Could be, don’t know, don’t really care. I just find FSD more demanding of attention, and a lot more annoying, than just driving the car without it.
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Who has or is planning to get an electric car / EV Talk
- Thread starter PracticalMac
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It’s been reported the robotaxi will use HW3, so you can see where this is going. But you’re right when using FSD it brings me back to teaching my kids how to drive.
Regrettably (or maybe not) my audio clips are accompanied by colorful ex-military terms I’m not proud of but delight in using to amplify as well as clarify my personal feelings about things FSD gets wrong. I only wish I could do the same for the wiper performance.
Is your issue with the wipers the dry wiping and/or the performance when raining?
If it is when it is dry, I have not really had a problem with mine for the past 6 months to a year. I accept the occasional dry wipe with the understanding that the car will attempt to clear the area in front of the cameras. I have had both my interior glass (in front of the cameras) cleaned at Tesla, and I wash my windshields weekly (I have monthly unlimited car washes). I also have windshield protection film (about to need to remove them, but am looking for a more longterm solution).
If it is when raining, I have not had a problem with this, also for the past 6 months to a year. I change my wipers 1-2 times per year. I have seen videos on a chemical solution your can soak wipers in to keep them soft and pliable, but I haven’t taken that plunge yet, I just swap them. I buy 2 sets of wipers at a time from Tesla (I stop in and get them) for each. With this, it does a great job of wiping for me. I’m also in NY, so I don’t get a crazy amount of rain, nor do I get a ton of heat. But I do get salt and other close to NYC grime (lots of construction going on in the area of NYC where I work).
But, yeah, wipers aren’t perfect, but I would say since FSDs v12 came out, I haven’t really had the wiper issues I had prior.
Since Tesla uses Cameras for the windshield wiper sensor, there has been an issue of false wipes, or inappropriate wiping speeds when wipers are needed. This was a VERY annoying thing prior to last years holiday update (the major software release at the ending of last year). For me, and a lot of other Tesla owners I regularly communicate with do not have this issue any more. It’s more of an occasional dry wipe, which will happen if anything is obstructing the cameras.
But one thing I have noticed with Teslas, gripes can be legitimate. The problem is it an be something unique to the person‘s vehicle. For example, if there is dust on the inside of the windshield, the camera can think it is rain. The cameras may need to be recalibrated (since they are used for everything, it can affect wipers, autopilot/FSDs, lane departure warnings,…), it could also be the OS may need reinstalling.
Also, depending on where you live, you can develop a layer of filth on your windshield that can mess with the cameras. Once a month, I clean the windshield with a degreaser, this removes this layer that even my weekly car washes doesn’t.
Even with these, some people still have issues. But there are many many things that need to be checked before giving up and just chalking it up to a bad design (which I agree is unnecessary designed for cost cutting).
Do they have a wiper stalk you can use as well? My last three cars all had with auto wiper sensors. They mostly worked fine. But it’s always good to have a stalk to override when needed (or not needed).
As for cleaning the inside of a windscreen it’s my least favourite job. Doesn’t matter what I use I always end up with some smears (which you can’t see until driving into that low sun!).
I know. #first world problems!
Mine have the spray button, but not a wiper dedicated stalk, 2019 TM3 and 2021 TMY. The new 3’s and the S/X do not have stalks, the spray button is on the steering wheel. If you press the spray button it will wipe a couple times, with an extra delayed wipe. It will also bring up the wiper selection button on the infotainment system so you can quickly change to the different preset speeds, auto, or off.
Your cars had the traditional wiper sensor, which looks for water on the glass which causes a break in a beam across the sensor. This is the traditional way of doing it. Tesla has switched to camera only. When the camera detects water, it wipes. So if anything fools the camera, dirt (inside or outside) or improper calibration, it will mess with the performance.
Cleaning the inside of the camera area on these Tesla’s or any other vehicle with cameras behind the windshield is a job…. If you leave streaks/smears it will mess with the safety features. You don’t have to regularly clean it like other areas of the windshield, as long as the trim keeps the area sealed as it should. I had them cleaned one time since I got them. Tesla’s have a heating element built into the windshield in the camera area to reduce ice/dew obstructions.
Yeah, cleaning the inside of a windshield is a job. I usually do it outside and spend a lot of time moving my head around looking for streaks. It is a pain. I don’t like doing it either.
I bought some cloths on pads on a stick that help a bit. But still not my favourite car detailing job.
I’d much rather stick with the stalks. Gives you the best of both worlds.
As @JT2002TJ more completely explains, yes, wiper performance. On my 2018 Model 3 there is a push button on the end of the left stalk that, when pushed quickly, initiates a single wipe. When held a ½ second or beyond, will activate the wipers and spray nozzles, which are attached to the wipers themselves. There is no other manual control. It works, just is nowhere near as useful as the other rain sensors and dedicated wiper stalks in other vehicles. You can use voice commands to set wipers to run at four different speeds, or on Auto. On my car, regardless of software version, these wipers run erratically both dry wiping, poor wiping in misty conditions, decent but not terrific wiping in all other rain, confusing at night, etc., etc. Worst auto wipers performance I've had in 30 years overall.
To add excitement AutoWipers is automatically enabled when enabling FSD, presumably to ensure the windshield is clear in front of the main front-facing camera for the FSD functionality. This "feature" varies from software version to version. As if you need yet another reason to save the money and skip the FSD purchase.
Well FSD isn’t road legal in the UK so I’ll not have to worry about that problem (plus I’d never buy a Tesla).
I do not have erratic wipers. Auto wipers aren’t perfect but isn’t useless either.
Ford BEV just came back from a warranty repair - 2 faulty coax cables causing cameras, lane keeping, automated self driving and frontal protection to fail.
If it had been non warranty, cost would have been around $4,000 USD.
Now I am spooked.
Going to trade/sell it when it reaches the 3 year /36 month warranty expiration!
If it had been non warranty, cost would have been around $4,000 USD.
Now I am spooked.
Going to trade/sell it when it reaches the 3 year /36 month warranty expiration!
2023.
It's been 18 months into ownership and the issue was intermittent months prior.
But when the failure messages starting popping up 2 or 3 times a day and interfering with my safety systems, I brought it in.
Now I am starting to look for a replacement because I don't want to face huge non warranted repairs like this.
And here I thought having a 8 year / 100K HV traction battery warranty was enough = not now..
Often these charges are over inflated.
1. To get the desired result of people buying (leasing mostly) a new car every three years so it’s always under warranty.
2. Because often the dealer is charging the manufacturer so no need to keep it sensible!
Instead just take the £400 you would pay each month when the 3 years is done and put in a savings account. You’ll most likely be better off.
Makes me wonder if this is a common issue, but I don’t know any details about the Mach-E, just again, why would a cable fail unless it’s a mfg defect or you have rodents eating into it?
Mostly agree. But other reasons could be
Passes through bodywork without a grommet.
Salt or water erosion.
Either way they are both design floors.
Apparently, based on others who have this issue (quite common) and have fixed it themselves, the coax cables contain a fragile fiber optic cable bundle and that is what fails due to wear and bends around corners.
The DIY folks say that you have to handle the coax cabling like a virgin 😭
thy use fiber and copper in the same cable? Interesting (folks tend to be more careful with fiber than copper).
yea, I was wondering whether they use fiber optic, they are delicate for sure and don't like tight "corners/bends".
Infancy problems I suppose ;(
I see Mercedes’ year-on-year EV sales is down 30% in Q3. They attribute the dismal EV market to Germany and other European countries having cut subsidies that had encouraged people to buy them. I read their CFO said the Europe’s EV demand is running at far lower levels than ever expected. The 2035 ban might be too aggressive.
Maybe Mercedes Europe ev demand is down and ev demand, especially Tesla is up. For Mercedes it could be due to the pricing structure.