A/C Compressor finally failed. But $3400??!

[brkaus]

Tesla has stated that the cost of owning Tesla EVs is way cheaper than the ICE dinosaur cars. We're seeing the contrary. Lol!!!

That isn’t necessarily measured by the cost of individual parts. If the failure rate of DC direct drive compressors happens to be significantly lower because it’s a sealed unit, it still may be lower on average.

Too early to say.

But if they stick with replacing whole parts instead of fuses, it is much more expensive. If the compressor locked up and blew the fuse, it should not kill the DC/DC.

 

[jimmyjohn]

Compared to what? Walking?

I feel your pain and I agree that Tesla repairs are just too expensive!

 

[Yaro]

If you want, I'm from Sacramento and I can replace the AC compressor with a used one if you want.

 

[Tam]

Compared to what? Walking?

Comparing to open competition from local repairers.

To bring the Tesla repair costs down, Tesla needs to train community repairers so they can get the skills of how to fix it for less.

For example:

A built-in charger was quoted as $2,800.

"bish | August 26, 2015
@Turbo,

Mine failed at 62,000 miles. I did not have the extended warranty. Out of pocket cost for installation of a re-manufactured unit was $2400. It would have been $2800 for a brand new unit."

However, if you you know how to do-it-yourself:

Car Unable to Charge

It may only cost $17 + Shipping for parts plus labor!

 

[JayyyDeee]

Compared to what? Walking?

compared to just about every ICE mechanic. They pretty much charge double for labour and third party mechanics/DIYers aren't allowed to source parts so you cant even do it on the cheap

 

[MIT_S60]

I've heard of a couple A/C compressors going out on 3rd gen Prius's costing $2k for the repair, thus for a Tesla I don't see $3400 being out of the ballpark. That being said, it sucks obviously.

 

[MP3Mike]

I've heard of a couple A/C compressors going out on 3rd gen Prius's costing $2k for the repair, thus for a Tesla I don't see $3400 being out of the ballpark. That being said, it sucks obviously.

I bet that if he looked at the invoice that it shows that the majority of the cost was actually the DC-DC convertor not the A/C compressor or labor.

 

[Futuresystem]

I replaced an A/C compressor on an ICE car four years and was a bit shocked when the bill came to $1600.
The repair guy (an A/C specialist) said that’s cheap compared to some!
An electric vehicle A/C compressor is much more complicated, not running just from a belt turning a pulley.
(Not that it helps your pain of course.)

 

[Yaro]

I replaced an A/C compressor on an ICE car four years and was a bit shocked when the bill came to $1600.
The repair guy (an A/C specialist) said that’s cheap compared to some!
An electric vehicle A/C compressor is much more complicated, not running just from a belt turning a pulley.
(Not that it helps your pain of course.)

That actually makes it easier.

 

[cwerdna]

Doubtful. Camry would probably have a belt-driven compressor with a clutch.

Camry Hybrid would have an electric AC compressor (probably supplied by Denso) which has some chance of being closer, but still unlikely the same part.

A few Google image searches for tesla model s ac compressor have turned up stuff like Tesla Model S (2012-2015) OEM A/C Electric Compressor HVCC Part# 1028398-00-E | eBay, which is made in Korea and I don't see any Denso markings. TESLA MODEL S 2016 AC A/C Compressor | eBay says Hanon Systems. I'd not heard of Hanon Systems until today.

While searching for the answer to something else, I stumbled across The Automotive Supply Chain, Explained – Self-Driving Cars – Medium and also a newer version of the list than what that article points to at https://www.autonews.com/assets/PDF/CA105764617.PDF. Hanon is nowhere in top 100 or 50 suppliers in that PDF. If one attends Tokyo Motor Show (I last went in late 2017) combined with CES (I went in Jan 2018) , one will come across booth of many of the names there such as Bosch, Denso, Magna, Continental, Hyundai Mobis, Aisin Seiki, Valeo, Delphi, Yazaki, Sumitomo Electric, JKEKT, Hitachi, Mahle, Calsonic Kansei, etc.

 

[Brian-MS90D]

Tesla has stated that the cost of owning Tesla EVs is way cheaper than the ICE dinosaur cars. We're seeing the contrary. Lol!!!

I disagree if you're comparing the MS or MX to another $100k ICE vehicle.

 

[cteomd]

I had an error message on my dashboard “Limited A/C and battery cooling” and after 2 visits at Tesla they decided to change the compressor... Only 35k km on a late 2016 MS

 

[AWDtsla]

For years we have been complaining that our A/C has been making way too much noise, especially the little thump that it makes when it cycles on and off, almost once a minute.

So now the A/C has finally died. Tesla service wants $3400 to replace the compressor and a DC converter. I don't recall ever having to replace a compressor in any other car - it seems awfully high. On the other hand, whatever made the system cycle on and off so often is probably what killed it, and we complained to them many times over the years, and they would just say "Oh that's the A/C", and we'd say, "odd, we have had cars with A/C, don't recall any of them making so much noise". Fan noise yes, but the vibration and thumping no.

Anyone have any insight on how to proceed?

If it was any other car could pick up a remanufactured unit at your local auto parts store for like $400.

 

[slipnslider]

So much for that "EVs have lower maintenance costs" argument.

 

[AWDtsla]

So much for that "EVs have lower maintenance costs" argument.

Model S/X is a boutique exotic car. I don't think you can extrapolate to all EV's.

 

[slipnslider]

Model S/X is a boutique exotic car. I don't think you can extrapolate to all EV's.

Not sure about all EVs, but no one wants to own a BMW i3 after the warranty ends either.

 

[macdelaney]

For years we have been complaining that our A/C has been making way too much noise, especially the little thump that it makes when it cycles on and off, almost once a minute.

So now the A/C has finally died. Tesla service wants $3400 to replace the compressor and a DC converter. I don't recall ever having to replace a compressor in any other car - it seems awfully high. On the other hand, whatever made the system cycle on and off so often is probably what killed it, and we complained to them many times over the years, and they would just say "Oh that's the A/C", and we'd say, "odd, we have had cars with A/C, don't recall any of them making so much noise". Fan noise yes, but the vibration and thumping no.

Anyone have any insight on how to proceed?

Our AC just stopped working and we've have just been told that our A/C Compressor short circuited which caused the DC-DC Converter to internally short requiring a $4,000 replacement of both. Ours is a 2013 Model S. What year is yours?

 

[AWDtsla]

I saw some guy a while back had opened on his DCDC and replaced the fuse himself. Saves about $2098 out of $2100. Anyone know where this post is? Google is failing me.

 

[David.85D]

Check your AC

 

[Firewired]

I purchased my first Model S in 2014, and my AC is definitely quieter in my newer one. I used to have to go through a periodic routine of hitting the off button and restarting when it would be really loud. At the time they check all lines to make sure nothing was vibrating and said everything was operating normally. Interesting point was that when I inquired about what they did to make the A/C quieter they mentioned that they were now sourcing the AC from Lexus.