2025-04-09

Compressor and Condenser Pair (Remove and Replace)

Correction code 18203402 NOTE: Unless otherwise explicitly stated in the procedure, the above correction code and FRT reflect all of the work required to perform this procedure, including the linked procedures. Do not stack correction codes unless explicitly told to do so. NOTE: See to learn more about FRTs and how they are created. To provide feedback on FRT values, email ServiceManualFeedback@tesla.com. NOTE: See Personal Protection to make sure wearing proper PPE when performing the below procedure. NOTE: See Ergonomic Precautions for safe and healthy working practices.

  • 2025-04-09: Added step to perform firmware reinstall or update for vehicles built after April 10, 2016.
Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
Note
This procedure requires the A/C Refrigerant (Recovery and Recharge) procedure to be performed. If not already automatically added to the Service Visit, add correction code 18200102 as a separate activity to the Service Visit.

Removal

  1. Prepare the vehicle for lifting. See Raise Vehicle - 2 Post Lift.
  2. Loosen the LH and RH front wheel lug nuts.
  3. Recover the refrigerant from the vehicle. See A/C Refrigerant Recovery and Recharge (Remove and Replace).
  4. Remove the underhood storage unit. See Underhood Storage Unit (Remove and Install).
  5. Disconnect 12V power. See Disconnect 12V Power.
  6. Perform the vehicle HV disablement procedure. See Vehicle HV Disablement Procedure.
  7. Remove the LH and RH front wheels.
  8. Remove LH front louver assembly
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    2x bolts, 10mm, 1x nut, 10mm, 12x push clips. Number of clips may vary. Release 2x edge clips if equipped with Continental TPMS retrofit.
  9. Remove push clip from LH front wheel liner and peel back for access
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    1x push clip, if equipped
  10. Remove the RH louver assembly
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    2x bolts, 10mm, 1x nut, 10mm, 12x push clips. Number of clips may vary. Release 2x edge clips if equipped with Continental TPMS retrofit.
  11. Remove the push clip from RH front wheel liner and peel back for access.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    1x push clip, if equipped.
  12. Remove the front aero shield panel. See Panel - Aero Shield - Front (Remove and Replace).
  13. Remove the front bash plate extrusion.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    2x bolts, T30, 16 Nm.
  14. Remove the bash plate lower stamping.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    2x bolts, 10mm, 9 Nm.
  15. Remove the front four HV battery bolts.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    4x patch bolts, 13mm, 30 Nm. Discard after removal.
  16. Remove the 21mm bolts that attach the front of the HV battery.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    2x bolts, 21mm, 115 Nm. Discard after removal.
  17. Remove the skid plate from between the HV Battery and the front subframe.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    Slowly pry bash plate out to ease removal.
  18. Remove the nuts (x3) that attach the A/C compressor assembly to the subframe.
  19. Lower the vehicle.
  20. Release the bolt that attaches the ground strap to the compressor.
  21. Disconnect the low voltage connector from the A/C compressor.
  22. Disconnect the HV connector from the A/C compressor.
  23. Remove the bolts (x2) that attach the A/C lines to the compressor.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    Discard the O-rings.
  24. Remove the A/C compressor and bracket assembly from the vehicle.
  25. Remove the bolts (x2) that attach the A/C compressor to the inner bracket.
  26. Weigh the old compressor.
  27. Record the weight of the old compressor.
  28. Weigh the new compressor.
  29. Record the weight of the new compressor.
  30. Add or drain oil to/from the new compressor so that it matches the weight of the old compressor.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    Turn the new compressor upside down to drain a small amount of oil from the suction port (large port) into a clean, dry container, and then re-weigh the new compressor. Repeat this process until the new compressor weighs the same as the old one.
  31. Install the bolts that attach the A/C compressor to the inner bracket (torque 24 Nm).
  32. Place A/C compressor and bracket assembly into the vehicle
  33. Install the bolts that attach the A/C lines to the compressor (torque 10 Nm).
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    Install new O-rings and lubricate them with ND-11 oil.
  34. Connect the HV connector to the A/C compressor.
  35. Connect the low voltage connector to the A/C compressor.
  36. Attach the bolt that attaches the ground strap to the A/C compressor (torque 9 Nm).
  37. Disconnect the LH condenser fan motor connector.
  38. Remove the nuts (x2) that attach the A/C lines to the LH condenser.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    Discard the O-rings
  39. Remove the screws (x4) that attach the LH condenser assembly
  40. Remove the LH condenser assembly from the vehicle.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    Pull the bottom to the rear, release condenser from upper support brackets, and the slide condenser assembly down.
  41. Remove the bolts (x4) that attach the LH condenser to the fan motor assembly
  42. Disconnect the RH condenser fan motor connector.
  43. Remove the nuts (x2) that attach the A/C lines to the RH condenser.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    Discard the O-rings.
  44. Remove the screws (x4) that attach the RH condenser assembly.
  45. Remove the RH condenser assembly from the vehicle.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    Pull bottom to the rear, release from upper support brackets, and then slide down condenser assembly.
  46. Remove the bolts (x4) that attach the RH condenser to the fan motor assembly.

Installation

  1. Install the bolts (x4) that attach the RH condenser to the fan motor assembly (torque 6 Nm).
  2. Position the condenser assembly onto the upper and lower support brackets on the vehicle.
  3. Install the screws (x4) that attach the RH condenser assembly (torque 3 Nm).
  4. Install the nuts (x2) that attach the A/C lines to the RH condenser (8 Nm).
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    Install new O-rings and lubricate them with ND-11 oil.
  5. Connect the RH condenser fan motor connector.
  6. Install the bolts (x4) that attach the LH condenser to the fan motor assembly (torque 6 Nm).
  7. Position the condenser assembly onto the upper and lower support brackets on the vehicle.
  8. Install the screws (x4) that attach the LH condenser assembly (torque 3 Nm).
  9. Install the nuts (x2) that attach the A/C lines to the LH condenser (torque 8 Nm).
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    Install new O-rings and lubricate them with ND-11 oil.
  10. Connect the LH condenser fan motor connector.
  11. Install the bolts (x2, torque 3 Nm), nut (x1, torque 4 Nm) and push clips (x12) that attach the LH front louver assembly.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    Number of clips may vary. Also attach the 2 edge clips if the vehicle is equipped with Continental TPMS retrofit.
  12. Position the LH front wheel liner and install the push clip, if equipped.
  13. Install the LH front wheel.
  14. Install the bolts (x2, torque 3 Nm), nut (x1, torque 4 Nm) and push clips (x12) that attach the LH front louver assembly.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    Number of push clips may vary. Attach the 2 edge clips if the vehicle is equipped with Continental TPMS retrofit.
  15. Position the RH front wheel liner and install the push clip, if equipped.
  16. Install the LH and RH front wheels.
  17. Install the nuts (x4) that attach the A/C compressor to the subframe (torque 10 Nm).
  18. Install the skid plate between HV Battery and the front subframe.
  19. Install the 21mm bolts (x2) at the front of the HV battery (torque 115 Nm).
  20. Install new bolts (x4) that attach the HV battery to the skid plate and front subframe (torque 30 Nm).
  21. Install the bolts (x2) that attach the bash plate stamping and skid plate to the front subframe (torque 9 Nm).
  22. Install the bolts (x2) that attach the front bash plate extrusion (torque 16 Nm).
  23. Install the front aero shield panel. See Panel - Aero Shield - Front (Remove and Replace).
  24. Lower the vehicle until the tires are touching the floor.
  25. Torque the LH and RH front wheel lug nuts to 175 Nm.
  26. Connect 12V power. See Disconnect 12V Power.
  27. Reinstall the latest vehicle firmware, or update the firmware if not the latest. See Firmware Reinstall - Touchscreen or Firmware Update.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    This step is only required for vehicles built after April 10, 2016.
  28. Perform an A/C system vacuum test and recharge the A/C refrigerant. See A/C Refrigerant Recovery and Recharge (Remove and Replace)
  29. Install the front HVAC filter housing.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    2x tabs
  30. Install the bolts (x2) that attach the front HVAC filter housing (torque 1.5 Nm).
  31. Attach the RH side of the cowl screen panel and cabin filter cover.
    Informational PurposesAn informational icon, calling your attention
    Note
    2xx tabs, 2x push clips. Release cowl from the strut.
  32. Install the underhood storage unit. See Underhood Storage Unit (Remove and Install).
  33. Install the underhood aprons.
  34. Perform the following routine using Service Mode or Toolbox (see 0005 - Service Modes): PROC_VCFRONT_X_STOP-THERMAL-FILL-DRAINvia Toolbox: (link)via Service Mode:
    • Thermal ➜ Actions ➜ Stop Thermal Fill/Drain
    • Thermal ➜ Coolant System ➜ Stop Coolant Fill/Drain
    • Thermal ➜ Refrigerant System ➜ Stop Refrigerant Fill/Drain
    via Service Mode Plus:
    • Drive Inverter ➜ Front Drive Inverter Replacement ➜ Stop Fluid Fill/Drain
    • Drive Inverter ➜ Rear Drive Inverter Replacement ➜ Stop Fluid Fill/Drain
    • Drive Inverter ➜ Rear Left Drive Inverter Replacement ➜ Stop Fluid Fill/Drain
    • Drive Inverter ➜ Rear Right Drive Inverter Replacement ➜ Stop Fluid Fill/Drain
    • Drive Unit ➜ Front Drive Unit Replacement ➜ Stop Coolant Fill/Drain
    • Drive Unit ➜ Rear Drive Unit Replacement ➜ Stop Coolant Fill/Drain
  35. Perform the following routine using Service Mode or Toolbox (see 0005 - Service Modes): PROC_THC_X_THERMAL-TESTvia Toolbox: (link)
  36. Perform the following routine using Service Mode or Toolbox (see 0005 - Service Modes): PROC_ICE_X_EXIT-SERVICE-MODEvia Toolbox: (link).
  37. Test the A/C functions in the vehicle to ensure that the cabin cooling system functions as designed.