Model 3 (2017–2023) uses an AGM 12V battery that needs to be replaced every 3–4 years. Recently, the need for replacement has become more frequent, as Tesla vehicles have a built-in system for monitoring the capacity of the 12V battery and will notify the owner in advance when a replacement is required.
However, we are increasingly receiving inquiries—especially during the winter months—from owners who have replaced the battery themselves, but the error message remains on the screen. In most of these cases, two serious and potentially dangerous mistakes are made:
The first critical mistake is replacing the battery without consulting the instructions. Users change the battery while the system is still active and under voltage. In several cases, this has led to a short circuit and damage to the DCDC converter. It’s important to emphasize: just because the vehicle is parked and “turned off” (meaning the electric motor isn’t idling), does not mean the vehicle is actually powered down.
The correct procedure involves first disconnecting the 12V battery, followed by disconnecting the gray connector located under the right-hand side of the passenger seat. Only after this is the vehicle officially “dead” and ready for a safe 12V battery replacement.
The second critical mistake turns a simple issue into a dead end—the use of aftermarket batteries, which appear to be completely incompatible. The battery is replaced, the error disappears, everything works for 2–3 days, and then the same error reappears: “12V battery not functioning properly.” The battery is returned under warranty, a new one is installed, and the cycle repeats. After several attempts, users become frustrated and conclude that the car must have an issue, possibly drawing excessive power while idle.
What starts as a simple task quickly becomes an agonizing, costly, and service-clogging problem.
The real issue lies with the aftermarket battery itself—its chemical composition and voltage levels are not suitable for Tesla’s system, which automatically detects this as a fault. In communication with several Tesla Service Centers, it has been confirmed that this is a well-known and common issue. The only reliable solution is to install the original battery, part number 1129182-00-B, which can be ordered through Tesla’s online parts catalog—even as a private individual—at epc.tesla.com.
The cost of the original battery is €125 + VAT.
Our recommendation is to either visit an authorized service center for the replacement using the original battery or to register on Tesla’s EPC catalog as a private individual, order the correct part (which arrives in 4–5 days), and replace it yourself. After installation, enter Service Mode, select the battery model, and reset the system.
After that, the error will be permanently resolved.
Model 3 (2017–2023) koristi AGM 12V akumulator koji je potrebno mijenjati svakih 3–4 godine. Sada se sve češće javlja potreba za izmjenom, jer Tesla sustav ima ugrađeno praćenje kapaciteta 12V akumulatora te vlasnika na vrijeme upozorava da će uskoro biti potrebna zamjena.
Međutim, sve češće zaprimamo upite – osobito tijekom zimskih mjeseci – od vlasnika koji su samostalno zamijenili akumulator, ali se greška i dalje prikazuje na zaslonu. U tim slučajevima najčešće se događaju dvije ozbiljne i potencijalno opasne pogreške:
Prva fatalna pogreška je izmjena akumulatora bez prethodnog proučavanja uputa – korisnici mijenjaju akumulator dok je sustav još aktivan i pod naponom. U nekoliko slučajeva to je dovelo do kratkog spoja i oštećenja DCDC pretvarača. Važno je naglasiti: to što je vozilo parkirano i “ugašeno” jer elektromotor ne vrti u “leru”, ne znači da je zaista isključeno.
Ispravan postupak uključuje najprije odspajanje 12V akumulatora, a zatim odspajanje sivog konektora ispod desne strane putničkog sjedala. Tek tada je vozilo službeno “mrtvo” i spremno za sigurnu zamjenu 12V akumulatora.
Druga zadnja fatalna pogreška vodi cijeli slučaj u slijepu ulicu – zamjenski akumulatori izgleda uopce nisu kompatibilni. Vlasnici zamijene akumulator, greška nestane, sve funkcionira 2–3 dana, ali se zatim ponovno pojavi ista greška: “12V akumulator nije ispravan”. Nakon toga se akumulator reklamira, zamijeni, ponovno ugradi – i opet ista situacija. Nakon nekoliko pokušaja, korisnici gube strpljenje i zaključuju da je s vozilom nešto neispravno, odnosno da ono “vuče struju” u stanju mirovanja. Pa se sasvim jednotavan zahvat pretvori u agoniju i skupu proceduru te zagusivanje servisa.
Pravi uzrok problema je sam zamjenski akumulator – njegov kemijski sastav i naponski nivo nisu adekvatni za Teslin sustav, koji to automatski detektira kao grešku. U komunikaciji s nekoliko Tesla Service Centara potvrđeno je da je to čest i poznat problem, te da se greška može trajno ukloniti isključivo ugradnjom originalnog akumulatora oznake 1129182-00-B (Clarios ili Atlas), koji je moguće naručiti putem Teslinog online kataloga čak i ako niste tvrtka, putem linka: epc.tesla.com.
Cijena originalnog akumulatora je 125 € + PDV.
Preporuka je da se posjetite ovlasteni servis za izmjenu 12V akumulatora sa originalnim ili da se registrirate na EPC katalog kao privatna osoba, narucite dio koji korz 4-5 dana stigne na adresu i sami ga zamjenite. Nakon toga udjete u service mode i podesite model akumulatora i resetirate sustave. Nakon toga više nema greške.
