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Model S Technical / Mechanical Issues

Discussion in 'Model S' started by DrComputer, Sep 27, 2012.

  1. mknox

    mknox Well-Known Member

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    Maybe I'm getting paranoid now, but when I drove the one with the pano roof in Newport Beach, the Tesla rep kept insisting on cranking up the stereo. I turned it down, but she cranked it up again and kept talking about how great it sounds. I was really interested in aspects other than the stereo and found that a bit annoying, but now I hope it wasn't to cover up other noises I wasn't meant to hear!
     
  2. dsm363

    dsm363 Roadster + Sig Model S

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    I don't notice any noises from my pano roof so far. Hopefully it's an isolated incident that gets fixed right away.
     
  3. gg_got_a_tesla

    gg_got_a_tesla Model S: VIN 65513, Model 3: VIN 1913

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    Dave, you've probably been cranking up your Sound Studio too much :) (You've already been drowning out the air-escaping-from-the-balloon whine during hard acceleration!)

    Three reported cases so far so, there's definitely a pattern...
     
  4. strider

    strider Active Member

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    That's a dodgy rep. During my test drive I never turned the stereo on. I figured I could listen to the stereo in a static car - I wanted to drive. I started the drive w/ the roof and windows open and then midway through my rep closed everything up. I was impressed w/ everything. I never heard the acceleration whine...
     
  5. jerry33

    jerry33 (S85-3/2/13 traded in) X LR: F2611##-3/27/20

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    I drove most of my test drive without the audio on as well. My vote is for dodgy rep. I also never heard any noise from the pano roof during the Dallas event, but then I wasn't listening for it either. Except for the rear seat headroom, I could easily do without the pano roof.
     
  6. Doug_G

    Doug_G Lead Moderator

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    That's utterly ridiculous; I wouldn't have put up with that. I'd have politely asked her to turn off the radio, stating that I wanted to hear how quiet the car is.

    If for some utterly bizarre reason that didn't work, then I would turn the car around so I could discuss it with her manager.
     
  7. mknox

    mknox Well-Known Member

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    In hindsight, I should have. I was excited to be able to get a test drive on the spot (no appointment) and was appreciative of the opportunity. I was driving in unfamiliar territory, trying to pay attention to the route directions while at the same time, trying to absorb as much of the experience as I could. There was probably no ill intent, but with this talk of squeaks and noises, I wish I had been a little more insistent regarding the radio.

    - - - Updated - - -

    I wish I had done that. I did not touch the roof at all during the test drive.

    I did hear the inverter whine... When I turned the radio down, it was just before I punched it on a small straightaway and the rep even pointed it out as a "cool sound" that the car makes (then turned the music up again). Maybe she is a big music lover and that is what she likes about the car and just wanted to show the sound system off... who knows?
     
  8. contaygious

    contaygious Active Member

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    Did she mean the cool sound the tesla supposedly fixed?
     
  9. mknox

    mknox Well-Known Member

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    I'll go on record as saying the sound is in no way objectionable and really not that loud. (It may be louder for back seat passengers), and is only noticable when you really floor it. The Tesla rep said something like "did you hear that? Isn't that cool?" at that point in the test drive.

    Perhaps this has been fixed on later cars, but I would have no way of knowing.
     
  10. unclfuzzy

    unclfuzzy Member

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    I did notice the whine once last week, but forgot about it so haven't tried to replicate. I don't have performance model, so maybe it's more pronounced there, or maybe I'm just not the leadfoot I was in my younger days.

    No noises from pano roof when closed.

    Ranger came out to install my front plate holder last weekend and said the logs showed issues with 12V battery and it may need to be replaced, but I have seen no messages about it.
     
  11. MikeK

    MikeK R#129, TSLA shareholder

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    I agree. That whine is very subtle and not objectionable in my opinion.
     
  12. kevincwelch

    kevincwelch Active Member

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    She doesn't like the awkward silences that Model S vehicles cause.
     
  13. neroden

    neroden Model S Owner and Frustrated Tesla Fan

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    #113 neroden, Oct 20, 2012
    Last edited: Oct 20, 2012
    Uh-oh. That's a complete deal-breaker.

    EDIT: any followups on the battery issues? Have they been "shaking themselves out" or are people still having unusually high battery losses?
     
  14. Robert.Boston

    Robert.Boston Model S VIN P01536

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    Things such as wiper speed that can be upgraded by software should never be considered a deal-breaker.

    What "battery issues"!? There are no reported Model S battery issues that I've heard of. Reference, neroden?
     
  15. neroden

    neroden Model S Owner and Frustrated Tesla Fan

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    I was referring to this:

    - - - Updated - - -

    And this:

    - - - Updated - - -

    And this was the response, but it wasn't confirmed to work:

    - - - Updated - - -

    Can that be upgraded by software? Some motors only go so fast.
     
  16. Lloyd

    Lloyd Well-Known Member

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    Replace the motor? The last one I bought was about $20.
     
  17. cinergi

    cinergi Active Member

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    Any standard mode charge level over 240 I would expect a fast drop off. Since 240 is "full" ... and I've noticed that, too. Now, the report about 80 -> 72 -> 62 warrants investigation.

    As for wiper speed ... I use rain-x so it's not an issue for me. I practically don't need the wipers.
     
  18. teslasuperfan

    teslasuperfan Member

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    #118 teslasuperfan, Oct 20, 2012
    Last edited: Oct 20, 2012
    Just curious, there are 5 positions on the wiper stalk:
    1) OFF
    2) Automatic wiper - low
    3) Automatic wiper - high
    4) Manual low speed
    5) Manual high speed

    Which position was you at (3 or 5) that you thought was 40% slower than your other cars? Thanks.
     
  19. cinergi

    cinergi Active Member

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    The string of 12V battery failures & replacements was actually due to a bug in recent software that drained the 12V battery. So the batteries were fine -- just a software bug (which halted rollout of that software).
     
  20. strider

    strider Active Member

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    Also, they are working on the excessive battery use while sitting. Apparently Elon was adamant that the car start up instantly when the driver sits down so all the computers are kept up and humming all the time. They are working on ways to cut this idle power usage.
     

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