2024 Tesla Model 3 Rattling Air Vent TSB SB-24-14-001

Tesla has released Service Bulletin SB-24-14-001 to address a specific concern affecting certain 2024 Model 3 vehicles. This bulletin details a diagnostic and repair procedure for a Tesla Model 3 rattling air vent issue, ensuring owners can have the problem resolved efficiently.

Symptoms

Owners of some 2024+ Model 3 vehicles, particularly those built at the Fremont factory, may notice a distinct rattling noise. This noise typically originates from the driver's and/or front passenger's instrument panel air vent. The rattling is most noticeable when the face-level air vents are directed to provide straight-ahead airflow.

Diagnosis / Trigger Conditions

To accurately diagnose the Tesla Model 3 rattling air vent issue, technicians follow a specific procedure. This involves interacting with the vehicle's climate control system through the touchscreen:

1. The climate controls screen is accessed by touching the temperature button on the touchscreen.
2. Airflow is then set to come exclusively from the face-level air vents, with the direction adjusted to be centered and straight ahead.
3. It is crucial to ensure that both airflows are set to "Merged" rather than "Split" during this diagnostic step.
4. The climate system is then turned off.
5. A test drive is performed to check for the presence of the rattling noise from the driver and/or front passenger air vent.
6. If a rattling noise is detected, the climate control is turned on again, and the airflow direction through the air vents is adjusted towards the side of the vehicle.
7. The climate control is then turned off once more.
8. The final step involves comparing the level of the rattling noise between the different airflow direction settings to determine if the noise diminishes when airflow is directed sideways.

Important Warnings

If the rattling noise does not diminish after adjusting the air flow sideways as part of the diagnostic procedure, this Service Bulletin SB-24-14-001 is not the correct solution for the issue. In such cases, technicians are advised to discontinue the procedure and pursue further diagnosis, using correction code S022414001 for the inspection where symptoms were not found.

Correction Codes and Time

Tesla provides specific correction codes for tracking the diagnostic and repair times associated with this issue:

• S012414001: SB-24-14-001 Not Applicable (0.00 hours)
• S022414001: Inspect Instrument Panel Air Vents; Symptoms Not Found (0.30 hours)
• S032414001: Inspect And Replace Driver Instrument Panel Air Vent (1.44 hours)
• S042414001: Inspect And Replace Front Passenger Instrument Panel Air Vent (1.44 hours)
• S052414001: Inspect And Replace Driver And Front Passenger Instrument Panel Air Vents (1.50 hours)

Repair Procedure Summary

Upon confirming the Tesla Model 3 rattling air vent condition, the repair involves replacing the affected air vent(s). If the rattling noise diminishes after adjusting the airflow sideways, indicating this bulletin is applicable, the specific replacement depends on which vent(s) are causing the noise:

• If the rattling noise is from the driver's side air vent only, the driver instrument panel air vent is replaced using correction code S032414001.
• If the rattling noise is from the front passenger's side air vent only, the front passenger instrument panel air vent is replaced using correction code S042414001.
• If the rattling noise is present from both the driver's and front passenger's air vents, both instrument panel air vents are replaced using correction code S052414001.

Technicians will refer to Service Manual procedure 1405030052 for detailed instructions on replacing the instrument panel air vents. The procedure for replacing the front passenger instrument panel air vent is similar to that for the driver's side.

Required Parts

The following part numbers are required for the replacement of the instrument panel air vents:

• 1774505-05-E: IP, AIR, VENT, DRIVER, ASY (Quantity: 1)
• 1774506-05-E: IP, AIR, VENT, PASSENGER, ASY (Quantity: 1)

Owners should note that these part numbers were current at the time of the bulletin's publication. Technicians should always refer to the latest Parts Catalog for the most up-to-date revisions.

Owner Action

If you own a 2024 Tesla Model 3 and experience a rattling noise from your instrument panel air vents, especially under the conditions described, it is recommended to contact a Tesla Service Center. They will be able to diagnose the issue using the procedures outlined in Service Bulletin SB-24-14-001 and perform the necessary repairs.

NHTSA ID: 11006908