Tesla Model 3 Battery Pack Removal Guide - Full Video

This video shows the process of removing the Tesla Model 3 battery pack from start to finish. This pack contains the 2170 cells manufactured jointly by Tesla and Panasonic. It is the most advanced large scale lithium battery on the planet, making for some very interesting use cases in life after Teslas.

[@TedKidd]

Love to hear back story on the car, and what you did with the carcass. Separation at 8:00 very cool

[@crashedcorvette9979]

Wow, thanks for the video. I thought it was like a car battery where you open the hood and loosen 2 screws and unhook the cables and lift it out with 2 hands :)

[@tmittelstaed]

I've done (and documented) several motor and transmission swaps in my driveway and I don't see one thing here that would be any more difficult than those. Cherry pickers are cheap and common because most engines come out through the top, but I can easily see in 20 years once EV's are common and the used ones are common that people will start manufacturing and selling large foldable "EV battery jacks" just like they manufacture and sell large foldable cherry pickers, and doing one of these in a driveway with tractor jackstands and a bottle jack will be as easy as doing a transmission R&R with a transmission jack. By then, aftermarket batteries will be in the $2000 range (today's pricing) People need to remember that the first automobile was sold in 1898 and it was a decade before the first Model T was sold. The model T was deliberately designed with the simplest designs possible to both save money and make it easy for the consumer to repair. But cars prior to that were expensive and parts were difficult to get and expensive. However, what made the Model T cheap was that an existing infrastructure of steelmaking and wiremaking and all of the rest of it already existed. What the EV industry really needs to take off is a cheap EV that's simple and cheap to repair and has comparable range (400 miles) to ICE vehicles. Tesla S have 400mi range but the cost of the battery pack makes the cost of the car high and the cost to do a major repair high. The battery pack is so expensive because it's the only part in the car that lacks an existing infrastructure. So when you buy a Tesla or other EV battery you are paying for the entire infrastructure of mining lithium and processing it into batteries in large quantities, which currently does not exist. We WILL get there folks it is just an issue of waiting until the cost of the battery infrastructure has been paid for and the infrastructure built up. Just be patient.

[@browntoothpaste]

OK! Im so excited for this! Now I just need to stay alive until 2150 so i will be able to afford one of these bad boys!!!

[@vaidyvenkatesan8412]

Very informative! Suggestions on refilling coolant after battery replacement as the octovalve could make it hard to fill the coolant lines completely without air even with a vaccum refill tool?

[@nishanseal]

Compared to replacing an engine and or transmission on an ice car it seems a good bit less complex. Not easy for sure but not overly complex. Not sure how difficult it is to replace the motors or if any other component is prone to failure.

[@joelperron8387]

Thanks for the reference, we used it when we took one out a month ago. We found it was just easier to remove one front seat at a time, peel back the carpet to expose the 5 floor bolts on each side.

[@BillAnt]

Big inconvenience having the remove the seats just to change the battery. I'm sure it could have been designed without the need to do that.

[@nerevar8823]

@@BillAnt There's a reason it's designed like this.

[@BillAnt]

@@nerevar8823- I'm sure there is, to make it more difficult. lol

[@nickg2304]

Note to self: Don't ever do this!!

[@jeffb8562]

Note to Tesla and all other EV manufacturers. Stop selling these until you figure out a longer lasting, easier to work with battery. Most these Teslas are barely worth replacing the battery after their batteries lifespan. Ridiculousness. A scam. But good thing, taxpayers are footing the bill for the 2% that can afford and have the means to use these absolute scams.

[@pablowdiablow3873]

@@jeffb8562 it's capitalism

[@GQ-jr5ro]

Looks pretty easy to me. 1 day job battery replacement

[@genderlessyoutubefanperson]

@@jeffb8562 Not really. I know plenty of people rocking their Teslas after 120k miles and zero problems. Scam? So all electric tools, devices and machines that use batteries are scam huh? Pls stop eating those paint chips. Independent engineers and experts after examination of the drive train and batteries said that there is no reason those not to last 15-20 years.

[@aidanfitzpatrick2206]

I’m 20 and have them in and out in 3 hours

[@davidcaple5547]

Many suggestions to use the battery as a 'powerwall' ... this is something I'm interested in as I'm researching this project just now using an LR Model 3 battery pack but I'm finding it difficult to find info on how to set it up. For example, how to charge the pack when not in a car. The pack consists of 4 x 96v modules in series giving 380v output. I know when in the car a 240v AC supply can be used (in the UK) and I can produce a 240v AC input with either an overnight cheap rate grid connection or a diesel generator but cannot find out if the battery electronics in the 'penthouse' processes that supply for charging or if it is processed in the cabling/plug/socket and sends a prepared supply to the battery pack ready for charging. Also are the monitoring/control electronics in the 'penthouse' self contained i.e. they work without a connection to the car or are they only 'switched on' when receiving some form of signal from the car. I'm particularly thinking here of the BMS. If both issues are bad news I will have to explore disconnecting the 4 modules and treating them as 4 independent 96v packs but that will mean finding a way to connect up a BMS! Grateful for any thoughts/help or sources that may be able to help.

[@Herbit420]

Is it true that Tesla doesn't want any salvage or rebuilt cars on the road? I heard that they try to buy back all totaled units have you heard anything like this?

[@chenming0801]

Damn! The battery replacement is nearly impossible for normal people!

[@nerevar8823]

For a reason so you give thousands more to Tesla

[@2ndexplosivebullet]

It’s the equivalent of an in the ice vehicle.

[@oisiaa]

Tesla must have confidence in that battery lasting the warranty period. It would cost them a fortune to replace that battery + labor.

[@audience2]

The experience with the Model S would give them that confidence.

[@figgek18]

My battery hold 6 months on my model 3 now on service center waiting for a new battery 😢

[@ketziaruiz5520]

@@figgek18 how much would the battery replacement be if you didn’t have warranty?

[@figgek18]

@@ketziaruiz5520 no idea got it on warranty.

[@ronaldoquintos1675]

I did a Chevy Volt battery replacement I guess it’s somewhat same idea. They are both liquid cooled I assumed Tesla uses coolant as well. I would guess it’s also a lot heavier. The Chevy volt is around 400 pounds. It uses LiPo battery though not Lithium Ion. The Chevy volt required initialization once installed but pretty much straight forward. Of course all codes need to be cleared though. My procedure was somewhat the same I lowered the car onto a metal table and then loosen the bolt same like you all did. The Chevy Volt battery is shaped like a T

[@kkist1886]

Very nice guide . Now , I know I will never do it.

[@xavierfraiture3642]

Hello I have to work on the chassis and welding on a tesla Y I over know how to turn off the high voltage thank you

[@Jedi2155]

What was the VIN on this car? Is that the sound insulation from the flufferbot on top of the pack? I'm assuming the VIN < 7000 or so?

[@markdiephouse]

Why does this Tesla have a oil filter ?

[@samwu8070]

Thanks for sharing. It’s not an easy work.

[@Michaelf1968]

Is there any room in between the battery itself and the bottom plate ?

[@davidtich]

I replaced the plastic rocker panels on my model 3 and a couple clips broke off into the body, and now they are rattling around. Tesla told me the only way to get them out would be to remove the battery, which they charge thousands of dollars for and now I know why!

[@pavelmetodiev9835]

Hello, did you get the model 3 to start charging and how is your progress ?

[@sim73505]

Really cool. Can you give caracteristics of batteries pack ? Voltage and Amperage of each pack ? Have you put it in house yet ?👌🙂

[@teslaclubeu]

thank you

[@reconforsales7708]

hi how long does it take to remove battery pack?

[@charliethewanderer6872]

Testa has a bad design for battery servicing. No seats should be removed to access battery.

[@diytesla]

Front seats dont need to be removed. Front bolts can be accessed when seats are moved all the way back, and middle bolts can be accessed with seats all the way forward. Rear seat cushion does need to be removed, along with some side trim.

[@user-xg4dt1tv5d]

You know on most German ICE cars the battery is underneath the front seat? It’s been that way for ages

[@relaxedguy]

What ended up happening with the car?

[@imntacrook8697]

Damn jerky camera movement makes me dizzy!

[@flargosa]

This is why battery replacement is so expensive. It's so much work.

[@genderlessyoutubefanperson]

The pack alone is 10 k

[@WichoTraance]

Good soundtrack men!

[@Asdesign11]

You guys know what the dimensions of that entire unit is?

[@upsanddowns960]

Can I power my house for few hours with that (it a big house )

[@MichaelHallerandAssociates]

Great tunes

[@MidWesti]

so the weight isn't the battery... its all the damn bolts🤣

[@pangeaweb]

Now we’re talkin’ Byron! Awesome video... you need to get in touch with @RichRebuilds asap!

[@espen2729]

Oh god I am dizzy now.. Otherwise interesting video.

[@vermin1970]

Love the chipmunk voices, you should have sped up the whole video lol

[@Asdesign11]

Do you have an email I can contact you for a few questions?

[@heroldcabanban446]

4 connector voltage to remove the coil

[@victormaglasang2776]

They should find ways to make easier that every car owner can do it in their garage without a lift. Tesla research and development must find ways to have their battery charges like fast charging alternators or dynamo attach to one of the motors. So while it’s running it also charges. And maybe a solar panel when the car is parking in an airport for example because you are away for a week and when you pick up your car that you left at 30% still can run to your home.

[@tmittelstaed]

You could do this without a lift you would need an assortment of tall jack stands (used for tractors) and several tall bottle jacks. I have removed and replaced a C4 transmission from a 1968 Ford Torino with a bumper jack, regular jackstands and an assortment of bricks and concrete blocks back when I was young and stupid. (don't ever do that, the chance exists a block might crumble and drop a corner of the car while you are under it) Unfortunately, the cost of jackstands particularly tall ones has skyrocketed likely due to liability. It would just take much much longer to do it safely but it COULD be done.

[@danwilliams5867]

I can't imagine that up here in rustbelt. All that plastic would do is hold the snow and salt to the mounting bolts and frame. In 4-5 years it would be seized solid and the frame starting to rot

[@genderlessyoutubefanperson]

All is galvanized steel and aluminum.

[@rexbahr3416]

If I were designing an electric vehicle I would have OPEN SIDE PANEL, UNPLUG BATTERY, SLIDE OUT USED BATTERY AND SLIDE IN NEW BATTERY PLUG IT IN AND CLOSE PANEL

[@pablowdiablow3873]

Then you would mass less money in the billion dollar auto repair industry

[@RAGINGDONUT1]

@@pablowdiablow3873 that’s right, and they gona pay the mechanics 1.5 for it to replace the 1200 lbs battery that can kill u if your bein stupid and cost hella $$$$$

[@ZyneNull]

Become an engineer then

[@gabrielvillegas5508]

And now what. The owner has to buy a new battery?? Or the car is going to the trash can??

[@heroldcabanban446]

Only problem the hex to remove the modules

[@jarhead87696]

This really makes me think Tesla will never offer pack swaps or battery upgrades on cars. Holy cow couldn’t believe you had to rip out interior to get at battery bolts. The labor alone would have to cost 5k plus the battery would make it cost prohibitive.

[@censoredeveryday3320]

Yup they're throw away cars after warranty expires

[@genderlessyoutubefanperson]

@@censoredeveryday3320 Not really. I know plenty of people rocking their Teslas after 120k miles and zero problems.

[@genderlessyoutubefanperson]

@@censoredeveryday3320 Independent engineers and experts after examination of the drive train and batteries said that there is no reason those not to last 15-20 years.

[@tmittelstaed]

@@genderlessyoutubefanperson I drive an ICE car today that is 21 years old with 120k miles on it. 15-20 years is a drastic shortening of a car's useable lifespan and is merely going to tremendously increase the cost of used cars. This is part of the campaign to get the poor people on mass transit, I guess.

[@NicoThijssen]

Gezocht voor scootmobiel ! ! ❤

[@antn8387]

It's a great design kinda like a giant cellphone

[@Flipplt]

Must be serious weight on that unit

[@brentg3707]

wow

[@joelethalcruz4417]

Gasoline cars should have battery this big..so no longer alternator..all u have to do is charger over nite

[@dschmidt07]

To use this battery outside of the vehicle, would you need to still have all the special coolant and stuff or could that be ignored since the battery won't be under as much stress as when it is powering a vehicle (such as if you were powering a home)? Would the BMS/controls allow things to work without the coolant lines?

[@johnspencer8982]

Yes, you need to cool these lithium ion packs.

[@censoredeveryday3320]

You can take the packs out and build a home battery system with solar panels :)

[@hidros1461]

@@censoredeveryday3320 is it standard for solar companies to install battery packs or is that an upgrade?

[@pollux3262]

Where are y’all located at?? I may drop my Tesla off there for replacement?

[@germanrodriguez6668]

ur batterybis bad?

[@naughtysmurf64]

You thought pulling an actual engine was hard!!

[@JamesKlafehn]

You need to slow down you camera movements. Im dizzy.

[@byron6410]

Sorry man. I'm noobing hard. I'll get better with time.

[@Soulstrings0629]

bet you could get a battery swap down to a couple hours with two guys

[@EricsonTarigan]

is that cooling water, or float water?

[@gottgaame]

Yikes this is dangerous. Glad u didn’t start a fire either

[@garetthenriksen2409]

All the comments saying it is so much work lol try swapping a duramax Diesel engine. That’s way way more work then this. This looks easy. Done in a day

[@FGOKURULES]

_sweats in voided warranty_

[@CaptainCookie18]

This is insane.

[@obobobobobi]

Dang no flying cars yet. I guess back to future never materialized Biff messed with the past.

[@rexbahr3416]

Why did the car have ANTIFREEZE?

[@kristijanbulic8734]

It is for cooling batterys

[@anthonyforti]

That looks like a big cell phone battery

[@billnipp2309]

Why would you want to remove the battery??

[@byron6410]

Many reasons! These are some of the best batteries in the world. They could be used as an off grid storage solution for a home when coupled with a solar array. The tremendous power of the pack would also be great in a hot rod or custom built vehicle.

[@billnipp2309]

Byron I’m confused then. Why buy a Tesla car? To harvest the battery??

[@dbeck1979]

@@billnipp2309 car was wrecked

[@billnipp2309]

@@dbeck1979 oh.

[@JamesKlafehn]

I guess Bill didnt see the airbags deployed or the front tire hanging by a thread. lol

[@thomashudson3694]

There's a car company in China the car doesn't even come with a battery you pay a monthly fee can you take the car do you like a garage staying in a robot changes the battery out in like 10 minutes when it needs charged and all the batteries are like on a conveyor belt thing I thought it was a pretty cool idea because in China everybody lives in a high rise there's no way you're going to have enough superchargers I had to come up with other ideas

[@joelethalcruz4417]

I want a lift in my garage..but first..I need a garage.

[@JDMHaze]

i want a lift home...but first..I need a Lyft account.

[@schwarz404]

corrosion???

[@byron6410]

No corrosion present. This thing was sealed up tighter than a snare drum. It also helps that it wasn't a flood car but rather a front end collision. After removing it, I almost thinking that a submerged could possibly make it out in usable condition.

[@schwarz404]

@@byron6410oki, Good news :-)))

[@joebachmeier6747]

Entire interior. Nah. All easy except for the dash. Would have been even easier with a proper lift

[@WarRior-rn4kb]

if the engineers can design it better so you can swap out batteries in 5 to 10 minutes, that would make ev more viable

[@tmittelstaed]

Then the tweakers would be stealing the batteries like they steal catcons

[@gg-ip3zo]

Atleast it’s easier than a engine.

[@justintanner6652]

No.... Its not lol

[@vaughnjairu8223]

Stop moving the camera. It makes people dizzy.

[@sea2428]

Hell no!

[@luh4682]

too much what a nightmare no way ..................

[@uhmeizuhngralphf0549]

Know if the battery had fell on them they would be pancakes

[@JDMHaze]

hence the jack stands

[@michaelwolf1377]

Watching this made me hate tesla more than I already do

[@redding4540]

what's the point of the removal guide if you can't DIY at home? 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@qpwodkgh2010]

Okay, to change out the battery pack, all seats and carpet needs to come out. Bad design.

[@jaqueztroy]

Wow crying over a fee nuts and bolts and some hoses. Looks real hard 😂

[@pcgenie-la]

Dude, use a tripod! Or a camera stabilzer. Your hand held panning had me dizzy! I couldn't watch the video and that's not good.

[@tauzN]

Amateurs trying to reverse engineer how a car was assembled is not representative for how Tesla does it.

[@janabsahib5429]

Im missing comments from tesla fanboys here

[@gstevens6948]

What a mess.

[@RAGINGDONUT1]

Wrecker drivers man They don’t give af

[@DJ-ig5tj]

Stop moving the camera all around. In and out dude to side very annoying

[@Mark_conor]

Ridiculous

[@censoredeveryday3320]

Guess I won't be buying a Tesla

[@IcedChai]

okay now put it back together

[@reconsilver5961]

Yeah not buying a Tesla

[@lonniewilson7]

This was an absolutely terrible video I got dizzy watching it and could not hear the guy when I did try and turned up somebody was talking so loud I had to turn it down learn how to make a video first

[@Martin1519]

Let’s be honest here. You know very well a man as smart as Elon Musk could easily put a battery like that in the trunk of his design and make it 10X easier to replace. So this means there’s a reason it’s so difficult to remove. And I believe it’s done like this for the same reasons Apple doesn’t want you to repair your own phone anymore. So that you have to take it to Tesla and pay them another $22,000 to replace the dam battery!

[@estellanuse8347]

lol that would completely destroy the handling of the car

[@dacman61]

What a horrible design for the future ability to change out one of these batteries.

[@yosyp5905]

It doesn't have to be hot swappable because they don't need to be changed often.

[@ianmilham7397]

It’s rated for 500k miles. Combustion Engines are likely just as difficult if not more so to remove and yet they don’t commonly last half as long as one of these battery packs

[@ianmilham7397]

mugenctr even if they are more difficult to remove, they last longer and the need to replace them will be less

[@josiahr1375]

@@ianmilham7397 lol an engine can be pulled in some cases in an hour.

[@Top12Boardsport]

Thanks. Sorry to see that Tesla is trying to do like Apple on intentionally making it impossible to repair DIY. Taking our right to repair away from us buyers. Should be forbidden by law.

[@MattVorn]

And this is why Tesla's will be so cheap second hand in a few years. These batteries will loose their charge and will be too difficult to replace. This is the problem with batteries.

[@tmittelstaed]

The only older model (2013, etc.) Teslas for sale are the very low mile ones - under $100k - and those are in the $15-20k range, still. And they are probably being sold due to their owners not being setup for home charging. We are not seeing high mileage older Teslas in significant numbers yet most likely because the kind of people who originally bought them planned on owning and driving them until the wheels dropped off, and because there were not many of the older ones manufactured. Give it another decade before drawing conclusions on whether or not there will be many cheap Teslas around.

[@sknfjuebc]

will never buy this crap