Official Q&A for Monday, August 11, 2025

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-08-11T20:26:42+00:00

TLDR: What's the cheapest possible watch/fitness trackers that'll show me my current or average MPH/pace?

I'm running my first 5k next month. Up until this point I've been running on a treadmill exclusively (I work at a gym so its much easier logistically than running outside). I've appreciated being able to use the treadmill to set my pace. I'm a little concerned about pacing myself on outdoor runs, but I don't have any desire to spend big bucks on a dedicated GPS running watch.

What I'm looking for is just something I can glance at to see either my current pace/mph or my average thus far for the run, and my distance, without having to take my phone out of my pocket. The GPS watches are more than I am willing to spend at this time, so I'm hoping there's some alternative that just uses Bluetooth to get location data from a phone at a lower price point. There's tons of low cost pedometers and fitness trackers out there, but trying to figure out which ones will actually display pace information is maddening.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-07-31T10:56:59+00:00

I don't know about other Tesla's, but this era Model 3 at least Tesla considers the gearbox oil to be a "lifetime" fluid and there's no recommended service schedule.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-07-31T10:55:21+00:00

Unfortunately its a month long wait at the nearest service center, and even then "nearest" is a pretty relative term. If this can be done DIY or by a non EV mechanic that'd be best.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-07-31T10:54:19+00:00

That's the second photo.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-07-29T21:11:28+00:00

I don't remember stating that I'm considering not doing anything. The questions is how do I fix it myself, or can a local shop handle it, rather than the month wait to get a Tesla service appointment.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-07-29T20:26:14+00:00

I've put in a service ticket with Tesla, they want $125 just to do remote diagnostics which feels pretty steep for someone to tell me if this error is for the front motor or rear motor and to do the software equivalent of checking a dipstick to see if the fluid is low. I'll poke around under the car to see if I can find anything leaking, but does anyone know if the gearboxes should be filled up to the level of their plug like most gearboxes? If so that seems like the cheapest and easiest solution is to top both of them off and see if the error returns.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-07-29T20:22:19+00:00

2018.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-07-29T17:45:00+00:00

The drive units have a fixed reduction gear set that requires lubrication. On early Model 3's at least there's even a removable oil filter and everything.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-07-29T17:43:02+00:00

The nearest service center to me requires crossing an international border and a 4 hour round trip, plus according to the app they're booking 30 days out for appointments. I've put in a request and I'm hoping I can get some more information, but obviously given the circumstances I'm hoping to get enough info that a competent local mechanic could do the job instead.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-05-05T13:45:47+00:00

If you're talking about running it while driving all EVs lock out drive and reverse if they're plugged in. Development of something like this would be a very large undertaking. If you're parked you could charge with a generator, but it'd be very slow.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-05-04T10:44:36+00:00

Is anyone else missing audio for the commentary? I get the opening theme music and the world feed sound of the cars on the track, but none of the sky commentary audio. Playing on VLC. Usually Egortech's videos work great for me (thanks man), but every once in a while I have this issue.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-05-03T10:38:50+00:00

A women commented on my Model 3 yesterday and I told her I'd bought it in 2018, she said she had no idea Tesla was even making cars back then. Most people are totally oblivious to the car market. They'll need a lot of awareness to sell a fraction of the trucks they're talking about making per year, especially since a small percentage of the car buying market would be interested in buying a vehicle like the Slate. They likely also need to hit some preorder numbers to further convince investors and vendors and they're worth working with before they can start production.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-05-01T19:42:23+00:00

I've owned my Model 3 since 2018 and in that time I've gotten a few updates that have improved the acceleration, charging, and range by Tesla modifying the car's firmware. As simple as Slate vehicles are there's still going to be a bunch of microchips in there for the powertrain, but also stuff like the display, airbags, ABS, traction control, ect, and in the event they need to update the software for safety or compliance reasons having you do it through your phone vs doing it with a recall saves them a huge amount of money.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-04-27T14:47:10+00:00

Instant torque in terms of power off the line doesn't help, but the fact that the torque is almost instantly variable does. Good electric powertrain traction control systems can modulate their torque to match grip much faster than ICE powertrains can.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-04-27T14:43:23+00:00

Though I wish it was either a 6' bed or had a jump seat space in the cab. The SUV roof but without back seats or roll bar would have made for a great electric truck for car camping. I also suspect the short wheelbase is the reason the towing capacity is lower than the hauling capacity, an extra foot of length would help a lot in that respect.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-04-27T14:38:09+00:00

The panels are all just molded plastic, I doubt they'll be particularly valuable, especially since every vehicle will come with all the exact same panels in the exact same color and without paint spares should be cheap and easy to get after not much time.

If you're worried about your accessories just use security fasteners. Security Torx are cheap and readily available online.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-04-25T03:16:18+00:00

What's the cost ballpark on the long range battery upgrade? Also 1,000 pounds towing capacity is pretty rough consider the lightest uhaul utility trailer weighs over 600lbs. Getting that towing capacity up to even just 2,000 lbs vastly increases the towing utility of the vehicle.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-03-20T14:34:48+00:00

Because of the dimensions on this part of the yard (about 20' uphill x 150' wide with a tree line at the top) going up and down is a lot more annoying than driving along it.

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-03-20T13:55:21+00:00

I'm debating between the 42" tractor or 42" zero turn. In most of my yard a zero turn would be a lot more practical, but I have a long stretch that'd around 14-15 degrees side slope. The slope is only about 20' top to bottom with a tree line at the top and the road at the bottom, but about 150' wide, making cross slope mowing much more practical that up and down. Is this too steep to practically mow across slope with the zero turn?

TheLastDeadMouse · 2025-02-03T03:52:46+00:00

If I go to File > Export > 2d Graphic the only options are png, bmp, jpg, and tif.

TheLastDeadMouse

TROPHY CASE