In case your Tesla begins to stink like outdated sweat socks, you’ll be able to repair that downside your self, but it surely’s slightly little bit of a frightening course of.
My Tesla Mannequin 3 ponged of what I’d describe as a combo of toes and smelly cheese for a couple of months. I procrastinated coping with it, however when it turned insufferable, I ultimately discovered, after speaking to my colleague Jameson Dow, that it’s due to an notorious, ongoing air filter downside in Teslas. (I’ve by no means had this putrid air filter expertise in some other automobile, EV or in any other case, that I’ve owned.)
Tesla’s air filters are liable for purifying the air contained in the automobile’s cabin. Over time, the filters get clogged with mud, particles, and pollution, and that results in much less efficient air purification and, you guessed it, dangerous smells. It at all times obtained worse when it rained. And whereas Tesla recommends that air filters be modified each two years, the stink truly arrived months earlier than the two-year mark.
Tesla’s resolution to place the onus of changing the air filters on homeowners units it aside from different automakers. This DIY strategy could be daunting for some homeowners preferring a extra hands-off relationship with their EVs or lack the technical know-how to hold out the duty themselves.
My husband and I watched a few YouTube movies about altering Tesla air filters. Tesla gives written directions and a video on its Do It Your self pages for all 4 fashions, however we discovered the YouTube movies to be extra useful.
You need to lie in a clumsy place on the passenger seat ground to get the job finished, and one individual has to carry the flashlight. It’s not simple to get mild underneath the sprint.
Regardless of not being comfy in any respect with dismantling the inside of our automobile, we efficiently accomplished the job. Right here’s how the air-filter change course of is meant to work (and by the way in which, we didn’t have these instruments proven under, aside from our personal screwdriver):
You additionally need to order and pay for the air filters. Whereas they aren’t costly at $17 a pop, Tesla actually must make them complimentary as customer support gesture to its prospects.
You’ll be able to take your automobile to a Tesla Service Middle or name Tesla Cellular Service to keep away from making an attempt to alter the air filter your self, however you’ll need to pay for that.
Within the meantime, altering our air filters lastly eradicated the funky stink.
And maybe, within the close to future, Tesla might provide you with a extra everlasting resolution to this DIY air filter change requirement, as a result of it’s not so simple as the automaker makes it out to be.
Learn extra: Right here’s why I desire Amtrak over my Tesla Mannequin 3 within the US Northeast
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