March 2023 - 26

attention. If the vehicle's wheels are out of alignment, the computer
may detect unusual tire wear or handling characteristics
and alert the owner or service technician through the vehicle's
onboard diagnostics system or via the Tesla mobile app.
However, when you are in service mode you can pull up
the chassis tab and have a look at the overall applied offset,
which is what the system has arrived at after monitoring certain
data parameters to detect a vehicle tracking issue. You
will not receive a notification until there is a very large offset.
I've inspected several vehicles and have found many of them
in the 2-3 degree range as shown in Figure 2. I've personally
aligned many of these cars and have taken the learned offset
inside of 0.4 degrees.
Performing a proper alignment should be done as recommendp
Figure 4 - Aftermarket camber adjustment link
shops because this was a significant barrier for anyone attempting
to properly perform a task such as a wheel alignment.
One thing to remember is that although one has access to these
options, special care should be taken in order to avoid something
going wrong. I recommend that if you're going to carry out actions,
you do so with advanced knowledge acquired through study and
attending technical training.
Additionally, activating 'Service Mode' does not provide
access to all service modes. You will need to have a subscription
to the Tesla Toolbox Software that will allow you to activate
'Service Mode Plus,' which will provide access to additional
resources. Access to service information, however, is now
available at no charge, all you need to do is sign up on Tesla's
website at service.tesla.com.
To enter service mode from the software page, " long-press " on
the vehicle model name for about five seconds. Once you release,
you'll be presented with a login screen. Enter 'service' and then
you'll be presented with a warning screen you'll need to acknowledge
in order to activate. Once you're in you'll see a red border
added to the display screen with various options.
If there are issues to address, you'll see a message at the bottom
of the screen with the number of active service alerts you should
be aware of. Touching the 'Service Alerts' button will present you
with a list and their visibility levels (Figure 1).
WHEEL ALIGNMENT
Did you know that a Tesla vehicle can alert the owner
or service technician if it requires a wheel alignment?
The Tesla vehicle's onboard computer continuously
monitors the performance of various systems, including the
suspension and steering, to detect any issues that may need
26 PTEN MARCH 2023 www.VehicleServicePros.com
ed by the service manual, which is with 300 lbs of ballast added
to the vehicle and adjusted to achieve the ride height specifications
(Figure 3).
As with most vehicles today, not all angles are adjustable
through conventional means however the service manual states
the following:
" The Model 3 and Model Y vehicles do not have dedicated
adjustment points for camber and caster. Instead, camber and
caster are adjusted by manipulating the suspension lash and
slop. The real-world accuracy of these adjustments is achieved
by installing ballast bags to simulate the presence of a driver
and front passenger. Performing this service procedure without
ballast bags compromises the real-world accuracy of the
adjustments. "
There are options as some aftermarket companies are now
offering solutions for achieving proper alignment angles. We
have begun installing components offered by a company called
p Figure 5 - Connectors of interest
http://service.tesla.com http://www.VehicleServicePros.com
March 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of March 2023
