First Service Appointment, what to expect?

[Fragger]

Hi Friends,

I just scheduled my first service appointment on my Model S. This is scheduled within the first week of ownership.

Some of it is expected. I picked up the car with a due bill of damage they will fix which they didn't reveal at the time I was buying.

But the other big issues that are scaring the poop out of me are:

1. Car randomly displayed, "Car may not restart, schedule service" message TWICE, while driving and doing nothing special. Reading the boards, this could mean anything from faulty wires to battery pack and motor replacement! The only thing I did differently today... I restarted the car because my car lost cellular connection. And I tried Launch Mode for the first time today... (HOLY CRAP! )!

2. Other issue is cellular connectivity keeps dropping, especially when Summoning. Summon interrupts randomly, connection disappears and doesn't reconnect for a while.

3. The body issues they said they'll fix for me...


The question I have is:

What do I expect for my first visit?

1. Are they gonna charge me a deductible?

2. Will there be diagnostic fees?

3. Should I deny the loaner? Too much liability? What loaner would they give me? We have insurance but scared to death cause once we loaned from Subaru and they claimed we scratched the car...!

4. There was a mobile appointment option, but I went for the service center option...

Thank you for your help as usual!

 

[murphyS90D]

Sounds like you are using a cell phone to summon. Enable summon to work from the key fob. Summon from a cell phone requires a solid connection between your cell phone and your cell phone company and a solid connection between the car and AT&T. Texas is a long way from the server in California.

 

[EVortex]

Hi Friends,

I just scheduled my first service appointment on my Model S. This is scheduled within the first week of ownership.

Some of it is expected. I picked up the car with a due bill of damage they will fix which they didn't reveal at the time I was buying.

But the other big issues that are scaring the poop out of me are:

1. Car randomly displayed, "Car may not restart, schedule service" message TWICE, while driving and doing nothing special. Reading the boards, this could mean anything from faulty wires to battery pack and motor replacement! The only thing I did differently today... I restarted the car because my car lost cellular connection. And I tried Launch Mode for the first time today... (HOLY CRAP! )!

2. Other issue is cellular connectivity keeps dropping, especially when Summoning. Summon interrupts randomly, connection disappears and doesn't reconnect for a while.

3. The body issues they said they'll fix for me...


The question I have is:

What do I expect for my first visit?

1. Are they gonna charge me a deductible?

2. Will there be diagnostic fees?

3. Should I deny the loaner? Too much liability? What loaner would they give me? We have insurance but scared to death cause once we loaned from Subaru and they claimed we scratched the car...!

4. There was a mobile appointment option, but I went for the service center option...

Thank you for your help as usual!

There should be no deductible. They will inform you if they plan on charging any fees. I take pics/video of my car at drop-off, both inside and outside, in detail. I do the same on any loaner or rental - seems like there is not consistency between SCs if they offer loaners, rentals, uber credits, etc.) if you have dash cams, good to turn them off before leaving the car. They also want you to disable PIN to drive at drop-off. Be proactive about communication and follow-up - don’t wait for the SC to initiate communication.

 

[Fragger]

Sounds like you are using a cell phone to summon. Enable summon to work from the key fob. Summon from a cell phone requires a solid connection between your cell phone and your cell phone company and a solid connection between the car and AT&T. Texas is a long way from the server in California.

Thanks Murphy... Good advice... I have the summon enabled from the fob, just don't know exactly how to use it ...

There should be no deductible. They will inform you if they plan on charging any fees. I take pics/video of my car at drop-off, both inside and outside, in detail. I do the same on any loaner or rental - seems like there is not consistency between SCs if they offer loaners, rentals, uber credits, etc.) if you have dash cams, good to turn them off before leaving the car. They also want you to disable PIN to drive at drop-off. Be proactive about communication and follow-up - don’t wait for the SC to initiate communication.

Good advice... I don't have the PIN enabled... Do you recommend putting it in valet mode, doing a speed limit...? Still nervous about them loaners... Also... Do they have to give you a comparable loaner? Like if you own a certain model do they give you something in that family or shall I prepare for a Model S 60?

Hope things go well enough... Sucks to have such a scary message within one week of owning it ...!

 

[Alysashley79]

I’ve never had any issues with Tesla’s loaners in all my years being with them. Only one time I brought it back low on juice because when I dropped my car off they specifically asked for my charge cable. The loaner didn’t have one. Normally I’d drop off as close to full as I could. They’ve not once nit picked anything on the car but I treat it just as I would mine.

just a note. If they offer mobile service for some things in the future I’d accept that option. Then you don’t even have to leave your home (and it comes with your warranty)

 

[ucmndd]

.. Also... Do they have to give you a comparable loaner? Like if you own a certain model do they give you something in that family or shall I prepare for a Model S 60?

you get what they have, which is increasingly “nothing”. If you get ANY sort of Model S loaner you’re doing far better than most these days. Much more likely is some Lyft credits and a pat on the head.

 

[EVortex]

Thanks Murphy... Good advice... I have the summon enabled from the fob, just don't know exactly how to use it ...



Good advice... I don't have the PIN enabled... Do you recommend putting it in valet mode, doing a speed limit...? Still nervous about them loaners... Also... Do they have to give you a comparable loaner? Like if you own a certain model do they give you something in that family or shall I prepare for a Model S 60?

Hope things go well enough... Sucks to have such a scary message within one week of owning it ...!

No need to worry about valet or speed limit. First time in, just go with it and ask polite questions. Most SC staff want to be helpful - let them know it’s your first service experience and you don’t know their process. I wish you all the best. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Fragger]

I’ve never had any issues with Tesla’s loaners in all my years being with them. Only one time I brought it back low on juice because when I dropped my car off they specifically asked for my charge cable. The loaner didn’t have one. Normally I’d drop off as close to full as I could. They’ve not once nit picked anything on the car but I treat it just as I would mine.

just a note. If they offer mobile service for some things in the future I’d accept that option. Then you don’t even have to leave your home (and it comes with your warranty)

Thank you for sharing your experience... I had a poor to bad buying/delivery experience. After I walked out with my Bill Due... My sales or the delivery manager did not give me any specific instructions on how to proceed. So I kept following up and they told me, just schedule service. Having never done one and kind of getting spooked by this random error today I booked the appointment for the service center as there is body and wheel repair work in there... Didn't know what or how I could split between mobile and service center.

you get what they have, which is increasingly “nothing”. If you get ANY sort of Model S loaner you’re doing far better than most these days. Much more likely is some Lyft credits and a pat on the head.

That's funny ... I hope if it's truly as painless as you guys described, I get something different from my S . Thanks.

No need to worry about valet or speed limit. First time in, just go with it and ask polite questions. Most SC staff want to be helpful - let them know it’s your first service experience and you don’t know their process. I wish you all the best. Let us know how it turns out.

Got it... They're doing touch less stuff now... Do you have any advice on acquiring some history on my car?

Thank you.

 

[croman]

Op, is your car used? You never specified and I'm guessing yes based on reading between the lines.

You might not get the prior service history, Tesla operates very strangely and your experiences vary greatly by region or even specific service location. Regardless they'll take care of your car.

 

[Alysashley79]

If you bought your car used. The only people that would have been allowed to tell you the service history would have been your delivery specialist that you talked with prior to actually picking up your vehicle. I was able to get my vehicles full service history. Once it hit the actual service center for me to pick up. They wouldn’t tell me anything. Said they couldn’t see it. Which may be true.

I picked my car up a year ago. After driving it for a week. My car threw the exact same error. I emailed service and asked them to run diagnostics so they could tell me why it was tossing the error. three days later they replaced the cooling fan and all was good.

so when you’re there ask for an email.

 

[Fragger]

Op, is your car used? You never specified and I'm guessing yes based on reading between the lines.

You might not get the prior service history, Tesla operates very strangely and your experiences vary greatly by region or even specific service location. Regardless they'll take care of your car.

Yes, mine is used... Have asked for service records a bunch of times... I get the runaround... Will try again...

If you bought your car used. The only people that would have been allowed to tell you the service history would have been your delivery specialist that you talked with prior to actually picking up your vehicle. I was able to get my vehicles full service history. Once it hit the actual service center for me to pick up. They wouldn’t tell me anything. Said they couldn’t see it. Which may be true.

I picked my car up a year ago. After driving it for a week. My car threw the exact same error. I emailed service and asked them to run diagnostics so they could tell me why it was tossing the error. three days later they replaced the cooling fan and all was good.

so when you’re there ask for an email.

Thank you for sharing your experience. Hope my error code has a simple fix too... Did you have any impact to your driving with that code? Should I be worried about things going wrong on the road to the service center?

Finally, what email are you referring to? Thank you.

 

[croman]

Oh I had that warning and my front motor eventually died a couple weeks after it first came. It went and came about 5 times before it was replaced with 9 errors including that my car will not start and to pull over immediately vehicle losing power. Hopefully that doesn't happen to you because while I made it to my destination, it couldn't be driven until it was repaired over 6 days.

 

[Fragger]

Oh I had that warning and my front motor eventually died a couple weeks after it first came. It went and came about 5 times before it was replaced with 9 errors including that my car will not start and to pull over immediately vehicle losing power. Hopefully that doesn't happen to you because while I made it to my destination, it couldn't be driven until it was repaired over 6 days.

That is scary, thank you for sharing the experience. Shall I call the service center tomorrow and get their opinion?

P. S. If I die on the side of the road... Do you know if Tesla will help or I need to get my own roadside?

 

[Uncle Paul]

Sounds like the guy that owned the car before you turned it in with some problems. Service center is usually good about sorting those things out under warranty. If no warranty, they will give you an estimate before doing any services if you request.

Not sure they are able to give you full service records, as they might implicate the previous owner for not disclosing issues during the sale.

 

[Alysashley79]

Thank you for sharing your experience. Hope my error code has a simple fix too... Did you have any impact to your driving with that code? Should I be worried about things going wrong on the road to the service center?

Finally, what email are you referring to? Thank you.

every service center has a dedicated email that they respond to within 24 hours. It’s for questions like this. Not yet an emergency. If you specifically ask for service email for your service center they’ll give it to you. One of the nicest things about Tesla is that they can run a remote diagnostic and tell you why your car is tossing a code and if it’s safe to continue driving (not an imminent issue) or if it needs to go to service ASAP.

In regards to your last question I’ll assume you bought used from Tesla. If so you have a btb warranty that also comes with roadside. You can Contact them via the Tesla app.

something to keep in mind. These cars sit on Mannheim lots for weeks to months. They’re plugged in only when needed to juice up to 90% and that’s it. Sometimes just the act of sitting can cause things. In my case my car was at the Dallas service center exactly three times in its first 3 years. (Busted tire that needed to be replaced at 9k. And then two prepaid maintenance at 12k and then at 24k. Nothing major fixed on it. Just the normal maintence) mine was a lease return (which to the op came from your neck of the woods) and yet a week after I got it tossed the same code.

FWIW. If it was me. I don’t know that I’d drive it without knowing for sure what exactly the code is tossing. (That car may not restart can be hundreds of things) in my old p85 I had it going and kept driving it and it left me stranded in the middle of the road)

 

[croman]

That is scary, thank you for sharing the experience. Shall I call the service center tomorrow and get their opinion?

P. S. If I die on the side of the road... Do you know if Tesla will help or I need to get my own roadside?

Lol. I'm assuming you mean the car dying. Yes roadside assistance is part of the new car warranty so I got a flatbed (2 hours later in a snowstorm with my 3yo (at the time)). Luckily MCU worked fine so we had heat and tunes.

You should check with your purchase docs for the warranty for used. I'm not familiar but it likely works the same.

Book through the app. They can remotely diagnose and advise.

 

[Alysashley79]

You should check with your purchase docs for the warranty for used. I'm not familiar but it likely works the same.

Book through the app. They can remotely diagnose and advise.

the used is the same as the new. (Speaking from experience of owing both new and used) as long as you have a warranty you have roadside. Even if you don’t have a warranty you can use roadside but you’ll have to pay.

 

[Fragger]

Great info Aly and croman! Yes... I meant the car LOL.. I now realized how I wrote it...

How do you guys recommend I request a remote diagnosis? I scheduled the appointment with the app... But there doesn't seem to be an option requesting this without the service email address which I don't have... If I call them, will work?

Aly, this car came from the Dallas delivery center . If you happen to be a Texas driver, can you share if you follow the front license plate rule on the S? If so... Have you drilled holes for the mount?

Thanks!

 

[dannycamps]

requires a solid connection between your cell phone and your cell phone company and a solid connection between the car and AT&T. Texas is a long way from the server in California.

Not exactly how cell networks and towers work The phone and your car are typically in the same physical location. As long as both have good coverage, the connection should not drop. Nothing to do with California or your distance away from it.

How do you guys recommend I request a remote diagnosis? I scheduled the appointment with the app... But there doesn't seem to be an option requesting this without the service email address which I don't have... If I call them, will work?

Tesla can see an impressive amount of information via remote diagnostics. They should be able to review the logs if you tell them when you see/saw the 'car may not restart' alert and determine the root cause. This is a more generalized message but can be tied to the motor, cooling system, 12V battery, etc...

Will be covered under warranty (no deductible) and they should not charge a diagnostic fee. They may list one on the service invoice but it will be waived assuming they find the issue(s) reported.

You can contact the service center and ask them for remote diagnostics (they may initiate that request on their own to get a head start on the troubleshooting). They will ask you to provide a specific date/time for them to look in the logs.

Depending on the issue, I would opt for mobile service. In your case I think you made the right call with a service center appointment. If they offer a loaner, take it. I personally hate the Uber credit approach.

 

[Alysashley79]

Aly, this car came from the Dallas delivery center . If you happen to be a Texas driver, can you share if you follow the front license plate rule on the S? If so... Have you drilled holes for the mount?

Thanks!

My car came from Dallas used but was shipped to me in the Seattle area. We have the same front license plate law here. On my old Tesla I had it for three and a half years and never put the front plate on. Despite being pulled over a couple times it wasn’t ever an issue. The one I have now that came from down there already had the front plate holder (bolted....eeeeeekkkkk....on) had it been held on any other way I still would not have a front plate. IMO it takes something away. But it doesn’t stop me from loving the car. Enjoy.