My Tesla Mannequin 3 Taken Out By A Seized Quick Cost Contactor

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Why is it that, typically while you attain a milestone and you’re actually joyful about it, issues go dangerous afterwards? I just lately wrote a evaluate of my Tesla Mannequin 3 reaching 100,000 miles, with detailed TCO (Whole Price of Possession), and I stick by the conclusion that this automotive is superb. Nevertheless, what I assumed was outdated worn out 12-volt battery difficulty (leading to my automotive having to be towed to the service heart and keep there for a number of days) was truly one thing completely completely different.

Since I so just lately wrote concerning the automotive, I owe you this little story of what occurred subsequent. I by no means heard of this fault earlier than, so it’s in everybody’s curiosity to know it will probably occur — to any EV actually. I can’t blame Tesla for being a bit sluggish on the service facet when it clearly prioritizes scheduled service. I get that. Communication through the app was efficient, however per week remains to be a very long time to attend. You actually know what you could have while you don’t have it. Which truly simply tells you what an excellent product we’re coping with right here.

Journey to Copenhagen for a gathering. 330 km (205 miles). Chilly climate 3°C (37°F). Begin out with a contemporary nightly cost to 100% indicating a variety of 460 km (286 miles). Actual vary on motorway the entire journey at speeds between 100–130 km/h (62–81 mph) and at this low temperature is about 350 km (217 miles).

First cease at 230 km (143 miles) at V2 Supercharger for quarter-hour, leading to an emptied bladder and loads of vary to succeed in the vacation spot and again to this explicit spot. Upon reaching my vacation spot, the navigation was solely off by 3 minutes.

Going again within the afternoon, I made a decision to succeed in a V3 Supercharge nearer to house. Vary was right down to 14 km (7 miles) at arrival, and the automotive charged actually quick. Began out at 254 kW, and after a rest room and low cease within the mall on the web site of no more that 20 minutes, I used to be good to go together with 80% SOC (State Of Cost). However then…

I used to be unable to launch the cost plug and the cost indicator went pink. The show stated “Unable to cost, launch plug and take a look at once more. (BMS_a174)” (My translation from Danish). OK, so I needed to do the handbook launch positioned up on the left by the trunk opening. Now, with the plug out, a brand new error appeared: “Charging is deactivated by handbook launch, shut cost port and take a look at once more (CP_a035).” However the cost port had closed, so we the place now in a state of affairs the place the automotive had misplaced the notion of its personal components.

At this level I attempted to drive, however was advised “Cost port must be closed to drive (BMS_a167),” which it was, after which a extra cryptic “Cost port can’t open with activated brake, launch brake pedal and take a look at once more (VCFRONT_a563).” Solely after a few restarts (maintain each scroll buttons on steering wheel for a couple of seconds to make automotive restart itself), was I capable of drive, however with the messages of cost port being open (BMS_a167 and CP_a035) preventing for display actual property the remainder of the way in which house.

Arriving house, the automotive wouldn’t take cost from my Tesla wall charger, it had a pink cost gentle on the port with “Can’t cost (BMS_a063)” on the touchscreen, and it included some further messages like “Management unit for local weather management wants service (VCFRONT_a447)” and “Electrical system unable to assist all capabilities (VCFRONT_a192).”

I googled a bit, and I attempted to show off the automotive for a couple of minutes from the service menu after which wake it by urgent the brake pedal. No distinction. One suggestion was to depart the automotive in a single day with the cost plug in and hope it’d magically have come to its senses within the morning.

Effectively, the subsequent morning I discovered a message on my cellphone despatched from the automotive at 4:00 am: “12 volt battery wants substitute, schedule service now.” Okay, that explains the automotive being confused, however too late — I discovered the automotive lifeless in my driveway, unresponsive to something, cost plug caught within the automotive. I used to be not even capable of open any doorways.

Now, be warned, the web is a blessing, as a result of you will discover options to nearly something, and I did. I discovered all of the directions on the best way to open the frunk to get to the battery, however I did nothing. Why? As a result of at this level, if I made a single mistake and destroyed something, I’m certain my insurance coverage wouldn’t be joyful, particularly figuring out that I’ve roadside help. So, I stored my palms behind my again and watched the good man with the tow truck do his factor.

Spoiler alert: It turned on the market was nothing incorrect with the 12V battery. Good factor I didn’t attempt to exchange it myself….

Responding to my enquiry about this, I’m advised by Tesla service that they can not promise the automotive shall be prepared this week, however they are going to do what they’ll and let me know Friday. That is the purpose at which I really feel it has been some time with no progress and little info on the rationale for the breakdown.

8:30 am I get a message on the app that the automotive is prepared for pickup. The connected bill states {that a} Quick Cost Contactor meeting for the Excessive Voltage Battery has been changed. I paid DKK 3,480 ($504) for the restore and picked up the automotive — after opening hours, so I didn’t get the possibility to speak to anybody.

This raises the query: Why did I get the “12 volt battery wants substitute, schedule service now” message? I’ve requested this query within the submit service suggestions type to Tesla, however I don’t anticipate a solution aside from within the line of: Prognosis was carried out, faulty components changed (that means the 12-volt battery remains to be tremendous).

My principle is that, as I had the automotive plugged within the evening it died, it will constantly attempt to provoke cost in useless as a result of seized up quick cost contactor, thus draining the 12-volt battery to the purpose the place it will warn me it wanted changed. And because it was a freezing chilly evening, the voltage dropped so low the automotive ultimately shut down. Any concepts? And most significantly, can I depend on the automotive giving me the 12-volt lead-acid battery warning in due time, or ought to or not it’s changed preemptively each, say, 5 years?

Keep in mind, Mannequin 3s manufactured at Giga Shanghai earlier than roughly October 2021, and within the Fremont manufacturing unit earlier than roughly December 2021, are geared up with a lead-acid 12-volt battery (nominal voltage is definitely nearer to 14 volts). Since then, they’re geared up with a small lithium-ion battery (with a nominal voltage nearer to 16 volts), which supposedly lasts lots longer. Goes for Mannequin Y too I suppose.

However why would a contactor seize up within the first place? Effectively, I’m no knowledgeable, however quite a lot of causes come to thoughts: Basic put on, in order that the surfaces within the contactor supplies can’t attain one another. Moisture, making shifting components erode and get caught. Small sparks ultimately welding contactor surfaces collectively. Low voltage coils failure. I imply, I’ve seen many 12-volt contactors on my outdated automobiles and motorbikes fail over time, so it’s not like a totally new difficulty. It’s simply actually annoying when it occurs.

Since a whole lot of used Teslas are operating up super mileage around the globe, I simply thought this explicit incidence could possibly be of curiosity — to any EV proprietor, truly. It additionally goes to indicate that error messages typically are a results of one thing completely completely different failing. So, sure, EVs break down too, however I nonetheless imagine ICEVs are extra fragile as a result of many extra potential factors of failure.