Tesla releases DIY maintenance manuals for Model 3 electric sedan

Thinking of buying a Tesla Model 3 but don’t want to call a mobile service technician or schedule a service for every little thing?

Californian electric car maker Tesla has released a do-it-yourself guide for owners of the electric Model 3 sedan, reducing the need to schedule service appointments.

With the Model 3 expected to be released on the Australian car market very soon, drivers who prefer to work on their own vehicles might appreciate the addition to the Tesla website.

Arranging mobile and in-house services with Tesla is in fact a pretty easy thing to do – the carmaker introduced the ability for Australian and NZ drivers to book these straight from their smartphone apps in January of this year.

And even though electric cars require much less servicing than a combustion vehicle, there are of course aspects of owning an electric car that still need attention from time to time.

Instructions published by Tesla for maintaining and doing light repairs on the Model 3 range from digital connectivity issues, to addressing minor maintenance tasks such as replacing cabin filters and changing wiper blades.

While many of the tasks listed are pretty basic ones that the majority of drivers will have undertaken before – for example, checking the tyre pressure – it’s reassuring that Tesla are acknowledging that there is no need for a mobile or scheduled service for tasks such as these.

Other tasks, such as resetting the touch screen, and connecting the bluetooth or wifi are increasingly common to address in these days of connected transport and even at the best of times can be frustrating to deal with, so clear instructions from the carmaker are very welcome!

The complete list of tasks listed by the carmaker include:

• Restarting the Touchscreen
• Pairing a Bluetooth Phone
• Connecting to Wi-Fi
• Programming HomeLink^®
• Adding and Removing Keys
• Replacing the Key Fob Battery
• Installing Phone Charging Cable
• Installing Front License Plate Bracket
• Replacing Cabin Filters
• Checking and Adjusting Tire Pressures
• Topping Up Windshield Washer Fluid
• Replacing Wiper Blades
• Manually Releasing Charge Cable
• Calibrating Windows
• Removing and Installing Aero Covers
• Removing and Installing Lug Nut Covers

Certain tasks, such as replacing the cabin’s air filter, require purchasing Tesla parts from its online parts catalog, and a little more expertise.

To assist with these tasks, Tesla has supplied animated gifs to guide owners through the tasks, such as the replacement of the cabin filter:

This task in particular is important, particularly if your concern is with air pollution; as noted by CEO and founder Musk this weekend, Tesla vehicles have more filters than other cars to protect drivers from the damaging effects of poor air quality.