Hello,
I have 2017 Model X. About a week ago I smelled burning electronics inside the cabin and almost immediately after that heard a fuse pop. Then it was only cool air coming out of the vents. I knew it was the heater.
I took the PTC heater off and took it apart. There are 6 IGBT-modules controlling the actual heater elements. Heater itself consists of 9 different heating elements. They are controlled as follows; 3 elements have individual IGBT and 6 other elements are paired to one IGBT per two elements. I guess they are shuffled and they are not fully on all the time.
I measured resistance between those 9 elements. Measurements were between 1000 and 1500 ohms. Broken element had more than 33 000 ohm resistance. Also its controlling IGBT was shorted (drain to source). I desoldered the element from control board before measuring. It is relatively easy to measure resistance even if element is still attached to control board.
I desoldered all the IGBTs from control circuit and replaced all but shorted one with new ones. Put the whole element back in the car and replaced hv-fuse in front high voltage junction box. Heater came back alive and did not blow fuse again. One out of nine elements is not providing me heat but it is way better than driving without heat at all. Here in Finland its below zero celcius right now so heat is more than welcome.
Ranger quoted me 1300€+ for replacing the elements + fuse. Replacement IGBTs were 70€ including shipping fees. Replacement fuse was about 50€ from Tesla. I could have sourced it for about 10€ but I was in hurry to get it.
I will post some pictures with explanations soon.
I have 2017 Model X. About a week ago I smelled burning electronics inside the cabin and almost immediately after that heard a fuse pop. Then it was only cool air coming out of the vents. I knew it was the heater.
I took the PTC heater off and took it apart. There are 6 IGBT-modules controlling the actual heater elements. Heater itself consists of 9 different heating elements. They are controlled as follows; 3 elements have individual IGBT and 6 other elements are paired to one IGBT per two elements. I guess they are shuffled and they are not fully on all the time.
I measured resistance between those 9 elements. Measurements were between 1000 and 1500 ohms. Broken element had more than 33 000 ohm resistance. Also its controlling IGBT was shorted (drain to source). I desoldered the element from control board before measuring. It is relatively easy to measure resistance even if element is still attached to control board.
I desoldered all the IGBTs from control circuit and replaced all but shorted one with new ones. Put the whole element back in the car and replaced hv-fuse in front high voltage junction box. Heater came back alive and did not blow fuse again. One out of nine elements is not providing me heat but it is way better than driving without heat at all. Here in Finland its below zero celcius right now so heat is more than welcome.
Ranger quoted me 1300€+ for replacing the elements + fuse. Replacement IGBTs were 70€ including shipping fees. Replacement fuse was about 50€ from Tesla. I could have sourced it for about 10€ but I was in hurry to get it.
I will post some pictures with explanations soon.
