"Gearbox fluid recommended" warning

[MarcG]

Last night I received an interesting message on my display:

After speaking to the service center, they said it was a preventative message that is fairly widespread and I should bring my car in, but can continue to drive as is fine.

Interestingly enough, the message appeared shortly after I updated to 2019.40.2.1, so I'm not sure if it's a new "feature" in terms of being able to sense gearbox fluid now or not.

Curious to know if anyone else has seen this message?

 

[puckpurnell]

Eh? Strange.

 

[Traior]

How long have you had the car/how many miles?

 

[Kilotango74]

Similar post with several people saying they got that particular message.
7k miles. New motor put in and now need gear box fluid service. Anyone had similar experiences?

 

[jkoya]

Is that covered under warranty ?

 

[VT_EE]

Something is wrong. That fluid is supposed to last for the life of the car according to everything I've read. I have 26k miles and have not seen this. There is nothing in the manual that says this should ever be serviced.

 

[C141medic]

Is that covered under warranty ?

If it’s not considered routine maintenance (I’m sure it’s not) like replacing wipers, brake pads, changing engine oil//filter can’t see why it wouldn’t be covered.

 

[kbecks13]

preventative message that is fairly widespread

Preventive measures are either based on a time interval (unlikely), number of miles driven (also unlikely) or some condition monitoring that didn't like what it was seeing (more likely).

Since the other thread said fluid level was correct and no leaks, my total guess is they are either looking at:

• Pressure drop/flow rate across the oil filter
• Oil pump current draw (less likely since they said it's operating normally)
• Sensor on drain plug that detects ferromagnetic shavings
• Plain old software bug

If someone who is currently getting this error could push Tesla to get more info on what specifically is causing this alert it would be sweet!

 

[MarcG]

How long have you had the car/how many miles?

9 months, about 10k miles.

 

[MarcG]

Similar post with several people saying they got that particular message.
7k miles. New motor put in and now need gear box fluid service. Anyone had similar experiences?

Thanks for linking!

 

[Skione65]

Last night I received an interesting message on my display:

View attachment 487259

After speaking to the service center, they said it was a preventative message that is fairly widespread and I should bring my car in, but can continue to drive as is fine.

Interestingly enough, the message appeared shortly after I updated to 2019.40.2.1, so I'm not sure if it's a new "feature" in terms of being able to sense gearbox fluid now or not.

Curious to know if anyone else has seen this message?

@MarcG,

Wonder if this is something Mobile can do? If it’s just a fluid add/top off? Ask the SC when you take it in and let us know what they say.

Ski

 

[Timbo2]

@MarcG,

Wonder if this is something Mobile can do? If it’s just a fluid add/top off? Ask the SC when you take it in and let us know what they say.

Ski

My understanding is that Tesla want's nothing to do with "fluids" and mobile service. It's the environmental liability. So anything that deals with fluids of any kind is an automatic trip to the service center.

 

[toolman335]

This warning has certainly been popping up on message boards. I haven't seen it in my car but now I'm paranoid lol.
Let us know what you find out! Our day of reckoning can't be far behind.

 

[CharleyBC]

Since the other thread said fluid level was correct and no leaks, my total guess is they are either looking at:

• Pressure drop/flow rate across the oil filter
• Oil pump current draw (less likely since they said it's operating normally)
• Sensor on drain plug that detects ferromagnetic shavings
• Plain old software bug

One more choice for your bullet list:

• Defective sensor

 

[MarcG]

@MarcG,

Wonder if this is something Mobile can do? If it’s just a fluid add/top off? Ask the SC when you take it in and let us know what they say.

Ski

The SC called after I made the appointment from my Tesla app, which defaults to mobile (don't see a way to select SC anymore), and they specifically said mobile techs can't take care of this and I would have to come in. I'll keep you posted.

 

[HappyWino]

I have a very basic question...what is this gearbox you speak of?

 

[kbecks13]

I have a very basic question...what is this gearbox you speak of?

It reduces the speed of the motor and increases torque, fixed gear ratio so not a typical transmission - just two gears.

Edit: *sugar* ok maybe 3 gears

 

[Dolemite]

I have a very basic question...what is this gearbox you speak of?

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D5BRCjEWwAIkm2i.jpg

 

[Muskol]

There was a SB issued against late 2017 and early 2018 builds for contaminated gear box fluid due to a missing breather on the rear drive unit. Sounds like yours is a 2019 so probably not the case, but here it is for reference:

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10153436-9999.pdf

 

[rps315]

I have had this warning as well, on two occasions. Both times were during long drives in very cold temperatures (-20C). I contacted the service centre about it wondering if this was something that just happens in the cold but unfortunately didn't get much information from them.

I didn't want to pay to have the vehicle towed hundreds of kilometres to a service centre so they said it was okay to wait (this can't be serviced by a mobile tech). It hasn't happened in well over a month now so hopefully I'm in the clear. I'd say give it a few days at least before worrying about it