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Model S Slid Away...

Discussion in 'Model S' started by Dgogs, Feb 19, 2021.

  1. ram1901

    ram1901 Member

    Joined:
    Feb 8, 2017
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    Location:
    Delaware
    This makes NO sense. First, the car goes into park if you open the driver's side door regardless of whether you put it in park. Second, when you plug it in, it also keeps the car from turning on. One possibility is that the driveway was slippery and the car began to slide. But the video didn't seem to indicate that. Repeat. This makes no sense.
     
  2. MikeHolliday

    MikeHolliday Member

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    I fully agree. I have a 49 year old Triumph TR6 in my garage which I have invested much more than I should have at this point. BUT I made sure that when I got my Model Y last summer and with the PPL and taxes I am in the 70's I was not going to park it outside. I spent 2 or 3 days organizing and cleaning out the garage so that the Model Y would easily fit.
     
    • Like x 2
  3. TFKarl

    TFKarl Member

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    Aug 14, 2020
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    Location:
    Moscow, Idaho
    That’s crazy! Weather, Man! Our winter has been very slick here in the Northwest as well. Perhaps the relatively warm tires on the snow changed the surface under the tires enough to make it slicker than the surface you walked on to your door. Anyone a physicist? Good reminder to all of us about parking safety, especially under unusual weather conditions.
     
  4. NikolaACDC

    NikolaACDC Member

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    Location:
    ...an undeveloping country...
    Also, if you look in the lower left corner of the video for the last ~2s at the end, you can see the snow being pushed away in chunks by the wheel that's just barely in the frame.
    Wouldn't happen that way if the wheel was actually turning.
     
    • Like x 2
  5. magdere

    magdere Member

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    May 17, 2019
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    Location:
    Los Angeles
    In fact the parking brake is better than putting the car simply in park. Brakes will lock both wheels while putting the car in park will only lock transmission, and because of the way differentials work it will start sliding if only one of the wheels loose grip.
     
    • Like x 2
  6. ucmndd

    ucmndd Well-Known Member

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    Agreed, yeah.

    I was referencing the more common example (though by no means universal) of a front wheel drive car where the transmission will lock the front axle(s) and the mechanical parking brake does the same for the rears.
     
  7. ucmndd

    ucmndd Well-Known Member

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    It makes perfect sense. The car slid on a frozen sloped driveway.
     
    • Like x 2
    • Funny x 1
  8. richrootes

    richrootes Member

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    Maybe you need a third garage?
     
    • Like x 1
  9. Fred42

    Fred42 Member

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    Location:
    Pennsylvania
    If you park any vehicle on an iced driveway, this can happen. Years ago I parked my Camry at the top of my driveway and the next morning it was gone. It had slid down my 400 foot driveway and was sideways at the bottom. Not a Tesla issue.
     
    • Like x 1
  10. dannycamps

    dannycamps Member

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    I think first and foremost, thankfully no one was hurt. A car sliding uncontrolled could've caused unspeakable damage under the right circumstances. A dent, scrape, and a broken charger/port are probably the best case scenarios.

    I am not sure what (if anything) could have prevented this. Even if you chocked the wheels, there is no guarantee that the car just wouldn't have slid the wheel chocks down the driveway with it. 5,000+ pounds in motion is a tough thing to stop.

    Insurance should cover it (either auto comprehensive or homeowners) and perhaps may be worth investing in a leveling/regrade of your driveway if possible.
     
  11. MikeHolliday

    MikeHolliday Member

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    I live in Ohio and do know of some people would have heated their driveways. This is the permanent solution...
     
  12. nimbuzz

    nimbuzz Member

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    Location:
    Gualala, CA
    A very similar situation was posted of a Model 3 Performance sliding on a driveway and ripping out the charger. I found the resulting discussion 'eye opening' about the 'Performance' tires on the car and ALL performance, non-winter or non-All-Season tires. These tires CANNOT be used at temps lower than 45 Degrees F cuz the rubber gets hard and has NO TRACTION!! People had all sorts of stories about the extreme hazard of using the wrong tires in even slightly cold weather and needing two sets of tires or wheels & tires AND the memory to change into them BEFORE even a slight dip in temps--I had no idea :-(
     
  13. Bryan L

    Bryan L Member

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    Mar 15, 2019
    Messages:
    16
    Location:
    Spring, TX
    Yes, It took Tesla 8 weeks to replace my front bumper after flying tire tread knocked out the fog light. What bothered me more than the time it took was their complete lack of communication and refusing to reply to texts or phone calls. I actually had to drive 30 minutes down there to get an update. Then, after they called to say the car was ready, I got there and they said they needed a few more minutes. 90 minutes later they told me they weren't done and they kept the car another week. But they did a good job on the repair ;)
     
  14. MikeHolliday

    MikeHolliday Member

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    Location:
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    I guess that I should brag about the Columbus Ohio SC. When my car has been in for service I get an update in my Tesla App everyday. If I have any questions I ask and get answers and when I feel it necessary I call and speak with Service.
     
  15. Rudolf

    Rudolf Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor

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    Sep 1, 2016
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    Location:
    Switzerland
    I wonder how much, if any, wheel chocks with steel studs might have helped.
     
    • Like x 2
  16. Andy7

    Andy7 Member

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    Dec 16, 2019
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    Location:
    NJ
    I'm sorry you had this unfortunate problem.

    Oddly enough, a few weeks ago I read in a Subaru Ascent forum of the same thing happening with a Subaru Ascent (our other car).

    Not having a garage, I am now worried about this for my car.

    Would cranking the wheels to the side help? In my case it might bump the railroad tie sides of the driveway and stop without damage (I hope). Or the Subaru, parked below it in snowy weather since it has much more clearance, would stop it in any case. Unless the M3 pushed the Subaru out into the street!
     
  17. xrayangiodoc

    xrayangiodoc Member

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    Location:
    Amherst, NY
    The tracks suggest that the car was sliding. Very surprising! More to you I would imagine than to us.
     
  18. KenC

    KenC Active Member

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    Actually I bet anything would have helped. Even a welcome mat thrown in front of the rear wheel would have likely prevented it. A little dirt, anything that could have increased grip fractionally could have been enough to prevent the slide away. Unfortunate.
     
    • Like x 2
  19. Rudolf

    Rudolf Model 3 Long Range Dual Motor

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    Location:
    Switzerland
    Withe wheels sliding, not rolling, cranking the wheels to the side would not help.
     
  20. Steverino

    Steverino Member

    Joined:
    Feb 20, 2020
    Messages:
    9
    Location:
    California
    I noticed that the area directly under where the car was parked was "defrosted". Is it possible that heat from charging the battery may have melted the snow/ice under the vehicle and helped to get the slide started?
     
    • Like x 3
    • Informative x 1

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