I just cleaned my Model 3 radiator coils and it is very similar to the Model S you have. I also did not have time to take the front bumper assembly off: This procedure worked well for me. 1. I disassembled mine which is very similar to yours and the sealed radiator is almost exactly the same setup, except it appears that the Model 3 radiator is a little larger. I wedged the top up with two 4 inch blocks to provide room to work. The wood blocks worked well. I also shut off the cooling system from the inside screen. With the Model 3, you just push the temperature number on the touch screen and it shuts down the cooling system. The heat pump will still turn on to try to cool the battery, but it won't hurt it. 2. I used a garden hose with a jet nozzle and sprayed the entire radiator down with a LOT of water. 3. I let it dry and then vacuumed again. I then applied a spray-on coil cleaner that Home Depot sells for $15.00. I think it is the same one you used. I sprayed it once and let it sit for about an hour. 4. I again washed down the radiator with a hose pressure nozzle. I let it dry and then vacuumed thoroughly again. 5. Finally, I used a pressure steam cleaner (you can buy them for about $150.00 on Amazon or Home Depot) with an angled nozzle and spent several minutes spraying both radiators with pressurized steam. This seemed to work really well, and it loosened up a LOT of stuck-on debris I vacuumed again and got several leaves, twigs and other debris that had come loose during the steam cleaning. 6. I then put everything back together. There was a noticeable difference in cooling after I finished. The heat pump was able to cool the care much more efficiently and my range mileage went up significantly. My Model 3 had 78,000 miles on it when I cleaned the radiator coils. I live in AZ, and right now, the temperature is over 100 degrees F. During the day temperatures are reaching 113 degrees F.. AZ summers can be brutal. My suggestions for you to help you are as follows: 1. Next time wash the radiator several times with a garden hose with a pressure nozzle on it. This removes a lot of dirt and will help get rid of most of the dirt. You missed this easy step in your video. Use a hose next time, and it will make this job MUCH easier, and it shouldn't hurt the car. 2. Removing the front bumper assembly on the Model 3 is not too difficult. You can roll the car up on ramps to elevate the front of the car. The bumper is held on with 10 bolts on the Model 3 and some clips, and it comes off pretty easily. I would suggest that you try removing the bumper next time. 3. If you do remove the bumper you will have full access to both radiators. I would suggest using a pressure washer with a nozzle that won't damage the fins. This appears to be the best way to clean the radiators thoroughly without killing yourself. You can use coil cleaner, but when you have full access to the radiators, it may not be necessary. Great video!
Excellent, clear instructions!! ( I have had 2 A/C condenser replacements on my 2014 P85 in less than 25,000 miles - the first one at barely 5M mikes. ) Today i have less than 30K miles total on my P85 5:52
Some of the things they do annoy me. I check service mode once a month for repeating codes. My Louvers are stuck open and it has had multiple codes for louver failure without pushing the code to the drivers notifications.
How much is a replacement? Have Tesla swap one out and give you the old one and rotate as needed? I have a 2012 that probably needs this badly. Would Tesla do the cleaning?
This is a half ass way of doing it. Better than nothing but you have to remove the front bumper and the bracket to remove the top condenser so you can clean the one in the back.
I have a 2018 model X p100d and my ac compressor went out Tesla charged me $5800 to clean out the hvac system and replace the compressor i feel like Tesla raped me,
Yea, this is way too much to take apart. I'd gladly give up the frunk if it was all easier to access. If i end up having issues, ill just take it to a service center.
Yeah the design of the condenser certainly is a trade off! Keep in mind you have no idea if the job was done correctly unless you do it yourself since there’s no way to check 😮
@@aDigitalNomad Cleaning was not professional. To remove the cover, the front bumper must be removed, because the airlock is connected to the front of the cover, which can only be removed from the front.
@@mihalyaracsi8216....I KNEW there had to be an easier way!! My 2014 Model S flashed a low coolant light for the 1st time ever a week ago. I topped off the coolant, but it's a closed system so I know there's a leak somewhere. I plan to take the frunk apart soon to investigate and repair and I want to do everything I possibly can while I'm in there. Thanks for the bumper tip!!
I just cleaned my Model 3 radiator coils and it is very similar to the Model S you have. I also did not have time to take the front bumper assembly off: This procedure worked well for me.
1. I disassembled mine which is very similar to yours and the sealed radiator is almost exactly the same setup, except it appears that the Model 3 radiator is a little larger. I wedged the top up with two 4 inch blocks to provide room to work. The wood blocks worked well. I also shut off the cooling system from the inside screen. With the Model 3, you just push the temperature number on the touch screen and it shuts down the cooling system. The heat pump will still turn on to try to cool the battery, but it won't hurt it.
2. I used a garden hose with a jet nozzle and sprayed the entire radiator down with a LOT of water.
3. I let it dry and then vacuumed again. I then applied a spray-on coil cleaner that Home Depot sells for $15.00. I think it is the same one you used. I sprayed it once and let it sit for about an hour.
4. I again washed down the radiator with a hose pressure nozzle. I let it dry and then vacuumed thoroughly again.
5. Finally, I used a pressure steam cleaner (you can buy them for about $150.00 on Amazon or Home Depot) with an angled nozzle and spent several minutes spraying both radiators with pressurized steam. This seemed to work really well, and it loosened up a LOT of stuck-on debris I vacuumed again and got several leaves, twigs and other debris that had come loose during the steam cleaning.
6. I then put everything back together.
There was a noticeable difference in cooling after I finished. The heat pump was able to cool the care much more efficiently and my range mileage went up significantly. My Model 3 had 78,000 miles on it when I cleaned the radiator coils.
I live in AZ, and right now, the temperature is over 100 degrees F. During the day temperatures are reaching 113 degrees F.. AZ summers can be brutal.
My suggestions for you to help you are as follows:
1. Next time wash the radiator several times with a garden hose with a pressure nozzle on it. This removes a lot of dirt and will help get rid of most of the dirt. You missed this easy step in your video. Use a hose next time, and it will make this job MUCH easier, and it shouldn't hurt the car.
2. Removing the front bumper assembly on the Model 3 is not too difficult. You can roll the car up on ramps to elevate the front of the car. The bumper is held on with 10 bolts on the Model 3 and some clips, and it comes off pretty easily. I would suggest that you try removing the bumper next time.
3. If you do remove the bumper you will have full access to both radiators. I would suggest using a pressure washer with a nozzle that won't damage the fins. This appears to be the best way to clean the radiators thoroughly without killing yourself. You can use coil cleaner, but when you have full access to the radiators, it may not be necessary.
Great video!
Excellent, clear instructions!! ( I have had 2 A/C condenser replacements on my 2014 P85 in less than 25,000 miles - the first one at barely 5M mikes. ) Today i have less than 30K miles total on my P85 5:52
Some of the things they do annoy me. I check service mode once a month for repeating codes. My Louvers are stuck open and it has had multiple codes for louver failure without pushing the code to the drivers notifications.
Great video my friend.thanks a lot. I will do mine too
You're Welcome!
Watched few of these video before purchased my M3
Got Mesh Grille Grid Guard and hope that will help
So did it work???
How difficult would you rate this for someone who doesn’t work on cars from 1-10?
How are you? So did you notice any difference after that? Thanks
Would using compressed air be productive?
How much is a replacement? Have Tesla swap one out and give you the old one and rotate as needed? I have a 2012 that probably needs this badly. Would Tesla do the cleaning?
This is a half ass way of doing it. Better than nothing but you have to remove the front bumper and the bracket to remove the top condenser so you can clean the one in the back.
I have a 2018 model X p100d and my ac compressor went out Tesla charged me $5800 to clean out the hvac system and replace the compressor i feel like Tesla raped me,
Because of that i chose to do it myself
Yea, this is way too much to take apart. I'd gladly give up the frunk if it was all easier to access. If i end up having issues, ill just take it to a service center.
Yeah the design of the condenser certainly is a trade off!
Keep in mind you have no idea if the job was done correctly unless you do it yourself since there’s no way to check 😮
@@aDigitalNomad I can guarantee it wouldn't be done correctly if I did it. I'd rather have someone that knows what they're doing.
@@aDigitalNomad Cleaning was not professional. To remove the cover, the front bumper must be removed, because the airlock is connected to the front of the cover, which can only be removed from the front.
@@mihalyaracsi8216....I KNEW there had to be an easier way!! My 2014 Model S flashed a low coolant light for the 1st time ever a week ago. I topped off the coolant, but it's a closed system so I know there's a leak somewhere. I plan to take the frunk apart soon to investigate and repair and I want to do everything I possibly can while I'm in there. Thanks for the bumper tip!!
Pitter patter