Model S Technical / Mechanical Issues

[William3]

Just wipe your screen before the car boots up if you have it set to power down. (If you think about it first thing in the morning or whenever)

+1
That's what I've been doing as well.
I'd still like for them to add a "screen off for 60 seconds" command though.

 

[napabill]

+1
That's what I've been doing as well.
I'd still like for them to add a "screen off for 60 seconds" command though.

I bought a pack of 36 bright yellow 16" microfiber towels at Costco and have found that their thickness allow for a wipedown without interacting with the screen when on. Keep one under my seat.

 

[aviators99]

4. Aviators99 mentioned somewhere (I think this thread) that he didn't like having to que the bluetooth, wait a tic, and then talk... isn't that exactly how it works when using an aviation radio?! :wink:

Actually, I was talking about the voice command. And nope, that's not how it works using an aviation radio!


But in all seriousness, the voice command issue isn't that you have to wait, it's that it beeps before it is ready and you have no idea when you can start talking unless you look down at the display and wait for it to say "recording started".

 

[znino]

In Auto mode, heat comes from the floor. You'd have to go into the HVAC controls and tell it to push air from the torso/face vents.

Yes but my problem is two fold. First my leftmost face vent has practically no flow when I turn on air from there. The other face vents are fine.

Second the air in rear seat vent is weak and cold. Des not heat up.

 

[cinergi]

Yes but my problem is two fold. First my leftmost face vent has practically no flow when I turn on air from there. The other face vents are fine.

Second the air in rear seat vent is weak and cold. Des not heat up.

That's weird. Try setting it to face-only? I have plenty of airflow front and back in that mode (not so much in both floor & face mode). And I believe it was warm (you might need to give it a bit to warm up the ducting first).

 

[znino]

That's weird. Try setting it to face-only? I have plenty of airflow front and back in that mode (not so much in both floor & face mode). And I believe it was warm (you might need to give it a bit to warm up the ducting first).

I did face only. Only the left most vent is weak. For the back I did wait a bit but still cool whereas the front is very hot. The last thing I want is them starting to take the dash apart on a new car to look for ventilation issues! Argh!

 

[mknox]

In my experience, bluetooth pairing can be very finicky in all devices. I regularily have to repair bluetooth headphones with my cell phone because suddenly their sequence is knocked out of line

Could this be related to the brand of device? I paired my iPhone 4 when I got it and my existing work BlackBerry to my car several years ago and have never had to touch either of them since.

 

[aviators99]

I have some minor BT issues, but I don't have to re-pair. About 1/3 of the time the car doesn't automatically connect to the device. I think I've determined that it has to do with the sequence. If I have BT on on my phone when I sit in the car it works fine, but if I turn the BT on after I sit in the car I have to manually connect from the car's display.

I'm not positive this is the exact culprit, and it requires more testing.

 

[efxjim]

I didn't come close to the screen. I was wiping the top of the dash and heard static from the cloth. There maybe be electronics just under the top of dash.

 

[FlasherZ]

I have some minor BT issues, but I don't have to re-pair. About 1/3 of the time the car doesn't automatically connect to the device. I think I've determined that it has to do with the sequence. If I have BT on on my phone when I sit in the car it works fine, but if I turn the BT on after I sit in the car I have to manually connect from the car's display.

I'm not positive this is the exact culprit, and it requires more testing.

I found that on my Galaxy S3 I had to make sure that I had the option to have the swipe-lock screen on even when protected by a pattern, otherwise the car wouldn't pair / dial / etc. Android limitation on the Samsung branded phones.

 

[Francis Lau]

Yes but my problem is two fold. First my leftmost face vent has practically no flow when I turn on air from there. The other face vents are fine.

Second the air in rear seat vent is weak and cold. Des not heat up.

My car had the same issues too. My driver side window and left 6 inches of the front windshield fogged up even thought I had AC set to vent. Also, back air vents emits cold air only; even though front vents warm. I tested with all three modes - vent, face and foot.

Had anyone gotten heat from the rear vents? Or seen this fogging issue?

 

[dtich]

Actually, I was talking about the voice command. And nope, that's not how it works using an aviation radio!


But in all seriousness, the voice command issue isn't that you have to wait, it's that it beeps before it is ready and you have no idea when you can start talking unless you look down at the display and wait for it to say "recording started".

have to chime in to say i have had no problems with voice control, i do manage to glance at the display to see "recording" but it has worked exactly the same each time so i'm now quite used to it and the nav has found almost every place i've searched with no problem, really been amazing actually. and i've been using siri and some voice control in the bmw for a year or two, but i frankly didn't use it that often cause it wasn't that useful. the model s has been superb in this regard.

my 2¢.

 

[digitaltim]

My car had the same issues too. My driver side window and left 6 inches of the front windshield fogged up even thought I had AC set to vent. Also, back air vents emits cold air only; even though front vents warm. I tested with all three modes - vent, face and foot.

Had anyone gotten heat from the rear vents? Or seen this fogging issue?

I am seeing this 8x3 strip on left edge of the Front windshield that does not defrost or clear of fog.

 

[Matt_D]

2. As for the hitting both pedals issue (and the idea of a stuck throttle), wouldn't a much better solution (for all cars, ICE or EV) be a killswitch for the engine? If the throttle gets stuck, a kill switch could trigger a fuel shutoff valve (ICE) or an electrical switch (EV) to trip and the engine would no longer have power. If you think the throttle is stuck, just hit the button, and coast your car to the shoulder. It would basically be an emergency shutoff switch like most machinery has. It would just have to be placed somewhere it wouldn't get bumped. This would just eliminate the need to worry about anything with the pedals to solve this issue.

There is a fail safe-- I asked my delivery specialist this question. She said to hold the Parking button down continuously on the control stick to bring the car to a stop.

 

[lolachampcar]

Elon could have used this on his F1 (his story in his words http://pandodaily.com/2012/07/12/pandomonthly-presents-a-fireside-chat-with-elon-musk/ at the 3 minute in mark)

 

[tezco]

I live in a very cold and wet area. The car doors can freeze shut, the gas door can freeze shut, windshield wipers can freeze on the windscreen. Nothing unique to the Model S.

I spray silicone spray on the gaskets of my car doors every fall. Might have to spray the charge port door and hinge as well, after stuffing a kleenex into the charge port so the contacts don't get sprayed....

 

[Lloyd]

Had the charge port door get frozen again. Seems to happen when I've parked in my garage and snow has melted off the car, resulting in a tiny amount of water between the reflector and the body. Then when I head out it freezes. This is probably only happening because I'm not charging while it's in my garage, so the charge port door is closed overnight.

(I put a J1772 on the Roadster HPC so I can use it, but the cord won't reach with the Model S in the garage. I'm planning to put in a NEMA 14-50 and use the mobile connector, but good luck getting an electrician right now.)

So far it's not been a big deal. This time I pried at it with my fingernail, but it didn't open I think because the mechanism had re-locked. I went back to the touchscreen and this time it popped open.

We use an Ice Release coating in aviation called "ICG" It may be worthwhile to buy a can of this spray to make opening the port easier in very cold climates.


http://www.vortexaviation.com/icg.html

 

[efusco]

We use an Ice Release coating in aviation called "ICG" It may be worthwhile to buy a can of this spray to make opening the port easier in very cold climates.


http://www.vortexaviation.com/icg.html

Any idea where it can be purchased? Seems like a good idea to put some of this on the door handles too. I presume it's safe on the paint and plastic?

Found this on a link at the vortex aviation site, but it doesn't look like quite the same thing: Ice Rid - Sporty's Pilot Shop

 

[gaswalla]

P4201, VIN 2443 - delivered Monday 12/17: great car! Everything positive has been mentioned many times, and it's all true.
My rear hatch lacks power, my navigation doesn't work, dome lights have a life of their own, GPS keeps getting locked up, picture of car on the screen is red but my car is black: Delivery Specialist couldn't figure out why.. I just realized that they loaded the non-tech software on my tech-optioned car.. really lame... called in to TESLA this morning - this will be a check of their customer service and "service recovery" - will post follow up as it happens.

quick follow up: It took 8 days and a bunch of emails and calls, but today, my car had the correct firmware installed. I was in contact throughout the day with the head of service at headquarters, and they logged into my car multiple times and took care of all the issues remotely. Even got the correct color of car and right size wheels on display. It was a bit concerning that the car was shipped with software that didn't match the hardware, and today it was all fixed. Thanks!

 

[PRJIM]

quick follow up: It took 8 days and a bunch of emails and calls, but today, my car had the correct firmware installed. I was in contact throughout the day with the head of service at headquarters, and they logged into my car multiple times and took care of all the issues remotely. Even got the correct color of car and right size wheels on display. It was a bit concerning that the car was shipped with software that didn't match the hardware, and today it was all fixed. Thanks!

How was the Delivery Specialist oblivious to the lack of tech package features on your vehicle?