Unique, genius, and minimalist…. Tesla Model 3’s HVAC system is a step toward the future.
After digging the internet for a whole day, I’m here to share some credible owner-reviewed information about the Model 3’s air conditioning system.
Let’s tear down the Model 3’s AC system to explore its various aspects such as aesthetics, usability, convenience, and a lot more through this conclusive guide.
Model 3 HVAC: A Step Toward the Future
When you get into a Model 3, the first thing that will catch your attention is the dashboard… a clean and minimalist dashboard.
There are no AC vents or any other cutouts for other controls—just a steering wheel and a center touch screen.
Where are the AC vents then? Well, that’s the magic in there.
Air Vents: Are They Different in the Model 3?
Traditionally, we see rectangular or circular air vents in most cars, even in Tesla’s Model X.
A visual comparison between the Model 3’s and the Model X’s interior. Credit to Carscoops
In the Model 3, there are two air vents (vertical and horizontal) that spread along the width of its dashboard. They’re designed in a way that they can’t be easily noticed.
The vertical vent is also referred to as bleed vent and the horizontal one as wave vent.
That’s not it. Again, there’s some impressive engineering behind this.
The wave vent has a higher aspect ratio compared with the bleed vent, which enables it to have two-dimensional properties.
When the AC is turned on, the air blowing through both vents cross each other. The increase and decrease in the amount of air blowing through the bleed vent controls the angle of air.
Adjusting the vents left and right is again different in the Model 3. There are gates present deep inside the dashboard which shift the direction of the air.
Then there are vents at the feet like standard traditional cars.
All of these electrically function through the touch screen popped out at the center of the dashboard.
The rear vents, however, are like the traditional ones. Two rectangular vents are provided on the rear and placed between the passenger and driver seats.
They’re also electrically powered and controlled, but you can manually change the angles in both horizontal and vertical directions.
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HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning)
To provide maximum indoor air quality, Tesla is using a different technology to control both cooling and heating temperatures using its HVAC system.
In terms of air conditioning, Tesla uses a compressor like the one in domestic fridges, except this one works off 400 volts.
This is located at the front of the car, and it draws power directly from the car’s Energy Storage System (ESS) which is placed in the back of the car. The compressor cools the air before it reaches the AC vent.
In terms of heating, it’s very different from traditional vehicles. There’s an electric heater which again draws power from the ESS.
To control the power consumption, they used a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater.
It increases the electrical resistance with an increase in heat, which limits the amount of power drawn from batteries.
Simply put, your cabin doesn’t get “uncomfortably hot.”
To ensure extended battery life, Tesla has introduced a heat pump that uses ambient air as a heat source to minimize battery power consumption.
Good news! This extends the driving range of your Model 3.
Adding these innovative air vents brings some major advantages, such as increasing the aspect ratio and adding to the minimalist look that Tesla has been pursuing in its vehicles.
Adjusting the Vents in the Model 3’s Climate Control
Time to take control of your Model 3’s HVAC system.
This can be done through the center console.
- Hop on to that touch screen.
- At the bottom, locate the temperature icon.
- Touch and hold it to display the climate control pop-up.
The climate control is set to Auto by default. This maintains optimum comfort in most weather conditions, except for the most severe ones.
- Touch and hold the temperature to customize the climate control settings.
- Turn back to Auto anytime by selecting Auto.
Let’s have a detailed understanding of the Model 3’s climate controls:
What Each Number Denotes in the Above Picture:
1. Touch to turn the climate control system on or off.
2. Touch to adjust the climate settings for the front cabin.
3. Choose where air flows into the front cabin (windshield, face-level, or foot-level vents). You can choose more than one location.
4. Touch to adjust the climate settings for the rear cabin.
9. When in Park, these settings display to allow you to keep the climate control system operating, even when you leave your Model 3 (see Keep Climate On, Dog Mode, and Camp Mode).
10. Touch to adjust how air flows from the front vents (see Adjusting the Front Vents.)
11. When your Model 3 is in Park, touch Schedule to set a recurring daily time when you want your Model 3 to be ready to drive by preconditioning the battery and cabin climate and/or charging during off-peak.
12. Touch to control the flow of air inside the cabin. Air can be drawn into the Model 3 from outside or air can be recirculated inside the cabin.
13. Use the slider to adjust the fan speed.
14. Touch to turn the air conditioning system on or off. Turning it off reduces cooling but saves energy.
17. Touch Auto to turn the Auto setting on or off.
Front Vents
Airflow direction can be controlled from each vent once they’re turned on.
To control front-level vents:
- Touch the radiating airwaves displayed on the touch screen from the corresponding vent.
- Change the direction according to your convenience.
NOTE: Splitting up a vent into two separate airflows is not as strong as the combined airflow in a single direction (Source: Tesla).
Rear Vents
Rear vents are located at the back of the center console.
- Enable the setting from the touch screen.
- Airflow can be directed by adjusting the rear vents vertically or horizontally as necessary.
Watch this YouTube video from Mark Dickinson to learn more about operating the AC vents in the Model 3:
Keep Climate on
The Model 3 is amazing! It keeps your cabin temperature even when you’re not there.
I would certainly want my car to maintain its inner temperature after I step out of it in minus temperatures or on a hot summer day.
The Model 3 does that favor through the “Keep Climate On” feature.
To operate Keep Climate On,
- Make sure that the battery is above 20%.
- Engage Park (it only works when you’re in Park).
- Adjust climate controls as necessary.
- On the right side of the screen, touch the Keep Climate On icon.
Dog Mode
Credit to Tesla Motors
Dog Mode is not just for dogs; your cat can also take advantage of it.
It’s introduced by Tesla so you can monitor the cabin temperature when you’re leaving your pet inside the car.
This can be controlled through your mobile app.
The touch screen displays the temperature so that people passing can see if the pet is safe.
You must be near your Model 3 to use this feature because in some conditions when the temperature can no longer be monitored, you may have to return to your car.
To enable Dog Mode,
- Make sure that the battery is above 20%.
- Engage Park (it only works when you’re in Park).
- Adjust climate controls as necessary.
- Touch the Dog Mode icon under the Keep Climate On icon.
Here’s a real-time YouTube video about Dog Mode from Tesla’s official YouTube channel:
Camp Mode
Sometimes, you have to stay in your car for long hours. Camp Mode makes it convenient for you.
Toggle into Camp Mode and your Model 3 will conserve energy by drawing energy from low-voltage outlets to power your center console and USB outlets and maintain the inner temperature.
You can watch shows, play games, or browse the internet through your center console.
Also, you can use your paired phone as a remote to control climate and media settings.
To enable Camp Mode,
- Make sure that the battery is above 20%.
- Engage Park (it only works when you’re in Park).
- Adjust climate controls as necessary.
- Touch the Camp Mode icon under the Dog Mode icon.
Cabin Overheat Protection
Overheating is a big problem, but you don’t have to worry much if you’re a Model 3 owner.
The Model 3 has a cabin overheat protection mechanism which can be directly controlled from the center console.
This maintains the inner temperature of your car in extremely hot conditions for 12 hours after you leave your car.
To turn it on, hop on to the settings.
Touch Controls > Safety > Cabin Overheat Protection.
Choose between:
ON: A/C operates when cabin temperature exceeds 40°C.
NO A/C: Only fan operates when cabin temperature exceeds 40°C (consumes less power, but the temperature may exceed 40°C).
OFF: Disable Cabin Overheat Protection.
Note:
Cabin Overheat Protection operates until 12 hours have elapsed since you exited your Model 3 or until the battery energy drops below 20%, whichever comes first.
Warning:
Never leave children or pets in the vehicle unattended. Due to automatic shut-off or extreme outside conditions, the inside of the vehicle can become dangerously hot even when Cabin Overheat Protection is enabled.
Source: Tesla.com
Model 3 AC Issues and Solutions
Some Model 3 owners have raised concerns regarding its AC system. What are these issues and how to deal with them? Let’s cover them in this topic.
AC Is Weak or Not Working
If your Model 3’s AC is not functioning properly, the fault might be mechanical or digital.
Here are some major reasons that might cause this problem:
- The cooling system works the traditional way in the Model 3 (like in a gasoline car). The leakage of refrigerants might be a reason for low cooling. If the blowing air is warm, then this might be the reason.
- If no air is blowing at all, then the electric motor which drives the compressor might not be working.
- Damage in the coolant pipe can alter the system in various ways and make it problematic for you.
To restore the operation, get the concerned part repaired or replaced.
- Software faults or firmware bugs can cause this problem too.
- Temperature sensors might cause a fault by reporting lower car temperature than in reality. This may prompt the AC unit to stop blowing cool air.
Performing a full rest or restarting the system can solve this problem.
AC Compressor Noise
If you’re a new Tesla owner, you need to know that the following can cause your car to make noise, but they don’t require a trip to the service center:
- When you run your AC during very hot temperatures
- When you run your AC at its maximum capacity
- Right after you turn on your car
Except for these conditions, if your Model 3 is making any noise, you need to be a little concerned—like if your compressor is still making sound after your car has been turned on for some time or you’re using optimum settings for your AC.
Other reasons for the sound might be:
- The plastic housing part for the compressor amplifies the normal sound.
- Damage to the undercarriage of the car because of different reasons
- An issue with the electric motor
Some Tesla owners have made a clever hack to control the sound by insulating the AC compressor. This way, the sound can be silenced to a certain extent.
So the Model 3’s AC is not dead silent, but if you still want it to be quiet, you may try insulating your Model 3’s AC compressor or installing noise cancellation retrofitters to your car.
AC Smells Weird
Experiencing foul smell from your Model 3’s AC?
Well, it’s not just Tesla that experiences this issue. Almost every car is prone to it.
Here are some reasons that might be affecting your Model 3’s AC odor and solutions to them:
- The issue is usually related to air filters which get dirty over time and may produce a bad smell.
- The evaporator may also be the reason if it gets dirty.
- The issue may be related to the Cabin Overheat Protection mechanism because it keeps the AC on while the car is parked.
- A leak in the AC system or plugin drain might cause the problem.
- The problem may be related to Tesla’s HVAC.
- Sometimes, there’s no issue in the car. The environment or climate conditions might be the reason for the bad smell.
To get rid of the bad odor, try these solutions:
- Cleaning or replacing your air filters
- Cleaning the evaporator
- Getting an AC system or plugin drain repair
- Taking your car to the Tesla service center if there’s an issue with the HVAC system
- Using a good-quality air freshener
For a visual explanation, watch this YouTube video from EveryAmp:
Heating Issues
Issues regarding heaters not working in extremely cold weather have been reported by some Tesla Model 3 and Model Y owners.
The problem is said to have originated from the heat pumps which Tesla has introduced in its HVAC system for efficiency improvements.
Cars equipped with these heat pumps are most affected by heating issues.
Tesla, however, has guided affected users to try the following fixes:
- Set climate to Auto and set a comfortable temperature.
- Use recirculating air mode.
- Pre-condition your car while plugged in 30–60 minutes before your departure.
- Park the car in a warmer location such as a garage to allow it to warm up.
- Reboot the vehicle and try again (hold down both steering wheel buttons).
Tesla further added that symptoms can occur in climates -15°C and below, but with the recent cold snap, they’re starting to see even colder temperatures.
Tesla Model 3 Air Conditioning Tips and Tricks
So if you’re a new Tesla owner, I have some climate control tips and tricks proposed by Tesla owners and the company itself to save you from troubles.
- To avoid immediate HVAC power use, pre-heating for winter and pre-cooling for summer conditions is a thumb rule. This prevents a reduction in range.
- When on manual control settings, if the AC is off, it won’t turn on to cool the cabin under any condition. Switching it to Auto will resume the Auto settings per the requirement.
- An air conditioner has a variable compressor, which means that if you make it run slowly, it will save power.
- In hotter temperatures, excessive energy is required to reduce inner temperature which may cause noise. To avoid this, try:
- Parking under some shade
- Using a windshield or solar shade
- Window tinting all windows and roofs
- If your Model 3 formed a small pool of water when parked, it’s okay. It’s just excessive water produced by the dehumidifying process.
- The Model 3 automatically maximizes efficiency. Your air conditioning compressor and external fan may run and make noise even when the outside temperature is cold and your vehicle is heating or supercharging.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to keep my Model 3 cool in summer?
Pre-cooling can help maintain the inner temperature on summer days.
Try the following tips:
- Parking under some shade
- Using a windshield or solar shade
- Window tinting all windows and roofs
Watch this YouTube video from Lexi Heft to learn more about keeping your Model 3 cool on hot summer days:
How long does a Tesla AC run?
The AC can run from 70 to 100 hours while losing 5 km of range every hour.
Conclusion
I have laid down pretty much every detail that you should know about the Model 3’s HVAC system.
Unlike traditional cars, it is very different and efficient because it is electrically powered and has many perks.
Concerning the issues reported, Tesla always has a software-based solution, which is the most incredible thing about these cars.
So, with its new features and design, I can safely say that the Model 3’s HVAC system is a step into the future.
For anything you want to share or ask, hop into the comment section.
Zac Ludicrous
Mechanical engineer by profession. TSLA shareholder before the hype. EV enthusiast all day long. Zac enjoys learning about the future of battery technology, autonomy, and EVs. He considers Tesla Model 3 the most important vehicle of the 21st century -- and is in a quest to improve the ownership experience of every Model 3 owner he possibly can.These 5 rare tips can save you so much time and stress – and few owners know about them (even after years of ownership). Sign up below to learn more. It's free!
