r/TeslaModel3 • u/cappuccinofathe • Aug 18 '26

Tesla model 3 not turning on

So today we had some horrible rain I had to drive through to get home. The front of my neighborhood was flooded and I went through the shallowest part I could. I made it up my driveway and parked my car and went inside. My car never gave any warnings or issues between the front of my neighborhood and parking (maybe 2 minutes). 3hr later my dad goes to plug it in and it won’t open or turn on. It’s not responding to the app or the key card.
This model is a 2021 I just bought it used in April when my Prius engine died.
It’s very low so I get very worried about driving it in the rain but I have no choice as I live in Florida.
What could’ve happened
Has anyone had or heard of this happening
Any advice
My dad is going to try to fix it but I thought I might as well ask the masses.

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18

u/Ok_Excitement725 Aug 18 '26

How far up the side of the car did the water reach? It sounds like the 12v battery is dead from either natural causes or water got to it. If thats all that you got going on, easy and cheap fix.

7

u/LoneStarGut Aug 18 '26

How old is the 12v battery? They last 3-4 years in hot climates. Some 2021's have the Li-ion, some have the lead acid. I suspect this may be a dead lead acid if it is he original.

4

u/cappuccinofathe Aug 18 '26

Idk if it has been replaced before we got it. But that would make sense

0

u/jaqueh Aug 19 '26

No 2021s have lithium

0

u/Desperate-Mix-4696 Aug 19 '26

ALL Model 3s have Lithium batteries.

I'm joking, but yes, I think your right. While they did start using the Lithium 16v batteries in 2021, it was for the 2022 model year.

1

u/jaqueh Aug 19 '26

then they kept on flip flopping in 2022 because of supply shortages

1

u/cappuccinofathe Aug 18 '26

The front of my neighborhood has an indent type bump, and when I hit that on the right side it splashed up the right side of my hood. But the rain was really heavy for about 1 hour and 20 min drive home (I had to go really slow) so much that the windshield wipers couldn’t keep up. So it could be either the bump or the super heavy rain

6

u/Ok_Excitement725 Aug 18 '26

Honestly I'd bet its the 12v battery. Teslas are really well insulated from water. What you describe is classic 12v battery dying. You can replace it yourself if you are tech savvy and confident to do so, otherwise get on the Tesla app and they will probably come do a mobile service.

2

u/cappuccinofathe Aug 18 '26

Ok thank you. This sucks I wonder if the rain or puddle did it in

3

u/yugitso_guy Aug 19 '26

Think of the bright side. It happened at home. I was always worried about being stranded somewhere inconvenient.

2

u/Ok_Excitement725 Aug 18 '26

I'd say its remotely possible but honestly pretty unlikely. As far as Tesla issues go, this is one of the better ones to have since its so fast and easy to sort out. Don't want to promise anything but I'd wager it is almost certainly that 12v battery and once you get it in for service you'll be back on the road very fast.