Educational
10 Min Read

Remote Diagnostics: What They Are & Why We Use Them

By 
Carina Silvermoon
SHARE THIS:
PDF Checklist Download

At Amber, we offer Tesla Owners not only easy, affordable Electric Vehicle extended warranty coverage through our AmberCare protection program, but also the information and understanding to make vehicle-related decisions with confidence.

One way we provide this information is by utilizing a process called remote diagnosis which allows our technicians and service providers to understand the ins-and-outs of your vehicle without needing to perform lengthy and invasive on-site inspections - like getting a health check-up for your Tesla without having to visit a doctor’s office.

At the end of each remote diagnostic session, we provide you with a copy of your vehicle data so that you can access the same detailed information our technicians can.

Read on to learn more about remote diagnosis and how we use it to benefit you.

What are Remote Diagnostics?

Modern Electric Vehicles (EVs) are equipped with powerful computers working in tandem with complex sensor systems to capture large quantities of data about the vehicle and its operation, known as logs.

The data points captured in logs often present as a list of vehicle alerts. For example, if a vehicle identifies that its 12-volt battery is ready for replacement, it will save this data in the logs and simultaneously display a customer-facing touchscreen alert. In a Tesla vehicle, the alert “VCFront_a182” (also displayed as “Schedule service to replace low voltage battery”) signifies that the 12v battery needs replacement.  

Tesla Low Voltage Battery Alert
Tesla Low Voltage Battery Alert

Logs can be accessible to technicians and service providers remotely. To access this data, a technician and/or service provider sends a ping (a remote request for data from within a certain time period initiated via a computer) to the vehicle. Once the vehicle has received this ping, it responds back with all the data it has saved within the requested time frame.

This interaction allows technicians and service providers to remotely review the vehicle’s data and diagnose potential concerns, service issues, or operational faults without needing to see the vehicle in person. It also allows them to assess High Voltage (HV) battery health, efficiency, and retention. This process in which a technician or service provider reviews vehicle logs is known as remote diagnostics.

At Amber we leverage this technology to provide customers a complimentary 150-point inspection during which our team of experienced Tesla technicians remotely analyze diagnostic alerts codes to identify patterns that may indicate potential vehicle faults or issues.

What is the Benefit of Remote Diagnosis with Amber?

Amber’s goal is to provide customers with a transparent and easy way to obtain aftermarket protection and technical support for their EVs. As such, we provide our AmberCare customers with a unique set of benefits, including:

  • Complimentary remote diagnostic inspections as part of your application process.
  • Remote technical support from our experienced team of Tesla technicians and service advisers who are ready to assist you with any vehicle issues and make filing claims painless.
  • Affordable coverage options. EVs are a relatively new asset in passenger vehicle market, making it challenging for traditional insurance and warranty providers to assess risk, identify potential issues, and accurately evaluate coverage costs. By utilizing Remote Diagnostics and our team of experienced Tesla technicians, Amber can maintain affordability while still providing the coverage you need to keep your EV in excellent condition

In the coming months, we plan to expand how we leverage remote diagnostics to provide even more benefits for our customers, including:

  • Assisting prospective EV owners evaluate the condition of pre-owned vehicles prior to purchase, and
  • Offering scheduled and/or on-demand inspection options for current EV owners who wish to maximize their vehicle’s health and avoid surprise vehicle faults.

Is My Data Safe?

Data security is a top priority to Amber. During your application process, you are asked to complete a brief survey on your vehicle history and grant permission for Amber to temporarily connect to your vehicle.

Amber’s access to your vehicle data is always voluntary and temporary, restricted to a set time period and facilitated through the official Tesla Diagnostics Toolkit. For example, Amber may request access to your vehicle’s logs from the last 24 hours, the last 7 days, or the last 30 days as part of your application process. This data is then only accessible to Amber for 7 days. You may retract your approval for Amber to access your data at any time, for any reason.

You can read more about data and privacy in our official Privacy Policy.

How Do I Sign Up for AmberCare?

If you are interested in signing up for AmberCare and receiving your complimentary inspection, including remote diagnosis, click here to check prices and submit an application.

You can also check us out on social media to see testimonials, get more information, or tag along with us on the road to expanding Amber and putting the power of EV ownership into customer hands:

Instagram, Linkedin, X, Facebook

Sources:

Tesla Service

Forbes.com

Related Blogs

No items found.
No items found.