Hopefully there's just a bad batch of actuators somewhere in the supply line and this isn't wide spread. Imagine how bad this could be if it were a code issue and could possibly affect a large amount of cars (like the 280k suggested).
This is not a minor problem. Very few modern drivers are familiar with non-assisted steering, and the steering setup on modern cars is not meant to be used unassisted.
Also having to get out of the car is a weird way to reset things. On old cars with broken power steering, shutting off and starting up will reinitialize things and maybe get them working. Does tesla not have a "reboot car computers" function?
I think getting out and leaving the car is the only way to fully reboot the car. There have been other issues where restarting the MCU (main screen) is insufficient. But I would think there would be a button in the UI to do a full reboot. But maybe they don’t want you in the car while that happens.
One thing that is fun is how the car is still drivable (and Autopilot/FSD still functions) when the main screen is force rebooted while driving. The Autopilot and car computer are separate from the actual UI computer. So you can be mid reboot while the car is autonomously changing lanes, but the turn signal sound effect isn’t playing because it goes through the audio system which is rebooting. Good for safety that it works this way and doesn’t just stop driving, but can be quite an adventure.
> Also having to get out of the car is a weird way to reset things. On old cars with broken power steering, shutting off and starting up will reinitialize things and maybe get them working. Does tesla not have a "reboot car computers" function?
I mean, for 'old cars with broken power steering', I'm thinking hydraulic power steering, probably low fluid from a leak, turn it off and on again isn't going to do anything. But that said, computerized cars often don't turn the computers off until you get out and lock the doors (or at least open and close the driver's door and maybe lock from the outside), if you need to cold boot something, that's the best way; just turn off and on usually doesn't turn the computers off enough.
I've always thought this was silly limitation. Can't use the steering without functional software. I think there's work being done to maintain some amount of assist through most faults.
I think this would be more software redundancy though, not a fundamental change in the mechanics / hardware to make base steering easier.
Funny you say that, my Cruze from 2012 to "reset" the computer I need to remove the negative terminal from the battery. Resets all of the radio stations and settings plus a few error codes which can falsely appear.
I had a Hyundai vehicle 5-6 years ago with a problem where the power steering would just outright _stop_ - didn't matter if you were driving residential, parked, driving on a highway, it would just randomly _stop_.
It's very scary when you're on the highway and you feel the wheel suddenly stiffen up.
Took the car into the dealership 2 weeks later, one firmware update and sensor swap later and didn't have any problems until I sold it recently.
In Tesla's case, I'd hope it's purely a software issue - makes it easier to update remotely for those that are willing to put up with remotely connected cars.
If it's a mechanical issue, that'll be a big ordeal - lack of dealerships would make this difficult to have recalls done efficiently.
A break in steering system would be a big deal. And unlikely. What is more likely is a reduction in power steering. If you are used to it manual steering is brutal especially on city streets or for things like parking.
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[ 3.5 ms ] story [ 35.7 ms ] threadThis is not a minor problem. Very few modern drivers are familiar with non-assisted steering, and the steering setup on modern cars is not meant to be used unassisted.
Also having to get out of the car is a weird way to reset things. On old cars with broken power steering, shutting off and starting up will reinitialize things and maybe get them working. Does tesla not have a "reboot car computers" function?
One thing that is fun is how the car is still drivable (and Autopilot/FSD still functions) when the main screen is force rebooted while driving. The Autopilot and car computer are separate from the actual UI computer. So you can be mid reboot while the car is autonomously changing lanes, but the turn signal sound effect isn’t playing because it goes through the audio system which is rebooting. Good for safety that it works this way and doesn’t just stop driving, but can be quite an adventure.
This is pretty standard for the industry as far as I'm aware.
I mean, for 'old cars with broken power steering', I'm thinking hydraulic power steering, probably low fluid from a leak, turn it off and on again isn't going to do anything. But that said, computerized cars often don't turn the computers off until you get out and lock the doors (or at least open and close the driver's door and maybe lock from the outside), if you need to cold boot something, that's the best way; just turn off and on usually doesn't turn the computers off enough.
I think this would be more software redundancy though, not a fundamental change in the mechanics / hardware to make base steering easier.
It's very scary when you're on the highway and you feel the wheel suddenly stiffen up.
Took the car into the dealership 2 weeks later, one firmware update and sensor swap later and didn't have any problems until I sold it recently.
In Tesla's case, I'd hope it's purely a software issue - makes it easier to update remotely for those that are willing to put up with remotely connected cars.
If it's a mechanical issue, that'll be a big ordeal - lack of dealerships would make this difficult to have recalls done efficiently.
Lol
There should be more redundancy now to ensure you don't lose assist. Not that it can't happen, but there's fault toleration.