My Model Y's "Near Death Experience"

[RckyMtnElectrk]

Had my first service experience today with the Model Y and as the header denotes, could have gone better. It was a routine Mobile Service visit to install Homelink. The gentleman came and installed it in little time. He drove off and I hopped in the car to roll it into the garage. I noticed the Orange Triangle of Dispair and saw error VCFront_a192: Electrical System power reduced Vehicle may shut down unexpectedly. It would not shift into gear or anything. It was dead in the driveway, and going nowhere fast. Luckily the mobile tech number was still in my call log so range him up fast and he returned.

He spent the next 2 hours trying to bring the car back to life and chatting back and forth with the Service Center. We were probably about 2 minutes from getting a tow to take it in. I will say his tenacity was wonderful and very appreciated! He told me this has happened to him once before on another Model Y and that they don't fully know what triggers it but it is not an isolated event. All I could think was if this is what happens when you add an accessory what else is in store, but it also told me how much I adore this car. Anyhow, wanted to share with the group in case it happens to you. It seems fixable if/when it happens...with a degree of determination on part of the tech.

 

[BlindPass]

Thanks for sharing.

I imagine as cars become more computers on wheels, service centers will transition to bring more like IT helpdesks.

 

[Ron Moody]

Same thing happened with my M3 Homelink install. I didn't catch it till I took it for a drive after she left. She returned but it took her quite a while and a lot of head scratching before everything worked. Good thing it was on my day off, and at my house (mobile service). 2020 Model 3 Midnight Gray RWD.

 

[NCAviator]

Tesla's are as close to Computers with wheels as you can get. They developed the best architecture they could come up with. But even smart people can not think of everything. Remember Microsoft Windows Vista and Apple Macintosh X. Or Google Android Pie. Everything in computers has challenges changing the code. When everything works it is great and when the upgrade does not go well it is a mess.

 

[BlindPass]

Tesla's are as close to Computers with wheels as you can get. They developed the best architecture they could come up with. But even smart people can not think of everything. Remember Microsoft Windows Vista and Apple Macintosh X. Or Google Android Pie. Everything in computers has challenges changing the code. When everything works it is great and when the upgrade does not go well it is a mess.

Service is going to be different, that’s for sure.

If cars become mostly software reliant, I wonder how the aftermarket service industry will develop/evolve. Obviously Tesla wants their products dependent on OTA updates in which they effectively control everything with little consumer protection. Will there be the development of 3rd party fleet management programs that can hack into your car and provide replacement service?

 

[captanzuelo]

He told me this has happened to him once before on another Model Y and that they don't fully know what triggers it but it is not an isolated event.

Coincidence? Or maybe HE is the one creating the problem. His supervisor should monitor him the next time he installs Homelink to see if he is adding/omitting a step that causes this glitch.

 

[NCAviator]

Service is going to be different, that’s for sure.

If cars become mostly software reliant, I wonder how the aftermarket service industry will develop/evolve. Obviously Tesla wants their products dependent on OTA updates in which they effectively control everything with little consumer protection. Will there be the development of 3rd party fleet management programs that can hack into your car and provide replacement service?

Look at the Computer, Phone, and Tablet industry for trends. Don't see significant aftermarket add in to the operating systems. Elon Musk said at one time that Tesla would provide a SDK (Software Development Kit) to allow third parties to add applications to the software. Even taked about a "Tesla Software Store" like the Apple Store or the Google Play Store. He has never delivered.

 

[Johnny Vector]

Coincidence? Or maybe HE is the one creating the problem. His supervisor should monitor him the next time he installs Homelink to see if he is adding/omitting a step that causes this glitch.

Really the software ought to tell him if he is. Although I understand that no software can prevent all error conditions. Still, I hope when an error like that is caught and displayed to the end user that a full set of system logs are uploaded to their servers. Maybe even directly creating a bug report in Jira or whatever they use for tracking. You'd end up with a lot of duplicates if you did that, but anything that was happening on a regular basis would be really obvious really fast. As well as noticing if certain techs caused it more often; then you could ask them what they do so you'd know what to protect against.

 

[BlindPass]

Look at the Computer, Phone, and Tablet industry for trends. Don't see significant aftermarket add in to the operating systems. Elon Musk said at one time that Tesla would provide a SDK (Software Development Kit) to allow third parties to add applications to the software. Even taked about a "Tesla Software Store" like the Apple Store or the Google Play Store. He has never delivered.

Perhaps, but those assets are a different scale of cost. Although prices are getting higher, competition on service is limited when the device is often cheaper to simply replace.

There’s a lot bigger incentive for having options outside of the the manufacturer when talking about $60k expenses needing service and maintenance.

That said, if FSD, blockchain, and fintech allow for a shift away from personal ownership, to business owned rental fleets, it’s more likely businesses will have a car IT that works with Tesla like my employer’s IT works with manufacturers

 

[RckyMtnElectrk]

Follow-up, though hesitant to jinx it, but it seems the tech was successful. Decided to go for a 100-mile trip and see how it all played out and everything went as expected. Happily, on this trip, I learned my favorite brewery has Tesla chargers right upfront. Too bad I was just running in for a take-home order so didn't really get a lot of time for a good charge. Once we get to the other side of COVID, whenever that is, I can benefit from them more. So, looks like (Knock on wood) all is well again and the Homelink is much appreciated.

 

[Pilot1226]

Did you ever get an explanation of what the cause was, or what the tech did to fix it?

 

[TLLMRRJ]

Tesla's are as close to Computers with wheels as you can get. They developed the best architecture they could come up with. But even smart people can not think of everything. Remember Microsoft Windows Vista and Apple Macintosh X. Or Google Android Pie. Everything in computers has challenges changing the code. When everything works it is great and when the upgrade does not go well it is a mess.

Meh. You make it sound like Tesla is the first company to put a computer in a car. They're not. The software running in all ICE cars is a heck of a lot more complicated. They are dealing with engines that need a lot more software management than an electric motor and transmissions that need a heck of a lot more software management than a Tesla gearbox. Plus they have gotten very creative on how the engine and transmission work together along with the other systems on the car, like braking systems and stability control. Some even have electronic differentials. And all ICE cars have all the other stuff too in terms of infotainment, climate control, body control (seats, doors, etc etc etc). I owned a Volt, and it's doing ICE and BEV, and it does it extremely well. A Tesla is child's play from a software perspective compared to a Volt.

People make it like Tesla is doing something more complicated than anyone else, but in reality, they're just not that good of a software company compared to the big automakers that are making much more complicated software. Heck, they can't even fix the Fart Mode bugs.

 

[Electroman]

Meh. You make it sound like Tesla is the first company to put a computer in a car. They're not. The software running in all ICE cars is a heck of a lot more complicated. They are dealing with engines that need a lot more software management than an electric motor and transmissions that need a heck of a lot more software management than a Tesla gearbox. Plus they have gotten very creative on how the engine and transmission work together along with the other systems on the car, like braking systems and stability control. Some even have electronic differentials. And all ICE cars have all the other stuff too in terms of infotainment, climate control, body control (seats, doors, etc etc etc). I owned a Volt, and it's doing ICE and BEV, and it does it extremely well. A Tesla is child's play from a software perspective compared to a Volt.

People make it like Tesla is doing something more complicated than anyone else, but in reality, they're just not that good of a software company compared to the big automakers that are making much more complicated software. Heck, they can't even fix the Fart Mode bugs.

You are funny man..

 

[ks1972]

Tesla's are as close to Computers with wheels as you can get. They developed the best architecture they could come up with. But even smart people can not think of everything. Remember Microsoft Windows Vista and Apple Macintosh X. Or Google Android Pie. Everything in computers has challenges changing the code. When everything works it is great and when the upgrade does not go well it is a mess.

I see my MCU rebooting on my 3 month old S often, makes me wonder if Tesla is using Vista as OS. Another thing that’s concerning is you can reboot a computer and more often than not it comes back up, with a Tesla it’s not that consistent.

 

[TLLMRRJ]

You are funny man..

That, and a software developer that knows what you don't know.

 

[Mike_TV]

Did you ever get an explanation of what the cause was, or what the tech did to fix it?

Not the original poster but when I had my Homelink installed the Ranger disconnected both the 12 volt (frunk) and high voltage battery (rear passenger seat) before doing anything. He said it was part of the official process for installing Homelink.

Perhaps this step was skipped?

Also, it took a reboot or two for Homelink to show up on the display (after the install and reconnecting the batteries).

 

[KG M3]

That, and a software developer that knows what you don't know.

You forgot to mention humble. . .

 

[BlindPass]

Meh. You make it sound like Tesla is the first company to put a computer in a car. They're not. The software running in all ICE cars is a heck of a lot more complicated. They are dealing with engines that need a lot more software management than an electric motor and transmissions that need a heck of a lot more software management than a Tesla gearbox. Plus they have gotten very creative on how the engine and transmission work together along with the other systems on the car, like braking systems and stability control. Some even have electronic differentials. And all ICE cars have all the other stuff too in terms of infotainment, climate control, body control (seats, doors, etc etc etc). I owned a Volt, and it's doing ICE and BEV, and it does it extremely well. A Tesla is child's play from a software perspective compared to a Volt.

People make it like Tesla is doing something more complicated than anyone else, but in reality, they're just not that good of a software company compared to the big automakers that are making much more complicated software. Heck, they can't even fix the Fart Mode bugs.

It’s apples to oranges imo.

But yes, one of the biggest reasons Musk and Tesla saw that EVs were superior to ICE is that they’re inherently less complex. Way less analog-digital interfaces, and components in general. It’s amazing how well modern ICE cars work given how many things need to happen. Decades of engineering to have been required. But it’s telling a EV startup can surpass that in less than a decade.

Tesla seems to be far superior in new software- particularly in battery and power electronica. They were also first, and still the best at viewing the car as technology, with more functions digital in nature with OTA updates.

ICE is better at mainstream tech, namely cabin tech, but Tesla isn’t really trying in that regard, and given it’s mainstream, easily could replicate it. Many of the ICE advantages require a physical component to the HMI. To maintain profit margins, Tesla is more constrained to digital, as well as just offering less options in general. I hope as the cost of the EV drivetrain comes downy, along with cost reductions in manufacturing, Tesla will offer more, at least on upmarket models.

 

[trmmcd]

My Model Y needed a new front turn signal. The mobile tech replaced the entire headlight assembly. The next day I am heading out and I get the message SW update required contact Tesla. It turns out that the car knows about the specific parts and was complaining about this new part. The SC pushed the software update and all was resolved. I was surprised that a simple H/W replacement required a S/W update. I don’t know if the tech missed a step or whether this is something new with the Model Y. It never happened on my X or my wife’s M3.

 

[Darmie]

My Model Y needed a new front turn signal. The mobile tech replaced the entire headlight assembly. The next day I am heading out and I get the message SW update required contact Tesla. It turns out that the car knows about the specific parts and was complaining about this new part. The SC pushed the software update and all was resolved. I was surprised that a simple H/W replacement required a S/W update. I don’t know if the tech missed a step or whether this is something new with the Model Y. It never happened on my X or my wife’s M3.

Things like this scar me away of long term Tesla Ownership.