Stinky Tesla Smell? Model 3/Y Air Filter Replacement and Evaporator Cleaning Fix - TESBROS
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- čas přidán 15. 06. 2024
- Does your Tesla Model 3 or Model Y smell a little funky? Then it's probably time to replace your air cabin filters and clean out the evaporator. Here's a step-by-step installation guide on removing and installing your new cabin air filter!
**NOTE: Timecode 3:40 - Before running your AC, replace the filter cover. This way it forces the liquid to drain out of the bottom and not in your floorboard.
Purchase your HEPA filter kit here that includes everything you need to replace and clean: tesbros.com/collections/all/p...
**NOTE: This filter kit includes a filter that is slightly different from the one used in the video. However, it is installed the same way with the tab facing up.
Kit Includes:
-Kool-It Kit Evaporator and Heater Foam Cleaner
-Trim Removal Tool
-Cabin Air Filter
Take it a step further with a trim removal tool kit: tesbros.com/collections/essen...
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0:00 What you need
0:38 Removing mats & clips
2:44 Removing the filter
3:01 Cleaning evaporator
3:51 Installing new filters
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What time of year have you found to be the smelliest?
beginning of summer for sure
July 6! I had the Tesla service experience last year but decided to DIY this year. Kind of awful but not that hard. Thanks for the video!
Should I wait till it sets before putting filter back in or it doesn’t matter
Super hot day at the beach for us in mid July. I thought some Tesla hater and put a dirty diaper somewhere ha
I have watched a number of videos on youtube on how this is done. This one IS the most concise and by far the best one. Get to work...
Best video out. Clear instructions. Short sweet and to the point
Wow, thx for the detailed panel removal instructions! So many DIY videos gloss over these steps, or don't show at all. Panel removal is often my most feared part of the job, as typically involves prying, and prying the wrong way may break something.
Glad this helped!
I know. I decided to do it myself and when you watch the videos, they just seem to skip over the most important parts and show in detail the easy stuff, like putting in the new filter. I was so relieved to find this video.
Just changed the filters based on your instructions. Thank you!
That's awesome Juan! Glad it helped.
You can buy a replacement screw for the cabin air filter cover plate that's a thumb screw. It's way easier to access the filters. @t
Good stuff, thanks for sharing! I'm 1 year into ownership (13K miles), living in South Florida and I'm already having that funky smell when the car starts up. I was surprised to have this issue already. Looking forward to doing this soon.
Glad to hear it helped! We got our Model Y not too long ago and the smell was already there so we had to change it out right away. So it does happen more often in more humid areas.
@@tesbros I suspect I may be giving the evaporator a good clean before deciding to replace the air filter this soon, but I'm strongly considering going for the HEPA if I'm not immediately satisfied.
Just got mine in and once again, install was a breeze thanks to these videos. Did the rotating screen mount a couple of weeks ago also without issue.
That’s awesome!
great video i will do this tomorrow. thanks for simple instruction
My Model Y is actually improved over the Model 3 I had. No torx screws, screws much easier to access and no power cord in the way. Definitely much easier to do now than on my Model 3. Now if they could only fix the cause of the smell!
I was just thinking about doing this - very timely and detailed, thanks :)
Glad you found it useful Isaac!
Thanks for the tutorial, just replaced mine!
Thanks for the video. You make it look so easy. Such a pain the ass to change. Used the ac cleaner too. Hope it helps.
Thanks for making this man, worked great. My high voltage cable(s) were actually wire tied at 2 points on the cover, but no biggie. I found out Tesla missed a clip too. Sadly, not the first thing I think they missed in QC!
I know! I only had 3 of 4 clips as well!
Excellent angles and shots!
Great video! Just did this for my Model Y following your video! Cheers!
Glad you found it helpful!
Thanks for the nice and useful tips!
Thanks! I'm going to try to change it myself :)
Let us know if you have any questions!
Great step by step tutorial. 👍
So good thank you, best video out there on this subject.
Thank you!
Great video, thanks for sharing!
Oh my god thank you for posting this my Model 3 has the exact same set up and EVERY other video shows the set up where there is no cable in the way and the screw is in a different spot. Mine is a 2019 Model 3 for anyone reading this and noticing that their cabin air filter set up is different than the one shown in the video. Tesla's video on their website shows a completely different screw location and no cable in the way.
Very helpful man. Thanks!
My only criticism for this video would have to be you didn't vacuum before you put everything back together. But hey, this was a solid video with clear instructions. Cheers and a like for you my dude.
Thanks broski!
Thanks! I don't think I would have found that screw w/o the video. Even then I had to pause the video and step through it frame-by-frame to see exactly where it was compared to some of the obvious landmarks.
Your video is very useful
Thanks for the nice video!!!
Good video!
My 2021 model 3 had the torx screw on the bottom. Thank God!
Omg yes. It’s so much easier lol.
Thank you for the video! I changed my filters accordingly, was easier than I thought.
Glad it helped!
Dude that watch band would annoy the hell out of me. Thanks for the tutorial
Lol yeah I definitely don’t have that band anymore 😅
It's absolutely evil how hard they make this, especially to take off the top screw. There's no clearance for a normal sized hand and I hurt my back and neck trying to get it out. It shouldn't require this much specialized equipment to replace something that needs to be replaced so often. What were they thinking? A way to monetize air cabin filter replacements by forcing most people to go to the Tesla service center?
It is tough! I have fat fingers, too.
Agreed, all my other cars are alot more simple and straight forward. This is a huge annoyance
That was bad enginerring 😊
100% agree, same for me. Took a couple of hours!!! Crazy
They should have put the screw at the bottom of the panel not the top! Mine was torqued on there pretty hard! Wow!!
When lawsuit?!
Just completed in my '19 M3 DMLR. Easy and now car smells great. Ladt time, an ignorant Tesla tech had obviously lost 2 of my white clips, cracked the plastic filter cover and installed a filter with a huge piece of tape covering the middle of one filter (had part number on it). WTH!
So much better to do it yourself and know it's fine right. Now, where do i buy the white clips and new filter cover?
Its a bit different in a right hand drive. I had to take a second plastic moulding off to get access to the cover screw, and beware after market filters.
perfect instruction video, worked great. The filter screw is way up in there, I've got a soar neck now. Went for a drive after and the musty smell when running air seems to be gone.
Glad you found it helpful Matt!
On M3 2021 onwards, the ones with Heat Pump I guess there is a 6mm hex bolt at the bottom rather than the torx t20 at the top.
Thanks for sharing this!
Super handy. It's unfortunate that there's no mention of replacing the filter cover before you run your A/C post-cleaning. I was lucky to have a shop vac nearby to clean up the mess.
Great tip, and so sorry about that. I'll make a note in the description
Same here, but I am lucky I stopped the ac immediately
Wait what?
What filter cover? You took out the old filter but where’s the filter cover at? I’m confused of what you guys are talking about can you explain more?
@@moomoo5198I was in the same spot as you, about to get this done. I think he means re-inserting the black plastic cover (not actually replacing any parts) before you run the AC again. Im guessing that is how the mess is created: if you run it again and have not closed the thing.
Thanks! Just a heads up to new buyers, the screw it now at the BOTTOM side and the orange wire has been moved. I believe it is the same in the newer Model Y.
They definitely heard from you guys and techs that it was annoying to have the screw on the top.
That’s a big help that the screw was moved!
Speaker clip doesn't come off like that on the Model Y. I've pulled on it every which way, and with needle nose pliers. The light clip is different and was easy to figure out and remove by just looking at it. I've not found anything online which accurately shows the Model Y clip or how to remove it. I like others online, just moved it out of the way and did the rest to replace the cabin filter.
We'll definitely look into this. Thanks for pointing that issue out.
What year is yours? Mines a 21’ and the torque screw for the air filter cover is at the bottom and really easy to remove. Also, when I turned my AC on it spit out most of the cool it onto the floor of my car. I had to put the cover back on to force the air through the condenser and make the liquid leak underneath the car.
This is a 2018! It's nice to see that the newer cars have an easier to remove cover. I'm very sorry about the mess! I'll add a note in the description for that.
Excellent
Thank you!
Great video TY.
Is there a release for the speaker clip like the light or do you just pull that out?
You can just pull it out carefully.
Mine was stubborn to pull out.
For 2021 post refresh, same general idea…but glove box panel comes off first and then middle console.
Which model Tesla do you have? I have the 2022 MS LR
You're right. Tesla's "how to" video for the Model 3 says to remove the glove box panel first.
I just followed the instructions and tip for those who will follow
Spray the cleaner and close the cap before turning on the ac or the foam will come out like a Volcano
2 late ahahah it just happened ahaha luckily I was fast at turning it off
2 late
I just did this. Huge pain lol
My model y process was much simpler. There was no need to use a t20 torx to remove that top screw.
They've learned from the Model 3 :)
I followed your steps down to the T but after spraying the foam cleaner and turning on the AC all the foam pretty much blew right out making a mess everywhere... did I miss a step? Was I to put back the cover first? OR wait for the foam to dissolve then turn on the AC?
When spraying the evaporator cleaner, it's important to get it even and all the way throughout and not just near the entrance. Once you do that, you want to wait 10-15 minutes for the evaporator to do its job. It'll drain down at the bottom of your vehicle so I'd recommend doing it outside or put something underneath to collect the cleaner. Then, you want to run the fan for 5+ minutes before putting in the filter.
@@tesbros Oh I get it! I didn't know I had to wait 10-15 minutes. Thanks!
@@tesbros Like another person stated, do you put the plastic panel cover on after spraying the coil or....? I'm assuming you put the cover on and let it blow so not to get it in the cabin. Now, after that you take the cover off and install the new filters I guess. Seems this video needs some editing.
Im planning to replace my cabin filter. I've seen a lot of model 3/y installation videos they installed the hepa filter the black side is facing the driver. just curious does it matter which side the filter it is facing?
As long as the tab is on top, it should be good! That way it’s easy to remove later.
Why do u need to disconnect the top panel and speaker cables? I didn’t see any obstruction from that panel in the video. Maybe I missed something
The top panel does need to come off to be able to reach that corner where the air filter is. I disconnected the speaker cables just to move the top panel out of the way. It's a bit of a reach back there, so I wanted all the room I could get!
Why do you even need to take out the panel underneath glove box? Does seem from the video that you need to.
It just makes for easier access to that back corner.
2023 seems to have a huge clip in the middle . Afraid to pull any harder. Did they change it?
Send us a pic through Instagram @teslabros and we’ll see how we can help
my model y's speaker wire can't be unplugged, instead it requires removing 2 torx screws. otherwise great tutorial!
What year is your Model Y?
You can buy a replacement screw for the cabin air filter cover plate that's a thumb screw. It's way easier to access the filters. @t
I saw that! For cars that may need to change more often than others, that’s a great buy.
Could you please provide a link for where I could purchase the replacement thumb screw?
I just bought your Model 3 kit and your instructions show the charcoal side of the filter it facing the front of the car and the paper side is facing the passenger compartment but your video here looks different, what is correct?
Sorry about the confusion Norman. The tab should be at the top when putting it in. Any other questions or differences you see, let us know! We will make a new video with these new filters to eliminate any further confusion.
Yes. I just bought the kit too and I believe the pull tab was installed from the manufacturer in the incorrect location. The charcoal side of the filters should be towards you and paper side should be facing towards the front of the car. The pull tab is on the wrong side. The video shows the charcoal side toward you. I think TESBROS should check their stock and get with the manufacturer in China to fix this problem. If I install it the way the video shows it, you would not have access to the pull tab.
영상 상당히 도움이 되었습니다 ^^
Glad it helped you!
I’ve cleaned my evaporator twice with KOOL-it. Within 3 months. And replaced the air filter once. Even used two cans of KOOL it the second time. Still have the funky smell. What am I doing wrong? Just bought an ozone generator and I am running it with the AC on. Any other thoughts?
When spraying it, are you making sure you're getting the whole evaporator covered?
TESBROS STUDIO I really thought so. That’s why I did it the second time with two cans. Any tip to assure I get the whole evaporator? It’s not easy to reach. I am going to try this stuff this week. nextzett 96110715 Klima-Cleaner Professional Air Conditioner Cleaner, 10 fl. oz, 2 Pack www.amazon.com/dp/B075MK89WN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_MIhDFbWFQWVFT
@@kenyandave You're right. It is super hard to get in there. What I ended up doing is I tried to spray it more systematically. Try to hold it in a way that it doesn't droop down and start from the area nearest to the exit. And then work your way to the further end and go from top to bottom. Then repeat. That helps to make sure all areas are coated. For yours, I would probably let the AC run for 20 minutes or so until you put the filters in. Also, I would try the HEPA filter from EVTuning. They're great guys and Chris from EVTuning will take care of you! Let me know how it goes!
@@tesbros thanks. I know Chris. I met him 2 years ago at his garage before he started electrified garage. It’s in the next town over from mine. Bought my floor mats from him and some puddle lights. Great guy.
I put an ozone generator in the car and ran it with the air on recirculate. Seems to have helped! Will let you know the long term results.
Next time I will wrap a thin wire around the tube to give it more control. That should help getting to the entire condenser coils
So on the cam it says to let it soak for 15 minutes then run the A/C on low for 5-10 minutes. Should I do that? Or just spray it and then turn on the A/C for 5-10 minutes and skip the initial 15 minutes it says for soaking?
It helps to let it soak as well
@@tesbros thank you for the quick reply!
I just did this in my M3 and found I didn't need to remove the glove panel completely, you don't need to disconnect the wires. Just let it drop. Not that it it's a big deal. Maybe in the MY you need to do it though. Also, my understanding is that the orange cable is high voltage so be careful with it. It is easy enough to do the whole process, but why? My prior car had a panel labeled "cabin filter" and you just opened it up and swapped filters. No panels to remove to get to it. If nothing else, make it accessible from the frunk.
Make sure you change your cabin filters every 6 months for best performance
U have link to.the t20 screw shown in video??
Sorry for the late response! This is the set I have: bit.ly/3zxeVYF
I’ve changed my filters 3 times on the last 3 months can’t figure out why it still smells got new filters each time and used a bottle of ac cleaner as well each time letting it air out and everything I need help why does it still smell
what did you use to clean and were you able to get all the way in the back?
Design flaw where water gets in. Changing filters doesn’t fix the problem. Need to stop water from getting in there to start with.
Maybe the speaker down below is for Autopilot sounds because I played music while it was plugged in and felt no vibration there unless I broke it
yes, that is the backup autopilot sound speaker
@@tesbros where is the main one?
@@doccock1662 just the normal sound system. so for example, if your screen is rebooting and it can't come from there, it'll come from the footwell
@@tesbros oh nice thanks
3:55 if you compare your aftermarket filter to original one you took off, it’s actually installed opposite direction, lol
just make sure the tabs are on top, and you're good!
How often should you replace the air filters? I’ve been told by Tesla employees 2 different things lol once a year and I’ve heard every other year. What’s your opinion?
It depends on where you live. If you live in high humidity, it’s more like 2-3 times a year lol. But really, if it starts smelling funky, it’s really time. Once a year at least.
I hadn't replaced mine in 4 years. I only have 20k miles on the car though. The filters weren't too dirty either when I removed them. I've never noticed any foul smells either.
2021 model 3. 3 years of stinky Tesla every few months. I have to buy the kool it, buy the $50 carbon filters and go through this entire process. The OEM filters last about 3 months before smelling like sour socks. The activated carbon filters last about 6-9months.
Has Tesla service it once and it was $130 for 20 mins of work in which they replace with OEM filters.
Probably my most hated thing about this vehicle. That being having to worry if the dreaded sour socks smell will come out when giving coworkers or friends a ride. Mind you, I keep my vehicle clean.
Does this also apply to model Y
Yes, it’s the same.
Missing a few steps.
Don't shake the bottle too much, it will come out quickly and powerful.
Secondly. When you turn on the AC, be prepared for it to blow out of the hole you took the filters out of. I recommend just putting the plastic cap on for a little bit. Even if you hold it by hand for a few seconds.
Otherwise good video. My 2022 model 3 has issues getting the side panel off. But that's just manufacturing error.
Impossible to put back together
Forgot one key step, put door back on the panel before you turn on the ac…. I got foam cleaner all over the floor lol!
Good point!
Removing t20 was the hardest part.
Absolutely. Need small hands.
What is the speaker there
Most Teslas are equipped with surround sound so there are 8 total speakers in the vehicle.
Thanks for the great tutorial. I hope one day car makers will make accessing air filters much simpler. ;)
I agree Mike! Until then, we will have to do this :)
You can buy a replacement screw for the cabin air filter cover plate that's a thumb screw. It's way easier to access the filters. @t
Be careful of the blow back from the foam into the floor board. I had a big mess. 😂
T20 or T20 security?
T20
What a pain none of the orange wire would come off and the speaker wire wouldn’t pull off
FYI a 2022 Model 3 is different.
Yes, we need to do an update :)
Did this just a few minutes ago god damn that little screw on top is horrible design lol
Looked like there was absolutely no need to remove the footwell panel.
Just found it easier to get to the filter area with it removed. But if you try it with it still on, let me know how it goes!
@@tesbros will do. Mine is a Y. I do really appreciate this content!
Why would you make the screw at the top, and the hinge at the bottom...? Answer: They (Tesla) hired an engineer from GM to design it! Just think (something MOST engineers don't) if the hinge was at the top, and the screw was at the bottom, where you could see and work it without standing on you head! It's the little things that make life easier...
Nearly impossible to insert the new filters from your kit. I basically ruined both bc i had to force them in. 2020 model 3. Def won’t buy your filters again
Sorry for your experience. If you reach out to us, we will send you replacements and make sure you’re taken care of. Email is at support@tesbros.com
That is really a bad design for the cabin air filter.
This is a 2018. Thankfully, it does get easier with newer models
You Doctored those dirty filters there is no way they had all that crap on them. Then you chose to pitch filters you sell which have been proved to restrict airflow. Shame.
mine were worse
Stupid tesla engineer)) why so many maneuvers just for changing air filters.
:)
I cringed when the debris wasn't vacuumed out first before reinstalling the side panels. A lot of them went in the crevice. Yuck! I can imagine what type of Tesla owner this guy is.
This is an engineering fail!
They did improve it in the Y where the screw is lower and easier to access.