You think EV Batteries are Expensive!

[Sheepdip]

A buddy of mine has a Tesla that he commutes to the Bay Area with, his seat positioner developed a problem.

Let me say first, that I was surprised it had a cable actuator, motor operated to a little cam wheel made of plastic about the size of a silver dollar, and twice as thick just to unlock the seat for repositioning. This little cam wheel is the problem, its stripped and broken. Just get a new one right....wrong!

Not available, you have to buy the whole damned seat assembly to the tune of $6k. He has exhausted all means trying to find this part to no avail, so he is going to try 3D printing one.

Just one more reason I won't be driving an EV in my lifetime.

[biketopia]

I'm not a fan of the whole EV push, but that is 100% not a fault of being an EV. It's a part failure that isn't serviceable. That's an entire industry problem... Also, Tesla is not an auto manufacture, they are a tech company. They've gotten better in the auto world but still not great. There was a video I saw a while back that had two Ford engineers dismantling a Tesla and critiquing the build and manufacture process.

[62c30]

Last I heard Tesla was the lowest rated for reliability and not recommended by consumer reports.

[sakustoms]

Every day on the way home from work I pass a house with a Tesla model Y for sale in the front yard and a Lucid Air in the driveway. Looking like they can't give that Tesla away. It's been there so long.

[Accelo]

My Silverado has the same issue. No parts for the power seats. Only option was to purchase the complete motorized assembly. I think the assembly was close to $1700.

Tesla has never done well in Consumer Reports' annual reliability surveys and the same is true for the manufacturer's 2022 performance. CR released its latest report and it ranks Tesla in 19th position out of 24 automakers, still an improvement over last year when it came second to last out of 28 automakers

[FleetsidePaul]

Originally Posted by Accelo

My Silverado has the same issue. No parts for the power seats. Only option was to purchase the complete motorized assembly. I think the assembly was close to $1700.

Tesla has never done well in Consumer Reports' annual reliability surveys and the same is true for the manufacturer's 2022 performance. CR released its latest report and it ranks Tesla in 19th position out of 24 automakers, still an improvement over last year when it came second to last out of 28 automakers

They do it because they've got you by the short hairs. Why should they sell you a part when they can sell you a whole seat and pick your pocket? It's a racket.

I've seen used Tesla's for sale and somebody's taking a bath on them. Low prices and no takers.

[special-K]

Impulse buyers are learning their lesson.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by special-K

Impulse buyers are learning their lesson.

Close as I can get to a "LIKE" button, !

[weq92f]

.

There are a lot of unknowns in the EV market. This illustrates one of the potential issues that have been discussed which is the difficulty involved with the repair of components that will fail over time. Components that were engineered to do their thing...but only for a limited time.

I watched a video where the authors disassembled a Tesla battery pack. Their conclusion was that the thing was completely unserviceable and very likely, not recyclable.

While driving an EV might be an experience and certainly owning one would be, my interest ends with the warranty period.

-klb

[dmjlambert]

I hope your friend is able to reproduce the cam wheel. If 3D printing doesn't work out, there may be more options. I was impressed with this video and bookmarked it for plastic gear repair. https://youtu.be/eP3xJIJ-TbU It may lead to a repair idea for the cam wheel.
Also it may be possible to press a good wheel (from the other seat) into clay and cast a new one using resin.

[Steeveedee]

I'm thinking about back when gasoline-fueled vehicles experienced fires (they STILL do, but to a lesser extent). I've seen where battery anodes have improved tech to where an EV can go ten times as far. makes it more volatile, potentially. As the tech develops, the safety concerns will be addressed...hopefully with not a lot of loss of life. I will point out that any tech developed has an expected loss of life, starting with clubs. FWIW, utility companies calculate the expected loss of life due to emissions, for example.

[KW5413]

3D printing is probably his best bet. I did a quick search for "Contract 3D printing" in Dallas and quickly popped up a # of service companies like this...

http://3dallasprinting.com/

Should be plenty in any Metro area. Haven't got a clue what that stuff cost.

The next bet would see if he can find a machine shop. Some might even have some experience in cutting polymers. Most won't mess with a one-off small part but, you never know.

My shop deals with metals. Mostly Aluminum and some stainless steel. Hell, we build our own special SS bolts. We, also, have some Lexan and G10 parts we machine. We just delivered a special small parts project machined from 0.500" thick "blended" blended Acrylic. If he finds someone that will do it, it won't come cheap. But, options are out there.

3D printing is geared for one-off projects though so, if he can get that done for $ 300.00, or so...he should jump on it. Might want to do a couple. Probably get a better per piece price.

Or...find somebody with a wood cutting lathe and go all in Junk Yard Dog.

[CG]

I spent 40 years in the copier printer business. Ive repaired many gears in the field with a similar method to the super glue video. Good when you are in a bind, not good for long term.

[Just call me Sean]

The speedometer repair shop around here has been making small gears for many years. I would think a larger gear would be easier to make.

[Accelo]

I just watched a video and the guy needed a new battery for his 911 GTR. $2700.
This is the 12V battery that starts the Porsche.
Makes playing with our old Chevys looks inexpensive.

[special-K]

Tesla is a new upstart company with no history and is totally based on new ideas with a new business model. As with many from the newer generations coming of age as the target market, the attitude is screw how anything were done before, screw traditions, leap forward and don't look back, we are in charge now. So don't expect a trace of what once was when it comes to service. This degeneration is affecting the 100+ year old automakers as well, and all others branches of the consumer product world. When you come out of school (college) and can make annual salaries nudging on six figures you just get another one

[kwmech]

Originally Posted by special-K

Impulse buyers are learning their lesson.

Yup!! and one of my neighbors is one of them. Last year he was going on about the self driving that's gonna happen in a couple of years. I just laughed at him and said maybe 20 years. He scoffed ----oh well, keep on driving the Tesla. Cost him about 800.00 just to have an electrician put in his charging plug.

[special-K]

Have you seen how much tires cost for Teslas because they need to be insulated from grounding due to being electric?

[KW5413]

There is no special Tesla tire for electrical insulation. At one time they did line the inside with a foam layer for sound and ride issues...which made them expensive to repair.

[Axle]

Originally Posted by special-K

Have you seen how much tires cost for Teslas because they need to be insulated from grounding due to being electric?

EV tires are built different. I'll have to see if I can find it, but some UK car guy did an on-track and road comparison of Michelin whatever regular road tire and the same more costly Michelin in the EV version. His conclusion was if you got an EV, buy the EV tire as you'll take a performance hit if you don't.

My short summary: EV tires are more of an LT tire, meant to handle the electric motor loads on the tire and the weight penalty of battery packs.

[special-K]

Originally Posted by KW5413

There is no special Tesla tire for electrical insulation. At one time they did line the inside with a foam layer for sound and ride issues...which made them expensive to repair.

Shhhh...... You know that and I know that, but don't tell the EV drivers. They've been sucking up anything they're told. Let's not spoil it

[Dead Parrot]

2nd the talk to a machine shop if the 3d printing thing doesn't work. Or find a 'retired' machinist that enjoys making the odd part. Chances are you are not the 1st to have this problem. Someone out there may already have a fix.

[KW5413]

It is recommended that EVs are equipped with premium tires. Primarily due to the weight. Then there is the 0-60 MPH times as quick as 2.3 seconds...that demands the urge to confirm proof of concept...from time to time.

[Getter-Done]

Quick search on seat issues.

Those seat that move all the time are (Bound) going to wear out Quick.

Link:https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/thre...stions.217359/

https://teslamotorsclub.com/tmc/thre....217359/page-2

[special-K]

I say put drag slicks on all of them

I'm doing a job down in Consumerist City. A place where people seem to feel to do anything requires buying something first and pay someone to sweep the front doorstep so the cleaning people don't track dirt in. You don't see any cars over a few years old. There's a memorial garden with a sign up that offers "Green Burials". WTF is that? Anyway, leaving yesterday if I saw twenty Teslas I saw forty. Like every third vehicle