FACTS:
MORE FACTS:
AND NOW THE QUESTIONS:
- 2013 Model S 85kWh
- 106000 miles
- This is the 5th drive unit on this car -- last one Tesla put in back in Aug 2017 by surprise (I had never reported any issues, they just up and did it while my car was in for an annual service check); they replaced the 1st one within weeks of purchase due to very loud noise at ~70mph back in 2013; 2nd one put in about year later; 3rd and 4th were the "cicada" type sounds, which they decided to fix by replacing with yet more drive units.
- This new Clunk sound started in left rear axle/wheel area about 2 weeks ago
- Initially very occasional
- Each day it's gotten a tiny bit worse: more frequent, louder, more complex a sound
- My driving is routine, local, doing-errands like post office, etc,. about ~25mi per day.
- Sound happens in direct correlation with gentle acceleration and gently going into regen
- Basically if the car has any gentle G-force backward or forward, good chance a Clunk will happen
- Happens at even parking lot/driveway speeds
- If I roll down rear left window, I can hear the Clunk very clearly coming from left rear wheel well area
- I have not yet rigged up a digital recorder and placed it in various locations and then done tests to find the loudest location, but plan to
MORE FACTS:
- I live in a state without any service centers whatsoever
- My car's Extended Service Agreement expired at 100K mi
- I think I read somewhere on TMC recently that Tesla says tough luck if you ask for a mobile tech to come out outside warranty
- I fear I will have to drive to Denver or El Paso (4-8 hours), book a hotel, and wait for car to get fixed
- Also concerned that there are no more loaners, or free Enterprise rentals, at service centers, just Lyft, which is like a slap in the face after already being screwed but I digress
AND NOW THE QUESTIONS:
- How bad is this? Is it a mere annoyance, or could it suggest something serious?
- How bad could it get?
- Will the drive unit eventually seize or something?
- Could this be more of a suspension issue or other non-drive-unit issue?
- I know The Clunk has been discussed ten zillion times but everyone's situation seems different: what should I do?
- I have a 125 mile drive tomorrow that I have to do -- any chance the car could become undrivable?
- I'm trying to ascertain how long this progressively-worsening Clunk situation could get? Any ideas?
Last edited: