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Why is it that, usually while you attain a milestone and you’re actually pleased about it, issues go unhealthy afterwards? I lately wrote a evaluate of my Tesla Mannequin 3 reaching 100,000 miles, with detailed TCO (Complete Price of Possession), and I stick by the conclusion that this automobile is superb. Nevertheless, what I believed was a great outdated worn out 12-volt battery subject (leading to my automobile having to be towed to the service heart and keep there for a number of days) was really one thing completely totally different.
Since I so lately wrote concerning the automobile, I owe you this little story of what occurred subsequent. I by no means heard of this fault earlier than, so it’s in everybody’s curiosity to know it could actually occur — to any EV actually. I can’t blame Tesla for being a bit sluggish on the service facet when it clearly prioritizes scheduled service. I get that. Communication through the app was efficient, however every week remains to be a very long time to attend. You actually know what you could have while you don’t have it. Which really simply tells you what an important product we’re coping with right here.
Journey to Copenhagen for a gathering. 330 km (205 miles). Chilly climate 3°C (37°F). Begin out with a recent nightly cost to 100% indicating a spread of 460 km (286 miles). Actual vary on motorway the entire journey at speeds between 100–130 km/h (62–81 mph) and at this low temperature is about 350 km (217 miles).
First cease at 230 km (143 miles) at V2 Supercharger for quarter-hour, leading to an emptied bladder and loads of vary to achieve the vacation spot and again to this specific spot. Upon reaching my vacation spot, the navigation was solely off by 3 minutes.
Going again within the afternoon, I made a decision to achieve a V3 Supercharge nearer to dwelling. Vary was all the way down to 14 km (7 miles) at arrival, and the automobile charged actually quick. Began out at 254 kW, and after a rest room and low cease within the mall on the web site of no more that 20 minutes, I used to be good to go together with 80% SOC (State Of Cost). However then…
I used to be unable to launch the cost plug and the cost indicator went purple. The show stated “Unable to cost, launch plug and check out once more. (BMS_a174)” (My translation from Danish). OK, so I needed to do the guide launch positioned up on the left via the trunk opening. Now, with the plug out, a brand new error appeared: “Charging is deactivated by guide launch, shut cost port and check out once more (CP_a035).” However the cost port had closed, so we the place now in a state of affairs the place the automobile had misplaced the notion of its personal components.
At this level I attempted to drive, however was advised “Cost port needs to be closed to drive (BMS_a167),” which it was, after which a extra cryptic “Cost port can’t open with activated brake, launch brake pedal and check out once more (VCFRONT_a563).” Solely after a few restarts (maintain each scroll buttons on steering wheel for a couple of seconds to make automobile restart itself), was I capable of drive, however with the messages of cost port being open (BMS_a167 and CP_a035) combating for display screen actual property the remainder of the way in which dwelling.
Arriving dwelling, the automobile wouldn’t take cost from my Tesla wall charger, it had a purple cost gentle on the port with “Can’t cost (BMS_a063)” on the touchscreen, and it included some extra messages like “Management unit for local weather management wants service (VCFRONT_a447)” and “Electrical system unable to assist all features (VCFRONT_a192).”
I googled a bit, and I attempted to show off the automobile for a couple of minutes from the service menu after which wake it by urgent the brake pedal. No distinction. One suggestion was to depart the automobile in a single day with the cost plug in and hope it would magically have come to its senses within the morning.
Effectively, the subsequent morning I discovered a message on my cellphone despatched from the automobile at 4:00 am: “12 volt battery wants substitute, schedule service now.” Okay, that explains the automobile being confused, however too late — I discovered the automobile useless in my driveway, unresponsive to something, cost plug caught within the automobile. I used to be not even capable of open any doorways.
Now, be warned, the web is a blessing, as a result of yow will discover options to nearly something, and I did. I discovered all of the directions on how you can open the frunk to get to the battery, however I did nothing. Why? As a result of at this level, if I made a single mistake and destroyed something, I’m positive my insurance coverage wouldn’t be pleased, particularly understanding that I’ve roadside help. So, I saved my arms behind my again and watched the good man with the tow truck do his factor.
Spoiler alert: It turned on the market was nothing mistaken with the 12V battery. Good factor I didn’t attempt to substitute it myself….
Responding to my enquiry about this, I’m advised by Tesla service that they can not promise the automobile shall be prepared this week, however they’ll do what they will and let me know Friday. That is the purpose at which I really feel it has been some time with no progress and little data on the rationale for the breakdown.
8:30 am I get a message on the app that the automobile is prepared for pickup. The hooked up bill states {that a} Quick Cost Contactor meeting for the Excessive Voltage Battery has been changed. I paid DKK 3,480 ($504) for the restore and picked up the automobile — after opening hours, so I didn’t get the prospect to speak to anybody.
This raises the query: Why did I get the “12 volt battery wants substitute, schedule service now” message? I’ve requested this query within the put up service suggestions type to Tesla, however I don’t anticipate a solution aside from within the line of: Analysis was carried out, faulty components changed (which means the 12-volt battery remains to be nice).
My idea is that, as I had the automobile plugged within the night time it died, it could constantly attempt to provoke cost in useless as a result of seized up quick cost contactor, thus draining the 12-volt battery to the purpose the place it could warn me it wanted changed. And because it was a freezing chilly night time, the voltage dropped so low the automobile finally shut down. Any concepts? And most significantly, can I depend on the automobile giving me the 12-volt lead-acid battery warning in due time, or ought to it’s changed preemptively each, say, 5 years?
Keep in mind, Mannequin 3s manufactured at Giga Shanghai earlier than roughly October 2021, and within the Fremont manufacturing facility earlier than roughly December 2021, are geared up with a lead-acid 12-volt battery (nominal voltage is definitely nearer to 14 volts). Since then, they’re geared up with a small lithium-ion battery (with a nominal voltage nearer to 16 volts), which supposedly lasts quite a bit longer. Goes for Mannequin Y too I suppose.
However why would a contactor seize up within the first place? Effectively, I’m no knowledgeable, however a lot of causes come to thoughts: Basic put on, in order that the surfaces within the contactor supplies can’t attain one another. Moisture, making shifting components erode and get caught. Small sparks finally welding contactor surfaces collectively. Low voltage coils failure. I imply, I’ve seen many 12-volt contactors on my outdated automobiles and motorbikes fail through the years, so it’s not like a totally new subject. It’s simply actually annoying when it occurs.
Since a variety of used Teslas are operating up super mileage world wide, I simply thought this specific incidence might be of curiosity — to any EV proprietor, really. It additionally goes to point out that error messages usually are a results of one thing solely totally different failing. So, sure, EVs break down too, however I nonetheless imagine ICEVs are extra fragile attributable to many extra potential factors of failure.
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