Tesla Roadster Charge Port LED Ring Rebuild
Roadster charge port doors are not weatherproof, especially when they are open during charging.
Some customers may be charging outdoors, and if it rains or snows, this cavity behind the charge port door can fill up with water.
A closed charge port door does not provide a watertight seal, so pressure washing the Roadster, or car washes might be a secondary source of water ingress.
The problem is that the LED ring housing behind the body panel traps water, submerging the LED circuit board and input connector from the PEM.
The trapped water acts like an electrolyte during charging when the light ring is illuminated, and the 12 volts from the PEM begins an electroplating process, eating away etches on the PCB, or connector pins, including introducing corrosion and copper oxide.
Typical symptoms are a dim LED ring, one or some of the colors missing during charge, a dark ring during charge.
This LED ring is no longer in production, but is repairable.
Here is what is going on
Corrosion on the Input Connector The immersed connector has 12 VDC on pins during charging. The trapped water acts as an electrolyte, corroding the pins and eating away etches on the PCB.
Water Pooling in the Housing As water collects in the housing behind the charge port body panel, the LED mounted circuit board is submersed.
LED Charge Ring This part is out of production, but repairable and rebuildable. The connector portion shown is the low point and most susceptible to water damage, but replaceable.
