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Tesla’s $16k Quote for a $700 Fix Is Why Right to Repair Matters

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Re: Tesla’s $16k Quote for a $700 Fix Is Why Right to Repair Matters

#121

Post by ethbr0 »

gamegoblin wrote: post #108
ethbr0 wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Brass is downright professional. https://www.jbweld.com/product/j-b-weld-professional-size

I started woodworking as hobby a few years ago, and used some epoxy here and there to fill voids in wood. But after having epoxy on hand all the time, I realized just how absurdly useful it is for fixing little things around the house. Our microwave handle barb broke off. Epoxy it back on. Dropped a potted plant and the pot broke. Epoxy it back together. Etc. There are super ergonomic and foolproof products that I fe…

Two part epoxy is duct tape for adults. I patched a cracked tub basin with marine grade and embedded fiberglass -- lasted 6 years (so far).

Re: Tesla’s $16k Quote for a $700 Fix Is Why Right to Repair Matters

#122

Post by raisedbyninjas »

smt88 wrote: post #37
hef19898 wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So truely the Apple of cars then.

Not exactly. Apple is renowned for the build quality of their hardware.

Tesla design and build quality can sometimes be pretty good after several years of questionable revisions.

Re: Tesla’s $16k Quote for a $700 Fix Is Why Right to Repair Matters

#123

Post by judge2020 »

raz32dust wrote: post #20

When a company like Apple says that only their app store can run on iPhones, HN crowd usually sides with Apple, with the justification that "It is a free market. People can buy another phone if they don't like it." Why doesn't the same principle apply here? If your car company does not offer the right to repair, then buy another car. What is the difference? Both are instances of big companies gating access to their d…

There is a right to repair on cars, it's a law. But there's not a right to repair on cars someone else owns, ie. a lease, like the customer in the article got his car via.

Re: Tesla’s $16k Quote for a $700 Fix Is Why Right to Repair Matters

#124

Post by ethbr0 »

kube-system wrote: post #101
stevev wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hack fix are subjective. That same logic can be applied to any car makes. Repairs are not a black box. They’re not using duck tape. A fix is a fix

If you take an engineered system and apply a non-engineered fix, I'd say it's a hack, even if it works. Did this person do a metallurgical/chemical engineering analysis before changing the material type? OEMs do this on their cooling systems. No, they used a standard off-the-shelf fitting out of convenience. Will it work? Probably. Is it a compromise in terms of engineering design and testing? absolutely. Mind you, T…

I think some of the outrage is Tesla owning the car, but essentially demanding the renter keep it in like-new condition.

Legally subject to the terms of the lease, of course. But it feels unfair not to accept normal wear and tear and reasonable repair.

Re: Tesla’s $16k Quote for a $700 Fix Is Why Right to Repair Matters

#125

Post by elisharobinson »

passivate wrote: post #102
namdnay wrote: post #3

A bit of a stretch to classify this under right to repair.. if you rent a car from tesla, it’s going to be up to tesla to choose how it’s repaired. And it doesn’t seem unreasonable that they won’t accept a hack fix (however safe it may be) - that car is going to be sold to someone once the lease expires, they just can’t take the risk I would read this as a cautionary tale against renting your cars. If you can’t buy i…

>that they won’t accept a hack fix (however safe it may be) - that car is going to be sold to someone once the lease expires, they just can’t take the risk But why are you calling it a hack fix? Also, why would a competent third-party repair shop be "risky"? A customer should be free to pick out an experienced and competent repair-shop just the way they currently do for their cars. And if they don't want to, they can…

its not like a brake light or a suspension part this was a inlet port for cooling fluid to the battery . If not done correctly it will spring a leak in a onroad driving situation , Tesla probably does have safety systems to stop the car to prevent the battery from overheating and exploding. besides they charged 700$ for 5$ worth of parts and 1~2 hours of labour :) that isnt the best advocacy for RTR IMO.

Re: Tesla’s $16k Quote for a $700 Fix Is Why Right to Repair Matters

#126

Post by gimmeThaBeet »

mulmen wrote: post #38
namdnay wrote: post #3

A bit of a stretch to classify this under right to repair.. if you rent a car from tesla, it’s going to be up to tesla to choose how it’s repaired. And it doesn’t seem unreasonable that they won’t accept a hack fix (however safe it may be) - that car is going to be sold to someone once the lease expires, they just can’t take the risk I would read this as a cautionary tale against renting your cars. If you can’t buy i…

When I rent a car I am not responsible for repairs. If I am on the hook for the repair bill I should get a choice in how the car is repaired. I can buy whatever tires I want for a leased car. If Tesla wants to make these kinds of demands then the repair should be part of the warranty and priced in to the car. > I would read this as a cautionary tale against renting your cars. If you can’t buy it, don’t! This holds tr…

A bit of splitting hairs, the notable exception I can think of is that if it comes with run-flats, you are expected to return it with run-flats since it's a specification. Higher end cars also usually have a "similar quality" clause in addition, but I don't know how frequently that is enforced, if at all.

Re: Tesla’s $16k Quote for a $700 Fix Is Why Right to Repair Matters

#127

Post by ocdtrekkie »

bloggie wrote: post #24

I fail to see how right-to-repair reform would have changed this situation. Tesla's fix was too expensive so the customer went elsewhere... and got it fixed. Problem solved.

Knowing Tesla, they may consider the unapproved fix an excuse to brick the vehicle and disable it in software, which they've done before.

Re: Tesla’s $16k Quote for a $700 Fix Is Why Right to Repair Matters

#128

Post by coupdejarnac »

kube-system wrote: post #101
stevev wrote: post #31

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Hack fix are subjective. That same logic can be applied to any car makes. Repairs are not a black box. They’re not using duck tape. A fix is a fix

If you take an engineered system and apply a non-engineered fix, I'd say it's a hack, even if it works. Did this person do a metallurgical/chemical engineering analysis before changing the material type? OEMs do this on their cooling systems. No, they used a standard off-the-shelf fitting out of convenience. Will it work? Probably. Is it a compromise in terms of engineering design and testing? absolutely. Mind you, T…

As they say in the original video, it's just plumbing for a low pressure system. This is only a hack by the loosest definition.

Re: Tesla’s $16k Quote for a $700 Fix Is Why Right to Repair Matters

#129

Post by ben1040 »

fastball wrote: post #74
endisneigh wrote: post #7

I'm very curious about the insurance rejecting the repair. My understanding (I've never leased a car) is that if you lease a car you must have comprehensive (full coverage) insurance. Either the person failed to do what their lease contract (presumably) mandated, or shockingly you can lease a car without full coverage. Obviously it depends on what the insurance policy states, but usually comprehensive insurance cover…

Here[1] is the customer explaining the insurance more thoroughly. [1] https://youtu.be/vVSw3KSevEc?t=406

This is the second time in as many days I've heard about this happening. Someone gets a new car, replaces the old one on their insurance, while accidentally retaining the prior car's coverages (or lack thereof).

The other one I heard of was similar -- someone went from an old beater car to a new Tesla. The old car only had liability coverage and no collision/comprehensive and they didn't change this when replacing the vehicle. They learned this the hard way when making a claim after a crash and having it denied.

I have to imagine this is the result of using a self-service portal from the insurance company. I gotta think that if you spoke to a live human at the insurance firm to make the change, they would not miss an opportunity to sell you additional coverage.

Re: Tesla’s $16k Quote for a $700 Fix Is Why Right to Repair Matters

#130

Post by lelanthran »

mulmen wrote: post #38
namdnay wrote: post #3

A bit of a stretch to classify this under right to repair.. if you rent a car from tesla, it’s going to be up to tesla to choose how it’s repaired. And it doesn’t seem unreasonable that they won’t accept a hack fix (however safe it may be) - that car is going to be sold to someone once the lease expires, they just can’t take the risk I would read this as a cautionary tale against renting your cars. If you can’t buy i…

When I rent a car I am not responsible for repairs. If I am on the hook for the repair bill I should get a choice in how the car is repaired. I can buy whatever tires I want for a leased car. If Tesla wants to make these kinds of demands then the repair should be part of the warranty and priced in to the car. > I would read this as a cautionary tale against renting your cars. If you can’t buy it, don’t! This holds tr…

> The fact that cars depreciate seems like the best reason to "rent" them.

Like any other depreciating asset, the renter charges the rentee(sp?) the depreciation anyway, plus a small profit.

You appear to be under the impression that renting is better; this cannot be correct. The rent for any asset is ($COST_OF_PRODUCT + $COST_OF_ADMIN + $PROFIT). How do you figure that it's cheaper to pay those additional costs than to buy?

You only rent if you want something temporarily and don't want to deal with the hassle of resale. For this convenience, you pay extra.

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