When your car is running normally everything is fine, nevertheless if it starts to have frequent complications you might start to question, specifically if your car won’t start. In this post we will show you where the starter of a Tesla Model 3 is, it will help you to resolve your ignition complications. To do this, we will first describe the function of a starter, then, where is the starter on a Tesla Model 3 , and, finally, how to change the starter of a car.

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Purpose of the starter on your Tesla Model 3

We start this article by detailing the function of the starter motor on your Tesla Model 3. The starter is an electric motor which is powered by your battery, its role will be to make your engine run at a high enough speed to start it (usually around 300/400 rpm). It is composed of three main parts:

  • The Solenoid: This component is an electrical relay that will action as a switch, it will be activated by the key of your Tesla Model 3 and let the current from your battery to the engine of your alternator.
  • The engine: Main component of your alternator, it is the one that will drive the flywheel of your Tesla Model 3 and generate enough speed for your engine to start.

  • The engagement pinion: This is the last part of your starter, it is the toothed wheel that will be in direct contact with the flywheel, it allows to transmit the force from the starter to the engine.

Where is the starter on a Tesla Model 3?

Now that we have fairly quickly described what a starter is and how it functions, we will answer the question that most of you have to ask yourselves where is the starter located on a Tesla Model 3? It is quite easy to locate a starter, indeed, it is a large part that will almost always be situated in a similar place. We let you discover the two possible spots for your car starter down below.

Location of the starter on traditional Tesla Model 3

First and most common circumstance, where to locate the starter of a Tesla Model 3 with a conventional motor (implied without start and stop). The starter has a specific objective, to start the engine of your car, for that, it must always be near the engine flywheel of this one because it is the part that it actuates when it is used. The flywheel is located at the junction between your gearbox and your engine.

Location of the starter to Tesla Model 3 with start and stop

And now second possible starter location of your Tesla Model 3 . This case is much less frequent. It just concerns engines equipped with start and stop, and a good part of them will be equipped with a starter situated close to the flywheel. Nevertheless, on some specific series or engines, the starter of your Tesla Model 3 may be built in in your alternator, it is then called a starter-alternator, to locate it nothing easier, locate your accessory belt and you should discover the big starter block.

How to change the starter on a Tesla Model 3?

Finally, we’ll describe to you actually quite fairly quickly how to change the starter of a Tesla Model 3. This procedure is not actually difficult, it can be considered by people who have a minimal of simple mechanical expertise and adapted equipment. Adhere to down below the main steps to carry out this intervention:

  • Disconnect the battery on your Tesla Model 3, if you don’t know how to do it, don’t think twice to consult our article which points out how to do it without taking any risk.
  • After discovering your starter, loosen the fasteners that hold it in your engine block, there will generally be 2 or 3
  • .

  • It will be time to disconnect the power cables from the starter motor of your Tesla Model 3, nevertheless before doing so we suggest you to take a picture of the set up to avoid making a mistake when reassembling.
  • It’s possible that to remove it you might need to remove parts like the gimbal.
  • Remount the new starter, being careful when connecting the connectors.
  • Reconnect your battery and test your starter.

If you want more guides on the Tesla Model 3, go to our Tesla Model 3 category.