Tesla Adds New Brakes Panel to Service Mode in 2023.38 Update

By Eva Fox
Tesla has added a new brakes panel to service mode to improve brake maintenance
Tesla has added a new brakes panel to service mode to improve brake maintenance
fahrty

Tesla continues to improve its Service Mode, which makes it easier to diagnose issues and replace parts. In Tesla update 2023.38, Tesla added a new brakes service panel that allows diagnosing wheel speed sensors and various brakes systems.

New Brakes Panel

There’s a new brakes panel in Service Mode that allows owners and service technicians to diagnose wheel speed sensors, the Electronic Park Brake (EPB), Electronic Stability Program (ESP), and Electromechanical Brake Booster (iBoostor). You can also perform certain actions, such as releasing EPBs, bleeding brakes, and running a stiffness test, according to the Service Mode release notes.

Tesla continues to expand the abilities of its Service Mode, which facilitates the maintenance of the vehicle for Tesla service centers and traditional repair shops. Elon Musk has stated that Tesla is striving to significantly improve the efficiency of its service centers in an effort to reduce wait times, and this likely helps accomplish that.

In update 2023.32, Tesla also made Service Mode changes by improving service alerts and added a new ECU status panel as well as updates to the low voltage battery and heat pump panels.

Before that Tesla added the ability to diagnose issues with the steering wheel stalks and scroll wheels in update 2023.26.

Access to Service Mode

Service Mode is a “hidden” app in every vehicle that lets owners with more advanced knowledge perform certain actions to diagnose or service their vehicles. Although the app is meant for Tesla service centers, anyone can access Service Mode. Keep in mind that certain vehicle safety features are disabled when Service Mode is enabled and the vehicle should not be driven in most cases.

Other Changes in 2023.38 Update

Other Service Mode changes in update 2023.38 include changes to the Camera Preview, which is allows you to change the pitch of the camera, as well as enhancements to “Instruction HV Shunt Replacement (Service Mode Plus)” and “Airbags, and Seats Panels.”

Camera Preview

Preview the front camera pitch verification lines and other cameras as well.

To do so, tap Driver Assist > Cameras.

Enhanced instruction HV Shunt Replacement (Service Mode Plus)

New instructions with an image to help you find the shunt resistance value and run the shunt replacement routine.

To do so, tap High Voltage > Tools > Shunt Replacement.

Enhanced Airbags and Seats Panels

New routines to help you perform all required actions after a Restraints Control Module (RCM) replacement.

Safety & Restraints > Airbags

Tesla Is Now Offering Cybertruck Test Drives [List of Locations]

By Karan Singh
@brandonhd

Tesla has begun to reach out to customers in the United States and is offering demo drives of the Cybertruck on an invite-only basis. @brandonhd on X shared the first invite image, and it looks like it's going out quite quickly to multiple locations that have Cybertrucks on display.

Up until now, display vehicles have been for just that – looking, but no touching. Some Tesla delivery centers and showrooms have also allowed viewers to take a seat inside and open it up, but most are still locked away behind the velvet rope.

It’s exciting to see that Tesla has begun to demo them – and it can only be so long until demo drives open up to everyone.

Advisor-led Demo

This Demo Drive is led by a Tesla Advisor – while you’re driving, the advisor will be in the passenger seat, walking you through the experience. They’ll explain steer-by-wire, off-road controls, and will introduce new-to-Tesla buyers to all the features that are currently available.

Once FSD V12.5 comes to the Cybertruck, we’re sure they’ll be demoing its capabilities FSD capabilities as well.

Locations

The list of locations so far for demo drives appears to be fairly limited, but we will hopefully see demo drives roll out throughout the United States, and eventually Canada too. Here is the current list of city/state locations that have seen demo drive invites.

  • Manhasset, New York

  • West Covina, California

  • Los Angeles, California

  • Houston, Texas

  • Orlando, Florida

  • Westmont, Illinois

  • Tucson, Arizona

  • Phoenix, Arizona

  • Delaware

Musk Confirms 'Actually Smart Summon' is Coming in a Revision of FSD V12.5

By Karan Singh
Not a Tesla App

Actually Smart Summon, the successor to Tesla’s Smart Summon feature, has been confirmed to be coming as soon as next month as per Elon Musk. Colloquially known as “ASS”, Actually Smart Summon is supposed to improve on the regular Smart Summon capabilities, which have historically used ultrasonic sensors (USS) to navigate parking lots.

We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon, and we’re quite excited about what other features will be unlocked once it finally shows up at our doorstep.

Vision-based Improvements

ASS is supposed to bring Smart Summon to vehicles that don’t have USS – using Tesla Vision. Most recently, Tesla has brought Autopark to vehicles without USS, and Vision-based Autopark has been a huge success. It is faster, more reliable, and smoother than the older USS-based solution. It can also park and maneuver in tighter locations.

Just recently, Tesla returned the Model X’s self-presenting doors, using Tesla Vision. Vision has seen some fantastic improvements, and many people are waiting for ASS to bring forth these improvements to Smart Summon.

Smart Summon Today

Today, Smart Summon is sometimes useful at best, usually a party trick, or downright dangerous at worst. It’s excellent and best used in straight lines, where you have a clear line of sight of the vehicle, and can stop it if doesn’t see an obstacle.

I used Smart Summon today, just before writing this article – my 2022 Model Y (with USS) – did manage to show up just fine – in a straight-line location from where I was parked, after exiting the parking spot fairly cleanly. However, I’ve previously used Smart Summon and have had the vehicle turn towards obstacles, such as cart returns or curbs. Overall, it’s a sometimes-useful feature that has a lot of drawbacks right now.

Smart Summon is also restricted to a certain distance – and it's pretty small. The max distance is shorter than most parking lots, being only about 215 ft (65m). If you’re lucky enough to park close, it's very useful to bring your car right to you.

Actually Smart Summon

ASS will bring FSD V12-like capabilities to Smart Summon – the vehicle will primarily use Vision to drive toward you (or the location you’ve indicated). ASS has been supposed to be coming since about September 2022 and has seen many delays – we’re almost at the 2-year point today.

We’re looking forward to Actually Smart Summon being able to bring the vehicle – safely – right to you. ASS is also one of the key steps towards bringing some other cool features that Elon Musk has previously mentioned – Park Seek and Banish Autopark.

We’re also hopeful that Actually Smart Summon will increase the maximum range a vehicle can be summoned, because the current range is fairly small. Alongside Park Seek and Banish Autopark, we’re closing in on a Robotaxi-based future.

Park Seek and Banish Autopark

When the FSD v12.4 showed up, Elon also mentioned that going forward, vehicles would automatically park themselves when arriving in a parking lot – Park Seek – and that if you got out of the car at the entrance to a business, you could get it to automatically park itself in the parking lot – Banish Autopark. These are two features that are needed for Robotaxi to work – which itself is delayed to October 10th of this year. We’re looking quite forward to them – as in combination with Actually Smart Summon, Tesla has reached the cusp of vehicle autonomy.

A vehicle that arrives, driverless, at the location you’re at, then drives somewhere, parks itself there, and waits for you – is the definition of a Robotaxi.

While we’re likely to have to wait for Banish Autopark and Park Seek just a bit longer, Actually Smart Summon being around the corner is exciting! Gone will be the days of having to run out to your car when you forgot your umbrella – your car will just come right to you instead.

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