Fix: Resolving Coolant Valve Issues on a 2018 Tesla Model 3
I had issues with my “coolant valve” alerts, which showed up while in Service Mode. So, I researched and found that the Super Bottle coolant reservoir has a history of “failing.”
The reservoir has a 5-way valve built into it. This valve controls where your coolant flows battery, motor, heater, radiator, etc.
The valve is positioned with the help of an “actuator” (bolted to the reservoir’s bottle).
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Sometimes, the valve gets stuck, maybe from too much heat or cold. Causing the actuator to fail (strip gear teeth). The actuator’s internal gears are partially plastic (two metal and two plastic)… so they will fail if the force is too great. Please look at the pictures… you’ll see what I mean.
When this happens, your coolant valve will be stuck in whatever position they were in when the actuator failed. Be cautious because it might get stuck in a position bypassing the radiator which could lead to overheating your battery or motor.
Watch for these Alerts in Service Mode so you can catch them before something bigger happens.
Also, after having my Super Bottle replaced and dissecting this old one, I believe you can get away with pulling the valve out, cleaning it, greasing the seals, throwing it back together, and only replacing the broken actuator itself. This might save you $600-$700 in parts and labor.
