You went to a scrap yard to find out how other people designed the problem out! So much effort. Well done, I appreciate your time. Subbed. Good luck!

I don’t even own a Tesla but this video is one of the best DIY car care videos I’ve ever seen. Great detail and an excellent walkthrough with every single aspect.

Thanks for the video! Finally some good information on why my Tesla starts smelling funky and how to fix it! Awesome!

This is OG YT vibes with modern camera work. Straight to the point. And bravo for some of those angles 👀👀 this was very informative. KZfaq algorithm blessed us with this

Wow! Super-complete analysis. Unlike a lot of videos, you get right to the point, you give markers to skip ahead, and you edit out the tedious bits. I had no problem watching from beginning to end because you didn't waste a moment of my time. Kudos!

A very thorough and well done video!!

Probably one of the most in-depth, informative and interesting automotive repair videos ive ever watched. Looked into not only what was happening, but WHY it was happening and instead of a bandaid fix you actually source the root cause and try different solutions after looking at what other manufacturers did to prevent it. Fantastic video!

Something to add: it's definitely not just the rain and water intake that causes the smell. I live in dry arizona and the smell gets bad in the the summer when it's 120° and 0% humidity. There must be some sort of condensation build up somewhere just from normal A/C usage as well.

How does this guy not have 50k subscribers yet?? Great video.

Super thorough, complete analysis of the problem WITH several suggestions for improvement. Loved the camera shots inside the duct to show what's actually happening. Seeing is believing. Also loved the junkyard benchmarking to see how other automakers have addressed the issue. Thanks for going the extra mile here and providing some solutions with before/after empirical data to back it up. Great work!

All great information. One thing I would recommend is if you install the new gasket, Do Not! cut it to length immediately after installing it. Leave it long so it can fully return to its relaxed state.

Amazing video! I loved the thorough analysis with videos of what’s happening on the inside and detailed testing and explanations! Please make more videos like this about Teslas. Next ideas: at home charging setup, installing towing hitch, brighter trunk lights, best aftermarket tires, roof racks, etc. Thanks!

Fantastic video. Excellent forensics of the problem and cause. Brilliant options offered. Great job, Adam! Edit: 7 months later, I applied the gasket kit you identified (actually installed it a bit ago, but wanted to give this solution plenty of opportunity to fail). Installation was easy. It completely resolved the musty smell we experienced. I have a 2021 Model Y and live in San Jose, CA. Not too humid here, but we experienced the musty smell after rains. This solution was all the was necessary to eliminate that. So thank you for this video and solving my problem.

15:40 The fact that you mentioned differences on early Y’s, is amazing. Most people skip over details like this on early models. (For example, early Y’s have holes under the emblems and no “C” shaped brake lights.) Also, I’ve read on forums that an unofficial retrofit is possible by ordering parts directly from Tesla and adding the holes into the trim yourself. Some of them were even able to request the actual software to “enable” the mode on the screen. Would be interested in seeing someone do this 👀

Thank you! This was one of the best Tesla model 3 problem + solution videos I’ve seen! I had replaced my filters with similar type that had an activated charcoal stage, and it seemed to help, but like you pointed out, once those filters get moist, they eventually get stinky again. I also hate how the car is always running the fan after I’ve driven it, and now I understand why (it’s trying to dry the filters). But where I live, it’s hard to dry anything with 80%-90% air humidity!

Very interesting video. I have a 2019 model 3 and yes have replaced the air filters a few times because of the smell. I did not know the root cause of the smell. What I take away from this video is that the cause of the smell is water getting down in to the filter. So if you can avoid water getting down there as much as possible (I.e. closing the flap /using recirc during washing the car and using recirculation mode when it is raining), you can avoid the smell almost completely without having to use the evaporator cleaner.

I just paid a lot of money to Tesla for a service to get rid of the smell, now I wish this video was available before I went. Thank you for doing such a great job.

The best way to fix this is to alter the design of the duct. You can put a plastic baffle inside the duct that doesn't allow the water to go into the fan intake. This would be cheap to do in the aftermarket and much more effective than a gasket. Changing the fan software is not a good idea as you sometimes need defrost when it's raining. And low speed defrost is useless.

I appreciate the attention to detail and your ability to effectively structure arguments/content.

One of the most comprehensive DIYs I have watched in awhile. Great work! I added the gasket to my shopping cart tonight.

In depth root cause analysis, problem solved, great summary and very well put together… professional job! Thanks Adam and keep up this good work.

Incredible… Concise. To the point. No funny banter. Easy to follow and understand. Fantastic video! Thank you for sharing

one of the most informative tesla videos out there. you've found your niche please keep them coming!

This is it, this is the most comprehensive breakdown and solution to this problem I've ever seen in the 5 years I've owned these.

This was a super-helpful video. I really like your scientific approach to the issue. Your camera work was also really good. I have new cabin filters ready to install, but I’ve ordered this seal to put in first. Thank you!

Thank you for doing all this and sharing it. I too, thought that the moisture was coming from the evaporator, even though I could tell that the funk was coming from my filters! The power of suggestion is strong! I do wish they'd just draw the air UP with a U-turn on the intake. Facing the air intake UP has always seemed like a failure to me on all cars. We should be using gravity in our favor, not fighting it! I'm amazed to hear about anybody who says the air is somehow "restricted" after installing the gasket you show. There is plenty of free air all around the hood that does not seal to the body.

Hey there, this video was very well-made. And easy to follow even with its length. I give hats off to you man. I don’t know how you’re not a giant KZfaqr yet. You got the GLW AND you can make good content. Which is a very rare combination.

Thank you so much for going through all this in depth! The guard that attaches to the hood did the trick for my Model 3. It was getting to be a really bad problem and I was at a complete loss for fixing it.

Thank you for such an informative video! During a recent cabin filter replacement, the Tesla technician sprayed quite a bit of Simple Green into the area where the cabin filters go, and the foul odor smell disappeared. Your video, however, tells me how to prevent the smell from returning - thank you again!

Good video! I just got a 2020 model 3 and noticed that it smells bad when the air kicks on high, it’s only for the first minute or so but definitely noticeable!

Straight to the point on every segment. KZfaq would be out of business if every video was as clear, concise and quick as this one. I don't even own this car lol. Subscribed

Wasn't even searching for this, but one of the best videos recommended for me in my feed in a long time. Very thorough and well done! Thank you

Dude! Excellent video! You have single handedly resolved an issue that has been plaguing millions of people. Thank you!! Subscribed!

I have a 2022 Model Y. Certainly has the moisture issue. Cabin definitely smells after the car is exposed to the rain. Crazy to me how Tesla is acting like it isn’t a design flaw. Great video!!

What a joy it is to see the scientific process at work! I loved your suggestions and even more seeing the GoOro videos of water movement. Excellent video!

The video is very helpful and well montage. Well done . Keep making this kind of videos on different subjects and issues u might face in future. Am subscribed ❤

Lots of effort to uncover the bad design choices, that was covered up by smart but incomplete workarounds by Tesla. Not only you've uncovered the potential design issue, the fact that you"ve suggested multiple solutions is truly ingenious👍👍. Just wondering, if there could be a small 3d printed flow diverter tube(more like a periscope with row of holes on the bottom, to prevent accumulation) that could be fitted over the drain hole. It should cut down significantly on water pulled out of drain hole. Also a nylon mesh covering on main vent could help with water splashes in the intake duct(might need occasional cleaning though). Just some 💭. Excellent and thorough investigation.❤👍

Thank you for this! I did the AC coil cleaning and then put the same filters back in thinking it was the coils and the smell was gone for a day and then came right back. I was absolutely baffled. This explains so much!

I love how information dense this is cut. Thank you!

Dude, you are a genius. And i haven't even finished the video. I love how you're so objective with everything. I also loved how you presented all the time stamps at the beginning and let the viewer decide what specific component of the video they want to watch. On top of all of that, the way you edit your video really conveys what you're trying to explain. Like when you showed the POV of the camera inside the air cabin filter duct as water was going in. Even when you talked about putting the car in car wash mode, you didn't have to show how to actually put it in car wash mode (in fact most youtubers wouldn't), yet you did! Saved me a Google search! lol. As an engineer, I can't help but get massive engineering vibes from you. Definitely earned my sub.

Wow! Kudos! That’s the most in-depth analysis of troubleshooting a problem that I’ve ever witnessed, and you’re a great explainer! Thank you! Cheers 🥂

Thanks for the great guide! I ended up taking out the intake on my 2019 M3, but there were a few differences that make your 2021(?) easier to work with: - the 2019 intake seems to be a 3-piece affair: an irregularly shaped box adjacent to the fan, a detachable vertical portion, and a slightly different "funnel" at the top with a wide flange on the driver's side (presumably to protect the positive 12V battery terminal, even though that has its own rubber cover) - 2/3 parts come out easy, and the funnel can be reattached to shield the battery and also secure the surrounding trim pieces together (as it has 4 pins that connect into different pieces) - the innermost part is nigh impossible to remove, even with the frunk removed. Something to do with its weird boxy shape and perhaps a different layout of mechanical components in the 2019. After rotating it for the better part of an hour, I dremeled it into 2 pieces and removed it. The shape of the 2019's intake seems to be a bit better when it comes to water, as the drain hole exits much further from the air intake and is also at a noticeably lower "sump" point - water has to travel up a reverse slope to get to the fan. But I'm about to replace my cabin air filter again, and I just don't want to deal with any contributing causes that I can avoid.

Weird that my wife complained about smell last night and this morning this video showed up in my feed. Anyway, I’m glad it did, cause this is very very informative. Even if I’m not planning to make any physical modifications, I understand what I need to do to keep my filters dry and smell free.

This is the most professional and informative video that I've seen in a LONG time. Well done!

Great production and edditing. I love the way you have a completely different shot with each new thought. good pacing as well. jumping from thought to thought.

Amazing video. I don't own a Tesla but I've rented several, and a couple had this issue. The air stinks for 4-5 minutes after starting the AC. I also imagined it had to be something in the filter, but since it was a rental I didn't look much into it. Amazing investigations, good solutions proposed and you even validated them. Thank you!

Now that’s how to fix something. Great video too. I don’t have this problem nor a Tesla, but I kept on watching just to see how you figure it out. 100 points to you!

Great video and the way you chase and demonstrate the problem is spot on, rainy day with air working and wipers on

Amazing video. I suffered from this smell, and your video really helped me understand why!

This is a very well put together video. Thank you for this. The logic, the clear but simple explanations, the mountain of evidence to support your claims, I would bet money you are an engineer! It takes one to know one. You really should get a roadster for saving Tesla hundreds of hours in root cause analysis.

Talk about top tier video! Never seen anyone go into depth and self research like this. This is amazing work! Subbed

Thank you so much for this video! It was driving me crazy on why my 2021 M3 was smelling sooo bad! I tried everything but didn't know it could have been the cabin filter! Great video!

This is fantastic. Thank you for doing this in depth investigation. This has been driving me nuts for years!!

Excellent video Adam! 🤩 This is clearly a design fault Tesla should fix for free. At the very least the software features you mentioned. Going to get the aftermarket gasket you’ve suggested and change the filters in the meantime. 🤞🏼 Subbed. ❤️

Man awesome stuff! I found a cheap replacement filter on amazon that prevented that smell longer than the expensive factory one. I felt like it was the rubber they use as a seal on the factory one. I can see now its the moisture either directly causing it or maybe it also causes that filter to decay because the smell I get is more of a rotten latex type smell its horrible , changing the filter always fixs it and now I understand better why. This has been so helpful thank you!

Great video - love the detail and how you show the nooks and crannies. THANK YOU!

Very thorough examination of the smelly problem and recommended solutions. Terrific coverage! You have a New Subscriber now.

Excellent video, Adam. So much great detail, easily explained, and loved the mini science experiment to demonstrate the potential or actual cause of the odors. I have a Model S, so I don't think this applies to our cars, but good info to have either way.

This is a McKinsey's consulting level presentation without any fluff. Subscribed.

What an awesome, well thought out video. I’m subscribing to your channel because whatever else you do, has to be good! Thank you for putting so much time into this…wow, I’m so impressed!!

I had a 2018 Model 3 and the AC never made it smell. But, one trick I learn a long time ago with other vehicles is to turn off the AC a few minutes before ending my drive and running the vented air on high. This helps dry the moisture off the condenser coils, which causes mold that is the cause of the smell. This is a thing with any AC unit in vehicles and buildings. But yeah, it is more common in a Tesla than other vehicles due to how they designed the air duct. I get your point but your test really focused spraying water into that filter duct with the hose. That's not exactly how it would happen with rain in most places, especially while driving. But I agree that Tesla should have tested this more and fixed it. I like the hood gasket idea, again something Tesla should have come up with. They also could have put the duct facing down, instead of up. You could mod the existing duct by blocking off the top and cutting an opening in the bottom for the air. But the hood gasket is probably and easier fix. It baffles me how all the supposedly smart people at Tesla, with all the testing that they do, never discovered this issue. Or maybe they did but management ignored it. But good job looking into this and figuring it all out! And I agree that when it's raining use recirculate mode, even have the AC with the heat on, to reduce the moisture in the cabin air.

Great video! As you showed at the junk yard, most cars have a cowl. These typically have a smallish input, large drains, and a large collection area that would require a large amount of water build up before it could enter the cabin intake (note it has to handle this during acceleration, braking, cornering, angled roads). Effectively these are dorade boxes en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorade_box . Tesla's 'dorade box' is missing the vertical barrier and that is letting water flow into the cabin intake. A simple baffle should probably fix this. I'm curious: after taking out the 'cowl' did you try running through deep water at speed to see if the water would splash into the cabin intake?

Thank you for your exhaustive review. It's people like you that make America a great country! If only we had more people like you. I had a 2022 for almost a year, and it was an issue, then I upgraded to a 2023, and haven't noticed any smell issues.

Just subscribed after watching this video! Thank you so much for helping me (someone who doesn’t know much about automotive tech) understand HOW this problem is happening. I loved when you collected data on how other manufacturers address this issue!

This video is great. The one issue with this being completely accurate is that I and others have noticed this issue without rain. The most pronounced it has been for me was in extreme high humidity with the air conditioning running. And I can see that the drainage from the condenser isn’t perfect. Likely leading to wetting of the bottom filter.

You have to remember that in place with 100% high humidity air already carries water, A/C is working overtime and condenser is covered with water droplets, filters are also completely wet in such places. The gap in condenser is a major design flaw.

So detailed. Appreciate all the work that clearly went into this video. Hopefully Tesla sees this video and makes the software changes you suggest.

Love this video! I just ordered the parts right after finishing watching. Thank you!

Great video. Was wonder If you pull air lower down you might get more smog or air pollution lower to the road. You will also get more dusty air if you drive on dirt/desert roads.

Please make more Tesla videos like this one. Very good information here, I almost felt like I was looking at a Tesla engineer working on product improvement.

My first thought was "why is this video this long?" It was worth the time. Nice, complete evaluation.

Very helpful. Thanks. I didn’t even know about car wash mode! I’ll make sure I select it from now on when I’m washing the car.

Great video..Note in that early 2020 Y (similar to the 2020 3) the drain hole is below a sump (raised bit).. seemingly that changed for the models with the new frunk design (some point in 2021 or later) That seems like a much better solution. But my takeaways . - Use Car Wash mode when washing car, particularly in got days when a/c might activate - Dont run fan on high during rain If that doesn't work consider the extra stripping.

Another free solution is to enlarge the cutout(or multiple sections of small cutout) at the bottom to allow all the water to flow out. Since this is not an ICE car, the mixture of air coming from the top vent and also the enlarge cutout would be ok(no combustion). My car started to smell a bit so this is what I would do based on what I see from this video. Buy the gasket kit, change filter and clean the evaporator. If smell comes back in a year or so, I'll create a bigger cutout or multiple small cutouts along the way to allow water to drain to out before it even hit the last section. Great video BTW...good job :)

This is an unbelievable video. Wish i had this years ago. I made my friends with 3 and Y models aware. We have all been complaining for years about the smell. Thanks!

Wow, Tesla should be paying you for this in-depth fix to a somewhat easily fixable design flaw. Amazing research and flawless execution. Thank you, I definitely needed this. You've got a like and subscribe from me👏

Aftermarket gasket: amzn.to/4a6nGd5, Filter with Microban: amzn.to/3MCSNUH (Or on ebay: ebay.us/EuH3wu) These affiliate links don't cost you anything extra, but I get a small cut. Thanks for the support!

Very interesting and well put together topic, I had this with my 2020/21 M3LR, Tesla replaced the Filters and used a machine to defume the A/C condesnsor under warranty, but the evidence presented in your video puts doubt on this as a long term solution. I'm UK based but will definately will see if I can get the aftermarket gasket and give it a go, thank you.

I'm impressed with how thorough you were in this video, brillant work Adam!

Instant sub! Fantastic analysis by testing all your underlying assumptions. I think you nailed the root cause. It made me wonder why previous vehicles didn't have this odor simply based on an old air filter and this explains why!

Great analysis. I’ve had the problem multiple times and replacing the cabin air filter worked, just like you mentioned. However, I had a road trip in cold weather in pouring rain, and I had to drive 2 hours in the pouring rain. this design flaw led to water getting into the resistive heater element and shorted the circuitry. This led the car to pre-emptively shut down to protect itself and had to get the car towed and heater replaced.

The filter may be the source of the smell for you (given your filter smells when wet), but I can say confidently that is not the case for many people in the forums. They have tried wetting the filter after the smell started in the cabin and the filter doesn't smell. They have even tried taking out the filter and the car still smells. So the smell is coming from somewhere inside the car that is not the filter for those people. That's why for many people, they say the evaporator cleaner is a must to have the fix last for months. A filter change alone (with no cleaner) can last just weeks instead. There are those that tried the hood gasket and still had the smell happen. Also there were many more complaints before the Tesla fan update to dry the evaporator, so that definitely played a role. Using manual recirculation also seems to cause the smell to occur. There are those that say turning off the AC and running the fan a few minutes on high before arriving at the destination eliminates the smell from returning. So perhaps the real fix is a more aggressive fan update. So unfortunately I don't believe this is the universal fix nor points to the universal cause, even though it might fix it for some people. Given the recirculate seems to play a role (as you say, none of the other cars you looked at had recirculated air pass through filter/evaporator system), I would say that probably has more to do with it.

I don't just subscribe to any channel but with this quality of videos, you got my follow. Great job.

Nice informative video! I haven't had this issue and now I know why; I keep it inside and rarely have the fan cranked up. Appreciate the deep dive!

I dont even have a Tesla and still feel that this video was very helpful and well researched.

There's an aftermarket cover for the intake duct that does a fantastic job preventing leaves from being sucked into the duct. That would probably help with this some as well. And now that I'm thinking about it, I've had it in mine for a few years and I haven't noticed any odor. Went two years between filter changes last time too. Suppose I've also been using carbon filters the last few years.

Haven't even finished the video and needed to comment... awesome video sir! Your delivery is excellent and you provide great information. Subscribed.

Outstanding video! I rented a Tesla Model 3 and also wondered about the smell. Knowing about your tricks might help me score a used Model 3 at a discount by complaining about the smell (and secretly knowing I can fix it with minimal effort). Bonus points for suggesting a software fix to Tesla engineers!

I think the better design is to put a 2" or 3" lip in front of that drain area in the duct, perhaps in a C shape towards the front of the hood. However, I'd be interested in knowing why hood gaskets isn't continuous from the factory. Hopefully the current models have this problem corrected.

The reason the sealing strips across the hood, where it meets the base of the windshield, it isn't continuous across is because that area becomes a high pressure zone when driving, which assists the HVAC system when drawing in air, if you leave the continuous rubber seal in place you're forcing the HVAC system to draw air from areas it wasn't designed to be drawn from. This design dates back to the 30's or 40's when people actually died from the air being drawn into the heater near the front of the vehicle when the vehicle ahead is exhausting nearly directly into the heater air inlet. It looked as though the water that does get into the inlet is draining right onto wires and what looked like the wiper mechanism, the chute prevented that, at least put something over those areas to direct the water so it doesn't pour onto the electrical devices.

WELL DONE !!! Great camera work, very clear explanations/troubleshooting - Thanks ...

WOW this channel is amazing! seriously keep it up. This will be one of the big ones!

This was amazing! The quality of this content was fantastic - learnt a lot. I have had smelly filters - the video showing the drain hole actually ends up as an intake also might explain the strong exhaust smells every time you come up behind a gasoline vehicle (2019 M3)

Maybe there’s another reason for having the HEPA filter on the model Y, which was developed after the model three. Maybe part of the woes they got rid of water ingestion with the new filter set up. Any case, this might be part of the problems with developing a car in great weather? that and a cruise control that can’t be used in the rain.

Adam, I really like the way your videos are made. Obviously you've been doing this for a while. I had to Subscribe after seeing this video. Great stuff!

I think this analyzation was brilliant! I definitely hadn’t thought of this problem. I don’t necessarily suffer from this problem, but I will consider the gasket and the filters for the future. Thanks a lot for your very scientific analyzation.

Great video! I have a 2022 Model Y (with bio-defense mode) that also has this issue of bad smells when the car gets wet. So in my opinion, the redesign has not resolved this issue.

This video is so appreciated and made me subscribe. I've gotten as far as you. I always suspected the filters. I also saw some replacements framed in silicon or plastic over the cardboard, and maybe their theory is water at the bottom of the compartment that soaks the bottom filter. I'll be removing the gasket, getting the Wix filters, and calling it quits and my detailer next. I found some for $11 during the last replacement. I was settling into replacing them every three months. This also explains why, once present, it gets more potent when it rains, and the system is not set to inside air only.

I had that awful smell a few times and had no idea what's causing it. Thanks for this.

For those with with biodefense mode (15:20) : check/replace those filters in the frunk (aka not the cabin ones), especially if you've tried the usual stuff (replace cabin filters + coil spray) + those filters haven't been replaced recently, this actually worked for me! I honestly didn't know there were filters there at all lol so thank you for that! It's interesting how moldy/heavy those filters were since they're sealed (rainwater shouldn't hit it like you said) but... I've had my car for 2 years and never swapped them 😶 so it's probably just trapped moisture/stuff from normal use? Either way, thanks so much for such an amazing effort diagnosing + documenting this problem! These videos were really entertaining and satisfying too, I totally see why lots of non-Tesla owners enjoyed these videos hahaha