Gearbox fluid service recommended - DIF_a251

[JTzinski]

Are they replacing the front drive unit because of the clunking sound you were hearing, or because of the gearbox fluid error? Does replacing the front drive unit kill two birds?

Great questions. I’m not sure yet. I haven’t gotten the rundown from the tech.

The “Waiting for parts” status looks to be related to gearbox fluid service alert in the repair status menu. The clucking issue still shows “preparing”.

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[JTzinski]

Well, they still have it. I stopped by the shop today to grab a few things out of it. Parts are in and they said they’ll be done with it tomorrow.
He said that they are rwplacing the motor due to the clunking sound, not the gearbox fluid service error. They have an upgraded motor because they had issues with the originals.

 

[LS95]

Well, they still have it. I stopped by the shop today to grab a few things out of it. Parts are in and they said they’ll be done with it tomorrow.
He said that they are rwplacing the motor due to the clunking sound, not the gearbox fluid service error. They have an upgraded motor because they had issues with the originals.

Appreciate the update. Sorry to hear they have had it for so long, that's a huge bummer. Selfishly - I'm glad they said it's not being replaced for the fluid service error ? I take mine in on Thursday and hoping for smooth sailing.

 

[Kryptek]

Did you guys notice a vibration around 42-48mph? Its smooth beyond and below those ranges but in that gap I get a noticable shake, not enough to blur my side mirrors or anything but I have now taken note of it. Could be our ice roads or maybe a tire balance issue?

I did have this error a251 weeks ago but was cleared remotely by CS

 

[LS95]

Did you guys notice a vibration around 42-48mph? Its smooth beyond and below those ranges but in that gap I get a noticable shake, not enough to blur my side mirrors or anything but I have now taken note of it. Could be our ice roads or maybe a tire balance issue?

I did have this error a251 weeks ago but was cleared remotely by CS

It's funny you mention that. I have noticed the exact same thing, but I have a tendency to over analyze every sound and movement anytime I've ever owned a car and there is a error or check engine light, so I dismissed it thinking I was just being crazy again. It's butter smooth like normal until that speed range you mentioned, then oddly not smooth and bumpy, then once I get going faster it smooths out again. I was also wondering if it was due to the winter weather, but it would also happen to me on very clear roads.

Have you noticed the same thing after they cleared it remotely? I'm also curious what their criteria is for that. My SC said it couldn't be diagnosed remotely and that I would have to bring it in.

 

[Alan]

Well, they still have it. I stopped by the shop today to grab a few things out of it. Parts are in and they said they’ll be done with it tomorrow.
He said that they are rwplacing the motor due to the clunking sound, not the gearbox fluid service error. They have an upgraded motor because they had issues with the originals.

What’s your approximate vin number mine clunks when starting with the wheels in a sharp turn. Thanks

 

[LS95]

Adding in an update for now and anyone coming across this in the future...7 days on the dot and my error magically vanished this morning. Quite confusing to me...I have been checking coolant temps and my front motor (the one with the error) had regularly been reading much hotter than I would expect. Now even after my full drive to work this morning with the heat blasted and colder outside temps than when the error started, the coolant temp is cooler than the rear motor. Was reading 17C after the drive this morning. I'm glad the error is gone but will still be taking it to my SC appointment on Thursday just to check.


Interestingly enough Dirty Telsa just shared a couple of hours ago that he got the error driving in 12 degree temps. Seems like a pretty widespread issue across trucks driving in the cold. I hope they can send out some kind of fix soon if it's truly just a software issue!

 

[Freeseframe]

Well, they still have it. I stopped by the shop today to grab a few things out of it. Parts are in and they said they’ll be done with it tomorrow.
He said that they are rwplacing the motor due to the clunking sound, not the gearbox fluid service error. They have an upgraded motor because they had issues with the originals.

Keep us updated. I'm just a few miles from you over in the Bondurant area so it's great to see a fellow Iowan in the club. The Urbandale SC generally does a great job in my experience. Curious as well on the wiper replacement in the event they updated anything in terms of blades and the washer. Mine was updated in September and the wiper cleaning is as poor as it always was especially with the salty roads.

 

[Kryptek]

Adding in an update for now and anyone coming across this in the future...7 days on the dot and my error magically vanished this morning. Quite confusing to me...I have been checking coolant temps and my front motor (the one with the error) had regularly been reading much hotter than I would expect. Now even after my full drive to work this morning with the heat blasted and colder outside temps than when the error started, the coolant temp is cooler than the rear motor. Was reading 17C after the drive this morning. I'm glad the error is gone but will still be taking it to my SC appointment on Thursday just to check.


Interestingly enough Dirty Telsa just shared a couple of hours ago that he got the error driving in 12 degree temps. Seems like a pretty widespread issue across trucks driving in the cold. I hope they can send out some kind of fix soon if it's truly just a software issue!

I have not got the error since the day after it appeared! So keep us informed about the SC case and outcome as I have the 45mph vibration and hope it’s not anything related long term, my SC is 300+ miles away.

 

[AlmostHuman]

Same message on December 31st after driving 50 miles in temps below 3°F. Truck sat outside in some snow for about 20 minutes at 0°F. About 10 minutes in to the drive home the message popped up. I had remembered reading that this was a software “issue” when the gearbox fluid got really cold. Only had 75 miles to get home so just didn’t worry about it. YOLO warranty!!! Stopped in 35°F temp to play with new V4 Supercharger. By the time we left the message was gone and never came back. Figured it would be best/safest to at least get it looked at. Added it to the service appointment already on the books for Jan 16th. The tech I chatted with over message thinks it is temp related. They confirmed today it will be a same day service though I suspect they will keep it overnight. Will report any findings.

I feel like with all the sensors and data we get in new rides with the Cybertruck possibly having more data than any ride on the road we are seeing info that is present in other vehicles but no way to know. I’m sure my 95’ Bronco had some stupid shit happening to it while I was abusing it but it had no way to tell me until it exploded a ring and pinion gear lol

Today service verified that the error on my truck was due to software and will be corrected in future firmware.

 

[LS95]

One final update on this for anyone seeing/searching for this in the future. I had my SC visit yesterday. When I first got there the SC advisor told me that they had just (probably within a day or two) gotten info from Tesla about this problem. I don't remember exactly how he worded it, but he seemed to point to it being more of a sensor malfunctioning in cold weather rather than the cold weather changing the dynamics of the fluid itself.

They did go ahead and take a look to make sure there was no damage and I had enough fluid, but he did say that they haven't had a single one of these where they opened it up and there was any problem.

I hope they can fix this issue in a future update, but I'm a little skeptical that it's a software thing if it's just the cold weather causing a bad sensor readout.

We will see! But, happy that the truck is okay and that I don't have to be nervous driving it around anymore ?

And small side note, I did get a new wiper put on free by them. I'm not convinced it's going to fix the issue that all of us cold weather/snow folks are experiencing, but I'm glad they at least did something.

 

[Kryptek]

Yep same resolve a few weeks ago, just hoping they are right and my tiny vibration under the seat at 45mph is my icey roads or normal operating condition

 

[AlmostHuman]

… but he seemed to point to it being more of a sensor malfunctioning in cold weather rather than the cold weather changing the dynamics of the fluid itself.

I hope they can fix this issue in a future update, but I'm a little skeptical that it's a software thing if it's just the cold weather causing a bad sensor readout.

That seems more logical than it just being software. May come down to a new sensor some day but I’m sure they will cover it all. I have not had the error again but we will see in the coming single digit days if it comes back.

 

[DaBagBoy]

One final update on this for anyone seeing/searching for this in the future. I had my SC visit yesterday. When I first got there the SC advisor told me that they had just (probably within a day or two) gotten info from Tesla about this problem. I don't remember exactly how he worded it, but he seemed to point to it being more of a sensor malfunctioning in cold weather rather than the cold weather changing the dynamics of the fluid itself.

They did go ahead and take a look to make sure there was no damage and I had enough fluid, but he did say that they haven't had a single one of these where they opened it up and there was any problem.

I hope they can fix this issue in a future update, but I'm a little skeptical that it's a software thing if it's just the cold weather causing a bad sensor readout.

We will see! But, happy that the truck is okay and that I don't have to be nervous driving it around anymore ?

And small side note, I did get a new wiper put on free by them. I'm not convinced it's going to fix the issue that all of us cold weather/snow folks are experiencing, but I'm glad they at least did something.

Thanks! I just had this error pop up yesterday....searched the forum and found this thread!
scary - but my local center Ann Arbor can't get to it until 2/26

 

[LS95]

Thanks! I just had this error pop up yesterday....searched the forum and found this thread!
scary - but my local center Ann Arbor can't get to it until 2/26

No problem at all. Best advice I can give you is try and forget it's there. I'm the kind of person that gets super nervous with error messages like this, but odds are that your truck is completely fine and there's no need to stress. Drive and enjoy the truck It is such a bummer that it takes so long to get into a SC though, really hope they can continue to add more capacity. Good luck!

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