Update:
My issue remains in cold temperatures and is very audible: the heat pump starts to make an extremely loud noise (yes, I know they make noise, but this noise is something different) it sounds like it's trying to become a small propeller aircraft. You can also feel this as a vibration in the steering wheel while driving. In most situations, this does not become a malfunction (the sound either continues at various pitches or disappears), but tied with 80-100km/h road speeds, these seem to create the conditions where the heat pump may fail (a 'requiring service' message is then displayed on the screen and only cold air is blown from the vents). However, as it occurs, there's hope (see below for instructions how to fix/recover from the situation).
INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO RECOVER FROM A SITUATION WITH TESLA MODEL 3 AND MODEL Y FAILED CLIMATE CONTROL (ONLY COLD AIR BLOWING IN):
As this happens (optional):
1. Turn on the heated seats/seat warmers for all passengers (to not have them freeze as quickly)
2. Adjust the climate control speed (low) and airflow towards windows instead (you don't want the cold air to the cabin, but possibly to the windows to help them stay clear)
HOW TO RECOVER/FIX:
1. Park your car (a sheltered/warm parking hall would be preferred, but I've found this not necessary)
2. Select from Display/Screen -> Safety -> Power off
3. Wait for 3 minutes (don't move while in car so that car doesn't wake up too early, but you don't have to wait for the battery disengagement sound/click)
4. E.g. press brake pedal to wake up the car again
-> warm air comes out from the heat pump again (if you're facing the same condition as I have)
What to do if that didn't work (list of other options):
1. These days, I'd look into if there's any warm spaces nearby to take the car into. If you absolutely must continue your journey, step #2 may help, but on longer drives there's necessarily no preheating available due to distance between the chargers
2. Select from your Navigation display the closest supercharger (for preheating the battery)
- if the car will start pre-heating the battery, you may be able to continue your journey (as this should allow the octovalve to move warm air from the battery to the cabin)
3. Try selecting gear to Park and then try if Camp mode from the climate control will work (not likely to work)
4. Exit the car (find appropriate shelter, e.g. gas station) and try engaging the heating options from the Tesla App (not likely to work)
A Mini-FAQ to the above instructions:
Ok, it worked, what next?
- After the above maintenances (previous posts), I've had the above happen on me several times, latest just before New Year 2024 in Jyväskylä on the way to Lapland. The climate control has now worked for the last 2,000 kilometers after the latest malfunction (including the same aircraft take-off rotor-sounds emerging and also without them - it's as if some ice had thawed from the system. Yesterday there were just the normal operational sounds from the heat pump.)
- I can't really tell if there's damage, but as this trick works for me, I haven't taken the car into repairs for the time being. It could be that it's related to ice and melting of it, but that is just speculation from my part
My heat pump is still 'dead', why didn't these instructions help me?
- There are multiple ways of how a heating system may fail, obviously what I wrote above is for certain conditions only. E.g. this trick will not be likely to work in case your heat pump has spewed metal bits into the system (and you only hear a 'thunk' and feel a vibration a couple of times when starting the car), or it has lost too much of its coolant material for some reason
H
aven't you lost confidence in Tesla after the two larger maintenance operations?
- No. At 92,400 kilometers life's been pretty good with the M3P (MY21) - read: I absolutely love it. I've driven this thing in extreme colds (-39'C and slightly colder) and in quite warm (+40'C temperatures) as my previous posts outline and yes, I have continued this 'tradition' successfully
- For me, the heat pump has been working in the 'most extreme' conditions very well, but I have seen that it experiences the most hurdles in the more moderate cold temperatures, e.g. -10..-15'C. It's as if some ice would clutter/build-up or something else disturbs the operation of the heat pump. (I've heard Tesla's road service say something in regards the frontal air inlet hatches getting stuck.)
How do you stay warm in -39'C (with failed heat pump) while driving in rural areas with poor cell coverage?
- I absolutely don't!
But being prepared for such situations is important. Always have the appropriate gear with you (e.g. in warm weather extra drink with minerals, in cold weather extra gear to provide you warmth)
- Alternative heat sources: I keep a couple of sets of those "warming pads" (that skiers use, they stay warm for some 3-5 hours) and some additional clothes (you could also have a blanket or two for potential passengers too), maybe one of those small cigarette-lighter heaters (however, those I believe are too low power to save your trip), but since the Tesla does have a big battery and also a more high-powered USB-C port, maybe there are some other options available
Hope this helped someone. Safe journeys!