Tesla Mobile Service

The 12V battery in my Tesla Model S needs replacement. Even though the car has a huge main battery, it is wired at ~350 volts. Since all car electronics run on 12V DC, Tesla cars have a 12V battery that is charged by the main battery instead of an alternator. The original 12V battery was replaced after about 18 months while under warranty.

A typical 12V car battery lasts from three to five years. My purchased his Honda CR-V about the same time and he had to replace his car battery about a year ago. Instead of going into a service center, Tesla is sending out a mobile technician to replace the battery. This happened previously as well. The battery is buried behind the plastic frunk (front trunk) lining, so it takes a bit of work to replace it. Since the car is out of warranty, I will have to pay for the battery replacement. Tesla is charging $165 for the battery and $43 for labor. I believe the 12V is lithium-ion instead of lead-acid. The price seems fair as it would take me much longer to either drive to the service center or try to replace the battery myself.

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I just checked Costco’s website for battery pricing, and they (through Interstate Batteries) do not sell car batteries for Tesla cars. It is not even an option in the drop-down menu for car makes.

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I got this in an Instagram direct message. Based on my count, this post about Tesla service and my dead 12V battery is post #1337. Is the world just one big Internet meme now?