The heater in my Model 3 has stopped working. I’ve already tried rebooting the car, but that didn’t help. Is there anything else I can try before heading to Tesla service? Has anyone else had to get this fixed, and if so, how much did it cost?
Tesla heat pumps used to fail quite often, but that was a short-lived issue. What year is your Model 3?
Robert said:
Tesla heat pumps used to fail quite often, but that was a short-lived issue. What year is your Model 3?
It’s a 2019 Model 3. I don’t think it has a heat pump.
Robert said:
Tesla heat pumps used to fail quite often, but that was a short-lived issue. What year is your Model 3?
It’s a 2019 Model 3. I don’t think it has a heat pump.
Yep, that’s correct. No heat pump in 2019.
Robert said:
Tesla heat pumps used to fail quite often, but that was a short-lived issue. What year is your Model 3?
It’s a 2019 Model 3. I don’t think it has a heat pump.
Try changing the air filter in the HVAC system. It might help.
“Heater failed” is a bit vague. Are you using the electric heater or a heat pump?
You could try putting it into service mode to get more detailed information. That might help compare your situation to others.
@Thomas
It’s the 2019 electric heater model. I’ll look into how to put it in service mode, haven’t done that before.
Howard said:
@Thomas
It’s the 2019 electric heater model. I’ll look into how to put it in service mode, haven’t done that before.
Go to Settings > Software > hold down on ‘Model 3 Dual Motor’ for about 5 seconds > type ‘service’ > confirm the warning. That’s how you access service mode.
@Kenneth
It’s asking for an access code, and I don’t remember having one.
Howard said:
@Kenneth
It’s asking for an access code, and I don’t remember having one.
The access code is just the word ‘service’.
Howard said:
@Kenneth
It’s asking for an access code, and I don’t remember having one.
Yep, just type ‘service’ and you’re good to go.
sorphia said:
Call Tesla service.
Thanks, but that’s already on the list. Was just hoping to get some advice from the community first.
sorphia said:
Call Tesla service.
Thanks, but that’s already on the list. Was just hoping to get some advice from the community first.
You’ll probably get more accurate info from Tesla directly than asking here. It’s like asking “my heater is broken, how much will it cost?” without knowing what’s wrong.
@Thomas
I get that, but when I scheduled service, they quoted me $1200 without even knowing what’s wrong. That’s why I came here, hoping someone with experience could share what they paid or if they found a fix. Didn’t expect people to be condescending for just asking a question.
@Howard
Unfortunately, this community can be like that. But you’ll probably find better responses on a dedicated Tesla forum where people might have more detailed advice.
Maria said:
@Howard
Unfortunately, this community can be like that. But you’ll probably find better responses on a dedicated Tesla forum where people might have more detailed advice.
The problem is people don’t have enough information to help you without knowing the cause. It’s like calling a mechanic and saying ‘my car isn’t working, how much to fix it?’ They’ll need more info to give a real answer.
Once you get an estimate or diagnosis, then it makes sense to ask the community for advice on alternatives or if the quote seems reasonable.
@Thomas
Yeah, except with Tesla, they make you agree to an estimate before they even diagnose the issue. Then they charge you after the repair is done, so there’s no transparency beforehand.
@Thomas
Plus, sometimes these are common problems that others have dealt with, which is why I thought asking here could help. If someone doesn’t have that experience, they don’t need to comment.
Howard said:
@Thomas
Plus, sometimes these are common problems that others have dealt with, which is why I thought asking here could help. If someone doesn’t have that experience, they don’t need to comment.
Exactly! It’s always worth asking around, especially from people who’ve been through it before. And agreeing to an estimate upfront is fine, but they should keep you updated if things change and it looks like it’ll cost more. A $1200 estimate doesn’t necessarily mean that’s what most heater repairs cost.
Had the same issue with my car. It ended up being the heater and a fuse problem, and my car wouldn’t even shift into drive. I had to get it towed, and the repair cost around $1400. After the repair, the air smelled like metal for a bit, but it’s been fine since.