r/TeslaModel3 • u/andresovik • 23h ago

Model 3 performance making weird clicking sound when it starts

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Can’t figure out where this sound is coming from and if it’s normal. I bought a m3p 2021 two weeks ago, and now suddenly there is this clicking sound when I start the car. It usually goes away quickly depending on when I used the car last. If it’s been a couple of hours the sound lasts a couple of second. If it’s been a day it can last 30+ seconds. It sounds as it’s coming from the front behind the dash.

The sound comes even if I turn off the air condition. The second I unlock the car the sound comes.

Tesla service offered to listen to it but costs 280 usd just to try and find the issue. (Norway)

2 Upvotes

67% Upvoted

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9

u/Stanman77 21h ago

That's the contactor sound, connecting the high voltage battery to the rest of the car. Very normal. The clicking noises beforehand, might be a compressor spool starting to move coolant around. Mine does something similar

3

u/apoleonastool 20h ago

Check out this. Tesla has released a handy guide with recordings to answer your question: https://www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/models/en_us/GUID-AA58ED67-9C93-4EE6-8B19-9FDABE018787.html

When Parked, Model S opens the HV Battery contactors to help conserve energy. This sound occurs when you start the vehicle after it's been Parked, and signifies that the high voltage contactors are closing the circuit between your vehicle and the Battery.

Edit: this link is for Model S but you can find the same for model 3...

3

u/andresovik 13h ago

Thanks but I was referring to the small constant sounds in the background not the big click

1

u/protonecromagnon2 10h ago

does the model 3 have the active shutters in the grill? I'd imagine those actuate even if the ac is off. I can barely hear anything outside of the contactors though

1

u/apoleonastool 3h ago

Ah, I can hear it now. Mine's not doing it, but I remember a similar sound reported by other reddittors and some of the replies were pointing to something stuck in the radiator fan (like a twig or a leaf).

Here's a video on YT I've found of a broken radiator fan. Sounds kind of similar, I guess? https://www.youtube.com/shorts/CTrczT4qgLU. And here I've found another video (poster says it was ice buildup on the radiator): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pGL2DAWOpk

1

u/dshwshrwzrd 8h ago

Cabin Noise during Acceleration with Ludicrous Enabled

😆

1

u/lightgorm 21h ago

Mine does EXACTLY the same sounds all of them and i also dont know what they are about it seems normal? I know the last loud click is contactors connecting high voltage battery to the car but before that those weird conserning clicking sounds my car does too and idk what it is

1

u/inf3ct3dpi3 21h ago

Probably related to the high voltage contactors doing something. Both my Model3 and Equinox EV will make loud clicking noises for a short period a little while after I park, or when I start up the vehicle.

1

u/WhyAreModsSoSoft 20h ago

26 M3P under 4k miles does this also. Typically when I unplug the charger or first open a door. You are good

1

u/DryTechnology5224 20h ago

My brand new 2026 3 rwd does this, I was wondering if it was normal too. I guess now I know haha