Supercharging “clunks”?

[Darkstr]

I charge at home and don’t often go on long trips. When I do, and stop to supercharge, I hear and feel random clunks coming from under my car. Should I be concerned? Is it due to the battery expanding from the heat of charging? Or???

 

[RayK]

I believe what you are hearing is a high voltage (current?) relay switching. Perfectly normal.

Now if it happens constantly, not just once per charging session, that could be a problem.

 

[Sophias_dad]

I charge at home and don’t often go on long trips. When I do, and stop to supercharge, I hear and feel random clunks coming from under my car. Should I be concerned? Is it due to the battery expanding from the heat of charging? Or???

Its normal-ish. It is indeed the battery expanding with the heat of charging.

 

[Darkstr]

I believe what you are hearing is a high voltage (current?) relay switching. Perfectly normal.

Now if it happens constantly, not just once per charging session, that could be a problem.

It happens a half dozen or so times per session.

 

[mtmra70]

It could also be the pumps circulating stuff. I hear all kinds of random clunks from mine.

 

[gonzo238]

I assume it's normal. I've had my car for about 5 years and I've been hearing this while SC.

 

[AAKEE]

I charge at home and don’t often go on long trips. When I do, and stop to supercharge, I hear and feel random clunks coming from under my car. Should I be concerned? Is it due to the battery expanding from the heat of charging? Or???

It is not the cells themself but the battery casing increasing in size when warm. Aluminium expands a lot with themperature. The clunks can be heard during precondition when driving before the supercharging session and also after the session, when the battery cools down.

Completely normal.

 

[toolman335]

I believe what you are hearing is a high voltage (current?) relay switching. Perfectly normal.

Now if it happens constantly, not just once per charging session, that could be a problem.

It definitely happens more than once per charging session. Don't alarm the OP!

 

[Casmium]

I have a 2018 LR, get several loud clunks with supercharing and always have. Was told it's normal and have heard newer model 3's don't do this,
These are much louder then the relays or pump's etc. I would say its pretty close in sound to dropping a can of pop on the rear floor, sorta a bang wtf was that sort of sound

 

[AAKEE]

I have a 2018 LR, get several loud clunks with supercharing and always have. Was told it's normal and have heard newer model 3's don't do this,
These are much louder then the relays or pump's etc. I would say its pretty close in sound to dropping a can of pop on the rear floor, sorta a bang wtf was that sort of sound

My 2021 M3P do it.

Any tesla with a aluminium case around the batteries is prone to do it.

It would probably be possible to construct the covers with like a corrugated sheet part that allow the aluminium to expand/schrink without the ”pop” but it might introduce other issues.
Its a feature, not an issue

 

[RayK]

It definitely happens more than once per charging session. Don't alarm the OP!

That's what I get for living in a temperate climate . Although there's a lot of snow that's been coming down on the mountains around Silicon Valley this past week.

 

[f4remix]

these are two videos that mentioned about the clunk during supercharging, you can check them out, i did have Tesla service to perform the service bulletin listed below for my 2018 LR RWD Model 3 which was the affect vehicles , i have to say the clunk is mostly gone or not as loud as below while supercharging.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2019/MC-10163736-9999.pdf