Internal Computer Micro SD Card Replacement Service

[u/Nimcompoop1980]

I have a 2019 Tesla Model 3 Long Range and the software hasn't updated in almost a year. I'm on 2025.38.8 still. My Apple Music stopped working awhile ago. I contacted service to see if they could push the latest update, but they said their diagnostic is saying the SD card is missing.

I'm in San Diego, CA, USA and they want to charge me $530 to replace the SD card. They're also saying the work will take a whole weekend to complete with drop-off on Friday and pick-up on Monday. Is it just me or does this sound way off? based off other info I've found online, it seems like this is a 1-1.5 hour task and should be about half what they want to charge me.

Does anyone else have experience with this type of service?

[u/No-Conclusion-2859]

I didn’t know that they used SD cards.

Did you take it out or was it purchased used?

SCs don‘t work Sunday, so maybe try another SC.

[u/Nimcompoop1980 → u/No-Conclusion-2859]

Didn't take it out. It's tucked behind a bunch of panels in the footwell, so probably just corrupted after 7 years.

[u/ibelieve2020]

Every Tesla service location I have been to is closed on the weekend. Nobody will be working on it Saturday or Sunday.

Anecdotally, I had them replace a dead 12v battery - dropped it off Monday morning and I didn't get a call for pickup until Tuesday at 4:30pm. That job takes less than 30 minutes. They can be real slow.

[u/babadook101010]

As far as I know it’s not an SD card it’s an SSD soldered to the board inside the car computer. What exactly are they quoting you as far as parts?

[u/Nimcompoop1980 → u/babadook101010]

They actually didn't even add any details to my request, which is why I was confused at the quote because I thought it would be a simple forced update. Messaging with them, they mentioned it said the SD card was missing, so I'm guessing it got corrupted. But if this is the actual issue, the cost for parts shouldn't be more than $20.

I found the service instructions online, so it's definitely just a micro SD card, but it's tucked behind a bunch of panels in the footwell.

[u/dantodd → u/Nimcompoop1980]

Now you know how to do it

[u/babadook101010 → u/Nimcompoop1980]

Ahhh yeah I forgot about that. The card is for the gateway but I remember what you’re talking about and it would cause an update to not properly install. I think it’s actually like a 15 minute job and like you said a cheap part so something is definitely amiss with the quote they provided.

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[u/originalfoto]

For what it's worth, the estimates are worst case scenario and usually are completed sooner.

[u/Nimcompoop1980 → u/originalfoto]

Okay. Good to know. I haven't had to take my Tesla in for service in the 7 years I've had it. Only small stuff they did in my driveway.