Battery health
How to judge a used pack before you buy: on-screen checks, a drive test, range math, and the warranty that is left.
1 guide · 2 planned
- PlannedLFP vs NMC and NCA
- PlannedService Mode, in more detail
Pacific Northwest
What I check before I buy a used Tesla.
I'm Joe Paulhus. I've owned Teslas for a long time, and I've bought and sold hundreds of them. This is the advice I actually use: the battery, the hardware on that specific car, and a walk-around you can print.
The notes have a Pacific Northwest angle: cold mornings, rain, and the passes. Advice only. I don't sell cars here, and I don't inspect them for a fee.
Personal opinion, not affiliated with any dealership.
Start here
All guidesThese six are up.
- 01Battery healthHow to Check a Used Tesla's Battery Health Before You BuyA veteran used-car buyer's step-by-step battery check for a used Tesla: Service Mode fault check, the 100% charge-and-drive test, the on-screen Battery Health test, range math, and the red flags that should end the deal.
- 02Model-by-year guidesUsed Tesla Model 3 Buying Guide by YearWhat changed on the Tesla Model 3 each year (heat pump, Ryzen computer, LFP battery, HW4 Highland) and what a veteran used-car buyer checks on each, with a PNW angle.
- 03Model-by-year guidesUsed Tesla Model Y Buying Guide by YearWhat changed on the Tesla Model Y year by year (heat pump from day one, HEPA filter, Ryzen computer, HW4, the 2026 refresh and the Standard trim) and what a veteran used-car buyer checks on each, with a PNW angle.
- 04ChecklistsUsed Tesla Pre-Purchase Checklist (Printable)A printable used Tesla inspection checklist from someone who has bought and sold hundreds: paperwork, body and glass, underneath, tires, interior, software, battery, charging and test drive, plus PNW-specific checks.
- 05Autopilot and FSDTesla HW3 vs HW4 on a Used Car: How to Tell, and Whether It MattersHow to tell if a used Tesla has HW3 or HW4 (the screen check, build dates and the camera tell), what each runs today, where the HW3 upgrade promise stands in October 2026, and when HW3 is still the smart buy.
- 06Buying and paperworkLeaves in Your Tesla Radiator: The Cheap Fix That Can Save an Expensive ComputerWhy leaves and road debris pack into the front radiator on a Model 3 or Model Y, the warning signs (weak A/C, nonstop fans, Autopilot overheating alerts), what's confirmed vs owner reports about computer failures, and how to check a used Tesla for it.
The shelf
The written guides sit in five of these topics. The other titles are the list I'm working from. They are not articles, and they don't include figures I'm still checking.
Model-by-year guides
What actually changed, and when. Hardware rolls in mid-year, so the car in front of you matters more than the year on the title.
2 guides · 1 planned
- PlannedUsed Model S and Model X notes
Checklists
Printable walk-throughs for a test drive: paperwork, body, glass, tires, software, and the drive itself.
1 guide · 1 planned
- PlannedTires and the 12-volt battery
Autopilot and FSD
Hardware versions, what was purchased versus subscribed, and what to confirm on the software screen before you pay extra.
1 guide · 1 planned
- PlannedWhat FSD the car really has
Charging
Home charging, the charge port, and what to ask a seller about how the car was charged.
Nothing published yet · 1 planned
- PlannedCharging at home in Washington and Oregon
Pacific Northwest
Cold mornings, rain, and trips over the passes.
Nothing published yet · 1 planned
- PlannedPNW winter range
Buying and paperwork
What transfers with the car, warranty from the in-service date, recalls, and the costs to re-check before you pay.
1 guide · 5 planned
- PlannedWarranty that is left
- PlannedHow to read a Tesla recall
- PlannedWashington and Oregon costs to re-check
- PlannedWhat transfers with the car
- PlannedPrivate seller or a dealer lot