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One of the most notable differences between Teslas and traditional gas-powered vehicles is that the former don’t have engines. This effectively means that they don’t have check engine lights.
Still, every car must have a way of alerting drivers of any system malfunctions and potential problems. With Tesla being such an innovative company, Tesla vehicles come with sophisticated error and malfunction detection systems in place of check engine lights.
If you own or plan to buy a Tesla, you may want to know why these cars don’t have a check engine light. You will also want to know how and where system warnings and information show up in Teslas.
Why Tesla Cars Don’t Have a Check Engine Light
No Engine or Emissions
The check engine light often pops up when there is a problem in the engine, transmission, or emissions system.
As you already know, Tesla EVs don’t have a traditional combustion engine, which means there is no need for check engine lights.
Fewer Moving Parts
Electric vehicles (EVs) have fewer moving parts compared to internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.
For instance, the powertrain of a Tesla is much simpler and has only one main component, the electric motor.
Motors are much less complex than ICE engines and therefore easier to diagnose. As such, issues with Tesla motors are usually logged to the onboard computer.
Advanced Software and Hardware
Tesla EVs have a large number of sensors that monitor various components. These include sensors for the battery, motor, wheels, brakes, and even the tires.
These sensors constantly send data to the car’s onboard computer. The computer constantly logs and monitors this data to ensure your car is operating within normal parameters.
If the onboard computer detects a problem, it will send a notification to the driver’s smartphone and provide instructions on how to address the issue.
In some cases, the onboard computer may even be able to fix the problem without the driver needing to take any action.
For example, if the software detects a problem with the battery, it may automatically adjust the charging rate to prevent further damage.
Over-the-Air Updates
Another advantage of Tesla cars is their ability to receive over-the-air software updates.
This means that Tesla can remotely update the car’s software to fix bugs, add new features, or improve performance. These updates allow Tesla to quickly and easily address any issues that may arise.
In ICE cars, check engine lights are also used to indicate that the car is due for service. In Tesla cars, the software in each vehicle is capable of determining the exact parts that need service without unnecessarily worrying the driver.
Benefits of Tesla Cars’ Monitoring System
The smart and straightforward diagnostic features in Tesla cars provide several benefits over traditional check engine lights.
Firstly, the Warning Lights and Indicator icon alerts the driver to any potential issues before they become major problems.
They not only appear on the onboard display in real time but also show up in the owner’s Tesla app.
Secondly, the Self-Diagnostics feature provides a more detailed and accurate diagnosis of the problem. Traditional check engine lights can only indicate that there is a problem with the vehicle.
They do not provide any information about the specific issue. The Self-Diagnostics feature, on the other hand, can pinpoint the exact problem and provide instructions on how to fix it.
Lastly, the Tesla Car Status and diagnostics features are connected to Tesla’s network of service centers. This allows Tesla to remotely diagnose problems and prepare to fix the problem before the driver even brings the car in for service.
Take Away:
Tesla cars don’t have a traditional check engine light, but they have a monitoring system that provides a more advanced and accurate way of detecting and diagnosing problems with the vehicle.
The onboard Diagnostics feature provides a convenient and efficient way of maintaining the car, which saves you time and money in the long run.
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