Tesla cannot fix stalled firmware update without replacing whole center console...
Model S tries to install downloaded firmware update every night and progress bar stalls at 10% consistently. I need to reset the touchscreen each morning to be able to drive. Brought car to the shop and was told it is a failing SD drive (apparently the firmware gets loaded on that) and needs the whole infotainment MCU replaces at a cost of ~$2.5K!
Told them I would be ok to no longer receive firmware updates as it is a 2013 model (no autopilot features) so they just need to avoid the daily install of the new version so it doesn’t need a daily reset. They said they cannot do this. The written message basically suggest the extent of their diagnostics is that they inserted a new SD card in the reader and it didn’t work with that either.
Issues:
1. You need to do more detailed diagnostics than just staying ‘its probably the SD reader’
2. It’s a sign of bad non-modular hardware design that you cannot replace part of a full infotainment system
3. It’s a sign of bad UI software design that you cannot have a simple ‘abort’ button on a firmware install. My $700 phone has that but apparently a $100k car does not
So far I have not approved the repair.
Anyone experienced a similar issue?
Told them I would be ok to no longer receive firmware updates as it is a 2013 model (no autopilot features) so they just need to avoid the daily install of the new version so it doesn’t need a daily reset. They said they cannot do this. The written message basically suggest the extent of their diagnostics is that they inserted a new SD card in the reader and it didn’t work with that either.
Issues:
1. You need to do more detailed diagnostics than just staying ‘its probably the SD reader’
2. It’s a sign of bad non-modular hardware design that you cannot replace part of a full infotainment system
3. It’s a sign of bad UI software design that you cannot have a simple ‘abort’ button on a firmware install. My $700 phone has that but apparently a $100k car does not
So far I have not approved the repair.
Anyone experienced a similar issue?
0
Comments
There are a couple of aftermarket people that can repair the problem. It has been discussed on here and on TMC.
In my case it was navigation data that would not load.
IMHO the choice to put an SD card in this hardware was a very poor decision.
I'm a retired EE that worked on computers that I could walk inside of, in other words they were massive.
It's soldered-in flash memory. The memory tech is the same as a consumer SD card, but it's not (easily) replaceable.
@euroguyinbayarea - You've got more serious problems than the failed update. It sounds like the eMMC flash drive is failing, and even if you have no update, it's going to cause other problems, perhaps a lot of problems. As others noted, it is a soldered component deep in the MCU.
We can argue if the design, made back in 2009 or so is the best approach, but very similar to all other auto manufacturers. Any fault in the entertainment system and the dealer replaces the entire unit, even if it's only a $5 part that failed. Dealers and Tesla service centers are not well equipped to deal with electronic failures down to the component level. It does make it expensive when such items do fail.
I'd also point out the eMMC memory in your phone is also not replaceable, and when it fails, the phone is junk. The advantages manufacturers have with phones are other items such as the battery or cracked glass make the phone disposable after 2-3 years, so it's rare to get to the eMMC end-of-life in a phone.
The current MCU2 uses a different part that should last 4 or more times longer as it's much larger and uses newer technology not available back in 2009.
They have fixed this issue lately, but the damage has already been done to many cars out there. Being a software engineer with a lot of experience with solid state devices, I know that you do not write to them over and over again. It is a bad idea and will cause them to eventually fail. Tesla should have lowered the amount of logging a long time ago.
I am having issues with my car where audio is pausing every few seconds randomly, and my driver's assist features are becoming disabled at random times. I am convinced that my MCU1 eMMC is starting to fail. I have a service appointment (the second one for this) and hopefully they will replace the MCU. I would love to get a MCU2, but I do not think that will happen.
I wish this forum had edit.
He said it's not possible to upgrade to MCU2 with the early Tegra units or that it would involve a new dash as well. He said he wasn't aware of a successful update, though it sounds like some are kluging a solution with effort.
Car doesn't charge.
How ironic for you!
Rear View Camera HSD Jumper(1127304-00-B) $8.80
MCU,MDLX,NA PREMIUM,REMAN(1098010-00-F). $1800.00
ANTENNA , BLUETOOTH(1052393-00-B). $7.70
Total Parts (USD). 1,816.50
Total Labor (USD). 351.00
Discount. 0.00
Subtotal (USD). 2,167.50
Tax. 140.78
Total Amount (USD). 2,308.28
The service rep told me the web browser should load faster. I can verify it went from really really slow to now really slow. What I found interesting was the MCU went black and would not reboot but the display behind the steering wheel still functioned enough to drive, charge (both at home and Superchaarge) and even do basic TACC. My car wouldn't do full Autopilot (stay in lane), navigation, radio, air conditioning, turn signal sounds, etc. I could even drive the car safely at night but very quietly.
Surprised they didn’t goodwill it so close to 50k. Letting the maps download now, so haven’t checked it out. I did get an LTE upgrade in the process by design. Exact same parts on my estimate.
Back in business.
How much did they charge you?