Repairing a Flooded Tesla Model S : HOW-TO

[FlatSix911]

No offense intended, but when I first saw that picture, I couldn't help but think "ahhh....Silicone Valley hillbillies!"
I'll see myself to the door.

Too funny ... Northern California is known for Silicon Valley ... Southern California for Silicone Hills

 

[Btr_ftw]

UPDATE

These are the conditions I have to work under. I had to set my exposure to very high on the camera. Its almost pitch black outside. The only electricity I have is the inverter built into the bed of my truck. It can run an LED flashlight and maybe a drill but nothing heavy duty (had a hard time using a shop vac actually). This is located in a tow yard, about an hour from my house.

If I forget one thing I'm screwed...

Forgot jumper cables to power up the door handles? SCREWED

Forgot extension cable from pickup bed to Tesla? SCREWED

Forgot 8mm and 10mm? SCREWED

Here are both cars exchanging ideas

Testing out new roof rack design

Really digging this pic, this is the LED light at work while I'm standing in the bed of my truck getting more tools. Only was able to get one seat out so far... More on that later!

 

[brkaus]

I like the lighting of the photos. Sorry about the missing tools.

 

[CuriousG]

If I forget one thing I'm screwed...

Forgot jumper cables to power up the door handles? SCREWED

Forgot extension cable from pickup bed to Tesla? SCREWED

Forgot 8mm and 10mm? SCREWED

You telling me there is no Home Depot, Lowes, Wal-Mart to get any of these things?

 

[Btr_ftw]

You telling me there is no Home Depot, Lowes, Wal-Mart to get any of these things?

I only have a couple hours a week to work on this. Sometimes I have to start as late as 10pm. As a result all of those places are closed at that time.

 

[Jay1001]

I swear it has only taken me about 5 hours going over all 67 pages, job well done!

 

[satoshi]

*Slowly starts to gain perspective on how hardcore btr is and slowly backs away*...

I have a lot of luxuries that are making my life way easier...

 

[CuriousG]

I only have a couple hours a week to work on this. Sometimes I have to start as late as 10pm. As a result all of those places are closed at that time.

I think there are some Wal-Marts that are open 24hrs and some open 'til midnight.

 

[Btr_ftw]

*Slowly starts to gain perspective on how hardcore btr is and slowly backs away*...

I have a lot of luxuries that are making my life way easier...

What can I say. I play life on hard mode.

 

[Btr_ftw]

UPDATE

Thank you Tesla for using THE worst, I mean THE WORST hex screws for securing the passenger seat. The passenger and driver seat screws are completely different, the passenger seat screws are hex and they strip within 30 seconds, I was only able to get one of them out successfully.

Look at this.. its TINY, and it was massively overtorqued to add insult to injury

This is the passenger side right rear screw, completely stripped

This is the passenger side left rear screw (which is also a different size for some reason)

Since they are stripped I have no choice but to drill the screw out....

BUT WAIT, THERE IS MORE!

Since I only have hand tools and a battery powered drill, I don't have enough torque to drill through the bolt, that and these bolts are HARD, so needless to say they make a mockery of my drill bits

I picked this up at home depot today, so hopefully this ends my misery, I have to drill 3 of them out... Thanks Tesla!

 

[jaguar36]

Those look like Torx screws to me, which might explain why you stripped them.

 

[EcoHeliGuy]

UPDATE

Thank you Tesla for using THE worst, I mean THE WORST hex screws for securing the passenger seat. The passenger and driver seat screws are completely different, the passenger seat screws are hex and they strip within 30 seconds, I was only able to get one of them out successfully.

Look at this.. its TINY, and it was massively overtorqued to add insult to injury

This is the passenger side right rear screw, completely stripped

This is the passenger side left rear screw (which is also a different size for some reason)

Since they are stripped I have no choice but to drill the screw out....

BUT WAIT, THERE IS MORE!

Since I only have hand tools and a battery powered drill, I don't have enough torque to drill through the bolt, that and these bolts are HARD, so needless to say they make a mockery of my drill bits

I picked this up at home depot today, so hopefully this ends my misery, I have to drill 3 of them out... Thanks Tesla!

You can buy Left hand drill bits that help in this situation. They cut into the screw the same direction as you would loosen, once they bite in enough, they will back
the screw out.

Also before you get into this situation, if expecting a high probability of damaging the screw head. Pick of some Valve grinding compound, at any automotive store like Napa. Dip your screwdriver or bit into the compound and the grit will help hugely with keeping the tip from caming out and damaging the screw. This will prevent damage about 80% of the time.

Real stubborn bolts especially through aluminum can be coaxed, with localized heating around the bolt, not directly on the bolt. What I often do is use a heat gun for a minute or two and then spray the bolt directly with an upside down "can of air" like you use for cleaning a keyboard. The bolt flash freezes which causes rapid shrinkage () and the bolt threads break loose from the frame.

 

[EcoHeliGuy]

Those look like Torx screws to me, which might explain why you stripped them.

I think he miss quoted, they appear to be Torx.

Could be why he feels they are over torqued though. As Torx can take a much higher tightening torque then Hex. The Idea behind Torx aswell is that the driver will get damaged before the Screw. although I have never stripped a Torx screw, I have seen cheep bits snap trying to remove them.

 

[Galve2000]

You can buy Left hand drill bits that help in this situation. They cut into the screw the same direction as you would loosen, once they bite in enough, they will back
the screw out.

Also before you get into this situation, if expecting a high probability of damaging the screw head. Pick of some Valve grinding compound, at any automotive store like Napa. Dip your screwdriver or bit into the compound and the grit will help hugely with keeping the tip from caming out and damaging the screw. This will prevent damage about 80% of the time.

Real stubborn bolts especially through aluminum can be coaxed, with localized heating around the bolt, not directly on the bolt. What I often do is use a heat gun for a minute or two and then spray the bolt directly with an upside down "can of air" like you use for cleaning a keyboard. The bolt flash freezes which causes rapid shrinkage () and the bolt threads break loose from the frame.

You guys are super smart!!

 

[Btr_ftw]

You can buy Left hand drill bits that help in this situation. They cut into the screw the same direction as you would loosen, once they bite in enough, they will back
the screw out.

Also before you get into this situation, if expecting a high probability of damaging the screw head. Pick of some Valve grinding compound, at any automotive store like Napa. Dip your screwdriver or bit into the compound and the grit will help hugely with keeping the tip from caming out and damaging the screw. This will prevent damage about 80% of the time.

Real stubborn bolts especially through aluminum can be coaxed, with localized heating around the bolt, not directly on the bolt. What I often do is use a heat gun for a minute or two and then spray the bolt directly with an upside down "can of air" like you use for cleaning a keyboard. The bolt flash freezes which causes rapid shrinkage () and the bolt threads break loose from the frame.

Thanks for the info bud. I checked out the left hand drill bits but unfortunately the seat does not move up far enough so that I can drill directly in the center of the bolt for removal.

 

[EcoHeliGuy]

Thanks for the info bud. I checked out the left hand drill bits but unfortunately the seat does not move up far enough so that I can drill directly in the center of the bolt for removal.

Also here is a picture of the difference between inferior Hex and the much improved Torx.

As a side note, in low torque applications you can often remove a hex screw with a good quality Torx driver.

 

[Btr_ftw]

Those look like Torx screws to me, which might explain why you stripped them.

U sure brah?


Here is the one I removed from the passenger seat, thanks for the red threadlocker Tesla

 

[Ingineer]

This is definitely NOT a factory bolt. I know both kinds they use, and that ain't one of 'em! Probably not even metric which explains why it's stripped.

 

[Btr_ftw]

This is definitely NOT a factory bolt. I know both kinds they use, and that ain't one of 'em! Probably not even metric which explains why it's stripped.

Yup. the drivers side came out in 5 minutes. they are torx on the drivers side, they are HEX on the passenger side, 2 different sizes. one of the sizes is TINY, the screws are ridiculously torqued for such a small screw.

 

[Btr_ftw]

UPDATE

Wow, its so pretty without salt inside of it!!

Clever way to plug up those coolant lines, these are the caps to spray bottles for suntan lotion, wheel/tire spray applicator etc.

20 mins later