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MCU_w004

w Warning

Code MCU_w004 was reported by the “Centre display (MCU)” controller in the car. The letter “w” in the middle places it among entries of the warning type.

Area of the car
Severity
Warning
Sequence number
4

5 comments →

What code MCU_w004 means

The Media Control Unit — the computer behind the centre screen. Besides its own faults, everyday driver notices come from here too: empty washer fluid, an open door, a flat key fob battery. Most MCU codes are therefore not a vehicle defect.

Severity — w

The car is flagging that something is not right. Driving is usually still possible, but some function may be limited.

What the car shows on screen

This is the message the car shows the driver when the code occurs. It comes from Tesla's official alert list and we leave it in the original English — this is exactly how it appears on the display.

Touchscreen Unresponsive:: Press Scroll Wheels on Steering Wheel Until It Restarts

Source: official Tesla document “Model S Alert Codes” (2018)

Internal alert name

This is how the fault is named inside the car's firmware. For codes without a description it is the most precise clue there is — the name itself says what the event is about.

MCU_w004_TouchScreenError

We do not have a detailed description for this code yet

Tesla only publishes descriptions for some codes. What we do know for certain is its classification and the internal name above — and from those you can reliably tell which part of the car it concerns.

Had code MCU_w004 as well? Tell others how it turned out for you →

Driver experiences with code MCU_w004

This part is written by you. If you have had code MCU_w004, tell us when it appeared, what brought it on and how it ended — for the next person, one such sentence is often worth more than the entire service documentation.

TesListCS
Na displeji se objeví „Touchscreen Unresponsive: Press Scroll Wheels on Steering Wheel Until It Restarts“ — a je to jedna z mála hlášek, která rovnou obsahuje návod. Co se stalo: hlavní obrazovka přestala reagovat na dotyk. Zajímavé je, co k tomu uvádí Teslin vlastní popis: dotyk nefunguje kvůli odpojenému kabelu uvnitř jednotky. To je konkrétnější informace, než jakou obvykle dostanete — nejde tedy jen o zamrzlý software, ale o fyzické spojení mezi dotykovou vrstvou a řídicí jednotkou. Co dělat hned: podržte obě kolečka na volantu, dokud obrazovka nezhasne a znovu nenaběhne. Trvá to zhruba deset až dvacet vteřin a jet u toho můžete dál — vůz jede normálně i s tmavou obrazovkou, jen přijdete o klimatizaci, navigaci a nastavení. Restart pomůže, když šlo o softwarové zaseknutí. Když restart nepomůže: pokud obrazovka po restartu naskočí, ale na dotyk pořád nereaguje, potvrzuje to spíš tu hardwarovou variantu. Uvolněný nebo odpojený konektor uvnitř jednotky se svépomocí neřeší — jednotka se rozebírat nemá. Objednejte servis. Co mezitím: nejdůležitější funkce zvládnete z volantu a z páček. Jízda je bezpečná, jen výrazně méně pohodlná. Týká se Modelu S 2012–2020 a Modelu X 2015–2020.
TesListSK
Na displeji sa objaví „Touchscreen Unresponsive: Press Scroll Wheels on Steering Wheel Until It Restarts“ — a je to jedna z mála hlášok, ktorá rovno obsahuje návod. Čo sa stalo: hlavná obrazovka prestala reagovať na dotyk. Zaujímavé je, čo k tomu uvádza Teslin vlastný popis: dotyk nefunguje kvôli odpojenému káblu vnútri jednotky. To je konkrétnejšia informácia, než akú obvykle dostanete — nejde teda len o zamrznutý softvér, ale o fyzické spojenie medzi dotykovou vrstvou a riadiacou jednotkou. Čo robiť hneď: podržte obe kolieska na volante, kým obrazovka nezhasne a znova nenabehne. Trvá to zhruba desať až dvadsať sekúnd a ísť pritom môžete ďalej — vozidlo ide normálne aj s tmavou obrazovkou, len prídete o klimatizáciu, navigáciu a nastavenia. Reštart pomôže, keď išlo o softvérové zaseknutie. Keď reštart nepomôže: ak obrazovka po reštarte nabehne, ale na dotyk stále nereaguje, potvrdzuje to skôr tú hardvérovú variantu. Uvoľnený alebo odpojený konektor vnútri jednotky sa svojpomocne nerieši — jednotka sa rozoberať nemá. Objednajte servis. Čo medzitým: najdôležitejšie funkcie zvládnete z volantu a z páčok. Jazda je bezpečná, len výrazne menej pohodlná. Týka sa Modelu S 2012–2020 a Modelu X 2015–2020.
TesListDE
Im Display erscheint „Touchscreen Unresponsive: Press Scroll Wheels on Steering Wheel Until It Restarts“ — und das ist eine der wenigen Meldungen, die gleich die Anleitung mitliefert. Was passiert ist: Der Hauptbildschirm reagiert nicht mehr auf Berührung. Interessant ist, was Teslas eigene Beschreibung dazu sagt: Die Touchfunktion arbeitet nicht, weil im Gerät ein Kabel abgesteckt ist. Das ist konkreter als üblich — es geht also nicht bloß um eine eingefrorene Software, sondern um die physische Verbindung zwischen Touchschicht und Steuergerät. Was sofort zu tun ist: Halten Sie beide Scrollräder am Lenkrad gedrückt, bis der Bildschirm ausgeht und neu hochfährt. Das dauert etwa zehn bis zwanzig Sekunden, und Sie können dabei weiterfahren — das Fahrzeug fährt auch mit dunklem Bildschirm normal, nur Klima, Navigation und Einstellungen fehlen. Der Neustart hilft, wenn es ein Softwarehänger war. Wenn der Neustart nicht hilft: Fährt der Bildschirm hoch, reagiert aber weiterhin nicht auf Berührung, spricht das eher für die Hardwarevariante. Einen gelösten oder abgesteckten Stecker im Inneren behebt man nicht selbst — das Gerät gehört nicht geöffnet. Vereinbaren Sie einen Werkstatttermin. Was in der Zwischenzeit: Die wichtigsten Funktionen erreichen Sie über Lenkrad und Hebel. Die Fahrt ist sicher, nur deutlich unbequemer. Betrifft Model S 2012–2020 und Model X 2015–2020.
TesListPL
Na ekranie pojawia się „Touchscreen Unresponsive: Press Scroll Wheels on Steering Wheel Until It Restarts” — i to jeden z niewielu komunikatów, który od razu zawiera instrukcję. Co się stało: główny ekran przestał reagować na dotyk. Ciekawe jest to, co podaje własny opis Tesli: dotyk nie działa z powodu odłączonego kabla wewnątrz jednostki. To informacja konkretniejsza, niż zwykle dostajesz — nie chodzi więc tylko o zawieszone oprogramowanie, ale o fizyczne połączenie między warstwą dotykową a sterownikiem. Co zrobić od razu: przytrzymaj oba pokrętła na kierownicy, aż ekran zgaśnie i uruchomi się ponownie. Trwa to mniej więcej dziesięć do dwudziestu sekund i możesz przy tym jechać dalej — auto jedzie normalnie także z ciemnym ekranem, tracisz tylko klimatyzację, nawigację i ustawienia. Restart pomoże, gdy chodziło o zawieszenie oprogramowania. Gdy restart nie pomoże: jeśli ekran po restarcie się uruchamia, ale nadal nie reaguje na dotyk, potwierdza to raczej wariant sprzętowy. Obluzowanego lub odłączonego złącza wewnątrz jednostki nie naprawia się samodzielnie — jednostki nie należy rozbierać. Umów serwis. Co w międzyczasie: najważniejsze funkcje obsłużysz z kierownicy i z dźwigni. Jazda jest bezpieczna, tylko znacznie mniej wygodna. Dotyczy Modelu S 2012–2020 i Modelu X 2015–2020.
TesList
The screen shows “Touchscreen Unresponsive: Press Scroll Wheels on Steering Wheel Until It Restarts” — one of the few messages that comes with instructions built in. What happened: the main screen has stopped responding to touch. What is interesting is what Tesla's own description says about it: touch is not working because a cable inside the unit is unplugged. That is more specific than you usually get — so this is not merely frozen software but the physical connection between the touch layer and the control unit. What to do straight away: hold both scroll wheels on the steering wheel until the screen goes dark and boots again. It takes roughly ten to twenty seconds and you can keep driving throughout — the car drives normally with a dark screen, you simply lose climate, navigation and settings. The restart helps if it was a software hang. If the restart does not help: if the screen comes back but still ignores touch, that points to the hardware explanation. A loose or unplugged connector inside the unit is not a self-repair — the unit is not meant to be opened. Book service. In the meantime: the most important functions are reachable from the steering wheel and the stalks. Driving is safe, just far less comfortable. Applies to Model S 2012–2020 and Model X 2015–2020.

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What to do about it

01

Write down the whole code

Copy it exactly, letter and number included. Photographing the screen is safest — codes often differ by a single digit, and mixing them up leads somewhere else entirely.

02

Try letting the car sleep and wake

Some codes clear after a screen restart or after the car sits locked for a few hours. If the code does not come back, it was usually a one-off glitch.

03

Watch whether it repeats

A one-off entry and a code that appears after every drive are two different things. It helps a service centre enormously if you know exactly when it shows up.

04

Do not wait on safety systems

With airbags, brakes, steering and high voltage there is no point waiting it out. With the other groups you can watch and see whether the code returns at all.

Before you act on a code. This page is a reference dictionary, not a repair manual. It explains what an abbreviation means and what it relates to — it does not diagnose your car. The same code can have different causes, and its meaning also shifts between firmware versions. For anything involving brakes, steering, airbags or high voltage, go straight to a service centre.

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