diff --git a/teslajsonpy/car.py b/teslajsonpy/car.py
index 71fa82aa..3e385c2d 100644
--- a/teslajsonpy/car.py
+++ b/teslajsonpy/car.py
@@ -987,8 +987,7 @@ async def remote_auto_steering_wheel_heat_climate_request(
         """
 
         data = await self._send_command(
-            "REMOTE_AUTO_STEERING_WHEEL_HEAT_CLIMATE_REQUEST",
-            on=enable
+            "REMOTE_AUTO_STEERING_WHEEL_HEAT_CLIMATE_REQUEST", on=enable
         )
         if data and data["response"]["result"] is True:
             params = {"auto_steering_wheel_heat": enable}
@@ -1017,7 +1016,9 @@ async def set_heated_steering_wheel_level(self, level: int) -> None:
     def get_heated_steering_wheel_level(self) -> int:
         """Return the status of the heated steering wheel."""
         if self.data_available:
-            return self._vehicle_data.get("climate_state", {}).get("steering_wheel_heat_level")
+            return self._vehicle_data.get("climate_state", {}).get(
+                "steering_wheel_heat_level"
+            )
         return None
 
     async def set_hvac_mode(self, value: str) -> None:
diff --git a/teslajsonpy/controller.py b/teslajsonpy/controller.py
index 231aca56..baaa7df8 100644
--- a/teslajsonpy/controller.py
+++ b/teslajsonpy/controller.py
@@ -33,7 +33,12 @@
     WAKE_TIMEOUT,
 )
 from teslajsonpy.energy import EnergySite, PowerwallSite, SolarPowerwallSite, SolarSite
-from teslajsonpy.exceptions import TeslaException, custom_retry, custom_wait
+from teslajsonpy.exceptions import (
+    TeslaException,
+    custom_retry,
+    custom_retry_except_unavailable,
+    custom_wait,
+)
 
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -743,7 +748,11 @@ async def _get_and_process_battery_summary(
                     cur_time - last_update,
                     ONLINE_INTERVAL,
                 )
-                if force or cur_time - last_update >= ONLINE_INTERVAL and update_vehicles:
+                if (
+                    force
+                    or cur_time - last_update >= ONLINE_INTERVAL
+                    and update_vehicles
+                ):
                     cars = await self.get_vehicles()
                     for car in cars:
                         self.set_id_vin(car_id=car["id"], vin=car["vin"])
@@ -1333,7 +1342,11 @@ async def api(
             return response
 
         # Perform request using given keyword arguments as parameters
-        return await self.__post_with_retries("", method=method, data=kwargs, url=uri)
+        # wake_if_asleep is False so we do not retry if the car is asleep
+        # or if the car is unavailable
+        return await self.__post_with_retries_except_unavailable(
+            "", method=method, data=kwargs, url=uri
+        )
 
     @retry(
         wait=custom_wait,
@@ -1342,5 +1355,25 @@ async def api(
         reraise=True,
     )
     async def __post_with_retries(self, command, method="post", data=None, url=""):
-        """Call connection.post with retries for common exceptions."""
+        """Call connection.post with retries for common exceptions.
+
+        Retries if the car is unavailable.
+        """
+        return await self.__connection.post(command, method=method, data=data, url=url)
+
+    @retry(
+        wait=custom_wait,
+        retry=custom_retry_except_unavailable,
+        stop=stop_after_delay(MAX_API_RETRY_TIME),
+        reraise=True,
+    )
+    async def __post_with_retries_except_unavailable(
+        self, command, method="post", data=None, url=""
+    ):
+        """Call connection.post with retries for common exceptions.
+
+        Does not retry if the car is unavailable. This should be
+        used when wake_if_asleep is False since its unlikely the
+        car will suddenly become available if its offline/sleep.
+        """
         return await self.__connection.post(command, method=method, data=data, url=url)
diff --git a/teslajsonpy/exceptions.py b/teslajsonpy/exceptions.py
index e159f0a5..6a4e08a8 100644
--- a/teslajsonpy/exceptions.py
+++ b/teslajsonpy/exceptions.py
@@ -82,6 +82,25 @@ class HomelinkError(TeslaException):
     pass
 
 
+def custom_retry_except_unavailable(retry_state: RetryCallState) -> bool:
+    """Determine whether Tenacity should retry.
+
+    Args
+        retry_state (RetryCallState): Provided by Tenacity
+
+    Returns
+        bool: whether or not to retry
+
+    """
+    if not custom_retry(retry_state):
+        return False
+    ex = retry_state.outcome.exception()
+    if isinstance(ex, TeslaException):
+        if ex.code == 408:  # "VEHICLE_UNAVAILABLE"
+            return False
+    return True
+
+
 def custom_retry(retry_state: RetryCallState) -> bool:
     """Determine whether Tenacity should retry.