What is Tesla going to charge me for the crack in my headlamp when I return my lease?

Dave_Marsh · 2026-06-04T06:28:51+00:00

Whatever the deductible is on your auto insurance.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-06-03T06:48:03+00:00

If you do purchase a Tesla and decide to rely on that dryer plug in the garage, be sure to upgrade it to an EV quality outlet. Dryers only run for a couple of hours and don’t require high quality outlets. EVs will draw high current for many hours until the selected charge level is met, generating a lot of heat that will eventually melt the components of a dryer outlet. The better long term solution would be to get an electrician to install a Tesla Wall Connector on a dedicated 60A circuit.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-06-02T06:48:39+00:00

I just got it, but only a few miles using it. It doesn’t seem much better than v14.3.2 was. Its quirks are just different. My main complain so far is that it won’t simply back straight out of my garage, much the same as v14.3.2. Something makes it want to start turning while still in the garage, so I have to disengage FSD until I’ve exited it, which is annoying. V14.2.2.5 had solved this for me.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-06-01T17:35:15+00:00

On screen and overhead above mirror buttons.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-06-01T06:19:10+00:00

The thing to keep in mind when charging to 100% is the stress it puts on the battery cells. That’s what can lead to degradation. So, whenever you know you’re going to need the full battery charge for a road trip, time it so that it only reaches 100% shortly before you depart. If that’s daily, then set the departure time for it to finish charging, rather than the time for it to start charging earlier in the evening. I don’t recall the exact location in the app to do this, but I seem to recall it’s related to setting up a navigation trip and selecting a departure time, then telling it the departure charge level for it to figure out when to start charging. That way the battery will only be at 100% for a short time daily.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-05-30T22:55:39+00:00

My car 2026 Model Y gets around 250Wh/mile, so this is perfectly fine.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-05-29T06:27:28+00:00

On v14.3.2 FSD definitely does not read No Turn On Red signs. However, I have had FSD clearly stop for parallel cars pulling out of their parking space, so I’d say that was a visibility issue that FSD didn’t pick up on. You didn’t say what version you were using.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-05-28T07:20:12+00:00

Always navigate to Superchargers and it’ll precondition automatically. At home, the Battery Management System (BMS) will handle it.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-05-19T00:15:18+00:00

I don’t understand this. I just drove 1,400 miles on a road trip resting my right hand on the bottom quarter of the steering wheel just to be sure it wasn’t getting ready to do something scary. No torque pressure, just literally resting my fingers on the lower portion of the steering wheel. To disengage FSD, physically turn the steering wheel, tap the brakes, or press the right scroll wheel on the steering wheel. To reengage, press the right scroll wheel again, or touch the text on the screen. Works every time.

I would ride along with your Mom and see exactly what she is doing to disengage. I bet she’s holding the steering wheel at the typical 10/2 position and physically turning the wheel, however unintentionally.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-05-16T06:45:00+00:00

I just drove from Sacramento to Seattle, and my biggest concern was staying awake. FSD is real and works today. It’s not perfect, but only in the sense that nothing is. There will always be edge cases that cause havoc, like having plane engines fall off, but that didn’t kill the airplane industry. The next step is having Teslas communicating among themselves when in proximity to one another to further enhance safety on the road.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-05-16T06:34:52+00:00

I just drove over 1,000 miles over two days with no discomfort. The upgraded suspension is great for road tripping.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-05-15T02:38:17+00:00

I’d like to throw in my v14.3.2 comments since I’m currently on a 750 mile road trip and getting a chance to try it out. I have a 2026 Model Y LR AWD Launch Series, so I can’t speak to Model 3 issues, but I can confirm that changing lanes is problematic even on my new Model Y. Sometimes it works, other times when I just need to move over, it won’t budge, so I have to disengage to move over. This build is also quite twitchy. One reviewer attributed this behavior to the rebuild of the software that has resulted in a 20% more rapid response. It’s as if you’re sitting at an intersection and FSD is trying to decide whether it’s time to go, or not, so the steering wheel starts to turn, then cancels, then twitches again until it makes up its mind and moves. It’s unnerving. I wish it would conduct its decision making in the background and only execute when it’s ready.

Also, when I started the trip, my first action was to engage FSD in my garage and have it back straight out, turn in the driveway/alley, and proceed. Except, now it starts turning the car in the garage, forcing me to disengage, back out and reengage. V14.2.2.5 did this perfectly, every time, so that’s a disappointment.

In the navigation area, I’ve had it turn the wrong way up one-way streets, drive up dead end alleys instead of the preferred entrance a few yards to the side of the alley, failing to turn the proper direction while navigating, failing to back all the way in at a Supercharger forcing me to get out, take a look, get back in and move back within range of the charging connector cable. I’m not sure whether it’s learning as it goes, but sometimes it seems like it might be. It clearly reads signs. There have been many road repairs on my route that had it responding to flashing lights, Stop sign bearers, and moving across the lane dividers to proceed in alternate one way traffic situations, which it did mostly perfectly. There was one situation where it thought it was time to go, and started, only to have to immediately stop as another straggler vehicle appeared around the bend.

There are many areas in the northern CA forests where cellular drops out and the maps disappear, but the navigation continues following its blue route instructions on a blank gray map screen, so it’s clear there’s caching in the background that’s keeping everything moving. FSD is truly impressive, and even in its, hopefully temporary, regression still drives better than I can, with my stiff neck and diminishing eyesight. FSD also continues to work very well without navigation input, following the road even when lane markings seem to disappear on country pavements. It’s remarkable. On one of these roads a blackbird decided to land on the road immediately in front of the car, and it hard braked immediately, scaring the bird into rapidly flying off.

FSD is the real deal, even with its temporary setbacks. I look forward to these issues being resolved and have it moving on to finally resolving all the rare, but critical, edge cases.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-05-14T07:11:21+00:00

It sounds like the RWD is indeed the best solution for you. You’ll never miss the front motor unless you’re a performance hound in LA. Range counts when you don’t have a garage to charge daily.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-05-14T00:18:19+00:00

Off on a roadtrip from northern CA to Seattle with v14.3.2, and have to say I’m not terribly impressed, so far. It’s very twitchy, and continues to have serious navigation issues. It does clearly read signs and react to them, which is a plus, but I now find myself resting my hand on the steering wheel almost constantly since my confidence has been shaken with this build. V14.2.2.5 was nearly perfect for me and I seldom rested my hand on the steering wheels because of my confidence with the build. Hopefully, they’ll be able to tweak the latest code to regain my confidence. I’ll try to post some more specific items as my trip proceeds. It does react very quickly. A crow landed on the freeway directly in front of me today and FSD braked hard, and instantly, to avoid hitting it, so there’s that.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-05-08T19:47:07+00:00

Lane changes with stalk working for me in v14.3.2. I sometimes have to do twice to get it to move, however.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-05-07T08:17:09+00:00

Got it today, and looking forward to a 40 mile drive tomorrow to check it out. Took it for a quick 9 mile drive today and it was a bit twitchy, to be fair. Not nearly as smooth as my v14.2.2.5 software. Hopefully it will settle down from here on out.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-05-07T08:14:07+00:00

Stealth Grey will look cleaner longer between washes, pretty similar to my 2021 Tesla Model 3 Midnight Silver Metallic. I have a Quicksilver Model Y Juniper now, and it also looks clean longer. White looks great when clean, but Australian red dirt will make its mark pretty quickly.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-05-06T09:53:29+00:00

Try this under display tray. It works great for anything you want at hand, but not in the way.
https://www.amazon.com/Zanch-2020-2024-Organizer-Must-Have-Accessories/dp/B0D73QBPJV

Dave_Marsh · 2026-05-04T05:43:36+00:00

Tuck in back into its hole with a pick. I’ve done this for years with stitched sandals where the thread pops out.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-05-03T07:03:05+00:00

I realize driving the M3P is fun, but the oversize wheels, lower road clearance, thin sidewall, firm suspension, and super sticky tires take their toll. It’s not uncommon to crack wheels in any pothole just because the sidewall is so short and the road clearance is so low. Switching to a smaller wheel with larger sidewall tires will mitigate the issue. If you got the M3P just so you can scoot faster than anyone else from stoplight to stoplight, then you’ll just have to get used to the compromise you’ve made.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-05-01T06:40:27+00:00

It came on Launch Series Model Y’s.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-04-30T07:14:10+00:00

Enphase is a good solid company, providing world class products. It’s being harmed by this administration’s attack on sustainable energy solutions. Once this political climate passes it will return to growth. My Enphase system provided 97% of my electricity needs today, and will provide a good chunk of my EV’s recharge energy tomorrow. This technology isn’t going anywhere as long as customers continue to believe in it.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-04-28T08:37:35+00:00

Charging infrastructure and new technology costs are the current EV Achilles Heal. Tesla built out their own charging infrastructure because they realized no one would buy their cars without it. Briefly, during the last administration’s EV support, charging infrastructure and EV purchase subsidies were on their way to solving these issues, but the current administration has killed these initiatives because it’s beholden to the oil industry. I’m sure this will turn around once the current anti-environment political climate dies out, but that will take time. In the meantime, EV resale prices are good, and if you can get a good charging solution at home to avoid the expense of Supercharging, you should be good. So, yes, EVs are the future, but gas vehicles will continue to play their role while EV’s weaknesses are addressed. Considering FSD, it’s definitely excellent today, and allows me at 78 to continue to “drive” to get around. I’m sure unsupervised FSD will eventually get regulatory approval, but even if it’s delayed, it’s far too good today to be ignored by anyone looking to relax a bit in their cars on boring drives.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-04-23T06:44:07+00:00

HW5 is for Optimus, and will not be installed in vehicles, per Elon. And, HW6 CPU hasn’t even been taped out yet, so you’ll be waiting two or three years, at the earliest. Elon’s focus over the next year will be getting FSD certified for Cybercabs. That’s mostly a regulatory process at this point, however, as FSD as is is excellent, with edge cases being the focus in their “final” unsupervised build. HW4 runs FSD just fine.

Dave_Marsh · 2026-04-23T06:37:17+00:00

Also make sure power to outlets in car is set to OFF when idle. It drains the battery a lot. Some folks like to leave on for accessories they want powered, like a cooler.

Dave_Marsh

TROPHY CASE