This design flaw makes Tesla’s Model 3 smell bad! (with fixes!)

[@adamdport]

Aftermarket gasket: amzn.to/4efycRR Filter with Microban: amzn.to/3MCSNUH (Or on ebay: ebay.us/yeChap) These affiliate links don't cost you anything extra, but I get a small cut. Thanks for the support!

[@HotHatchTV]

Model 3 highland has HEPA filter, so problem solved :)

[@FloridaPoolGuy]

The gasket link takes you to a 2021+ model Y gasket. Not the model 3. Just fyi. Thanks for this video!!

[@adamdport]

@@FloridaPoolGuy Thank you! So annoying when Amazon sellers change the listing out from under you. I just updated it to another that looks identical to the one I have. Thanks again.

[@TreeGuyofYore]

Unfortunately, none of these products are available through these links as of 9/27/2024.

[@adamdport]

@@TreeGuyofYore I updated the links, thanks for the heads up! The microban filter IS still available on amazon if you click "see all buying options", idk why they hide it like that sometimes

[@jasonpowell8582]

You went to a scrap yard to find out how other people designed the problem out! So much effort. Well done, I appreciate your time. Subbed. Good luck!

[@Perkelenaattori]

If only Tesla engineers had done the same.

[@adamviaja]

My favorite part!

[@diz354]

I don’t even own a Tesla but this video is one of the best DIY car care videos I’ve ever seen. Great detail and an excellent walkthrough with every single aspect.

[@RampagingJupiter]

Agreed. I'm currently shopping for a Model 3, and this is the most detailed video on "cabin funk" I've seen on KZbin.

[@ElectroBOOM]

Thanks for the video! Finally some good information on why my Tesla starts smelling funky and how to fix it! Awesome!

[@MrHotjag]

ElectroBOOM?

[@antnay_beastz9361]

Wow didn’t expect to see you here lol

[@Youtube_Stole_My_Handle_Too]

Second that! I'm gonna fix the problem by continuing to avoid Tesla. After watching this video I won't even put my nose into a Tesla. This is yet another piece of evidence Tesla is designed by a bunch of clueless charlatans and dilettants with no business being in car manufacturing.

[@TremereTT]

It needs a plasma air cleaner! Obviously! Also for 42k € to 51k € car , I think , such a fix should be done by the manufacturer free of charge.

[@zampara236]

just add some eyebrows under the trunk :))

[@TheFinalIllusion]

This is OG YT vibes with modern camera work. Straight to the point. And bravo for some of those angles 👀👀 this was very informative. KZbin algorithm blessed us with this

[@ChrisMiles94]

Automotive HVAC engineer here. It's literally my job to design the air intakes on cars. I was APPALLED when I saw Tesla is using a duct feeding directly into the cowl screen. Like you pointed out, every other car on the road channels the water away via a tortuous path in the sheet metal. I don't recommend sealing off the hood with weatherstripping, though. Proper cabin air intake design is a balance between opening up the air path to allow adequate airflow and sealing it off where water could pose an issue. Completely sealing off the hood will surely reduce airflow in the cabin. Also, removing the duct might have other issues. I'm not sure if all those electronics are rated to be exposed to that quantity of water. This duct may have been implemented to protect those components. Looking at their flat cowl screen opening, I would've created a three-sided wall surrounding the air intake to channel water away. I'm not sure how effective this would actually be as you showed how the entire cowl screen was leaking at its edges.

[@Rag.Doll1]

thank you for this idea! Definitely doing this instead. Tesla will find any way to get out of its warranty and I'd hate to add the weather stripping to the hood.

[@Asijantuntia]

Thanks a lot! That is exactly what I was thinking when I saw those proposed changes. Just guiding the water away from the duct should be enough.

[@porsche605]

How would you guide the water away from the duct?

[@DJPGB]

Wow! Super-complete analysis. Unlike a lot of videos, you get right to the point, you give markers to skip ahead, and you edit out the tedious bits. I had no problem watching from beginning to end because you didn't waste a moment of my time. Kudos!

[@ByteSizedSociety]

@5:25 He could highlight this part of the video as being the money shot, and I agree it's a very worthwhile video. Good information, helpful to make decisions with

[@metalifann42]

How does this guy not have 50k subscribers yet?? Great video.

[@Teslaverse]

i think because this is his only tesla video :) focus on this and numbers will explode

[@X862go]

Agreed this was well thought out 😅

[@TheBooban]

Explains a lot. Tesla doesn’t have the years of experience others have. That’s why they always had quality issues.

[@1911Earthling]

He doesn’t have 50,000 followers because Teslas are like transistor radios you don’t service them.

[@jmo7938]

Was thinking the same thing, great video!

[@jaredmastley]

Super thorough, complete analysis of the problem WITH several suggestions for improvement. Loved the camera shots inside the duct to show what's actually happening. Seeing is believing. Also loved the junkyard benchmarking to see how other automakers have addressed the issue. Thanks for going the extra mile here and providing some solutions with before/after empirical data to back it up. Great work!

[@737smartin]

Just a great video. 🤩

[@adarco99]

Probably one of the most in-depth, informative and interesting automotive repair videos ive ever watched. Looked into not only what was happening, but WHY it was happening and instead of a bandaid fix you actually source the root cause and try different solutions after looking at what other manufacturers did to prevent it. Fantastic video!

[@Radium3D]

Nice video, however it’s not exterior water that is the problem here in San Diego with my 2019 3 SR+ as it never rains and I only wash it once every 6 months. The source of moisture is actually the heat/cool exchanger radiator within the system. I park outside in the hot San Diego sun and so it is daily running the AC in heat protection mode. Somehow the moisture from the exchanger inside the unit is collecting and not drying up within the system. Teslas solution of running the air for a time after use did help lengthen the time between cleanings that I have to do, but it did not solve the issue entirely. I still get the smell every 4-6 months here. If you park in a garage or under a cover most of the time your time will be extended even longer.

[@chrisnotap]

A very thorough and well done video!!

[@jimdon7377]

not

[@bestman7776]

@@jimdon7377😂troll

[@bkackman]

Fantastic video. Excellent forensics of the problem and cause. Brilliant options offered. Great job, Adam! Edit: 7 months later, I applied the gasket kit you identified (actually installed it a bit ago, but wanted to give this solution plenty of opportunity to fail). Installation was easy. It completely resolved the musty smell we experienced. I have a 2021 Model Y and live in San Jose, CA. Not too humid here, but we experienced the musty smell after rains. This solution was all the was necessary to eliminate that. So thank you for this video and solving my problem.

[@sirveevcs971]

If it completely resolved the musty smell, then the gasket must be stopping water that was previously getting in. What was the source of the previous water before the gasket installation? Rain, car wash, or something else?

[@bkackman]

In my case it seemed to be rain. I rinseless wash my car, so I don’t know if regular car washes would have caused it too.

[@BrianRouse]

I just stumbled on this video today and have the same issues with mine after rain (and general humidity here in the midwest). I think I'm going to give that gasket kit a try as well.

[@Greyblueprint]

Incredible… Concise. To the point. No funny banter. Easy to follow and understand. Fantastic video! Thank you for sharing

[@_CRiT_hits_]

Something to add: it's definitely not just the rain and water intake that causes the smell. I live in dry arizona and the smell gets bad in the the summer when it's 120° and 0% humidity. There must be some sort of condensation build up somewhere just from normal A/C usage as well.

[@neilweinstock4194]

Yes, I was hoping this would be addressed.

[@H0neyGh0st]

Sounds like a software issue, as long as you’re in Auto mode there should be proper cool/dry cycles not unlike a defrost cycle in your fridge. I guess that’s the problem with a california car company, no sense for the edge cases 😅

[@Zero-lh1rb]

@@H0neyGh0st They are a Texas car company now.

[@H0neyGh0st]

@@Zero-lh1rb Oh yeah I forgot about that lol

[@shallenberger57]

I would suggest not leaving the car AC in recirculation mode. I know it cools more efficiently but it also creates a lot of moisture stink in the condenser. Let in some outside air especially before parking it.

[@theunaimedarrow4903]

My first thought was "why is this video this long?" It was worth the time. Nice, complete evaluation.

[@TKCIW]

15:40 The fact that you mentioned differences on early Y’s, is amazing. Most people skip over details like this on early models. (For example, early Y’s have holes under the emblems and no “C” shaped brake lights.) Also, I’ve read on forums that an unofficial retrofit is possible by ordering parts directly from Tesla and adding the holes into the trim yourself. Some of them were even able to request the actual software to “enable” the mode on the screen. Would be interested in seeing someone do this 👀

[@paulg8065]

I just want to mention that the stinky sock smell does affect bioweapon defense equipped cars as well.

[@ambera4002]

​@@paulg8065yes, I was so hopeful while watching this video, and then he said that part. I have a '23 MYLR7 and it REEKS.

[@TheLukasDirector]

​@@paulg8065I can't imagine the defense value against actual bioweapons is any good if it can't defend against... mold?

[@paulg8065]

@@TheLukasDirector AFAIK the HEPA filters are only active when bioweapon defense mode is turned on. Otherwise it just filters through the cabin air filters.

[@Kerflop1]

Question is, will that trim piece work for the 23 MYs?

[@glennhorning2057]

I just paid a lot of money to Tesla for a service to get rid of the smell, now I wish this video was available before I went. Thank you for doing such a great job.

[@GarretL757]

It’s ridiculous how much they charge for this

[@darelldd]

When I thought something had crawled into my HVAC and died, I also set up service with Tesla. They said it would be something like $225 to replace my filters and spray coil cleaner in there. Well, hell... *I* can do that. And I did. For the price of filters and spray. They didn't even consider that anything else would need to be done. And of course they were correct. Clearly they know there's a problem and how to fix it.... for a price. :sigh:

[@MsSmith-nb2yn]

Don't worry the smell will be back. Mine shows up abt every 3 month

[@danielwatson5595]

Lol Tesla owners can’t even do the most basic levels of maintenance or troubleshooting and then wonder why they get ripped off at the dealership. They know you’re too useless to do anything but pay them what they’re asking.

[@MichaelDeHaven]

​@@danielwatson5595Dude, lots of modern car owners don't know anything about basic car maintenance. Myself largely included. It's not that they are dumb or lazy. The world is just very busy now a days. But all that said, look how many are here learning. Smarter more informed consumers are good for all of us. So try not to dump on people who are learning. Just my 2 cents.

[@KingSDott]

I have a 2022 Model Y. Certainly has the moisture issue. Cabin definitely smells after the car is exposed to the rain. Crazy to me how Tesla is acting like it isn’t a design flaw. Great video!!

[@rameyhito8523]

My 2022 model Y (Which has the HEPA filter Biodefense mode) also has the nasty mold smell. 🤢

[@iitjava]

This is a McKinsey's consulting level presentation without any fluff. Subscribed.

[@meganote]

My 2023 Model 3 just started smelling last week. Thanks for the very informative and well done video!

[@jdrou]

Good video! I just got a 2020 model 3 and noticed that it smells bad when the air kicks on high, it’s only for the first minute or so but definitely noticeable!

[@darelldd]

Thank you for doing all this and sharing it. I too, thought that the moisture was coming from the evaporator, even though I could tell that the funk was coming from my filters! The power of suggestion is strong! I do wish they'd just draw the air UP with a U-turn on the intake. Facing the air intake UP has always seemed like a failure to me on all cars. We should be using gravity in our favor, not fighting it! I'm amazed to hear about anybody who says the air is somehow "restricted" after installing the gasket you show. There is plenty of free air all around the hood that does not seal to the body.

[@agw5425]

Exactly, if you put a piece of plastic compleatly blocking the up facing intake and expand the "drain" hole to take the air in that way I think it could do the trick, it's not like a tesla needs to avoid engine fumes like a ice car. This is a design relick from that time that Tesla missed, unusual for them but it happens.

[@darelldd]

@@agw5425 At that point, it is probably easiest to just remove that intake as Adam mentions. I think the only issue with drawing the air in from below is what happens when driving on a dirt/dusty road. Let's put a snorkle on the Tesla intakes! :-)

[@poulos341]

​@@darellddthe snorkel comment had me let out a laugh 😂😂

[@agw5425]

@@darelldd If the filter clogs up to fast you can put a course sponge in the duct as a pre filter and just rinse it once in a while. Most driving don't render that much more dust below than above the same car. The main reason to keep the duct and block it is to stop water entering the area at all, you would need the extra gaskets of cause.

[@Bobpaule]

Can you the they guy is an engineer?

[@fishhunt9874]

All great information. One thing I would recommend is if you install the new gasket, Do Not! cut it to length immediately after installing it. Leave it long so it can fully return to its relaxed state.

[@steelsteez6118]

Dude, you are a genius. And i haven't even finished the video. I love how you're so objective with everything. I also loved how you presented all the time stamps at the beginning and let the viewer decide what specific component of the video they want to watch. On top of all of that, the way you edit your video really conveys what you're trying to explain. Like when you showed the POV of the camera inside the air cabin filter duct as water was going in. Even when you talked about putting the car in car wash mode, you didn't have to show how to actually put it in car wash mode (in fact most youtubers wouldn't), yet you did! Saved me a Google search! lol. As an engineer, I can't help but get massive engineering vibes from you. Definitely earned my sub.

[@adamdport]

Let's go!! Thanks for the kind words!

[@thesteaktc]

Very interesting video. I have a 2019 model 3 and yes have replaced the air filters a few times because of the smell. I did not know the root cause of the smell. What I take away from this video is that the cause of the smell is water getting down in to the filter. So if you can avoid water getting down there as much as possible (I.e. closing the flap /using recirc during washing the car and using recirculation mode when it is raining), you can avoid the smell almost completely without having to use the evaporator cleaner.

[@rhamel1717]

In depth root cause analysis, problem solved, great summary and very well put together… professional job! Thanks Adam and keep up this good work.

[@M1A1SteakSauce]

Thank you for this! I did the AC coil cleaning and then put the same filters back in thinking it was the coils and the smell was gone for a day and then came right back. I was absolutely baffled. This explains so much!

[@brians4537]

Great video! As you showed at the junk yard, most cars have a cowl. These typically have a smallish input, large drains, and a large collection area that would require a large amount of water build up before it could enter the cabin intake (note it has to handle this during acceleration, braking, cornering, angled roads). Effectively these are dorade boxes en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorade_box . Tesla's 'dorade box' is missing the vertical barrier and that is letting water flow into the cabin intake. A simple baffle should probably fix this. I'm curious: after taking out the 'cowl' did you try running through deep water at speed to see if the water would splash into the cabin intake?

[@gyuunyuu]

This is it, this is the most comprehensive breakdown and solution to this problem I've ever seen in the 5 years I've owned these.

[@TekShinji]

Hey there, this video was very well-made. And easy to follow even with its length. I give hats off to you man. I don’t know how you’re not a giant KZbinr yet. You got the GLW AND you can make good content. Which is a very rare combination.

[@freddrake2825]

This was a super-helpful video. I really like your scientific approach to the issue. Your camera work was also really good. I have new cabin filters ready to install, but I’ve ordered this seal to put in first. Thank you!

[@ericviele4379]

Dude! Excellent video! You have single handedly resolved an issue that has been plaguing millions of people. Thank you!! Subscribed!

[@Heyitspat]

Great analysis. I’ve had the problem multiple times and replacing the cabin air filter worked, just like you mentioned. However, I had a road trip in cold weather in pouring rain, and I had to drive 2 hours in the pouring rain. this design flaw led to water getting into the resistive heater element and shorted the circuitry. This led the car to pre-emptively shut down to protect itself and had to get the car towed and heater replaced.

[@richmondparkers]

in a downpour I'll be sure to recirculate air

[@verdele]

and for sure you will mist up the windows and won't be able to drive anymore @@richmondparkers 😂

[@feluke8396]

@@verdele Ever hear about AC?

[@T1Oracle]

I've had mine for years and never had that issue in all kinds of rain.

[@Advcrazy]

About the suggestion to turn on recirculate mode when it’s raining - our ‘21 M3 just fogs up anytime we do that. We regularly drive through a 1km tunnel and can barely see out the front windscreen by the time we drive out the other side.

[@DrDsIT]

@adamdport Great video and camera work to show the problem. I have the 2017 Tesla Model X and get a vinegar and feces odor after it rains and high humidity. I'm always running the AC in the climate I live in and would like to know if you would do a video on the Model X.

[@TBolt1]

Thank you for such an informative video! During a recent cabin filter replacement, the Tesla technician sprayed quite a bit of Simple Green into the area where the cabin filters go, and the foul odor smell disappeared. Your video, however, tells me how to prevent the smell from returning - thank you again!

[@mediocreman2]

The best way to fix this is to alter the design of the duct. You can put a plastic baffle inside the duct that doesn't allow the water to go into the fan intake. This would be cheap to do in the aftermarket and much more effective than a gasket. Changing the fan software is not a good idea as you sometimes need defrost when it's raining. And low speed defrost is useless.

[@Jsuarez2150]

Is there an aftermarket replacement?

[@jebes909090]

why would they. dummies will just keep buying them anyways.

[@Pilot8091]

Define cheap. Injection molds aren't cheap, and neither would be the labor to fit a specialized part into that duct. Removing the duct entirely would be a better option imo. It's an electric car so it's not like you need to keep engine fumes from entering the cabin, having a duct to outside air isn't really necessary. I guess technically it would increase the Teslas ability to drive through flood waters, but I don't think it happens enough to be worth it

[@kevinl3235]

I was going to suggest the same since water did start getting on wires and such with the funnel apparatus removed. Add a modified wall, in the channel chamber, right before the air cabin filter, on the firewall side.

[@alexmanojlovic768]

I thought the same thing myself. You could superglue or screw a baffle (plus silicone bathroom sealer to stop water bleeding down through &/or passing screw fixings, hitting any electrical connectors outside the shroud) that rises higher than that little lip around the drain hole. Job done. That gasket is overkill. Also, I would think the gap on the OEM gaskets is deliberate to either allow better airflow into the cabin, or release air pressure from under the hood at highway speeds.

[@IshtiaqAlam]

I dont even have a Tesla and still feel that this video was very helpful and well researched.

[@volundrfrey896]

It's helpful because it shows why you shouldn't buy one.

[@apchitz]

I’ve watched a lot of videos regarding the smell. I had suspected they were all missing the fact that water is getting into the intake, as it’s so poorly designed. I appreciate you proving that theory correct!

[@DJaquithFL]

I think the better design is to put a 2" or 3" lip in front of that drain area in the duct, perhaps in a C shape towards the front of the hood. However, I'd be interested in knowing why hood gaskets isn't continuous from the factory. Hopefully the current models have this problem corrected.

[@mech-E]

This video is great. The one issue with this being completely accurate is that I and others have noticed this issue without rain. The most pronounced it has been for me was in extreme high humidity with the air conditioning running. And I can see that the drainage from the condenser isn’t perfect. Likely leading to wetting of the bottom filter.

[@darelldd]

Agreed. There's not much chance that rain or washing is getting my filter directly wet. But humidity seems to be a big issue. My issue comes right at the change of season when humidity goes up, right when the filter is dirtiest from summer driving in the dust and pollen (and fire smoke!). The solid solution for me seems to be to change the filters every November.

[@GranCoyon]

Last I checked on this about 8 years ago on my BMW, it had absolutely nothing to do with what is being discussed in this video. It is actually some EPA/EEA guideline which forced vehicle manufacturers to stop using mold growth inhibiting paint on the automotive Air Conditioning evaporators. As such every vehicle after the early 2010s has been suffering from this very same mold smell problem, and there is nothing manufacturers can do about it other than offer you a temporary solution in the form of a cleaning. Supposedly it has something to do with the mold growth inhibiting coating that had been used for many years all of a sudden being considered to be toxic for the environment. So in short we have all been forced to suffer with moldy smelling automotive air conditioning since. Pretty sure that if you have the same Tesla and live somewhere warm and humid, you will be experiencing the exact same issue even if water never gets into your filters like it does for this person. In short, good luck and learn to live with it unless you want to go pressure the manufacturers to find a non-toxic alternative. Lastly, in other words… the issue is MUCH MORE complex than what this video leads you to believe. Happy youTubing!

[@kyvintan]

Another free solution is to enlarge the cutout(or multiple sections of small cutout) at the bottom to allow all the water to flow out. Since this is not an ICE car, the mixture of air coming from the top vent and also the enlarge cutout would be ok(no combustion). My car started to smell a bit so this is what I would do based on what I see from this video. Buy the gasket kit, change filter and clean the evaporator. If smell comes back in a year or so, I'll create a bigger cutout or multiple small cutouts along the way to allow water to drain to out before it even hit the last section. Great video BTW...good job :)

[@02reaper]

This would be my suggestion also. Enlarge the water cutout. Make it go all the way under the bottom pretty much.

[@AlvaroMartinez98]

Amazing video. I don't own a Tesla but I've rented several, and a couple had this issue. The air stinks for 4-5 minutes after starting the AC. I also imagined it had to be something in the filter, but since it was a rental I didn't look much into it. Amazing investigations, good solutions proposed and you even validated them. Thank you!

[@puaspiton]

Great video! Any suggestions for Model Y 2021 and early models??

[@MrVidimlic]

Straight to the point on every segment. KZbin would be out of business if every video was as clear, concise and quick as this one. I don't even own this car lol. Subscribed

[@teslascoop2177]

You have to remember that in place with 100% high humidity air already carries water, A/C is working overtime and condenser is covered with water droplets, filters are also completely wet in such places. The gap in condenser is a major design flaw.

[@1943vermork]

I have a car with the exact same setup where the filter sit next to the evaporator yet no bad smell.

[@Xanthopteryx]

No because the air presses the water to the other side of the evaporator. So this is not an issue. But, depending on how the draining in the bottom of the evaporator is, it could be a problem that the filter sucks up if you get water standing there.

[@teslascoop2177]

What air pressure when AC is off? This happens in high humidity areas when you turn ac off water condenses on cold coil, moves to filter.. @@Xanthopteryx

[@teslascoop2177]

Just wait @@1943vermork

[@Xanthopteryx]

@@teslascoop2177 Fan moves air from filter side to condenser side and thus also forces the water to the other side of the condenser, where the filter is not. If the AC is off then water will not condenser on the condenser since it is not colder than the dew point of the air entering.

[@aware2action]

Lots of effort to uncover the bad design choices, that was covered up by smart but incomplete workarounds by Tesla. Not only you've uncovered the potential design issue, the fact that you"ve suggested multiple solutions is truly ingenious👍👍. Just wondering, if there could be a small 3d printed flow diverter tube(more like a periscope with row of holes on the bottom, to prevent accumulation) that could be fitted over the drain hole. It should cut down significantly on water pulled out of drain hole. Also a nylon mesh covering on main vent could help with water splashes in the intake duct(might need occasional cleaning though). Just some 💭. Excellent and thorough investigation.❤👍

[@desmondstanley4372]

Please make more Tesla videos like this one. Very good information here, I almost felt like I was looking at a Tesla engineer working on product improvement.

[@ryanb9749]

Nice work. As an engineer I'm going to design a 3D printed intake to correct this issue for my car.

[@adamdport]

Cool! What will it do?

[@ryanb9749]

@adamdport thinking about facing it slightly downwards if there is space so increase the gap between the hole and the fan. It's 35F in the morning and I refuse to use my hvac. Seems worse in winter.

[@adamdport]

@@ryanb9749 no, I meant what is the purpose of the duct? What problem are you solving by replacing it with a modified one? I couldn't figure out why a duct needed to be there at all

[@ryanb9749]

@@adamdport to prevent water from entering the fan.

[@adamdport]

@@ryanb9749 sorry, maybe I worded it wrong-why have a duct at all? I get that you're trying to make their duct different, but why not just remove it entirely?

[@alexanderdjr]

I appreciate the attention to detail and your ability to effectively structure arguments/content.

[@twhittaker6775]

Great video. Was wonder If you pull air lower down you might get more smog or air pollution lower to the road. You will also get more dusty air if you drive on dirt/desert roads.

[@jersey-dude]

This is fantastic. Thank you for doing this in depth investigation. This has been driving me nuts for years!!

[@geniferteal4178]

Great production and edditing. I love the way you have a completely different shot with each new thought. good pacing as well. jumping from thought to thought.

[@spicspann4861]

Excellent, On Monday when I go to work I am going to test this. I wash the loaners at a dealership and noticed odors can be an issue with the m3's. After I wash a loaner, I'm going to look down this air intake, if I see any water I am going to remove the intake from every loaner that I look after.

[@floridag8rfan]

I don't even own a Tesla, and I watched this whole video. Great explanation!

[@MattFranks-hc7qs]

100% accurate. Did the fixes on my Model Y and it makes a huge difference.

[@derekkronenberger9376]

Amazing video. I suffered from this smell, and your video really helped me understand why!

[@theodorehaskins3756]

Wow! Kudos! That’s the most in-depth analysis of troubleshooting a problem that I’ve ever witnessed, and you’re a great explainer! Thank you! Cheers 🥂

[@iholarabaybay5]

Excellent video! Very rare to see someone identify an issue with Tesla and then solve it themselves instead of just buying some third party thing to fix it.

[@jasontan822]

I wonder if we still have this issue in latest 2024 Model 3 Highland?

[@ted_jerome]

What a joy it is to see the scientific process at work! I loved your suggestions and even more seeing the GoOro videos of water movement. Excellent video!

[@dwylhq874]

Excellent video Adam! 🤩 This is clearly a design fault Tesla should fix for free. At the very least the software features you mentioned. Going to get the aftermarket gasket you’ve suggested and change the filters in the meantime. 🤞🏼 Subbed. ❤️

[@brushlessmotoring]

This was amazing! The quality of this content was fantastic - learnt a lot. I have had smelly filters - the video showing the drain hole actually ends up as an intake also might explain the strong exhaust smells every time you come up behind a gasoline vehicle (2019 M3)

[@Yelonek1986]

Do you know how to fix this? I get the smell in Model 3 more strongly than in an ICE car. It is enough to briefly drive through smoke and is perceptible in the cabin. I hate it and would love to find a solution.

[@brushlessmotoring]

@@Yelonek1986 I put it into recycled air if I see it in time - it feels like it scoops air up from the ground, not the intake at the top, maybe my duct has come loose. But no - I don’t know how to stop it.

[@Ryan256]

Outstanding video! I rented a Tesla Model 3 and also wondered about the smell. Knowing about your tricks might help me score a used Model 3 at a discount by complaining about the smell (and secretly knowing I can fix it with minimal effort). Bonus points for suggesting a software fix to Tesla engineers!

[@TalmenTX]

FYI, the big HEPA filter under the frunk panel on newer Model Ys can be retrofitted onto older Model Ys officially. I had it done through Tesla service, the HEPA filter (& Bioweapon Defense Mode) retrofit was an option in the service menu under the "Upgrades & Accessories" category. I had it done on my 2021 Model Y and now that I have that big HEPA filter up front, it has all but eliminated our musty cabin smells.

[@Resist4]

I had a 2018 Model 3 and the AC never made it smell. But, one trick I learn a long time ago with other vehicles is to turn off the AC a few minutes before ending my drive and running the vented air on high. This helps dry the moisture off the condenser coils, which causes mold that is the cause of the smell. This is a thing with any AC unit in vehicles and buildings. But yeah, it is more common in a Tesla than other vehicles due to how they designed the air duct. I get your point but your test really focused spraying water into that filter duct with the hose. That's not exactly how it would happen with rain in most places, especially while driving. But I agree that Tesla should have tested this more and fixed it. I like the hood gasket idea, again something Tesla should have come up with. They also could have put the duct facing down, instead of up. You could mod the existing duct by blocking off the top and cutting an opening in the bottom for the air. But the hood gasket is probably and easier fix. It baffles me how all the supposedly smart people at Tesla, with all the testing that they do, never discovered this issue. Or maybe they did but management ignored it. But good job looking into this and figuring it all out! And I agree that when it's raining use recirculate mode, even have the AC with the heat on, to reduce the moisture in the cabin air.

[@FrankyFnFour]

👏 driving extra to dry out is something I do on my ‘18 M3P, and it only gets me that far. I think a middle ground is to get the air to flow and water to drain with the duct in place. While I think on the onset, turning it upside down is logical, I guess that the same air pressure and flow forcing water into the car would affect the car’s drag coefficient and impact its range if it were upside down. One thing on all other cars he showed was the intake being on top. ☺️🤔

[@bearlemley]

I agree with you about spraying water on the windshield and past the windshield wipers, is not indicative of real world. In my view it is not nearly enough water. I live in the tropics where it rains 22 inches in one month. Stuck in traffic, in a monsoon rain delivers significantly more water than from the spray in this video. Don’t know why I watching this video as I have a model Yp with the HEPA filtration system.

[@gir1258]

I believe that teslas have a desiccant installed specifically to address this issue

[@Resist4]

@@gir1258 That really won't help if it is also soaked.

[@bobaldis51]

Very interesting and well put together topic, I had this with my 2020/21 M3LR, Tesla replaced the Filters and used a machine to defume the A/C condesnsor under warranty, but the evidence presented in your video puts doubt on this as a long term solution. I'm UK based but will definately will see if I can get the aftermarket gasket and give it a go, thank you.

[@theonlymadmac4771]

Very good systematic approach!👍🏻

[@nubbins70]

Thanks for the great guide! I ended up taking out the intake on my 2019 M3, but there were a few differences that make your 2021(?) easier to work with: - the 2019 intake seems to be a 3-piece affair: an irregularly shaped box adjacent to the fan, a detachable vertical portion, and a slightly different "funnel" at the top with a wide flange on the driver's side (presumably to protect the positive 12V battery terminal, even though that has its own rubber cover) - 2/3 parts come out easy, and the funnel can be reattached to shield the battery and also secure the surrounding trim pieces together (as it has 4 pins that connect into different pieces) - the innermost part is nigh impossible to remove, even with the frunk removed. Something to do with its weird boxy shape and perhaps a different layout of mechanical components in the 2019. After rotating it for the better part of an hour, I dremeled it into 2 pieces and removed it. The shape of the 2019's intake seems to be a bit better when it comes to water, as the drain hole exits much further from the air intake and is also at a noticeably lower "sump" point - water has to travel up a reverse slope to get to the fan. But I'm about to replace my cabin air filter again, and I just don't want to deal with any contributing causes that I can avoid.

[@DerrickDavis]

I had the same problem with a 2020. I left the inner part attached to the firewall for now but unclipped the lower part that makes up the scope upwards. We will see how this goes but already looking at also adding a hood seal so that water won't drip onto the AC compressor, etc.

[@valdemar7986]

dude! you are spot on! I kept wondering why my tesla suddenly started smelling like a pair of socks forgotten in a football uniform bag. I cannot thank you enough!

[@b0570nk4]

i wonder if the latest model 3 highland has this problem as well

[@DeeperImageAutomotive]

Excellent video, Adam. So much great detail, easily explained, and loved the mini science experiment to demonstrate the potential or actual cause of the odors. I have a Model S, so I don't think this applies to our cars, but good info to have either way.

[@alexmanojlovic768]

You'd know when you get that fishy smell. Usually take 3 to 4 years in a normal car with regular AirCon usage.

[@aayotechnology]

How is your air intake different on the model S?

[@Just_D.I.Y.]

The reason the sealing strips across the hood, where it meets the base of the windshield, it isn't continuous across is because that area becomes a high pressure zone when driving, which assists the HVAC system when drawing in air, if you leave the continuous rubber seal in place you're forcing the HVAC system to draw air from areas it wasn't designed to be drawn from. This design dates back to the 30's or 40's when people actually died from the air being drawn into the heater near the front of the vehicle when the vehicle ahead is exhausting nearly directly into the heater air inlet. It looked as though the water that does get into the inlet is draining right onto wires and what looked like the wiper mechanism, the chute prevented that, at least put something over those areas to direct the water so it doesn't pour onto the electrical devices.

[@darelldd]

I'm having difficulty with the fluid dynamics here. What would create high pressure in that area between the hood and the windshield? If air is being dragged UP the windshield at speed, a first glance would have me assume that it creates a low pressure, and vacuums air out of the area?

[@dagonryan220]

Great video! I have a 2022 Model Y (with bio-defense mode) that also has this issue of bad smells when the car gets wet. So in my opinion, the redesign has not resolved this issue.

[@xxCanUDigIt88xx]

I have the same issue with my 2022 Model Y (With Bio-defense mode). This smell is horrible.

[@icedout2322]

Man awesome stuff! I found a cheap replacement filter on amazon that prevented that smell longer than the expensive factory one. I felt like it was the rubber they use as a seal on the factory one. I can see now its the moisture either directly causing it or maybe it also causes that filter to decay because the smell I get is more of a rotten latex type smell its horrible , changing the filter always fixs it and now I understand better why. This has been so helpful thank you!

[@fiveangle]

Would be great to see a longer-term report on results when removing the intake duct. Thanks for such a wonderfully thorough analysis of this design oversight !

[@adamdport]

Sorry I didn't follow. What kind of longer term report?

[@luvirini]

@@adamdportI think he might measn something like: As the smell does not appear immediately after changing filters. So if you remove the duct and have it off, does to smell come back in say 6 months?

[@saveamericalive287]

You are a GENIUS, not only in your thought process but equally in your execution and testing. Take it from a mechanical engineer, you just out engineered all of Tesla's engineers. I hope you make millions of this video and/or franchise as a business or better yet into a marketable kit. I can help with that. Great job!

[@sikhswim]

Amazing video! Q: Does the gasket solution restrict airflow to the air intake? Is there some reason that the original gaskets didn’t go all the way across?

[@Protochu]

Personally, I would assume not. There seems to be plenty of room to pull air and if not then air will find its way in from any gap that isnt air-tight... just a personal opinion tho

[@scottahrens9331]

The aftermarket gasket looks compelling, but I also feel like there’s got to be a reason Tesla didn’t do it that way…

[@BaneSIlvermoon]

I wonder if it's reducing resistance by allowing air to flow out, up the windshield, through that gap

[@jacobheinz8236]

@@scottahrens9331Yup, it’s a Tesla oversight putting it mildly. Plainly a design flaw!

[@PoorZhu]

For those with with biodefense mode (15:20) : check/replace those filters in the frunk (aka not the cabin ones), especially if you've tried the usual stuff (replace cabin filters + coil spray) + those filters haven't been replaced recently, this actually worked for me! I honestly didn't know there were filters there at all lol so thank you for that! It's interesting how moldy/heavy those filters were since they're sealed (rainwater shouldn't hit it like you said) but... I've had my car for 2 years and never swapped them 😶 so it's probably just trapped moisture/stuff from normal use? Either way, thanks so much for such an amazing effort diagnosing + documenting this problem! These videos were really entertaining and satisfying too, I totally see why lots of non-Tesla owners enjoyed these videos hahaha

[@RoboSmax]

Thank you! This was one of the best Tesla model 3 problem + solution videos I’ve seen! I had replaced my filters with similar type that had an activated charcoal stage, and it seemed to help, but like you pointed out, once those filters get moist, they eventually get stinky again. I also hate how the car is always running the fan after I’ve driven it, and now I understand why (it’s trying to dry the filters). But where I live, it’s hard to dry anything with 80%-90% air humidity!

[@bjumali]

Now that’s how to fix something. Great video too. I don’t have this problem nor a Tesla, but I kept on watching just to see how you figure it out. 100 points to you!

[@GayanWeerasinghe-y9w]

Great video. Good analysis. Just one thing is that even heavy rain is different from when you are holding the garden hose directly to the area of the cowl. One could do a rain simulation of just water dropping on the windshield rather than direct pressurized water hitting that may cause the water to go inside. Also the drain hole on the duct can be made bigger with a ram built in on top of it so that high pressure from the blower motor will not ingress water in. Legacy Model S have the same design where the cabin filter is actually on the cowl side and these cars don’t have the filters getting damp. I still believe that States with high humidity, Model 3/ Y , evaporator gets condensation and the filters do touch when cabin filter door is closed and fan is running where it pushes the filter against the evaporator. Nevertheless, great video!

[@LordMesa]

You say great video but are making a bunch of excuses on Teslas behalf.? Do you work for them?

[@jakej1837]

The filter may be the source of the smell for you (given your filter smells when wet), but I can say confidently that is not the case for many people in the forums. They have tried wetting the filter after the smell started in the cabin and the filter doesn't smell. They have even tried taking out the filter and the car still smells. So the smell is coming from somewhere inside the car that is not the filter for those people. That's why for many people, they say the evaporator cleaner is a must to have the fix last for months. A filter change alone (with no cleaner) can last just weeks instead. There are those that tried the hood gasket and still had the smell happen. Also there were many more complaints before the Tesla fan update to dry the evaporator, so that definitely played a role. Using manual recirculation also seems to cause the smell to occur. There are those that say turning off the AC and running the fan a few minutes on high before arriving at the destination eliminates the smell from returning. So perhaps the real fix is a more aggressive fan update. So unfortunately I don't believe this is the universal fix nor points to the universal cause, even though it might fix it for some people. Given the recirculate seems to play a role (as you say, none of the other cars you looked at had recirculated air pass through filter/evaporator system), I would say that probably has more to do with it.

[@rb8049]

Definitely you are right

[@zackcruise]

Interesting - have you heard any other ideas from people in the forums as to where water can collect in the AC ducts / system that could be causing this? I've had four other cars before my Tesla that I've driven for ~20 years and none of them have ever had this smell, and I barely changed the filters in them... Even if there are other places in the Tesla that can collect water / moisture and create this problem, it's something that I hope they can actually fix in the future by designing a better physical system rather than the "fix" they implement now of just blowing air through the system to dry things out - which only sometimes works, and only temporarily at that... I've had this problem in the past and sometimes my filters have smelled when I replaced them, sometimes they haven't - I think it depends on whether or not they've been damp for a few days, similar to what can happen with clothing... Sometimes if you leave your clothes in the washer overnight on accident and they develop a mildew smell, you can almost never get rid of it. You can throw them in the dryer with a dryer sheet and they'll come out smelling okay, but if you put that shirt on and go for a run and start sweating and reintroducing moisture into it, you'll smell the mildew again X__X

[@tktkwei]

I don’t think the AC off & fan blast works. It actually speed up the smelly ac problem for me. If you do that during summer when outside is humid and hot, turning off the AC with fan will quickly shock the system with temp delta and creates more moist air into the system. There are times when I do that, I started to smell the wet towel smell after just a month from evaporator cleaning. Nothing will fix it other than having a UV light in the evaporator box. 😂

[@jakej1837]

@@zackcruise For people that developed the problem, I haven't seen any "permanent" fixes or anyone that conclusively found where the smell is coming from. The evaporator cleaning (two cans to make sure it gets everywhere) and filter change seems to last the longest, for some people it lasts for months or even a year or two. There are however some that reported it only lasts for weeks. I've seen claims that manually drying out the evaporator (turn off AC and run fan at high speed) at the end of the trip is effective (instead of waiting for the fan to kick in automatically, which may take about 20 minutes after car is parked or maybe never if you have cabin overheat mode set with AC on). I think the Tesla fan update did prevent a lot of new cases from developing though in the first place. However, once you already have developed the problem, the fan update doesn't seem to fix it. Essentially your system has been "contaminated" and the smell seems to return much more easily. Also, from looking back in the thread, there were other brands that had the same issue, like for example the Prius, even though they presumably have a different vent system.

[@jakej1837]

@@tktkwei The people that said the fan blast is effective live in areas in California with relatively dry heat and moderate temperatures (which also means that strategy is tolerable; otherwise the car gets too hot quickly, even if you leave it to recirculate). If you are blasting it with wet air that is almost fully saturated, that obviously does not work. I've travelled and live shortly in places with humid heat and things quickly grow mold/mildew just sitting around, so the conditions are completely different.

[@wonked]

Thanks for the super detailed video! I too installed the aftermarket gasket and can confirm it does prolong the life of the filters. I noticed you mentioned that the plastic cover for the vent and 12v battery is never flush and doesn’t clip in, it’s because the underhood clips basically come broken from the factory: kzbin.info/www/bejne/b57FiJaKhbCFa6c (tl;dw: video shows where the broken clips are and how to fix). Thanks again for the awesome video 👍🏻

[@darelldd]

Well done with this!

[@AJstanton3]

My model 3 started smelling and I’ve been trying to figure out what it is. Great video. Thanks so much.

[@eIektrinis]

I had that awful smell a few times and had no idea what's causing it. Thanks for this.

[@JoshuaRegan]

I don’t even have a Tesla and never plan on get one. Why am I watching this 😂

[@arthercasillas2755]

Hertz under $30K.

[@Pobee]

That's what I said, and I own one.

[@Ryanstuff]

With all of the inventive unique and smart things Tesla has done with design I'm always blown away when they make a huge mistake like this.

[@mrsunn6300]

Anyone else here to see if the 2024 model 3 still has the same issue? 😂

[@dominicj803]

Haven't even finished the video and needed to comment... awesome video sir! Your delivery is excellent and you provide great information. Subscribed.

[@adriande_leon]

I was curious to why this happens and I went ahead and found this helpful video. I have taken my car twice to Tesla to get it fixed and ever since I put my fan speed on low it doesn't happen. But thanks for the helpful tips i will get the seal and hopefully mitigate the water from coming in.

[@microbabylon]

one of the most informative tesla videos out there. you've found your niche please keep them coming!

[@GlennBlinckmann]

Thank you so much for going through all this in depth! The guard that attaches to the hood did the trick for my Model 3. It was getting to be a really bad problem and I was at a complete loss for fixing it.

[@ginger2551]

Love this video! I just ordered the parts right after finishing watching. Thank you!

[@lowcus211]

Wow, Tesla should be paying you for this in-depth fix to a somewhat easily fixable design flaw. Amazing research and flawless execution. Thank you, I definitely needed this. You've got a like and subscribe from me👏

[@dustintravis8791]

I like how most of your solutions were software based. Hopefully Tesla does apply your suggestions. Great video!

[@madass88]

I'd love to see you try to replace the suspension with Highland suspension!

[@vanheath5382]

16:25 I bought some WIX filters from OReilly ($70), but the printed Air Flow Arrows were actually going the reverse direction. So I took them back and ordered some filters from Amazon. Just a heads up to check the arrows if you buy the WIX brand.

[@EpicBenjo]

Would cutting a larger drain hole in that plastic air redirection thing make it better?

[@kennethsilverman1309]

This is gotta be one of the best videos I’ve ever seen. This guy really is thorough. Now I’m picking up a model X next week. I’m hoping I don’t have that same problem in mind but if I do, can you please recommend the gasket kit I need to get.

[@adamdport]

@@kennethsilverman1309 the cabin filters are in a more traditional spot on the S/X, but I've had a bunch of comments complaining of a similar smell in those. I haven't (yet) investigated to find out