I've had an issue for a few months with my early (11/14)Model S P85D and need some help in diagnosing it:
TL;DR: There's a "dead zone" in my steering that offers no turning resistance. Detailed list below paragraphs.
Back in March during a road trip, I did some spirited driving down a mountain on the east coast. Nothing crazy, just having a bit of fun
After getting on the interstate right after, I noticed that my steering wheel had a little dead zone around the for about 5°. This always follows the top of the wheel (for example, if I turn the wheel so the Tesla "T" is pointing at the 12°o'clock position you can wiggle it in between 11 and 1). In this resistance-free zone, the car will still turn, but offers no feedback to let you know that it is actually turning regardless of steering setting (Normal, Sport, Comfort). This is most noticeable with AP engaged as I can move the wheel in this zone freely. Moving in this zone does not get rid of the "Apply light force to steering wheel" warning message.
After noticing this and getting back home, I scheduled a visit at the Service Center for them to take a look at it and another few things I had as well. They said this was normal and I probably just wasn't used to how to disengage the car from AP(?) I needed my car so I went ahead and took it back and scheduled a Mobile Service visit so I could chat with the tech and explain to him what was going on.
Mobile Service shows up, I explain the issue, and he takes it on a test drive. When he comes back, he says that something definitely isn't right and there is too much play in the wheel. He says that he scoured the Tesla Service database and can't find anything similar to this issue. He says that all of his ideas of what it may be would need to be done at the Service Center. He mentioned: Potential intermediate shaft issue, steering wheel issue, steering rack, or toe adjustment. So I schedule a Service Center visit.
Second Service Center visit was scheduled for last Friday morning (06-18-21), I drop off the car and it sits there until yesterday afternoon (06-23-21) when they finally get it in. This morning they tell me that the work is done. I check out the invoice and they said steering wheel is operating as designed.... They said they tested lock to lock, power assist, and was verified by multiple techs as being "consistent with vehicles of similar age and mileage". They were super busy and were short-staffer so I have a feeling they just wanted this car gone and out of their hair but hey, they did my state inspection
At this point, I've given up on Tesla discovering what the issue is. I still have a year left on my used warranty so I want to at least diagnose it myself to potentially show them exactly what is happening to avoid being blown off for a week to have them spend 5 minutes on my car turning the steering wheel and saying it's good. It could just be in my head but the issue seems to be getting worse and I'd rather not like something to happen and for me to lose steering while driving or something similar. At the very least, it can be difficult to keep the car in a lane while cruising since I don't realize I'm actually turning the wheel.
Detailed list of symptoms to recap:
TL;DR: There's a "dead zone" in my steering that offers no turning resistance. Detailed list below paragraphs.
Back in March during a road trip, I did some spirited driving down a mountain on the east coast. Nothing crazy, just having a bit of fun
After getting on the interstate right after, I noticed that my steering wheel had a little dead zone around the for about 5°. This always follows the top of the wheel (for example, if I turn the wheel so the Tesla "T" is pointing at the 12°o'clock position you can wiggle it in between 11 and 1). In this resistance-free zone, the car will still turn, but offers no feedback to let you know that it is actually turning regardless of steering setting (Normal, Sport, Comfort). This is most noticeable with AP engaged as I can move the wheel in this zone freely. Moving in this zone does not get rid of the "Apply light force to steering wheel" warning message.After noticing this and getting back home, I scheduled a visit at the Service Center for them to take a look at it and another few things I had as well. They said this was normal and I probably just wasn't used to how to disengage the car from AP(?) I needed my car so I went ahead and took it back and scheduled a Mobile Service visit so I could chat with the tech and explain to him what was going on.
Mobile Service shows up, I explain the issue, and he takes it on a test drive. When he comes back, he says that something definitely isn't right and there is too much play in the wheel. He says that he scoured the Tesla Service database and can't find anything similar to this issue. He says that all of his ideas of what it may be would need to be done at the Service Center. He mentioned: Potential intermediate shaft issue, steering wheel issue, steering rack, or toe adjustment. So I schedule a Service Center visit.
Second Service Center visit was scheduled for last Friday morning (06-18-21), I drop off the car and it sits there until yesterday afternoon (06-23-21) when they finally get it in. This morning they tell me that the work is done. I check out the invoice and they said steering wheel is operating as designed.... They said they tested lock to lock, power assist, and was verified by multiple techs as being "consistent with vehicles of similar age and mileage". They were super busy and were short-staffer so I have a feeling they just wanted this car gone and out of their hair but hey, they did my state inspection
At this point, I've given up on Tesla discovering what the issue is. I still have a year left on my used warranty so I want to at least diagnose it myself to potentially show them exactly what is happening to avoid being blown off for a week to have them spend 5 minutes on my car turning the steering wheel and saying it's good. It could just be in my head but the issue seems to be getting worse and I'd rather not like something to happen and for me to lose steering while driving or something similar. At the very least, it can be difficult to keep the car in a lane while cruising since I don't realize I'm actually turning the wheel.
Detailed list of symptoms to recap:
- ~5° spot with no resistance while steering
- Vehicle still turns while in this zone so not a true "dead zone" more like a "resistance-free zone"
- Moving in this zone with AutoPilot on does not dismiss the "Apply light force to steering wheel" warning
- First noticed after some spirited down-hill driving
- Occurs on Normal, Sport, and Comfort steering settings but is most noticeable on Sport due to the lack of feedback
- It follows the top of the wheel, whichever direction it is pointing
- When using TM-Spy and Scan My Tesla, the steering angle does show as changing when it is in the zone
