Posted on 01/14/2022 7:31:00 AM PST by Red Badger
As you may have heard, Tesla Model Y and Model 3 owners in Canada are having issues with their cars' heat pumps. This is a major problem that could be life-threatening, so it needs to be addressed and fixed as soon as possible.
That said, Transport Canada has put the cars under an “Issue Assessment Investigation.” The investigation is specifically related to Tesla's HVAC systems and potential problems with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning in frigid weather.
The government organization has not yet issued a recall. However, automakers must make Transport Canada aware of defects and potential safety concerns, and the information must be shared with all impacted owners.
Thus far, the organization has received at least 16 complaints from Model 3 and Y owners in Canada. As we previously reported, the complaints pertain to a lack of heat in extremely cold weather.
Transport Canada is working to figure out exactly what the issues are and whether or not they pose a real safety concern. However, at this point, according to a report by Teslarati, the organization's primary concern is the fact that the cars may not be able to appropriately clear the windshield for safe visibility. This is not only the ice or snow on the outside of the windshield, but also the "fog" that collects while driving, which can freeze and inhibit visibility.
We can only assume that Transport Canada also has concerns with the lack of heat, in general. However, Tesla owners can preheat their vehicles, make an effort to park them indoors, and use seat heaters for warmth. This isn't ideal, but it may assure that people remain relatively warm and safe while Tesla finalizes an over-the-air software update to correct the issue, which appears to have been caused by a previous firmware update.
Tesla's heat pump is a relatively new feature on the Model 3 and Model Y that's supposed to help in cold weather, especially related to range. However, if the software isn't working correctly in the coldest weather, it needs to be updated immediately.
Thankfully, Tesla is aware of the problem and working to fix it. In fact, Teslarati reported that a Tesla technician shared the following message on a Tesla Owner's Club forum:
“Tesla is taking this cold weather climate problem very seriously – they’re very worried about the safety of drivers and have definitely prioritized this issue.”
Hopefully, Tesla will be able to roll out the update ASAP. In the meantime, there's a chance a recall could happen. If you own a Model Y or Model 3 – and live in an area with cold weather – be sure to follow the necessary steps to remain safe and warm. You can find the most recent suggestions in the first article linked below. Moreover, if your windshield begins to fog up, pull off the road and clear it before continuing to drive.
Great idea. January 3, 2022. Menlo Park, California. Tesla parked in garage and the charger caught fire. Nearly $1 million in damage to the home (hey, yeah, it's a modest middle class ranch house that probably sold for $35,000 when built...but it's Silicon Valley ranch house!).
I see Teslas all over the place here every day.
Of course this is FLORIDA............................😉.
I remember the old Vacuum operated wipers on school busses and big trucks..................
Audi used to have an option to put Webastos in high end A8s, mostly for those going to Russia and Scandinavian countries. This in the late 90s.
Maybe there could be a “cold weather” variant of the car that has a small gas powered heater system. Use chemical energy for heat and the battery for powering the motor. This would also keep you from freezing if the battery dies and leaves you stranded somewhere.
LMAO! Great FReeper practical solution!
I don’t believe it would cost a million to repair its the land you by that cost so dam much
See my #s 15 and 26.
...and there was NOTHING like the old VW bug (we had a ‘62) heater which passed air over the cylinder fins. There was always that faint aroma of dirt, oil and gasoline fed to the compartment.
For a crappy heater, nothing beat my 1976 Jeep CJ7 with a rag top and wire frame cloth doors with zero air sealing. A buddy and I drove it from California to Colorado for a ski trip once and it was so cold that our water bottle in the passenger compartment froze SOLID. We wore our parkas and ski pants the whole way. Oh, to be young and stupid again!
I had an old Chevy half ton pickup with vacuum wipers. They still worked but were crotchety.
I think it’s pretty cool that Corvettes had vacuum powered pop-up headlights all the way into the 1970s (IIRC).
Even better than that, they could put a real time forward looking camera in the driver's position, and you could sit back in your living room and just pretend you're actually in the car. Then they wouldn't have to use any heating at all!
So a toy car can’t keep you warm?
Interesting.
Someone didn’t do the research on what happens in cold weather with EV’s. And it wasn’t Tesla.
You buy a toy, don’t count on it. Sort of like expecting a Bugatti to be a daily driver.
That is about the only solution that would work.
I had an old truck that blew the heater fan. So rolling down the windows in the cold was my ONLY solution.
Hated that thing. Was glad to see it go.
That’s interesting about the Audis with aux heaters as recently as the 1990s. To me it seems like a very acceptable fix for the EV heater problem. I’m sure the Tesla engineers could integrate it nicely into the design.
But you adapted. :)
And make no mistake about it, that was a *very* high end sedan. “Like a linebacker in a business suit” was one of my favorite summaries of that car. All-aluminum unibody, handled well, was rigid as could be, and fast for the time.
Nope, you are out of date, Al.
The article actually said $750,000 DAMAGE excluding land.
Land sells for about $3 million per acre (an old nursery on three-quarters of an acre in Los Altos sold for $12.5 million in April 2021).
The house in Menlo Park would sell for close to $4 million (Zillow says $3.9 million).
So $750k damage for a total loss is correct.
The house is 2,200 sq ft. At $750,000, that is $340/sq foot for new construction. You cannot get a house built for that price around here. The house was probably not a total loss, so it probably can be rebuilt for $340/sq foot.
Construction costs for new homes here were $300 to $700/sq foot a few years back and are probably at least 50% higher than that today. That is CONSTRUCTION cost, excluding land — just the materials and labor. Don’t forget that “soft costs” (architect fees, site surveyor fee, structural engineer fees, landscape architect fees, environmental permit fees, building permit fees, Title 24 consultant fees, etc.) add 20% - 25% over the construction costs.
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