Tesla Model S or X — 2012–2020

Your Tesla has a coolant problem. We fix it. Permanently.

The rotor seal inside every 2012–2020 Large Drive Unit will eventually fail. We fix it permanently.

Full drive unit replacement $20,000
vs
Jaunt coolant delete $5,499

Jaunt is Australia's largest EV conversion workshop — based in Melbourne since 2018. Good Design Australia Gold Award winners.

The Problem

Every Model S or X has it.
Not ifwhen.

Technical diagram showing the Tesla LDU coolant delete modification — original design flaw with coolant leaking through the rotor shaft versus the fix with a machined manifold cap redirecting coolant to bypass the rotor
White Tesla Model X arriving at Jaunt workshop for LDU coolant delete service

Here's the short version: your Tesla's rear motor has liquid coolant flowing through it to keep it cool. Some of that coolant flows through the spinning centre of the motor — the rotor — via a hollow shaft. Three small rubber seals are supposed to keep the coolant inside that shaft. They don't last.

When those seals fail, coolant leaks into the motor's electrical components. It corrodes wiring, destroys bearings, and can short-circuit the entire drive unit. You might notice a whining noise, reduced power, or error messages — or you might notice nothing at all until the motor stops working.

This isn't a rare defect. It's a design limitation that affects every 2012–2020 Tesla Model S and Model X with a Large Drive Unit. Tesla acknowledged it in later revisions by removing the rotor coolant path entirely. That's exactly what our service does — applied to the motors that still have the original design.

What happens when the seal fails

1
Seal degrades

The three rubber lip seals inside the rotor shaft break down from heat cycles and age. This is material science, not bad luck.

2
Coolant enters the motor

Liquid coolant leaks past the seal into the rotor cavity. It wicks into the stator windings, corrodes connectors, and destroys bearing grease.

3
Progressive, invisible damage

You might notice a whining noise or reduced power. Or nothing at all. The damage often builds for months before anything obvious happens.

4
Catastrophic failure

The motor shorts, the inverter floods, the drive unit needs full replacement. That's $10,000–$20,000 at a service centre.

Full drive unit replacement
$10,000 – $20,000
Jaunt team removing the rear subframe and drive unit from a Tesla Model X
Tesla rear subframe and drive unit removed, ready for teardown

The Fix

Complete teardown.
Precision fix. Every bolt replaced.

This isn't a parts-cannon approach. We strip the unit down, address the root cause, replace everything that should be replaced, and put it back together to factory spec.

1

Full disassembly

Complete teardown of the Large Drive Unit. Every component removed, inspected, and catalogued. We need to see everything before we touch anything.

2

Deep clean

Thorough removal of all coolant contamination from the rotor, stator, and inverter components. We use gentle cleaning techniques — no wire brushes on critical surfaces, no shortcuts that create debris.

3

Stator tube modification

The coolant delivery tube is precision-milled and capped with a machined manifold cap, sealed with high-temperature sealant. The rotor coolant path is permanently eliminated — matching the manufacturer's own revised design. Gearbox cooling is completely unaffected and continues to flow normally.

4

Half-shaft seal replacement

Both half-shaft seals replaced as standard. These are a secondary leak path that most workshops overlook. We don't.

5

Precision rotor check

Rotor inspected for contamination damage and runout. Bearings assessed. If coolant has reached places it shouldn't, we'll tell you exactly what we've found.

6

Factory-spec reassembly

All single-use bolts replaced with new. Every fastener torqued to factory specifications. Not "close enough" — exact. The unit goes back together the way it should have been built.

Add-on Complete coolant system flush and replace (+ $1,099 inc. GST with your coolant delete). Recommended for vehicles over 8 years old or where contamination has reached the motor cavity.

Seen enough?

Book Your Fix
Jaunt

Why Jaunt

The only workshop in Australia doing this.

Jaunt workshop overview — Australia's largest EV conversion facility

Full machine shop

We don't send parts out. We mill, machine, and fabricate in-house. The stator tube modification requires precision tooling that most EV workshops simply don't have.

EV specialists since 2018

We've been pulling apart and rebuilding electric drivetrains for eight years. This isn't a side project — high-voltage powertrains are our core engineering discipline.

OEM-grade standards

Every bolt torqued to spec. Every seal replaced. Every step documented. The same standards we apply to our award-winning vehicle builds, applied to every LDU we service.

Award-winning engineering

Our work has been recognised by the Good Design Australia Gold Award, the Victorian Premier's Design Awards, and AFR Best Cars. We bring that same precision to this service.

Pricing

Transparent pricing.
No surprises.

$5,499
inc. GST
Complete Large Drive Unit Coolant Delete
  • Complete Large Drive Unit teardown and inspection
  • Precision stator tube milling and manifold cap installation
  • High-temperature sealant application
  • Half-shaft seal replacement (both sides)
  • All single-use bolts replaced with new
  • Factory-spec torque on every fastener
  • Precision rotor and bearing inspection
Add: Complete coolant system flush
+ $1,099 inc. GST
Available as an add-on to the coolant delete. Recommended for vehicles over 8 years old or with suspected contamination.

Full drive unit replacement at a service centre: $10,000–$20,000.

Good Design Australia Gold Award Victorian Premier's Design Award AFR Best Cars
Jaunt
Since the work was completed I have driven Melbourne to Port Lincoln and return, 3,000 kilometres, and the car behaved absolutely normally. No leaks, no warnings. I am completely satisfied with the cost and impressed with the quality of the work.
— P90D owner, Sydney
0 Repeat failures
2–3 Day turnaround
100% Permanently sealed

FAQ

Common questions.

Common symptoms include a whining noise from the rear while driving, reduced power or "limp mode" warnings, unexplained coolant loss, motor shuddering, or error codes related to the drive unit. You may also notice coolant visible on the speed sensors, or a red PDRN indicator on the dashboard. However, many LDUs leak without any obvious symptoms — the degradation is often invisible until it reaches a critical point. If your vehicle was built between 2012 and 2020 and still has the original drive unit, the seals are aging whether you can see it or not. A preventative delete before symptoms appear gives you the best outcome.
All Tesla Model S and Model X vehicles built between 2012 and 2020 that use the Large Drive Unit (LDU). This includes rear-wheel drive, dual motor, and performance variants. The Model 3 and Model Y use a different drive unit architecture and are not affected by this issue.
Typically 2–3 business days from drop-off. We'll confirm the exact timeline when we schedule your booking. If we find anything unexpected during the teardown, we'll call you before proceeding with any additional work.
We stand behind the coolant delete work we perform. The modification itself — the milling, the manifold cap, the seals, the reassembly — is warrantied. What we can't warranty is pre-existing damage. If coolant has already entered the motor before the service, that contamination may have caused damage we can't see during inspection. It's the nature of the problem — and it's exactly why acting early, before symptoms appear, gives you the best protection. We'll always be upfront about what we find during the teardown.
Absolutely. We're based in Scoresby, Victoria, and we've serviced vehicles from across Australia. If you can drive the car, you're welcome to bring it in. If you'd prefer to arrange enclosed vehicle transport, we can recommend carriers we've worked with. Get in touch and we'll help you sort the logistics.

Get Started

Book your
coolant delete.

Tell us about your vehicle and we'll be in touch within one business day to confirm availability and schedule your service.

Not sure if your drive unit needs this work? Get in touch anyway — we're happy to help you figure it out.

support@jauntmotors.com
43 Rocco Drive, Scoresby VIC 3179
2–3 business day turnaround
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