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My Model Y smells, does it happen to yours?
- Thread starter Wjli2020
- Start date
when I pulled out the cabin filters after a year, the "filtering side" was dirty with small debris, so I guess the evaporator coil and inside the air box will get dirty or contaminated.
I think if the recirculate is on, the system will get the air from the cabin air intakes, which are located near the front foot well area, so those air intake will get some dirt and small debris from your floor since you cannot keep the floor area 100% clean all the time.
That’s a good point about recirculation. Although I pulled out the filters shortly after my last post, and they looked perfectly clean after one year. So they probably aren’t filtering much, at least under the conditions that I drive.
While the filters themselves had no discernible smell and still looked brand new, after removing them the smell in the car completely disappeared. So, a lesson learned is that smelling the filters is NOT a reliable test.
I plan to drive without cabin filters (while still protected by the external HEPA filter) until I receive the replacement cabin filters I ordered from Tesla.
If the car smells most of the time it's because of the a/c, which means it's time for us to change the air filters. The installation process is quick and easy, saving you time and money.
This cabin HEPA air filter captures 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.25 microns and effectively filters out smoke, pollen, dust mites, and smells. It is constructed with a honeycomb activated carbon filter, a HEPA filter, and anti-bacterial composite layers. It is intended to strengthen the filter screen and expand filtering space, resulting in cleaner air.
www.yeslak.com
And the HEPA 13 grade Model Y hepa air intake filters may filter out fine particulate matter (pm2.5), pollen, dust mites, and unpleasant odors from the air and intake fresh air into your cabin. Tesla suggests replacing these filters once a year.
www.yeslak.com
This cabin HEPA air filter captures 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.25 microns and effectively filters out smoke, pollen, dust mites, and smells. It is constructed with a honeycomb activated carbon filter, a HEPA filter, and anti-bacterial composite layers. It is intended to strengthen the filter screen and expand filtering space, resulting in cleaner air.
Cabin Air Filter With Activated Carbon For Tesla Model 3/Y
This cabin HEPA air filter captures 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.25 microns and effectively filters out smoke, pollen, dust mites, and smells. It is fully compatible with the Tesla Model 3 and the Tesla Model Y. It is constructed with a honeycomb activated carbon filter, a HEPA...
www.yeslak.com
HEPA Air Intake Filters for Tesla Model Y
The HEPA 13 grade hepa air intake filters are custom-designed for Model Y; they help keep leaves & debris from clogging up. Prevent dust and harmful particles, pollen, dust mites, and unpleasant odors from entering the AC intake system. Initial filter incoming air, it can also extend the...
www.yeslak.com
I’ve become wary of companies overhyping their “HEPA” filters. A two pack for $32 is a pretty good deal.If the car smells most of the time it's because of the a/c, which means it's time for us to change the air filters. The installation process is quick and easy, saving you time and money.
This cabin HEPA air filter captures 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.25 microns and effectively filters out smoke, pollen, dust mites, and smells. It is constructed with a honeycomb activated carbon filter, a HEPA filter, and anti-bacterial composite layers. It is intended to strengthen the filter screen and expand filtering space, resulting in cleaner air.
And the HEPA 13 grade Model Y hepa air intake filters may filter out fine particulate matter (pm2.5), pollen, dust mites, and unpleasant odors from the air and intake fresh air into your cabin. Tesla suggests replacing these filters once a year.Cabin Air Filter With Activated Carbon For Tesla Model 3/Y
This cabin HEPA air filter captures 99.97% of airborne particles as small as 0.25 microns and effectively filters out smoke, pollen, dust mites, and smells. It is fully compatible with the Tesla Model 3 and the Tesla Model Y. It is constructed with a honeycomb activated carbon filter, a HEPA...
HEPA Air Intake Filters for Tesla Model Y
The HEPA 13 grade hepa air intake filters are custom-designed for Model Y; they help keep leaves & debris from clogging up. Prevent dust and harmful particles, pollen, dust mites, and unpleasant odors from entering the AC intake system. Initial filter incoming air, it can also extend the...
Are your filters true HEPA, or HEPA type?
HEPA filters would filter out 99.97% of particles as small as 0.3 microns. Yours supposedly go down to 0.25 microns. That would be phenomenal if true.
Would you be able to provide the testing data backing up the claims?
Solved! … I think.
As I stated in my previous posts, I removed the interior cabin filters. I then cleaned the evaporator coils, and together this seemed to remove the smell for the last week or two. But then it rained a lot today and the vinegar/wet feet smell was strong without recirculate mode (so external air being drawn in). At this point, I suspected the HEPA filter in my frunk (I have a 2022 Y with HEPA from the factory). This filter is supposed to last several years, but oh well.
For those that have a frunk HEPA, there are actually two sets of filters – an outer soft/floppy filter pair (left/right) with activated charcoal that looks like a longer version of the interior cabin filters. And an inner traditional paper filter pair. See photos. The outer soft filters were a little smelly. I removed those and left the paper filters in, and the smell is now gone, hopefully permanently.
So, if anyone has the same set up and is having trouble with HvAC stink, they might try this.
As I stated in my previous posts, I removed the interior cabin filters. I then cleaned the evaporator coils, and together this seemed to remove the smell for the last week or two. But then it rained a lot today and the vinegar/wet feet smell was strong without recirculate mode (so external air being drawn in). At this point, I suspected the HEPA filter in my frunk (I have a 2022 Y with HEPA from the factory). This filter is supposed to last several years, but oh well.
For those that have a frunk HEPA, there are actually two sets of filters – an outer soft/floppy filter pair (left/right) with activated charcoal that looks like a longer version of the interior cabin filters. And an inner traditional paper filter pair. See photos. The outer soft filters were a little smelly. I removed those and left the paper filters in, and the smell is now gone, hopefully permanently.
So, if anyone has the same set up and is having trouble with HvAC stink, they might try this.
Attachments
What I have done for years on many of my vehicles after using the AC while driving is to run the fan on high with the AC off for about 5 minutes before getting to my destination or getting out of my vehicle. This helps remove any condensation moisture from the AC coils, which prevents mildew growth that causes the smell.
This YouTube video (released yesterday - and not my video) has a pretty good analysis of why that smell occurs and some suggestions around fixing it. May be worth a look:
sentinoboca
Member
Totally agree sir. We should not need to run the vents with AC off and on high at our destination or before arriving. This is obviously a design flaw that the SC skirts around whenever I ask about it. In the 2 years I've had mine since 2021, Tesla replaced the filters 3 times and cleaned out the coils once (about a year ago). On this past Labor day, they replaced both filters again, and already the stink is back. It's a little embarrassing when I take people in the car and it stinks like that. It's a buzz kill. I don't know what to do at this point. We're talking about a $55K car people.
sentinoboca
Member
I saw this. If you see, he did a nice job also showing that the Model Y has a better architecture under the hood where the air intake is "hidden" from possible rain water thanks to the large HEPA filter assembly for bio mode. So the moisture is coming from somewhere else. I'm guessing the moisture from the evaporator touches the air filters and that creates the smell? It's a bad thing, and my family and friends notice it too. It's embarrassing.
Agreed I don’t think this video helps 2022 and later Y owners.
sentinoboca
Member
No, it does not. I have another service appointment after Thanksgiving. Lets see what they say. They installed the 2 new air filters and it did help for a month and a half. Now the smell is back. It's worse during a rain, but now water is entering the intake duct from the hood. It's really strange and sad.
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