Remember modifying your vehicle or improperly performing maintenance may invalidate part of your vehicles warranty or cause you harm so be careful and check with Tesla if you’re unsure, also any modifications will most likely need to be OK’d with your car insurance company. To the best of our knowledge, these guides are correct and factual however we take no responsibility if something does go wrong. If you spot a mistake please ensure you alert us.
In March 2019, Tesla took the unprecedented move to remove the requirement to annually service their vehicles and stopped selling their annual service product (which over 4 years would save the average Tesla owner £2,250 in servicing fees), from an owners point of view this led to two things happening:
- Owners thrilled but now some thinking their cars are indestructible and false news being spread that EVs don’t need any maintenance
- Other owners thinking this move was to simply alleviate busy service centres and increase out of warranty failings, whilst increasing the number of people that drive around anxiously waiting for something to fail on their car.
Tesla then focused on 6 recommendations for maintenance which cover the most basic of car maintenance, they then offer these services via the app. In 2021, Tesla has also launched a Winter Check available for £59 bookable via the app this covers:
- Thermal test (HVAC system)
- Coolant check (+top up if required)
- Tyre pressure and tread depth check
- Brake pads inspection
- Brake fluid check
- Lights inspection
- Windscreen wipers performance check
- Screen-wash top-up
- Tesla Thermal Travel Mug (as a gift)
What DIY maintenance can I do at home myself?
Tesla has a useful DIY section on their website this covers everything from changing air filters to fitting new window wipers so that’s worth a read but you may also consider:
- Simply doing a decent visual inspection of everything on the car (from doors to tyres and everything in between)
- Check again the inside edge of the tyres (hands and knees job) once a month
- Fill your washer fluid with some decent screenwash
- Learn how to properly clean the car + Remove green residue/build-up around the lights
- Swap to new wiper blades or simply giving them a proper clean
- Check your tyre pressures (when the car hasn’t been used for several hours) and keep them pumped up (buy one of these if you want to quickly and easily do this) and remember to do this every few months or especially when the temperature dramatically changes.
- Do some heavy braking to remove any surface rust on the brake discs, also consider putting the car into low regen mode for 1 day every few weeks/months
- Visually check your fluids (you should see a low/high figure)
- Cleaning and protecting all the rubber seals around the windows/boot/frunk with some Gummiplfege [especially in winter]
- Cleaning your charge cable and charge port with some Fast Drying Electrical Contact Cleaner and cotton buds
- Reduce the condensation build up in your tail lights
- Add a new battery to the physical key (if you have one)
- Give the car systems a reboot every few months
- Reformat the memory card for sentry mode every few months
- Lightly oil the gas strut mounts inside the tailgate 6 monthly to limit corrosion.
- Greasing all hinges and locks
- Replace the HEPA Filter
What else should I be doing to maintain my Tesla that I cannot do at home unless I’m an experienced DIY mechanic:
- Having your wheels properly aligned – This will likely reduce your tyre wear and therefore increase your range / longevity of your tyres
- Having your tyres moved from the back to the front (only valid for cars with the same sized tyres on the front & back)
- Grease brake callipers slides / service them (YouTube Video) – “Whilst the wheel is off I take the pads out, de-rust and remove dust, grit from them and put a little copper ease grease on the edges. Makes the brakes so much sharper. Adds 10mins a brake to my winter wheels changeover.” [Source]
- Check hoses, bushes and bearings for wear
- Check brake fluid condition and pressure flush to replace when needed
What 3rd party companies can perform more complex maintenance on my vehicle?
Parkway Prestige
Cleevely Electric Vehicles Ltd
