I own a couple of Porsches, and any hard-core Porsche fan will tell you that if your car is out of warranty, don't use the dealer because they'll charge 2 or 3 times what a good independent shop will charge.
But Tesla is different....or so I thought. When our 2016 Model XP90 needed brakes and rotors, it was reasonable. So when a bunch of warning lights came on, we dropped it off without worry.
Tesla found the main front wire loom that had been damaged by mice, and had to be replaced at $4,000. They also stated that at 130,000 miles, the front correction links should be replaced for $2,000. Total out the door: $6,456.
I asked for pictures of the mouse damage, and when I got them, it appeared to me it could be repaired, not replaced. I know mice, and they will return, so I asked if they could wrap the harness with Honda mouse-proof tape so I would not be back in a year. Tesla stated that could not repair the harness. I said OK, if I get the new harness, can you at LEAST wrap it with the tape? They said no to that, too.
Tesla wants an answer QUICK when they have your car on a rack. I asked for an hour, and getting that was tough. I started calling repair shops. It's hard for a shop to say "Yes...we will repair the harness", but I can't tow it all over.
On my third call, I found Energized EV in Pomona, California, and spoke with the owner, Steve. I felt at ease after learning he is an Electrical Engineer, and, frankly, he was a cool dude on the phone and seemed like he was the most willing to accept my requests.
At the end of the day, the $6,456 repair cost me $900, and he wrapped the harness with the Honda tape. It did NOT need the front correction links that Tesla said were needed. He pointed out two other items that may need attention later, but not now. And lastly, because my wife will probably keep this car and run it into the ground, I had him do the Large Drive Unit coolant delete mod, which is pretty much mandatory for early cars, and that Tesla does not offer. He explained how his manifold mod keeps cooling intact while reducing the potential motor damage. Fantastic. All-in with everything, it was less than half what Tesla would have charged me, and I got much more.
Lastly, they did an alignment and washed the car. It runs so much quieter now. We could not be happier. When we picked up the car, I learned of his background at Disney, flying around the world and working on the Star Wars Rise of the Resistance. And he's a gear-head, with a couple of track cars.
I know this is long, but some businesses deserve a shout-out. This is one of them. read more