Hey guys, I made a follow up video regarding the tesla model 3 ac smell and thought this video would be helpful for those who have an AC Smell. I also did an air test in comparison to the OEM Tesla stock filters.
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Do you do it once a year?Thank you for this follow up. Very informative with the meter reading differences.
I did the same cleaning of the evaporator a little while back and the smell has returned. I am going to try two cans of cleaner and these filters. Cant be any worse than previous results.
Thanks for the feedback, yea it looks like I may end up doing this cleaning and filter replacement every year now before spring. Tesla recommends every 2 years according to the manual.
I'm pretty sure I do not know all the details but Tesla made a software change so that the fan runs for about 15 minutes after you leave the car. I think you have to leave AC (or maybe just the fan ?) on when you exit the car for this to operate.The service center told me (but I think they were optimistically trying to get rid of me) that a software fix was pending that would improve ventilation management to help dry out the car vents.
All I want, is the ability to turn on the 'FAN ONLY' while the car is unoccupied.
I bought my M3 December 2018. I love my Tesla. Everything about it. Except... summer 2019 I had the bad funk smell. My research, and the service center's confirmation, is that the duct design has a place where some condensation can pool. They changed my filters and cleaned the ductwork, which reduced--but did not entirely eliminate--the smell. The service center told me (but I think they were optimistically trying to get rid of me) that a software fix was pending that would improve ventilation management to help dry out the car vents.
No such change has been incorporated. Summer 2020, we have a massive heat wave in CA (10+ days over 100F). When I drive the car in the heat, and then park it in the sun (because you can't always find shade...), the cold AC coils sit and collect moisture and drip into who knows where. Serious car-funk-kombucha brew going on here. The vinegar smell is almost overwhelming on a hot day when returning to the car. I'm already sensitive to mildew in my sinuses, and sometimes I will develop an ongoing headache and have to avoid driving the Tesla for a few days. I've been told by Tesla support and the user community everything from 'drive with my windows open' to 'use better hygiene'. I've resorted to driving around with my windows down (tomorrow's forecast is a record-breaking 111F).
This is ridiculous. <rant> I've owned 5 other 'luxury sedans' in this price range. Never have I had an issue with mold/moisture/smell in the HVAC system. And I get charged and ridiculed for the convenience of not having a debilitating smell in my car. I can't take other people for a ride in it in summertime.
All I want is to be able to run the ventilation and let the car dry itself off while the coils warm up. I don't care at this point if it's manual or automatic (which would make perfect sense). But currently the car will not run the fan without running the compressor (in cabin mode), so setting the cabin controls doesn't help. I can only set a fixed temp. As soon as my butt gets out of the seat, my 'fan only' request stops and the car sits and stews in its own hot sweat. </rant> I'm ready to figure out how to hotwire my cabin fan...
I run the cabin overheat protection with no A/C and mine still developed the smell.For the record, my BMW had the exact same smell. That being said. Try turning off overheat protection. Or at least turn off the A/C with over heat protection.
That worked for me.
I'm in the 69xxx range and have the issue, right down tobacco road.I’m curious - do we see vin range on these cars or some usage pattern? Any chance it was a manufacturing defect? Just wondering why more cars don’t have this problem. Down here in durham It is truly humid and I’m running AC almost all the time
I’m curious - do we see vin range on these cars or some usage pattern? Any chance it was a manufacturing defect? Just wondering why more cars don’t have this problem. Down here in durham It is truly humid and I’m running AC almost all the time
FWIW I was at an event recently where a Tesla Ranger said the AC smell is really only prevalent in highly humid areas, and that replacing the filter once a year seems to be the best remedy.
Time for you to learn the meaning of prevalent.
If there are no more than ~ 5 Tesla cars in Las Vegas, then yesPrevalent, maybe?