Tesla, Inc.

Replace Refrigerant Pressure/Temperature
Sensors

Service Bulletin

SB-21-18-002
March 21, 2024

R8

Classification

Section/Group

Mobile Service

Model Year

Country/Region

Version

Campaign Bulletin
2020 - 2021

Model

Model 3, Model Y

18 - Thermal Management

Cannot Perform

All

Heat Pump

The model(s) and model year(s) listed are a general approximation of the affected VIN list. Refer to the VIN/Bulletin Tracker or Customer/Vehicle profile to determine
applicability of this bulletin for a particular vehicle.

Campaign Bulletin: This campaign bulletin addresses a non-safety-related condition and provides recommended technical
diagnosis and repair procedures. Apply this procedure to the applicable vehicles.

This Service Document supersedes SB-21-18-002 R7, dated October 19, 2022. This new revision, R8, updates the
FRT times. Each content change is marked by a vertical line in the left margin. Discard the previous version and
replace it with this one.

Condition
Certain Model 3 and Model Y vehicles may be equipped with refrigerant pressure/temperature (P/T) sensors in the
heat pump that can fault over time.

Correction
Replace all 3 refrigerant P/T sensors.

Correction Description

Correction

Replace Refrigerant P/T Sensors

S012118002

Part Number
Parts Required 1581610-00-B or later revision
1581608-00-B or later revision

Description

Time
Model 3 Model Y
0.54

0.6

Quantity

PT SENSOR, HIGH PRESSURE
PT SENSOR, LOW PRESSURE

2
1

Or
1510047-00-C or later revision
1510048-00-C or later revision

PT SENSOR, HIGH PRESSURE
PT SENSOR, LOW PRESSURE

2
1

1111738-00-A
1111740-00-A

And if available:
WASHER, 1/2, STL ZN, SEAL
WASHER, 3/4, STL ZN, SEAL

1
1

These part numbers were current at the time of publication. Use the revisions listed or later, unless
otherwise specified in the Parts Catalog.

Special Tools 1588741-00-A
1501412-00-A

Model Y HVAC Socket Kit
Oil Injector, R1234YF

Shop Supplies ND-11 Oil

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Procedure
TIP: A high-level video of the procedure is available here.
1. Remove the underhood storage unit (refer to Service Manual procedure 15240702; Model 3, Model Y).
2. Place the vehicle’s key onto the center console.
3. Enable Service Mode through the touchscreen (refer to Service Manual procedure 00050100; Model 3, Model Y).
4. On the touchscreen, touch the wrench icon > Diagnostics > Thermal.
NOTE: Alternatively, touch Controls (vehicle icon) > Service Mode > Diagnostics > Thermal.
5. Hold up on the turn signal stalk and then press and hold the brake pedal at the same time for 10 seconds to
authorize.
6. Touch START to the left of “Start Thermal Fill Drain (Refrigerant only)”, touch RUN TASK, wait for “PASS” to be
displayed, then touch X in the upper left corner.
7. When the touchscreen indicates that the vehicle is “Ready for Recharge/Reclaim”, recover the A/C refrigerant
(refer to Service Manual procedure 182000122 Model 3, 18200102 Model Y).
8. After recovery completes, remove the 13 mm bolt that attaches the Supermanifold-to-compressor A/C line to the
Supermanifold (Figure 1).

Figure 1
9. Remove the Supermanifold-to-compressor A/C line from the Supermanifold, and then use an S-hook to restrain
the line to the underhood storage unit support beam (Figure 2).

Figure 2

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10. Release the locking tab, and then disconnect the electrical harness from the subcool high pressure P/T sensor
connector (Figure 3).

Figure 3
11. Use the HVAC socket kit special tool to remove the subcool high pressure P/T sensor from the Supermanifold
(Figure 4).

Figure 4
12. Release the locking tab, and then disconnect the electrical harness from the high pressure P/T sensor connector
(Figure 5).

Figure 5

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13. Use the HVAC socket kit special tool to remove the high pressure P/T sensor from the Supermanifold (Figure 6).

Figure 6
14. Release the locking tab, and then disconnect the electrical harness from the low pressure P/T sensor connector
(Figure 7).

Figure 7
15. Use the HVAC socket kit special tool to remove the low pressure P/T sensor from the Supermanifold (Figure 8).

Figure 8
16. Record the old and new P/T sensor part numbers and serial numbers.
17. If parts are available, install new washers on the Supermanifold-to-compressor A/C line.
NOTE: If the parts are not available, reuse the existing washers.
18. Lubricate the washers of the Supermanifold-to-compressor A/C line and the O-rings and threads of the 3 new P/T
sensors with ND-11 oil.
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19. Install the new low pressure P/T sensor (brown connector) into the Supermanifold (Figure 8):
a. Install and hand-tighten the low pressure P/T sensor until the sensor O-ring just makes contact with the
Supermanifold (Figure 9).
NOTE: Use an inspection mirror to visualize this and subsequent steps.

Figure 9 – O-ring just makes contact
b. Manually back off and tighten the low pressure P/T sensor in an incremental manner so that the sensor O-ring
properly slides into the chamfer in the Supermanifold (Figures 10 and 11).

Figure 10 – Back off little
c.

Figure 11 – Tighten more

If the low pressure P/T sensor O-ring appears to pinch (Figure 12), or no longer slides into the chamfer, stop
and back off the P/T sensor until the O-ring no longer appears to be pinched.

Figure 12 – O-ring pinched

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d. Continue to back off and tighten the low pressure P/T sensor until the O-ring slides completely into the
chamfer and is no longer visible.
NOTE: There should be no gap, and the sensor body should be bottomed out against the Supermanifold
(Figure 13).

Figure 13 – P/T sensor properly seated
e. Use the HVAC socket kit to tighten the low pressure P/T sensor (torque 9 Nm).
f.

Connect the electrical harness to the low pressure P/T sensor connector, and then fasten the locking tab
(Figure 7).

20. Repeat step 19.a through 19.f to install the new high pressure P/T sensor (black connector) into the
Supermanifold (Figure 6) and connect the electrical harness (Figure 5).
21. Repeat step 19.a through 19.f to install the new subcool high pressure P/T sensor (black connector) into the
Supermanifold (Figure 4) and connect the electrical harness (Figure 3).
22. Release the S-hook from the vehicle (Figure 2), install the Supermanifold-to-compressor A/C line into the
Supermanifold, hand-install the 13 mm bolt that attaches the A/C line to the Supermanifold, and then tighten
(torque 22 Nm) (Figure 1).
23. Perform the vacuum leak test and oil injection (refer to Service Manual procedure 182000122 Model 3, 18200102
Model Y).
24. Recharge the A/C refrigerant (refer to Service Manual procedure 182000122 Model 3, 18200102 Model Y).
CAUTION: When using a Robinair A/C machine, if asked to clear out residual oil, press ESC for No.
25. When the recharge process has ended, on the vehicle touchscreen, touch START to the left of “Stop Thermal Fill
Drain”, touch RUN TASK, wait for “PASS” to be displayed, then touch X in the upper left corner.
26. Touch START to the left of “Run Heat Pump Commissioning”, touch RUN TASK, wait for the task to complete,
then touch X in the upper left corner.
27. Turn on the vehicle climate control, and set the following parameters:
•

Temperature setting: Lo

•

Panel mode: On

•

Fresh air mode: On

•

Blower speed: 3

28. Verify that the Discharge pressure does not exceed 26 bar, and the Suction pressure is above 1.15 bar.
29. Turn off climate control, and remove the A/C machine high pressure hose from the vehicle.

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30. Repeat step 27, turn the A/C machine valves open, and then remove the A/C machine low pressure hose from the
vehicle.
31. Clear the A/C machine hoses.
32. Connect a laptop with Toolbox 3 to the vehicle.
33. In Toolbox, click the Actions/Autodiag tab, type “reset vcfront” in the search field, select TESTRESET_VCFRONT, click RUN, and allow the routine to clear all active alerts recorded for the failed sensors.
34. Disconnect the laptop from the vehicle.
35. On the vehicle touchscreen, touch START to the left of “Test HVAC Performance”, touch RUN TASK, wait for the
task to complete, then touch X in the upper left corner.
36. If a refrigerant leak detector is available, make sure that there are no leaks.
37. Install the underhood storage unit (refer to Service Manual procedure 15240702; Model 3, Model Y).
38. Disable Service Mode through the touchscreen (refer to Service Manual procedure 00050100; Model 3, Model Y).

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