Tesla has received many complaints when it comes to service. This is not to say that the automaker's owners aren't very satisfied overall. And, fortunately, most Tesla vehicles rarely need much service overall, especially compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) cars. However, in the past, when owners did need service, depending on their location and the specifics involved, a long wait time could be expected. This has become especially true with the massive influx of Model 3 deliveries. Fast forward to the present and Tesla's over-the-air software updates are coming to the rescue once again. Now, the Silicon Valley electric automaker's global fleet has not only the power to diagnose issues, but also to specify what parts may be needed. This means owners are made aware of potentially what problems the EV is undergoing, but also which parts Tesla should order ahead of your Service Centre visit. Of course, if the issue is dire, you may need to get the car in for service right away. But, in many cases it may be able to wait a bit. So, with the latest update, you can see the problem, order the parts, and schedule your service at a later date. Hopefully, this is just another step to provide a better overall experience for Tesla owners. Teslarati recently shared Reddit member u/houston_wehaveaprblm screenshot of the new update. It reads: “An unexpected condition has been detected with the Power Conversion System on your Model 3. A replacement part has been pre-shipped to your preferred Tesla Service Center. Please use your Tesla Mobile App or your Tesla account to schedule a service visit appointment now.” To see the actual screenshot and more details, please visit the source links above.<doc-sep>By Tesla has improved its electric cars’ ownership experience once more. As recently reported by a Model 3 owner, Tesla’s vehicles now have the capability to self-diagnose issues and automatically pre-order replacement parts as needed. Once parts are ordered, Tesla owners could set up an appointment at a service center to get their vehicles fixed. One of the initial reports of Tesla’s new service improvement came from Model 3 owner and r/TeslaMotors subreddit member u/houston_wehaveaprblm, who posted a message that showed up on his electric car’s display. The message noted that a replacement part from Tesla had been pre-ordered and pre-shipped to a selected Service Center after the vehicle detected an “unexpected condition” in one of its components. “An unexpected condition has been detected with the Power Conversion System on your Model 3. A replacement part has been pre-shipped to your preferred Tesla Service Center. Please use your Tesla Mobile App or your Tesla account to schedule a service visit appointment now.” Owners of Tesla’s vehicles will most definitely appreciate this new proactive service feature. By allowing electric cars to order parts that require replacement on their own, Tesla could reduce the time required to address the maintenance needs of its vehicles. With parts preferably ready by the time an appointment is scheduled, owners will not need to wait very long to get their vehicles serviced. Elon Musk has pledged to improve the service experience for its electric cars’ owners. He mentioned this during the Q4 2018 earnings call, when he described service as “one of our major priorities.” During the Q&A session with analysts and reporters, Musk admitted that some of Tesla’s parts supply chain has been inefficient in the past, at one point even describing some of the company’s processes as “super dumb.” Musk pledged to roll out improvements as well, stating that Tesla just has to be “smarter about sending parts directly to service centers.” Ultimately, the recently reported automatic pre-ordering system for faulty parts is not a cure-all for Tesla’s service challenges, but it’s definitely a step towards the right decision. Apart from the recently-introduced proactive feature, Tesla has also been working on expanding its mobile service unit, allowing the company to address a good part of its fleet’s service and maintenance needs at the convenience of electric car owners. Tesla has also optimized its mobile app’s integration to its vehicles’ service and maintenance processes, allowing owners to view the status of their cars while repairs are being conducted. Tesla cars can now order parts for itself when in need of service repair<doc-sep>Your Tesla will "keep tabs" on any components that need replacing by itself. Self-Healing A new update pushed to Tesla vehicles includes a “live issue detection” feature, which enables them to “keep tabs on certain components to let you know if they need replacing and order parts ahead of your next service visit,” according to a company statement sent to Electrek. Once the vehicle figures out which replacement part it needs, it pre-orders it to the closest Tesla Service Center. Owners can then schedule a visit through the Tesla app. Parts to Spare During a Q4 2018 earnings call earlier this year, CEO Elon Musk reiterated that the company’s first priority is “improving service operations.” He even called some of the company’s processes when it comes to supply chain efficiency “super dumb” during the call, according to Teslarati. Tesla is also rolling out a new service scheduling feature on its app and a live issue detection feature that can call a tow truck, as well as bringing more bodywork in-house, Electrek reported. Advertisement Advertisement It’s a proactive approach to servicing a car in need of repair. Chances are that it could shorten the time until vehicles can get back on the road — but the update itself doesn’t magically fix any inefficiencies in Tesla’s supply chain management. READ MORE: Tesla vehicles can now diagnose themselves and even pre-order parts for service [Electrek] More on Tesla: Tesla Investors Sue Elon Musk For Twitter “Misstatements” As a Futurism reader, we invite you join the Singularity Global Community, our parent company’s forum to discuss futuristic science & technology with like-minded people from all over the world. It’s free to join, sign up now! Advertisement Advertisement<doc-sep>
Tesla vehicles can now diagnose themselves with repair and maintenance issues and they can even automatically pre-order parts for repairs. Earlier this year, CEO Elon Musk said that “service is his number one priority” this quarter: “I want to note that one of our major priorities this quarter is improving service operations. Really, from my standpoint, when I think about what my priorities are this quarter, it’s improving service in North America.” Tesla announced a series of initiatives to improve service including the automation of some processes: “Live issue detection to automatically call a tow truck and loaner vehicle before the vehicle even come to a stop.” Musk says that owners would be able to cancel it right away if they think it’s not necessary, but Tesla wants to automate emergency service and repairs. A recurring problem with Tesla’s service was the availability of parts, but now Tesla is addressing the issue by automatically ordering the parts as soon as they diagnose the issue remotely: Cars sometimes develop faults, all makes of car. But a car that self-diagnoses and issue, pre-orders the necessary parts, then lets you know, well that is both cool and incredibly efficient! Thanks to @MP3Mike on TMC for the image (source unknown) pic.twitter.com/Wdhz7fb00n — Lycanthrope (@AskDrStupid) May 4, 2019 The Model 3 owner received a ‘Service Request’ on the center screen of his vehicle: “An unexpected condition has been detected with the Power Conversion System on your Model 3. A replacement part has been pre-shipped to your preferred Tesla Service Center. Please use your Tesla Mobile App or your Tesla account to schedule a service visit appointment now.” Tesla confirmed the new feature: “Our cars can keep tabs on certain components to let you know if they need replacing and order parts ahead of your next service visit.” The automaker compared the feature to “skipping the doctor and going right to the pharmacy.” Also as part of Tesla’s effort to improve service, the company also opened new service centers in Sarasota, Florida, Pearl, Mississippi, and Memphis, Tennessee. Electrek’s Take I always like to see Tesla leverage the high level of connectivity in its vehicles and this is a great example. Tesla’s service really needs improvements because wait times are simply unacceptable in many markets. I don’t know if this is going to make a big difference right now, but it’s a step in the right direction. Combined with better part distribution and improved self-diagnostic capability, I can see it making a good difference long-term. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos and subscribe to the podcast.