EV repair without the dealer queue.
Earthling Automotive works on Teslas most of all, and everything else that plugs in. High-voltage certified technicians, the right tooling, and a slot this week instead of next month.
What people bring us, and what it usually is.
In the words drivers use when they call, with the person here who sees it most.
Almost always the small 12V battery, not the big one. We test it in ten minutes, before anyone mentions the pack.
1,625of these in our repair orders since January 2023.
“A lot of Monday calls are a car that sat at the airport for a week. It's usually good news.”
Also, every week
- Tires, suspension and alignmentHeavy, quiet cars wear tires fast; a bad alignment shows up as range loss first.
- Charge port and onboard chargerCharging faults, slow charging, port door and latch failures.
- Pre-purchase inspectionsWith a battery health report you can show the next buyer.
Cars we see most
- Tesla Model 3
- Tesla Model Y
- Tesla Model S
- Tesla Model X
- Nissan Leaf
- Chevrolet Bolt
- Audi e-Tron
- Ford Mustang Mach-E
- Hyundai Ioniq 5
- Kia EV6
Not on the list? Ask. If it plugs in, Earthling has probably had one on the lift.
Here's how a visit goes.
It's the same for every car that comes into Earthling.
Book, call or text
Pick a slot online, or call and talk to the front desk. Tell us what the car's doing in your own words, or text us a photo of the dash.
Same week, usually
Diagnosis, with photos
A technician looks at the car before anyone quotes a part. You get the photos and readings, and the diagnostic fee comes off the repair.
You can watch from the lobby
Estimate, approved by you
Parts and labor on separate lines, in plain English. Nothing happens until you say yes.
Or we tell you not to bother
Work, pickup, follow-up
Updates during the day, the same technician when you pick up, and a text a week later to check it's still good.
Charged enough to get home
Things people ask us at the counter.
Not on the list? Text us the question. 415-875-9030
Can an independent shop work on a Tesla?
Yes. Earthling has the service tooling, the high-voltage training and the parts channels. Warranty work still goes to Tesla; everything else, including out-of-warranty repairs and anything they quoted you weeks out, can come here.
Do you do tires and alignments on EVs?
Yes, and it matters more on an EV. The weight and the instant torque wear tires faster, and a bad alignment shows up as range loss before it shows up as noise.
What does an EV actually need for maintenance?
Less than a petrol car, but not nothing: cabin filters, brake fluid, coolant on a schedule, tire rotation, and a look at the 12V battery before it strands you. We write up what we see in our repair data.
Things we've learned, written down.
Earthling likes explaining this stuff. These articles are here so you know what your car is likely to need, roughly what it should cost, and when the right answer is to leave it alone.
Each one comes from Earthling's own repair orders, with names removed: what came in, what we found, what fixed it. The technician who did the work writes it up.
12VLi-ionModel 3 12V: when to move to the lithium batteryWritten in the shop
BrakesWhy Tesla brakes rust before they wear, and what to do about itWritten in the shop
P0A80P3011Prius hybrid battery: replace the pack, or swap a module?197 hybrid battery repair orders behind this article
12VThe small battery that strands more Priuses than the big one798 12V repair orders behind this articleCounts are repair orders touching each system at our shop, synced from Shop-Ware, January 2023 to today. Articles without a count are field notes. Fault codes are editorial context, not counted data.
Book online, or just text us.
Pick a real slot online, or text or call and someone at Earthling's front desk will pick up.
- Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pmMonday to Friday, 8am to 5pm. Closed weekends.
- (415) 875-9030Call, or send a text
- 615 Bayshore Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94124Directions, two minutes off the 101 and 280
