Tesla Model Y Battery Replacement Saga – CleanTechnica

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For some reason, people are surprised to learn that many electric vehicles have a humble 12 volt battery onboard, just like the one you might find in a Honda Civic, for example. The 12 volt battery performs a number of critical functions. In a Tesla, it powers the exterior and interior door release mechanisms, for example. It also powers the interior lights and initializes the startup procedure when you enter the vehicle. The 12 volt battery also powers the Tesla app so that you can communicate with your car via your smartphone.

My Model Y is 4 years old this month. To date, it has cost me less than $10 to maintain it — the price of two gallons of windshield washer fluid. The tires have enough tread on them to go off-roading, the brakes may last until mid-century, and the original windshield wipers are working fine.

Two weeks ago, a message showed up on the dashboard saying the 12 volt battery was in need of replacement. The good news is, Tesla actually monitors the status of that critical component and alerts the driver before it fails. That way there is a good chance it can be replaced before critical systems start shutting down. The bad news is that when the warning appears, it doesn’t tell you how long it will be before the old battery fails. If that happens, the doors may not open and the car may not be drivable. Both can cause anxiety, especially if this is the first time the issue has arisen.

I went on my Tesla app and it said that replacing the battery was a piece of cake. Disconnect the black wire, disconnect the red wire, undo the hold down strap, take the old battery out, slip the new battery in, refasten the hold down strap, connect the red wire, connect the black wire, and you’re done! Well, shoot, I can do that. I have replaced so many batteries, I could get a job at Pep Boys. But I also have AAA and have used them many times to replace my batteries. It’s so easy. Request a service call, they come to you, replace your battery, and take away the old one. No finding tools or getting your hands dirty and no recycling fees to pay.

The notice on my touchscreen popped up late on a Friday afternoon, so I went on the AAA website, put in my car information — 2022 Tesla Model Y, white — and scheduled an appointment for Saturday between 10 and noon. At 1 pm, no one from AAA had appeared, so  I called and was told that there had been a glitch in the scheduling process. I was assured a technician would call me soon. A short while later, a driver called to get my exact address and I mentioned the battery was for my Tesla. “AAA does not do Tesla batteries,” he said. But it says you do on the website. “AAA does not do Tesla batteries,” he said, and asked if I want to arrange for a tow.

At that point, I started looking online for a battery at local auto parts stores but could not find one that had the battery in stock. So I went on the website for a local battery and tire chain and put in the same information — 2022 Tesla Model Y. The bot said I had an appointment for Monday morning at 9:00 am. At 8:30 Monday, I called to confirm and was told that they did not service Tesla batteries and that I should contact an automotive electric specialist, but they also said they could not help.

I got the impression that all these people thought I was talking about the main traction battery, because everyone got quite jumpy whenever the words “Tesla” and “battery” were used in the same sentence. So now I had no alternative but to get Tesla service involved.

My nearest service center is 75 minutes away in West Palm Beach. When I called, I got put on hold — for an hour and twenty minutes. Clearly, calling Tesla service is not the way to go. So I got on the Tesla app and learned I could get a mobile service technician to come to my home in late October or early November. I went online to ask Google how long I could expect the 12 volt battery to keep working after the warning notice appeared. A few days to a few weeks, G0ogle said.

I am especially sensitive to the door lock issue, having recently added emergency pull straps to the rear doors of my Model Y. The idea of being stuck in the car if battery power failed really made me nervous. The idea of it happening to my wife while she was alone in the car was even more upsetting.

My wife has a way with apps that I do not possess. She got us an appointment for mobile service one week later on Monday, October 20. The app said to expect the driver between 7:30 and noon. OK, I thought, at least we know a new battery is just 7 days away. For the next week, we drove the car as little as possible, hitching a ride with neighbors to the grocery store and such.

Monday finally arrived and the app updated to say the service person would be onsite between 10:45 and 11:45. Then it said there was a staffing issue, the appointment was cancelled, and the next appointment would be November 6. Color me unhappy.

Shortly thereafter, another message came through saying a tech was in the area and would be there by 2:00 pm. His name was Augustine and he arrived in a battered Model S with all his tools and parts in the back. He got right to work and had the job done in under 10 minutes. Then he got in the car, put the touchscreen in service mode, and had a private conversation with the car, which is the part that all those other service providers apparently couldn’t do.

So now I have a new 12 volt battery. What did I learn? I learned that AAA, Pep Boys, or any other service organization really can’t do this because they are lacking the piece where they communicate with the car after the installation is complete. The Tesla app really glosses over those intimate details.

A few days ago, I placed a call to my doctor. A recording said all lines were busy, but if I pressed 2, someone would call me back. About an hour later, someone did. Why can’t Tesla, with all its technical prowess, have a similar system for its service centers? It’s one thing to be safe at home with access to food and beverages, but what about someone who is stuck on the side of the road and needs help right away? Tesla could up its game in that area.

Augustine informed me that batteries from other sources do not last as long as the Tesla-supplied battery. He was actually surprised mine lasted 4 years in the hot, humid air in South Florida. He said some replacement batteries lasted less than a year. He was knowledgeable, professional, and a credit to the company. Well done, Augustine.

Tesla could provide more information about how much useful life remains in a battery that is nearing its service limit. It causes owners unnecessary anxiety not knowing when a failure that will disable the door release mechanism might occur. In addition, the information in the app about changing the battery makes it seem much easier than it really is — not the mechanical part, the software part after the new battery is installed. I am amused by how little the independent service companies know about Tesla. They all freak out when they hear the T word, as if we are expecting them to have a 75 kWh battery or two just lying about.

Overall, the Tesla mobile service worked well and was super convenient. I might wish scheduling an appointment before a problem arises could be easier and having someone answer the phone would be a plus. The takeaway from all this is, if you own a Tesla, use the mobile service option first if at all possible. The techs actually know what they are doing when few others do.