To whom have you been complaining?
Service should have scheduled a checkup I would hope?
Service center. When it was in for the Titanium Shield over 4th of July weekend, they pulled things apart, and re-packed the splines with grease, and the sound did go away for a few days. Saturday, I got Service vehicle warning, called Tesla support, they said it was a non-critical error and no problem to keep driving. Service center called me Monday (Highland Park SC is AWESOME!!!) and they went through logs. Turns out, since I had a cooling pump replaced about a month ago, a new service bulliten out wants them to replace all pumps if one gets replaced, and that was what the warning was about (My vehicle was tagged???).
So was going to bring it in for that next week. I'm sure I will be getting a call from Ryan tomorrow morning. I hope the news isn't too bad. But like I said, we have been keeping a eye, or rather a ear on that drivetrain noise. Though, What it sounded like and felt like was the main contactor opening up at 230kW power draw.. I've had similar things happen on EV's that I've built.
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The circuit that runs the DC/DC converter(located inside the traction battery), is most likely the culprit. Looks like a new pack is your destiny. Please report what the range charge is on it when you get it back.
I sure will, I have been meticulous about my range reports. Unfortunately, I will be starting from 0 miles again.... I had hoped to be able to report the range loss over the entire usable life of my vehicle...
I will say, after this, and while I'm one of the biggest Tesla Fan-boys out their, I am really nervous about driving this car while out of warranty. My warranty will be up in 16,000 miles for bumper to bumper, and in 91,000 miles for the Battery. so within 2-4 months for bumper to bumper and drive train. I know I can get the extended for 4,500, but it's not in the finances right now, and nor should it be needed at 34,000 miles. Just a accumulation of everything. All the small, minor things that have happened (Of which, I can deal with as none have left me stranded or stuck or in a dangerous situation). The potential pack failure or potential drive train failure that I suffered this evening is a eye opener. If this car were to fail me out of warranty, in one of the above mentioned ways, it would then be towed back to my driveway and would sit for most likely a fairly long time before I would be able to afford a repair. I hope that does not become the case, and maybe I'm just shooken up, tired, hot, sweaty, exhausted, frustrated right now and need this ranting time, and I know the vehicle quality has improved vastly since my lowly # 9846, but I really am scared of the longevity right now.
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if it was the contactor that connects the battery to the electric engine (I am using my fancy words
) that is thunking and failing somehow, that shouldn't just kill the battery pack. it must be something else. Maybe one of our electrical experts could speculate what that could be.
The Thunking is the sound of the contactor (Think massive light switch) opening while under high load (A few hundred amps will do). You can also hear it when you first enter the car, or when it starts to charge, just not as loud when their isnt as much of a load on it.
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Could be. If the 12 Volt battery dies it will shut off the main pack and of course the car itself.
It's possible. If thei 12v cant supply enough power to keep the contactor closed, and power flowing, it will open. However, if the DC to DC converter is doing it's job properly, even with a dead no longer taking a charge 12v battery, the converter should be able to supply enough power to keep the car in operation. In that case, it should only be apparent if the 12v is dead after parking and attempting to start the car again (as far as my understanding of tesla systems goes).
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And Just a recap how awesome the Tesla service is. Despite my frustration.
After pulling over safely, I gave Tesla service a call. The tech was very helpful, got my information. Not much he could do to fix the car of course. Within minutes he already forwarded all my info to Highland Park service center. We hung up so the tech could contact a tow company. He got the tow company on the line.
While their was a wait for the tow truck (is there ever not a wait for a tow..., but thats not Tesla's Fault), he kept calling me back every 10 to 15 minutes to check on me and make sure I was ok.
Tow truck arrived. Had gotten delayed because the Sheriff redirected him to remove a broken down vehicle blocking freeway lanes (understandable). Loaded my MS on the flat bed. At that point, the Tesla tech called again to check on me. I said we were almost loaded up. Tech put in for a UBER driver to pick me up. Within 3 minutes or so a UBER driver arrived (I'm one as well), picked me up. Nice fellow by the name of Andrew. Had the AC on and the car all nice and freezing for me. I hope I didn't get his car seats to sweaty. I'd also like to give a shout out to Andrew and a thank you for his service in with the US Military!!!
Tow truck took off. They will be storing my car at the impound lot tonight, then towing it to Highland Park tomorrow, as Highland park is not yet setup for night drop offs yet, and being flat dead and in tow mode, the tow truck driver wants to roll it straight off the truck bed right into the service center garage in the morning.
So anyways, UBER driver took me to my parents house, where I have been storing my Stinker (ICE Truck). I still need to tow 5,000 Lbs loads every now and then, and since the truck is old, and not worth much, no reason to get rid of it. Well, truck DID start (thank the lord), though took a few tires and a big belch of burnt oil exhaust out the tail pipe. Let er warm up for a few, and just got home before typing these reply's.
So, my Poor Model S is spending the night in a impound lot, followed most likely Major Surgery tomorrow, and my Poor Clunker Truck is spending the night in my nice clean driveway thoughtfully oil coating it for me haha. Oh god, don't know if I will remember how to pump gas....