DIY Tesla Battery pack swap in backyard. 2013 Tesla Model S gets battery pack. With basic hand tools

[@Scott-sm9nm]

That is an impressive feat and something else to watch. So glad you caught the moving car jacks in time.

[@RMTFamily]

Hi Scott, It was not to bad to do. If done in a shop with nice floor on a two post lift this would be a breeze. Thank You for watching👍

[@johnnythemaster]

You're a great mechanic. I wouldn't touch EV's, I just bring it over to your place😉😂

[@RMTFamily]

Sure, just bring it over here.😉

[@robford8493]

He is one of the best!

[@RMTFamily]

@@robford8493 What do you mean one of them?🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@danalexandrugiurca3551]

An inspiration to us all ! Well done !!!

[@RMTFamily]

Thank you. Let’s keep those Teslas going.😉

[@randomink3]

Thanks for the ideas!

[@RMTFamily]

You're welcome. Are you having to deal with a battery pack issue on your Tesla?

[@duaneulman9915]

I like how to video when people pull thinks apart. You just never know with connectors sometimes they do not make any sence then I just end up bracking things. This way I watch someone eles break it then I will not. 😃

[@RMTFamily]

Hi Duane, I sure broke enough things in my life as a mechanic, but it seems to never end and I keep braking things😂. Luckily in the end I get it all working again. At least most of the time😂😂😂😂

[@duaneulman9915]

Thank you 👍

[@RMTFamily]

You're welcome.😉

[@CurtisNew1]

excellent.. quick question.. the plugs, electrical and coolant.. do they self disconnect? (just drop the battery?)

[@RMTFamily]

Yes they do. Coolant is in the front, two quick connects. HV and Low voltage plugs are in the back, also quick connects. None of the have to be released, they just disconnect as the pack is lowered.

[@EmileMeyer-x8g]

Great video. Where did you get the rolling pallet that you dropped the good salvage battery onto?

[@RMTFamily]

Thank You. That is actually just a regular plastic type pallet. It is not rolling but glides pretty good on most surfaces. I got that from an RV dealership that I worked at. Many things are shipped on plastic pallets. I'm sure if you look around you can find one free somewhere. Thank You for watching👍

[@masterofnone7876]

Super impressive. Could using a pallet jack make this easier?

[@RMTFamily]

@@masterofnone7876 Thank you. A pallet jack would only work on a flat solid surface. You would have to stack multiple pallets on top of each other since the end where the hydraulics are on the pallet jack would under the car most likely. That would the require the car to be raised much higher. A pallet jack can only lift a pallet about 6 to 8 inches of the ground, this may not be sufficient in this case. Two low profile transmission jacks would maybe be another option, but also requires a flat solid surface. For me this was the easiest solution with the equipment I already had. Certainly other ways are possible depending on the situation. Thank you for watching👍

[@waqasazmat81]

Hi RMT Family, question for you. Can a 2016 MS 70hv pack be installed into 2014 MS 60? I think physically it will fit, but software wise do I need to be looking out for something. Thanks!

[@RMTFamily]

Good question. Size and connectors are the same. As far as I know with doing the software update the car will accept the pack but it definitely will show the original size battery on the screen/app etc. It will show the 60 not the 70. I'm not sure about the range/% showing correct. You can find people that can change all that and make it work properly. Don't know what they charge to do it.

[@waqasazmat81]

Ty sir, software would be just go under the screen -> service mode -> install software, correct? I will look for someone who can change the configuration. Thanks as always willing to answer questions.

[@RMTFamily]

Yes, correct.

[@waqasazmat81]

@@RMTFamily Just wanted to update you, 2014 Model S 60 I swapped it with the 70 hv pack. It worked, software went through without any trouble. As far as the vehicle configuration goes (changing from 60 to 70), I was able to changed it using Toolbox3.. Thanks once again :)

[@RMTFamily]

@@waqasazmat81 Thank You for the update. Glad it worked well. 👍👍

[@benkanobe7500]

I look forward to "taking apart salvage Tesla". Also, are you going to use the cells from the original Model S and incorporate them in your Solar? That would be really cool.

[@RMTFamily]

There will be more about salvage Tesla and another major part swap. Yes, the plan is to have 85kWh of Tesla energy storage with solar.

[@beyerch]

Video would have been a lot more useful if you talked about HOW you removed the pack as opposed to "ok and now it's on the ground". Did you have jacks under the pallets or were the pallets high enough that you could sit the car on the pallet and still have access to bolt holes? Did you have to remove some of the bolts before the pallets?

[@RMTFamily]

This video was intended to show that it is possible to swap a battery pack with floor jacks on the ground and give ideas on how to do it. As shown in the video the car was raised, then I was under the car removing all parts, pieces and bolts that need and can be removed while leaving in some bolts to hold the pack in place. Obviously all bolts that are in the pallet area need removed. Then the car was lowered onto the pallet and the last few bolts that held the pack were removed. Raised the car and pulled the pack out. For step by step instructions you need to subscribe to the Tesla Service manual. This subscription is free on Tesla's website. Here is a link to a video about subscribing, note that the video is almost 2 years old, it's all basically the still the same, there may be a few changes since, but it is still free and provided by Tesla. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpWUhoyHlN6CaJo

[@malcolmmackenzie9645]

Great video! How did you test the salvage pack to make sure it was going to be good?

[@RMTFamily]

Thank You. Before taking apart the salvage car I charged the pack some and checked for fault codes. It charged fine and had no fault codes. The assumption is that the car was driving and working fine when it got into the accident, so the pack should be ok. Usually the battery pack survives most accidents without any damage. Thank You for watching.👍

[@jodydewey]

when the new battery is installed from the donor vehicle, do you have to reset anything in the car or does it automatically just accept the different battery?

[@RMTFamily]

You have to make sure to bleed the air out of the coolant system, which is easy if you have a Tesla toolbox. Also, you need to do a software update. You can just reinstall the current software via service mode, which is accessible in the car via the touchscreen.

[@jodydewey]

@@RMTFamily what is a tesla toolkit?

[@RMTFamily]

@@jodydewey Tesla Toolbox is the software from Tesla to run certain service and diagnostic functions on the car. The Tesla service manual is available for free. Check link below. But the Toolbox you have to subscribe too. I believe there are a few different options but I believe the cheapest one is currently $500. Tesla Service Manual Annual Subscription for $0.00 Is it a fluke or is it for real. I just did it. kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpWUhoyHlN6CaJo

[@wingchun149]

Use transmission jacks under the battery next time.

[@RMTFamily]

Transmission jacks only work on flat solid ground! They can’t be used on soft uneven surfaces as we were working on. Also transmission jacks need modified to have larger surface to properly support battery pack. Using what we have around is cheaper too.

[@sonnydu9266]

Hello great video! I was looking to do my own swap 2013 model s 60kW battery to a bigger pack. Like a 85 or 90. Did you have to do a reprogram to get it work after your swap.

[@RMTFamily]

Thank you👍😀 Great question. As far as I know, yes. You have to do some re-programming if you increase the battery capacity. I don’t know the exact details toward extend the reprogramming is needed. Obviously your car identifies itself as an S 60. So if you upgrade the pack, it would still identify itself as an S 60 at least on the screen. Not sure if it would work without any re-programming. I assume that if you do a software reinstall, just like I did, that the car would be drivable. But I don’t know that it would be aware of having more range and more battery capacity. If it would be me, I would go ahead and swap the battery pack and see what happens. There are options where you can hire somebody that will remotely reprogram your car for you. Obviously not for free. Do you already have a battery pack?

[@mikaeljonsson4686]

You should never work under the car with only floor jacks holding it up... jack stands as back-up if the floor jack fails is a must for me, but to each his own. Good job with the Tesla but take care!

[@RMTFamily]

Hi Mikael, You are basically right. Now that said it is almost impossible to use floor jacks during this as the body has to be raised and lowered during the battery pack removal and installation while the pack sits on a pallet. During the removal and reinstall of parts and almost all bolts the car was sitting with the wheels on wooden blocks not held up by floor jacks. Using 4 floor jacks makes this pretty safe as the likelihood of more than one jack failing is extremely slim. Two jacks on the diagonal can easily hold up the weight of the car. Actually while raising and lowering the car it was not uncommon for two jacks not to carry any weight. But again you are right whenever possible jack stands should be used and used properly. Thank You for watching👍

[@jerrymildredpetersen3177]

Cool!! This needs to be on Facebook in conjunction with the report of someone being charged over $20,000 for a Tesla battery replacement. 😂 I’ve replaced dozens of Prius hybrid batteries, but they are air cooled and not nearly as heavy. Now that I’ve seen this, I wouldn’t be afraid to replace the battery in my ‘22 Bolt EUV should the need ever arise. But at only 12k miles, I probably have some time before that happens. 😊 Well done. BTW, I was also concerned when I didn’t notice floor jacks in the video. Thanks for the clarification in the comments.

[@RMTFamily]

@@jerrymildredpetersen3177 Hopefully you're Bolt does not need a battery ever. These are a little larger and heavier than the hybrid batteries. But sounds like you could do it if you needed to. Thank You for watching.👍

[@jerrymildredpetersen3177]

@@RMTFamily thanks. I really doubt that my Bolt will ever need a battery. But I’m used to heavy stuff. Worked on 200 ton high speed presses for 22 years as a mechanic and then as an electrician. 😊

[@RMTFamily]

Wow, that's pretty cool. I'm sure you know a few tricks on how to get large heavy pieces perfectly lined up.

[@eddylauterback1312]

I thought you were hooking this battery to some solar panels????

[@RMTFamily]

Hi Eddy, I'm a little slow😂. The batteries from the 200k mile will be used for the solar and the salvage battery pack is now in the 200k mile car that we are driving. Hope everything is ok in your neck of the woods. Good to hear from you.