Flashing Blue Light at Supercharger

[Flashmasterk]

So I pulled into a supercharger today and after plugging in, the charging never started. It would say "starting to charge" and then "Charging stopped". I went out and the charging port was flashing blue. I tried a couple of other chargers with the same effect. There were two other cars charging with no issue.

Any idea?

Luckily I have enough to make it but this is worrying.

Thanks!

 

[Rockster]

Yep. My model S did the exact same thing. It turned out to be a dead charger. Cost me $2100 for the out of warranty repair. What was interesting, though, is I could still charge using level 2 (e.g., my wall charger at home), just not supercharging.

 

[David99]

Had that a few times. Changing stalls usually helps.

 

[Flashmasterk]

Yep. My model S did the exact same thing. It turned out to be a dead charger. Cost me $2100 for the out of warranty repair. What was interesting, though, is I could still charge using level 2 (e.g., my wall charger at home), just not supercharging.

Thats exactly what it is doing. Going to try another supercharger and if it doesnt work, time for a trip to the service center

 

[Rockster]

Thats exactly what it is doing. Going to try another supercharger and if it doesnt work, time for a trip to the service center

Good luck! I originally thought that because I could charge at home but not at the Supercharger that the problem couldn't be the charger and it had to be the high voltage junction box. But the SC assured me it was the charger and that's what the invoice I paid stated.

 

[camthehombre]

OP did you ever get this fixed? My car is currently at the SC right now with this same issue. Hoping it's not the charger as I'm out of warranty, but it is what it is. I also thought it was the High Voltage Junction Box.

 

[sorka]

Yep. My model S did the exact same thing. It turned out to be a dead charger. Cost me $2100 for the out of warranty repair. What was interesting, though, is I could still charge using level 2 (e.g., my wall charger at home), just not supercharging.

What does the on board charger have to do with supercharging which bypasses the charger and goes straight to the battery?

 

[camthehombre]

What does the on board charger have to do with supercharging which bypasses the charger and goes straight to the battery?

Exactly my thinking. I read somewhere it's like $1k to replace the HVJB, but I was quoted $2175 for the new charger. Not sure how it would be the charger. Just stumbled across this thread and wanted to see what OP had to say.

 

[MP3Mike]

What does the on board charger have to do with supercharging which bypasses the charger and goes straight to the battery?

The charger is not bypassed completely. It is exposed to the HV system and can cause an isolation failure.

 

[sorka]

Exactly my thinking. I read somewhere it's like $1k to replace the HVJB, but I was quoted $2175 for the new charger. Not sure how it would be the charger. Just stumbled across this thread and wanted to see what OP had to say.

Just make sure that this isn't the software problem that effected all 2013 85s and earlier where they couldn't supercharge at most of the locations. There are other threads on this. Some folks were told their chargers or charge ports were bad and charged(no pun intended) to replace these components only to be told that it was a software problem after all. Some are still waiting for refunds for components Tesla repaired...that they swore to customers at first was really the problem....refunded.

 

[sorka]

Can charge but cannot supercharge

 

[camthehombre]

Just make sure that this isn't the software problem that effected all 2013 85s and earlier where they couldn't supercharge at most of the locations. There are other threads on this. Some folks were told their chargers or charge ports were bad and charged(no pun intended) to replace these components only to be told that it was a software problem after all. Some are still waiting for refunds for components Tesla repaired...that they swore to customers at first was really the problem....refunded.

Mine is a early 2014 S 85. Initially they thought it was the DC to DC converter but they said it was working fine. They now think it's the charger but they have to wait for one to get to the SC before they can put it in and see if that is in fact the culprit.

 

[Big Earl]

What does the on board charger have to do with supercharging which bypasses the charger and goes straight to the battery?

One of the on-board chargers is what controls/initiates supercharging. When it fails, you get nothing. At least that's my understanding.

 

[sorka]

This is actually the main thread:

Cannot super charge my antique 2013 S (jan build)

 

[Rockster]

What does the on board charger have to do with supercharging which bypasses the charger and goes straight to the battery?

I thought that was the case, too. In fact, I was so sure that it was the HV junction box that I almost bought one and installed it myself. I was stunned when it turned out to be the charger.

 

[MP3Mike]

What does the on board charger have to do with supercharging which bypasses the charger and goes straight to the battery?

@sorka I knew I had seen it so I did some digging and found where WK057 had written up some on this:

Also, if they tap the input feeds to the chargers themselves (between the HVJB and the chargers) then the inductive charger will need to be able to handle ~402VDC back feed during supercharging since these lines carry HVDC during fast charging (the Tesla chargers are designed handle and ignore this). The fast charge contactors do NOT isolate the charger AC-side from the HVDC coming in... in fact they bridge it with the DC side.

So when you Supercharge that DC voltage is fed directly into the charger and it has to ignore it, and not cause an isolation issue.

 

[camthehombre]

Follow up just so people know the outcome (I hate when it gets resolved and someone doesn't mention what happened), it was the master charger for me. Part, taxes and labor out the door is $2579 and change. Ouch. But my car supercharges again! I'm going tomorrow to pick it up and will see if I can get more info on how/why it failed. Maybe even get my old charger back.

 

[MP3Mike]

Maybe even get my old charger back.

You might have to push them, but they have to give it back if you paid full price for the repair. I'm sure someone would be interested in it...

 

[camthehombre]

You might have to push them, but they have to give it back if you paid full price for the repair. I'm sure someone would be interested in it...

I will try. I figured someone might want to buy it on ebay or something and at least try and get back SOME of the cost.

 

[DarkKnight83]

I got the same problem . I don’t know whether the v3 charger in Scott’s valley broke it or not.