Popping or Thunking when charging.

[CrimsonEclipse]

When charging at a supercharger, I hear an occasional Pop or Thunk from the forward portion of the vehicle.

Timing seems random and occurs on warm and cold days.

Is this a normal or is my battery oil canning?

 

[Richster64]

It's either normal, or else you and I have the same problem! It does it from time to time ever since Dec 2021 when I got mine.

 

[David99]

It is mostly likely the AC/heat pump system switching modes. When supercharging the car wants the battery really hot. Above 50 C. It will actively heat the battery while charging. Once it has the desired temperature, it switches to cooling mode. Not to actually cool it down, but to carry out the heat building up inside the battery from charging. When it switches, you might heat some distinct noises.

 

[Bp25]

Those sounds are normal. I get those in the initial phase of supercharging when the charging current is the highest, most likely the battery expanding due to rapid charging. Can it damage the battery? Maybe over long term but that’s what the 8 year warranty is for.

 

[Pianewman]

Do an Advanced Search. You'll see several threads about the various sounds a Tesla makes while supercharging.

Instant answer instead of starting a new thread!

 

[David99]

Do an Advanced Search. You'll see several threads about the various sounds a Tesla makes while supercharging.

Instant answer instead of starting a new thread!

I'm sorry but I absolutely dislike those comments. This is like saying to a child, you should not ask a question in school and look in the text book where the same question was already answered 150 years ago. Learning isn't a mechanic function. People come here who recently got their first EV and want to learn and discuss. It is active and alive place to communicate. Most questions I asked in my life were answered somewhere already, yet the people I interacted with took the time to answer them and spend time with me and help me learn. That is what humans do.

..., most likely the battery expanding due to rapid charging. Can it damage the battery? Maybe over long term but that’s what the 8 year warranty is for.

No, it isn't expanding and contracting during charging and discharging. The sounds are from a pretty complex heating and cooling system. Many high pressure and low pressure lines being switched in an 8-way valve system.

Here is a rather long but very educational video explaining in detail the heating and cooling system in modern Teslas

 

[Pianewman]

David99: I'm sorry you're offended. The databases for ALL forums is so cluttered with redundancy that they are rendered useless.

My response was neither condescending nor insulting. It was simply informing an adult new member (not a child) of the wealth of information they would find (including your posts!) doing a search, and the benefit of receiving an immediate answer and knowledge.

Maybe I should have said please?

 

[David99]

It's all good. I don't try to be mean. Looking up information is just as part of a learning process as asking questions.

 

[MY1stEV]

Just FYI, Tesla has a list of normal operating sounds, along with audio samples, in the owner's manual

Normal Operating Sounds

 

[David99]

I will be damned. I was wrong. It does expand and contract.

 

[Tonedog77]

normal. end of thread

 

[dansev]

normal. end of thread

Well I guess we can close the books on that one!

 

[Pianewman]

Except...the OP observed his sounds coming from "...the forward portion of the vehicle..."

It would be nice if he would report and qualify his observation.

 

[Tonedog77]

Except...the OP observed his sounds coming from "...the forward portion of the vehicle..."

It would be nice if he would report and qualify his observation.

thats usually where the sound comes from

 

[Pianewman]

thats usually where the sound comes from

Hmm...during supercharging (in the cold?), I hear occasional clunks/thunks from under the floor.

This the problem with internet diagnoses. We might very well be comparing totally different sounds!