Rich Rebuilds · Video summary
Mercedes Wanted $20,000 to Fix This Tesla-Powered EV… I Used a bottle cap
Rich Rebuilds attempts to fix a 12-year-old Tesla-powered Mercedes with ghetto repairs, revealing how coolant intrusion causes high-voltage faults and how simple fixes can revive complex EVs.
Watch on YouTube ↗Key takeaways
- 🔍A dead 12-volt battery often causes electronics to stay dead, but jumping and resealing can bring power back temporarily, revealing underlying issues.7:30
- 🧰Use simple tools like a drill and fuses from pawn shops or online to perform ghetto repairs on complex EV systems safely and quickly.9:00
- 💡A cascading error in EVs, such as a faulty DC to DC converter, can trigger multiple system failures and misdiagnosis of the main issue.19:00
- 🎯Water intrusion into EV components like the high-voltage motor can cause fatal faults due to coolant leaking and corrosion.39:17
- 🚀When troubleshooting EV faults, check coolant leaks and water intrusion in critical components like the drive motor and DC to DC converter.39:17
- ⚡Even old Tesla drive motors are resilient enough to run after ghetto repairs involving bottle caps, RTV sealants, and removing coolant intrusion to bypass factory problems.43:30
Chapters
- 0:00🎯 Introduction and Car Backstory
- 2:22🎯 Inspecting the Car in Snow
- 4:08🎯 Initial Exterior and Interior Examination
- 6:36🎯 Attempting to Power Up the Car
- 12:40🎯 Checking Fuses and Water Intrusion
- 18:54🎯 Diagnosing the DC to DC Converter
- 36:28🎯 Final Diagnostics and Drive Test
- 38:27🎯 Motor and Drive Unit Inspection
- 43:53🎯 Cleaning and Repair Attempts
- 45:36🎯 Reassembling and Testing the Car
- 50:50🎯 Conclusion and Reflection
The digest
This presentation chronicles the process of rescuing and repairing a 2014 Mercedes-Benz B-Class electric vehicle, originally developed in partnership with Tesla, that was abandoned and left to deteriorate outdoors. Neither Mercedes nor Tesla would service it, demanding an exorbitant $20,000 repair. Faced with a challenge to revive the neglected car within 24 hours—and avoid the alternative of driving a low-range EV 1,500 miles in nine days—the creator undertakes a detailed diagnostic and repair effort using improvised tools and parts, revealing key EV engineering insights and practical workarounds along the way. The content showcases EV technology from a transitional era, common failure modes in early Tesla-powered vehicles, and inventive fixes that kept the vehicle operational despite substantial challenges.
Overview of the Vehicle and Initial Challenge
The vehicle is a 12-year-old 2014 Mercedes B-Class electric vehicle built with Tesla components during a brief cooperation period when Mercedes owned a stake in Tesla. It features Tesla drive units and electronics but incorporates typical Mercedes design elements such as door switches.
The car was abandoned outdoors, covered in snow, with a dead 12-volt battery and multiple unresolved electrical issues. Tesla refused to service the car, and Mercedes demanded $20,000 for repairs. The challenge was to diagnose and restore enough functionality for the car to drive under its own power in 24 hours, avoiding the impractical alternative: Joey, the car's owner, driving a short-range EV nearly 1,500 miles with frequent charges.
Keep reading in The Digest
The full 5-minute article, 9 more sections, and every new episode from Rich Rebuilds and the creators you follow.
- Diagnostic Process and Initial Observations
- Key Technical Insights and Repairs
- DC-DC Converter (00:18:30 - 00:25:00)
- Coolant Leak and Drive Motor Issues (00:38:00 - 00:46:00)
- Electronics and Fuse Inspection
- Vehicle Testing and Outcome
- Practical Implications & Lessons Learned
- Detailed Framework of the Diagnostic and Repair Strategy
- Recommended Actions for EV Troubleshooting and Repair
