the commands will work straight away.

Sometimes the commands will "queue" and work once the car wakes up, sometimes they don't if you're too quick when opening the app.

Edit: Though the car should automatically be unlocked on approach if you have set your phone as a key, rather than using the unlock command in the app.

Ah! Hadn’t realised the sleep/wake up state, thank you.

I’ll have a play around on the screen tomorrow to set my phone as a key. Don’t think I’ve come across that yet, or probably did but didn’t think of doing it since I’ve only had the v5 and the app a few days.

 

[GRiLLA]

Edit: Though the car should automatically be unlocked on approach if you have set your phone as a key, rather than using the unlock command in the app.

Not on a 2015 Model S

It was with Model 3 and then new vehicles that they made a viable key solution using a phone. On the older cars like Model S you could still unlock the car if both you and the car have internet connectivity and are both awake, but realistically it's clunky compared to using the key.

 

[gangzoom]

3) The car has Auto Pilot 1.0, which when I'm pulling on the leaver twice just seems to activate a cruise control. None of the graphics on the dash turn blue as I've seen in some YouTube videos, am I doing something wrong?

Autopilot was a paid option, check in the App. Otherwise check in the menu system of the car, there should be an Autopilot section, and a tick box to choose 'activate' Autopilot.

 

[MovingSouth]

Hi all,

New to Tesla ownership and electric vehicles as a whole. Got a push from work to go electric so I've bought a 2015 P85D. The garage I purchased it from weren't too knowledgeable on it which led to a good price in negotiating but I've got some questions I need some help with.

1) The 2 "inner" front parking sensors have some damage and the car is displaying GTW_w290 "Park Assist Unavailable" which I'm assuming is because of the damage to these sensors. I can only describe the damage as similar to a very large stone chip you'd expect to see on a bonnet. Tesla have given an estimate of around £450 to replace, but I can see some sensors available online for about £35, is the work a lot of hassle for a non-electric car specialist to do? I've got a garage 5 min walk away that usually do my servicing, MOT's etc. and did the MOT on this Tesla too.

2) Quite often when I use the app to do something like unlock the car, it rarely seems to work and I just find myself using the key. Using it for things like the air conditioning seems to work fine, just not unlocking the car. Is there anything I could be doing wrong or is it just not too brilliant to use?

3) The car has Auto Pilot 1.0, which when I'm pulling on the leaver twice just seems to activate a cruise control. None of the graphics on the dash turn blue as I've seen in some YouTube videos, am I doing something wrong?

4) Is it really worth paying the £1,400 for the upgrade to the MCU2? So far I've not had any issues with the screen or MCU1, albeit it just a little slow sometimes.


Thanks for any help/guidance to a Tesla newbie...

The service manuals are available on line: Service and diagnostic information for independent businesses and individuals involved in the professional maintenance and repair of Tesla vehicles.. If your garage is willing to take on the work, that should give them a starting point. The parts can be ordered from Tesla.

 

[Paul_W]

Autopilot was a paid option, check in the App. Otherwise check in the menu system of the car, there should be an Autopilot section, and a tick box to choose 'activate' Autopilot.

Hi,

It’s got the above fitted and I can see in the car it’s got Auto Pilot v1.0. Just when I pull the stall twice to activate it, it only seems to activate a cruise control, there doesn’t seem to be any kind of stay in lane/auto steer happening nor will it speed it/down without me manually doing it.

 

[GeorgeSymonds]

You have the original Mobileye autopilot hardware but the activation wasn’t paid for. If you want it you need to talk to Tesla as there’s no in app purchase option. Its not a bad system.

 

[GRiLLA]

View attachment 1051552
Hi,

It’s got the above fitted and I can see in the car it’s got Auto Pilot v1.0. Just when I pull the stall twice to activate it, it only seems to activate a cruise control, there doesn’t seem to be any kind of stay in lane/auto steer happening nor will it speed it/down without me manually doing it.

That list doesn't indicate the car has AutoPilot, just that the hardware exists and could be activated if the software cost was paid.

 

[GeorgeSymonds]

To add some additional info, its "Highway Autopilot" with your hardware, "Autopilot" is the term for Tesla hardware cars as the entry level offering, whereas with Mobileye hardware its more like EAP with parking, lane change etc included. You'd need to ask Tesla what the cost would be to activate "Highway Autopilot"

Whether its worth a few grand to activate is another matter, same goes for upgrading the MCU. The display will speed up but you'll not get anything particularily new. You should get 4g connectivity as you probably have 3g at a guess, I think 4g mobile reception came in early 2016,

If you did both you're probably looking at £4k

 

[gangzoom]

Whether its worth a few grand to activate is another matter, same goes for upgrading the MCU. The display will speed up but you'll not get anything particularily new. You should get 4g connectivity as you probably have 3g at a guess, I think 4g mobile reception came in early 2016,

If you did both you're probably looking at £4k

I tried AP1 many times on loaner cars when our X was in warranty work, its OK but I wouldn't pay £2k+ for it now given there is zero development coming. MCU2 upgrade on our X did bring benefits, but the main one I think is still related to potential FSD code deployment. In the US, 2016 cars with MCU2 upgrade+HW3 upgrade is essentially running the same code stack as all the other HW3 cars, though I understand v12 FSD code isn't yet released for 'legacy S/X' but its promised to come. So paying for the upgrade on an AP2.0 car will essentially make the car as uptodate interms of FSD as cars made upuntill summer last year.

With AP1, apart from speed, the other main benefit of MCU2 would be sentry mode/dashcam, but there are cheaper ways to add a third party dashcam.

 

[cbdream99]

Tesla service manual is online (service.tesla.com), parking sensor is relatively easy to replace and doesn't require any toolbox software to reset anything. I have experienced app failed to open door/trunk but fobs work, that was a software issue after the MCU upgrade and the mobile tech cannot fix it on the spot, SC eventually fixed it, most likely they messed up the firmware when upgrading the MCU. If you use GPS, Music frequently while driving, then MCU upgrade gives you a better UI experience and overall stability.

The challenge is the car has no warranty, battery/drive unit replacement will be substantial, it just a matter of when. The lesser investment you put in now probably is wiser choice.

 

[MrBadger]

There is a table somewhere on Tesla website showing what features are available on what versions of hardware.

I don’t think some of the potential MCU2 improvements listed above will work with AP1 cars. It’s a completely different camera setup, eg single camera for starters.

 

[12Pack]

I tried AP1 many times on loaner cars when our X was in warranty work, its OK but I wouldn't pay £2k+ for it now given there is zero development coming. MCU2 upgrade on our X did bring benefits, but the main one I think is still related to potential FSD code deployment. In the US, 2016 cars with MCU2 upgrade+HW3 upgrade is essentially running the same code stack as all the other HW3 cars, though I understand v12 FSD code isn't yet released for 'legacy S/X' but its promised to come. So paying for the upgrade on an AP2.0 car will essentially make the car as uptodate interms of FSD as cars made upuntill summer last year.

With AP1, apart from speed, the other main benefit of MCU2 would be sentry mode/dashcam, but there are cheaper ways to add a third party dashcam.

Actually I always thought the AP1 I had on my original 2014 car was excellent compared to the EAP I have today. It included lane change, auto-park and robust summon. And no phantom braking.

 

[Paul_W]

Tesla service manual is online (service.tesla.com), parking sensor is relatively easy to replace and doesn't require any toolbox software to reset anything. I have experienced app failed to open door/trunk but fobs work, that was a software issue after the MCU upgrade and the mobile tech cannot fix it on the spot, SC eventually fixed it, most likely they messed up the firmware when upgrading the MCU. If you use GPS, Music frequently while driving, then MCU upgrade gives you a better UI experience and overall stability.

The challenge is the car has no warranty, battery/drive unit replacement will be substantial, it just a matter of when. The lesser investment you put in now probably is wiser choice.

Hi, taken out a 2 year warranty at present that covers everything including battery replacement just for safety, will most likely extend it for peace of mind.

Going from what others have mentioned above it seems the car doesn’t have the Auto Pilot as there is an option in the car menu for it but nothing about activating it. It would have been nice but I’m happy enough with just cruise control anyway.

With regards to the parking sensors, has anyone replaced any that aren’t Tesla issued? My local garage have offered to get Bosch ones which come painted in the correct colour for £32 a piece compared to about £100 each that Tesla are saying. Should just be those front two with the damage that need replacing then hopefully it all works!

 

[cbdream99]

Hi, taken out a 2 year warranty at present that covers everything including battery replacement just for safety, will most likely extend it for peace of mind.

Going from what others have mentioned above it seems the car doesn’t have the Auto Pilot as there is an option in the car menu for it but nothing about activating it. It would have been nice but I’m happy enough with just cruise control anyway.

With regards to the parking sensors, has anyone replaced any that aren’t Tesla issued? My local garage have offered to get Bosch ones which come painted in the correct colour for £32 a piece compared to about £100 each that Tesla are saying. Should just be those front two with the damage that need replacing then hopefully it all works!

Another option is to find the part number in epc.tesla.com and see if you can find it on ebay..

 

[Paul_W]

Another option is to find the part number in epc.tesla.com and see if you can find it on ebay..

Only seems to be 1 I can find which says it’s for the rear whereas I need 2x front inner. Looking at pictures though the Bosch ones seem identical to Tesla ones and even come painted in Tesla colours. I’d do the job myself but haven’t got the time nor patience to take the front of the car off ha.