Tesla Service Essentials

This course has been developed to help familiarize Technicians with regular service opportunities on Tesla Model 3, S, X and Y. Founded in 2003 and having launched its first vehicle to market in 2008, Tesla is seen by many as "the new kid on the block."

Many shops have eyed Tesla vehicles warily; with proprietary tools and technology, mobile service fleets, and a reduced number of moving parts in general, some shop owners have not been happy with Tesla's entry into the marketplace. It's hard to charge for an oil change when there's no oil to be changed.

While some shops see these vehicles as a problem, others consider them a new opportunity. Recently, Tesla has opened its gates to independent service shops - offering access to diagnostic software and information that was previously kept private.

Join industry veteran Jeff Taylor for this look at "Tesla Vehicle Service and Maintenance."

This special presentation will look at the different Voltage Systems, Tesla's unique "Service Mode" features, unique lifting requirements, regenerative brake systems, Tesla's diagnostic software, and low-friction tires.

Vehicle Body Electrical Accessories

The key to diagnosing a problem with an electric body control system is understanding how the system works. Knowing how the components work will help you correctly diagnose a failed component. Join industry veterans Jeff Taylor and Dom Sgambelluri for this look at "Vehicle Body Electrical Accessories.” We will highlight the significant changes made to the windshield wiper motor system throughout this lesson. A windshield wiper module controls the entire system. Requests for wiper activation are sent on the Local Interconnect Network or LIN Bus. Changes in technology change how we diagnose a fault in the system. Participants will be familiarized with activating components through scan tools, calibration and learn procedures, system overview and component operation.

Idle Start-Stop Technology

The Stop-Start system is used to improve fuel efficiency in stop-and-go driving. Turning off the engine under appropriate conditions at a traffic light helps reduce tailpipe emissions and save fuel that would otherwise be wasted idling the engine. When a driver comes to a red light, the engine shuts down while other components continue to run, including the air conditioning system, power steering, brakes and sound system.

The starter motor is upgraded with a high-performance electric motor and a stronger pinion engagement mechanism with reduced noise levels to support the increased number of engine starts. A sensor connected to the battery continually monitors the State of Charge and battery health. The Engine Control Module (ECM) uses this information to calculate if the battery conditions are sufficient for Stop-Start operation.

Start-Stop is a shared strategy among many modules using status information to determine what happens at the next stoplight. Since 2015, almost every major automaker has offered one or more models with idle Start-Stop control. For the technician, this adoption means that serial data communication bus and electrical diagnostics will be much more critical in the future.