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After my 5-year anniversary article, right here’s an addendum.
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 as well up the automobile and run equipment. There have been veiled threats: I might now 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, shiny 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unlatched, which he opened, after which he opened a compartment in direction of the wind display screen, took out my outdated battery, and put in a brand new one. Determine 2 reveals the crimson 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 might have accomplished it myself. He stated that might 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 stated it was the latter.
The nice half: the price was solely $120 together with labor.
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 stated he didn’t know if he had the proper half to repair it. He tried a couple of knobs, none of which labored, and he stated I must schedule one other appointment. The appointment was to be the next Friday, however we’re on journey, so we should wait at this level to reschedule.
The unhealthy half: the price will likely be $160 when I’ve this accomplished. This looks like quite a bit 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 obtained 10+ software program updates. Adjustments from among the updates have been insignificant, Nonetheless the remainder of the updates gave me important enhancements in efficiency. Nonetheless, that modified with Full Self Driving Supervised 12.5.4.1. For the primary time I’m discovering the efficiency considerably worse underneath some situations. In actual fact, I’ve discovered some circumstances the place it’s driving me loopy. The software program nonetheless performs very nicely at freeway speeds and making activates metropolis streets. Nonetheless, at intermediate speeds on winding roads, it’s completely nuts. It now not tells you the velocity you’ve gotten set, it simply says MAX. Coming down very winding Provo Canyon from Heber to Orem, Utah, I like to scale back the requested velocity to the velocity restrict of fifty mph and even 45 mph in order that I can calm down and let FSD mechanically 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 velocity. I attempted to decrease the velocity however it wouldn’t let me do it. I discovered this a lot too quick to come back down the canyon safely. Lastly, I disengaged FSD and drove down the canyon with solely Autosteer, which might let me set any velocity I wished.
Please, Tesla, all the time let me set the velocity I need once more, and inform me what I’ve set, not simply MAX. Do that at each velocity not simply at freeway speeds!
- Moreover, FSD Supervised 12.5.4.1 now not retains me centered completely in my lane, I discover my automobile 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 best 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 best. Merging onto a freeway, it hugs the best 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 an alternative of the principle middle lane required for going straight as specified by the navigation. I’ve seen this downside earlier than, however the newest software program updates (earlier than this) had lowered or eradicated this downside.
- Nonetheless, among the finest new options of FSD Supervised 12.5.4.1 is that it now not requires tugging on the steering wheel to let the system know you’re listening to the street. The digicam above the mirror watching your head and eyes does that operate very nicely. However when lowering the extent of automation from FSD to Autosteer, you’re 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 obtained 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 clean as silk and much exceeds any automobile we’ve owned prior to now 70 years. Following a sluggish truck on a two-lane street, you solely want 100 yards to move. Full Self Driving is a pleasure besides on windy roads. The navigation system can also be wonderful, the place a voice command will take you to almost any deal with 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 track you possibly can consider. Alternatively, it would play out of your playlist in your cellphone when driving by way of Wyoming with no cell connection. The 2 electrical seats are nice and the motive force’s seat will mechanically retract and lift as much as any setting you select once you get out. While you get again in it mechanically returns the motive force’s seat, steering wheel, and mirror settings to the motive force’s choice.
Nonetheless, the suspension could be very stiff and offers you a jolt with each bump within the street. If the street is lately resurfaced and clean, it’s no downside, but when the street is outdated and bumpy, you are feeling it. I perceive that the brand new Mannequin 3 refresh has addressed this downside.
Referral Program: In case you are shopping for a brand new Tesla, Tesla has reactivated its referral program. In case you discover any of my articles useful to you, please use my referral hyperlink: https://ts.la/arthur73734 (you’ll want to use it once you make your order). In case you are shopping for a brand new Tesla and use my hyperlink, I consider you’ll obtain $1,000 off the acquisition worth 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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