After 5+ Years With My 2019 Tesla Mannequin 3 Lengthy Vary: An Addendum


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After my 5-year anniversary article, right here’s an addendum.

Determine 1: The Future and The Previous. Elizabeth and Tesla Mannequin 3 in entrance of settlers’ dugout properties and barn. Citadel Valley, Utah. November 17, 2019. Photograph by Fritz Hasler.

Quickly after my 5-year anniversary, Tesla notified me that my 12-volt battery wanted to get replaced. This isn’t the drive battery, however the small battery wanted besides up the automotive and run equipment. There have been veiled threats: I may not set up software program updates and who is aware of what else wouldn’t be working. I scheduled an appointment on Friday and a cellular service technician was at my driveway in Lindon, Utah, vibrant and early Monday morning.

I had left the frunk unlatched, which he opened, after which he opened a compartment in direction of the wind display, took out my outdated battery, and put in a brand new one. Determine 2 reveals the purple 12-volt battery within the frunk of a Tesla Mannequin 3. The battery was on the small measurement in comparison with the large battery for the V8 engine on my ski boat. I requested the service technician whether or not I may have carried out it myself. He mentioned that may not be a good suggestion and relayed the story about somebody who had modified his personal 12V battery and fried the $15,000 drive battery. I additionally requested him whether or not the restore notification got here as a result of I used to be at my 5-year anniversary or whether or not it had detected poor efficiency of my battery. He mentioned it was the latter.

The great half: the fee was solely $120 together with labor.

Determine 2: Pink 12V battery. Tesla Motor Membership picture.

I had been ignoring my spouse’s complaints that the controls on her electrical seat weren’t working. One of many knobs had damaged. I had solely added this to my service request on the final minute and the restore technician mentioned he didn’t know if he had the proper half to repair it. He tried just a few knobs, none of which labored, and he mentioned I must schedule one other appointment. The appointment was to be the next Friday, however we’re on journey, so we must wait at this level to reschedule.

The dangerous half: the fee can be $160 when I’ve this carried out. This looks as if so much for a damaged knob.

FSD 12.5.4.1 Fails

I’ve been driving with Tesla Full Self Driving (FSD) Beta, now “Supervised,” for two.5 years. Over this era, I’ve acquired 10+ software program updates. Modifications from a number of the updates had been insignificant, Nevertheless the remainder of the updates gave me vital enhancements in efficiency. Nevertheless, that modified with Full Self Driving Supervised 12.5.4.1. For the primary time I’m discovering the efficiency considerably worse below some situations. In reality, I’ve discovered some circumstances the place it’s driving me loopy. The software program nonetheless performs very properly at freeway speeds and making activates metropolis streets. Nevertheless, at intermediate speeds on winding roads, it’s completely nuts. It not tells you the pace you’ve got set, it simply says MAX. Coming down very winding Provo Canyon from Heber to Orem, Utah, I like to cut back the requested pace to the pace restrict of fifty mph and even 45 mph in order that I can loosen up and let FSD routinely drive me down the Canyon with no worries. I’ve discovered FSD Supervised 12.5.4.1 bringing me down at 65 or 70 mph, and it couldn’t keep on observe on the curves at that pace. I attempted to decrease the pace nevertheless it wouldn’t let me do it. I discovered this a lot too quick to return down the canyon safely. Lastly, I disengaged FSD and drove down the canyon with solely Autosteer, which might let me set any pace I wished.

Please, Tesla, at all times let me set the pace I need once more, and inform me what I’ve set, not simply MAX. Do that at each pace not simply at freeway speeds!

  • Moreover, FSD Supervised 12.5.4.1 not retains me centered completely in my lane, I discover my automotive drifting each proper and left. To the left I as soon as hit the rumble strip within the middle of the street, and to the suitable I’ve really drifted off onto the gravel and one time grazed a curb. The Autosteer efficiency is worse — are you kidding me?????? Underneath some situations, I don’t belief it anymore.
  • FSD Supervised 12.5.4.1 additionally has a powerful bias to the suitable. Merging onto a freeway, it hugs the suitable lane till the lane lastly joins the principle freeway. Solely then will it lastly middle itself within the correct lane.
  • FSD Supervised 12.5.4.1’s proper bias typically has me in a proper flip lane as a substitute of the principle middle lane required for going straight as specified by the navigation. I’ve seen this downside earlier than, however the latest software program updates (earlier than this) had decreased or eradicated this downside.
  • Nevertheless, the most effective new options of FSD Supervised 12.5.4.1 is that it not requires tugging on the steering wheel to let the system know you might be taking note of the street. The digicam above the mirror watching your head and eyes does that perform very properly. However when decreasing the extent of automation from FSD to Autosteer, you might be again to tugging on the steering wheel. Protecting all these totally different modes straight is driving me loopy. Earlier than I knew it, I had didn’t tug on the steering wheel sufficient and acquired two pressured disengagements. Three extra and I’ll lose entry to FSD and Autosteer for 7 days.

Why We Nonetheless Love Our Mannequin 3 after 5 years & 139,993 miles

We love the unimaginable acceleration of our dual-motor Tesla Mannequin 3. It’s easy as silk and much exceeds any automotive we’ve owned previously 70 years. Following a sluggish truck on a two-lane street, you solely want 100 yards to cross. Full Self Driving is a pleasure besides on windy roads. The navigation system can also be superb, the place a voice command will take you to almost any tackle or enterprise you ask for. The sound system with a pair subwoofers is marvelous, and you’ll give it voice instructions to play almost any music you’ll be able to consider. Alternatively, it should play out of your playlist in your telephone when driving by means of Wyoming with no cell connection. The 2 electrical seats are nice and the motive force’s seat will routinely retract and lift as much as any setting you select once you get out. Whenever you get again in it routinely returns the motive force’s seat, steering wheel, and mirror settings to the motive force’s choice.

Nevertheless, the suspension could be very stiff and provides you a jolt with each bump within the street. If the street is lately resurfaced and easy, it’s no downside, but when the street is outdated and bumpy, you’re feeling it. I perceive that the brand new Mannequin 3 refresh has addressed this downside.

Referral Program: If you’re shopping for a brand new Tesla, Tesla has reactivated its referral program. For those who discover any of my articles useful to you, please use my referral hyperlink: https://ts.la/arthur73734 (be sure you use it once you make your order). If you’re shopping for a brand new Tesla and use my hyperlink, I consider you’ll obtain $1,000 off the acquisition value of a Mannequin S or X, or $500 off the value of a Mannequin 3 or Y. Additionally, you will get 3 months of Full Self-Driving (Supervised). Simply be ready to intervene instantly if it screws up.


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