How to maintain your Tesla car? When it comes to Tesla vehicles, getting an oil change is a thing of the past. Tesla cars also don’t require fuel filters, emission checks or spark plug replacements. You may no longer need to replace the brake pads too because as an electric car, regenerative braking returns energy to the car’s battery, reducing wear on brakes.
You do still need to get your vehicle professionally maintained to ensure it stays efficient and lasts longer. We’ll talk about how to properly maintain your Tesla vehicle in this article, and how to care for your car’s battery and tires.
How to Maintain Your Tesla
Here are some Tesla maintenance tips you need to know:
Cabin Air Filter
Your electric car is equipped with an air filter that prevents dust, pollen and other particles from entering through the vents. For Model 3 and Model Y, it’s recommended to change the cabin air filter every two years. If you have the Model S and Model X, replace them every three years. If you have the HEPA or high-efficiency particulate filter, which can capture even the tiniest particles in the air, change it every three years.
Brake Fluid Test
Test it for contamination every two years. Replace as needed.
Tire Rotation, Wheel Alignment and Balance
Rotate your tires if the tread depth difference is 2/32 and every 6,250 miles, whichever comes first. Stop aggressive driving to avoid damaging your tires and paying for costly tire service. Misaligned and unbalanced wheels also affect tire life. Read the manual if you have clarifications regarding the maintenance of your Tesla model or contact us anytime.
AC Service
For Model 3, replace the AC desiccant bag every six years. Replace the bag every four years if you have the Model Y and every three years for Model S and Model X. If your Model S was manufactured in 2012-2020, replace the AC desiccant bag every four years.
Winter Maintenance
If you live in the colder regions, make sure to clean and lubricate the brake calipers once a year.
Update the Software
It’s crucial to get the software updated to ensure the longevity and proper operation of your vehicle’s components.
Daily Maintenance
- Check the condition and pressure of the tires.
- Check the battery’s charge level, the turn signals, exterior lights, wipers and washers.
- Watch out for any vehicle alerts or unexpected indicator lights on the touchscreen.
- Check the operation of the seat belts and brakes.
- Abnormal fluid deposits may indicate a leak.
- If you have Tesla Model 3, check the exterior and remove anything that might damage the paint.
Monthly Maintenance
Check if the AC is operating and the windshield washer fluid level is top up.
During summer, the AC’s compressor can turn on and that’s not a cause for worry. If you have the Model 3, you may also hear the sound of water circulating or whining noise. Both sounds are normal.
How to Care for Your Tesla’s Battery
For Tesla Model 3, please make sure the battery doesn’t reach 0 percent or you may damage your car’s battery. So be a responsible driver and always check your battery to avoid zeroing it out. You could save yourself the trouble of paying for a replacement when you’re mindful of your battery’s percentage.
In case you forget to charge the battery and it reaches 0%, take your Tessla to a professional mechanic for service. Depending on the damage, your Tesla model may need a jump-start or an additional inspection to determine if other components of your Tesla vehicle have been compromised.
Additionally, never remove the cover to check the battery or you risk being locked out. If you have inquiries about your car’s batteries, it’s better to contact a professional mechanic.
Steps to charging your vehicle:
1. Use the app in opening the car port. You can also do this manually. The car port is on the left side of your car, near the brake light.
2. It takes about 6-8 hours to charge your battery to up to 90%.
3. Set a charging schedule to ensure you don’t forget about charging your car. The good thing is that you can always leave it plugged in and it only charges during the scheduled charging time set.
Note:
- A white port light means the battery is ready to charge
- Blue means it’s preparing to charge while green means it’s charging.
- When it’s blinking green, it means the battery is fully charged.
- Contact a mechanic if you see a red color in the port light and it doesn’t change.
Should you charge it 100%?
The recommended is to charge it 90%. Avoid charging it to 100% or keep charging it once it’s fully charged. When you fully charge it, the braking may be less energy efficient because the battery is full.
How to Care for Your Tires
Compared to other vehicles, monitoring your Tesla car is easier with the app. The app sends notifications if something is not right with your vehicle. You can avoid costly repairs because it tells you when to get a tire check-up.
Don’t overinflate or underinflate your car as that can lead to overheating, a blowout, tire cracking, or treading separately and you lose complete control of your vehicle.
To extend the life of your tires and ensure the best performance, make sure to replace them every six years or sooner as required.
Steps to checking your tires:
1. Remove the cap of each tire, press the pressure gauge and attach an air nozzle over the air valve.
2. To fill the tire, use an Air Compressor Tire Inflator.
3. Fill the tire with just enough air. Never overfill it as that can result in tire issues.
4. Use the tire pressure gauge in checking the pressure and make sure it’s between 39 and 45 psi, for a safe range.
5. Reseal the valves tightly, making sure the screw top is secured.
Cleaning the Interior and Exterior of Your Tesla
Regular cleaning of your Tesla car can help extend the life of your car.
Tips for cleaning the interior:
- Don’t use bleach, all-purpose cleaner, or any harsh cleaning products.
- Use a clean microfiber cloth or soft rags when cleaning surfaces.
- Don’t wet the carpet to avoid mold.
- Use a lint-free cloth in cleaning the touchscreen.
Tips for cleaning the exterior of your car:
- Use a high-quality spray to not harm the paint.
- Don’t use harsh detergent on the paint.
- To avoid scratching or leaving any marks, use a microfiber cloth only.
- Don’t use high water pressure when cleaning vulnerable areas such as the rear-view camera.
- Don’t aim water into exposed cables or charging port.
- Dry the brakes after cleaning your car.
Frequently Asked Questions About Maintaining Your Tesla Vehicle
Can you maintain your Tesla vehicle?
If you know how to replace the air filter, there’s no need to schedule professional maintenance. But for other maintenance tasks such as testing your brake fluids for any contamination, we suggest contacting professionals for this. Hiring professionals for maintaining your car avoids costly repairs down the road.
Where should you go to get your Tesla vehicle maintained?
We suggest updating your software to help you determine if your Tesla vehicle is working properly or not. Should you need to get it professionally maintained, schedule an appointment using the Tesla app.
If you’re having issues with dents, paints, glass or bumpers, don’t hesitate to contact us for repairs.
Do I need to get annual maintenance for my Tesla vehicle?
You are not required to get professional Tesla maintenance every year. Check our recommendations above on when to take your Tesla car for maintenance or read the manufacturer’s manual. For other concerns with your Tesla vehicle, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us.
Can I transfer and cancel my maintenance plan with Tesla?
Should you decide to sell your Tesla vehicle, you’re allowed to transfer your maintenance plan to the new owner. You can also cancel your maintenance plan. However, you need to check the terms and conditions to ensure you get refunded for it.
How to Avoid Power Steering Failures
You are likely to experience this if you live in colder climates and you bought an older Tesla model. Why? Road salts can lead to excessive corrosion which results in power steering failures. Watch out for squeaking or screeching sounds made by your vehicle as you likely still have the aluminum bolts that are likely to corrode.
Take it to the service center so they can look at it and replace that with coated steel bolts. You shouldn’t have this problem if you have a newer model of Tesla.
Contact Top Tier Auto Body
We are an automotive company committed to helping vehicle owners repair their prized possessions. Our team of professionals can help with collision repair, paintless dent repair and vehicle repainting for your Tesla vehicles. Contact us today for an appointment.
