wheel TESLA MODEL X 2023 User Guide
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Controlling Lights
Touch Controls > Lights to control the lights.
NOTE: You can also access an abbreviated lights menu
while driving by touching the High Beam button on the
steering yoke (or steering wheel). A lights menu displays
on the touchscreen, providing quick access to headlight controls.
In addition to the lights that you can control from the
touchscreen,
Model X has convenience lights that turn
on and
off automatically based on what you are doing.
For example, interior lights, marker lights, tail lights, and
puddle lights turn on when you unlock
Model X, when
you open a door, and when you shift into Park. They turn
off automatically after a minute or two or when you shift
or lock
Model X.
Exterior Lights
Exterior lights (headlights, tail lights, side marker lights,
parking lights, and license plate lights) are set to
Auto
each time you start Model X. When set to Auto, exterior
lights automatically turn on when driving in low lighting
conditions. If you change to a
different setting, lights
always revert to
Auto on your next drive.
Touch one of these options to change the exterior light setting:
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Auto High Beam (if equipped)
The high beam headlights can automatically switch to low beam when there is light detected in front of
Model X (for example, from an oncoming vehicle). To
turn this feature on or
off, touch Controls > Lights >
Auto High Beam. Your chosen setting is retained until
you manually change it.
NOTE: When you touch or press the high beam
headlight button on the left side of the
steering yoke (or
steering wheel), the touchscreen displays an abbreviated
lights menu to provide quick access to control headlights, fog lights (if equipped), and the
Auto High
Beam setting. Use the touchscreen to choose options
from this menu.
NOTE: Auto High Beam is automatically enabled when
Autosteer is engaged. To switch to low beam headlights, press the high beam headlight button on the
steering
yoke (or steering wheel). Auto High Beam is re-enabled
every time Autosteer is activated.
The following indicator lights are visible on the instrument panel to show the status of the headlights:
Low beam headlights are on.High beam headlights are on. Illuminates
when high beams are on but the Auto High
Beam setting is turned off or if the Auto
High Beam setting is turned on but is
temporarily unavailable.
High beams are currently turned on, and
Auto High Beam is ready to turn off the
high beams if light is detected in front of
Model X.
High beams are temporarily turned off
because Auto High Beam is operating and
light is detected in front of
Model X. When
light is no longer detected, high beam headlights automatically turn back on.
WARNING: Auto High Beam is a convenience only
and is subject to limitations. It is the driver
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If the AFS fails, the instrument panel displays an alert. Contact Tesla Service.
Turn Signals
To engage a turn signal, press the corresponding arrow
button on the left side of the
steering yoke (or steering
wheel). A turn signal cancels based on the angle of the
steering yoke (or steering wheel) (for example, you
finish making a turn). You can also cancel a turn signal
by pressing the turn signal button a second time.
If Controls > Lights > Automatic Turn Signals is set to
Auto Cancel, turn signals cancel automatically when
Model X detects completion of a maneuver such as a
merge, lane change, or a fork in the roadway. You can override automatic cancellation at any time (for
example, you want the turn signal to remain on because
you are making more than one lane change). To override,
engage the turn signal by pressing and momentarily
holding the turn signal button (instead of just pressing). Then, when the
first maneuver is complete, the turn
signal remains on. If
Automatic Turn Signals is set to Off,
you must cancel the turn signal manually by pressing the
turn signal button after maneuvers such as a merge, lane change, or fork in the roadway.
When a turn signal is operating,
the corresponding indicator lights
up on the instrument panel and
you can hear a clicking sound.Hazard Warning Flashers
To turn on the hazard warning flashers, press the button
on the drive mode selector located at the front of the center console. All turn signals
flash. Press again to turn
off.
NOTE: Hazard warning flashers operate even without a
key nearby.
Condensation in Head or Tail Lights
Due to weather changes, humidity levels, or recent exposure to water (such as a car wash), condensation may occasionally accumulate in your vehicle
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IndicatorDescriptionIf a fault is detected with the Adaptive Front Lighting this indicator displays, if equipped. See
Adaptive Front Lighting
System (AFS) on page 69.
This indicator flashes amber when the
electronic stability control systems are actively minimizing wheel spin by
controlling brake pressure and motor
power. See
Traction Control on page 79.
If this indicator remains on, a fault is detected and you should immediately contact Tesla.
If a fault is detected that reduces the performance of the air suspension system, this amber indicator light
displays (see
Air Suspension on page
146). If the problem persists, contact
Tesla.
If a fault is detected that disables the air suspension system, this red indicator light displays (see
Air Suspension on
page 146). Contact Tesla.
Vehicle Hold is actively applying the brakes. See
Vehicle Hold on page 82.
Electronic stability control systems are no longer minimizing wheel spin. See
Traction Control on page 79.
Model X is in Transport mode and can roll
freely. It does not automatically shift into Park when you exit. See
Activate
Transport Mode on page 222.
Trailer mode (if equipped) is active. See
Towing and Accessories on page 87.
A blue snowflake appears when some of
the energy stored in the Battery may not be available due to cold weather
conditions. During these cold weather
conditions, charging rates may also be limited. If
Model X is plugged in, you can
heat your Battery by turning on climate control with the mobile app. The
snowflake disappears when the Battery is
sufficiently warm.
IndicatorDescriptionA green icon appears when regenerative
braking is limited. See
Regenerative
Braking on page 77 for more information.
Vehicle power is currently being limited
because the energy remaining in the
Battery is low, the vehicle
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Wipers and Washers
You can access wiper settings by touching the wiper
button on the
steering yoke (or steering wheel) or
touching
Controls > Wipers.
Press the wiper button on the steering yoke (or steering
wheel) to wipe the windshield.
Press and hold the wiper button to spray washer fluid
onto the windshield. After releasing the button, the
wipers perform two additional wipes then, depending on
vehicle and environmental conditions, a third wipe a few seconds later. You can also press and hold the wiper button for a continuous spray of washer
fluid
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Braking SystemsWARNING: Properly functioning braking systems
are critical to ensure safety. If you experience a
problem with the brake pedal, brake calipers, or
any component of a Model X braking system,
contact Tesla immediately.
Model X has an anti-lock braking system (ABS) that
prevents the wheels from locking when you apply
maximum brake pressure. This improves steering control
during heavy braking in most road conditions.
During emergency braking conditions, the ABS
constantly monitors the speed of each wheel and varies
the brake pressure according to the grip available.
The alteration of brake pressure can be felt as a pulsing sensation through the brake pedal. This demonstrates that the ABS is operating and is not a cause for concern. Keep
firm and steady pressure on the brake pedal while
experiencing the pulsing.
The ABS indicator briefly flashes amber on
the
instrument panel when you first start
Model X. If this indicator lights up at any
other time, an ABS fault has occurred and the ABS is not operating. Contact Tesla.
The braking system remains fully
operational and is not
affected by an ABS
failure. However, braking distances may increase. Drive cautiously and avoid heavy braking.
If the instrument panel displays this red
brake indicator at any time other than
briefly when you first start Model X, a
brake system fault is detected, or the level
of the brake
fluid is low. Contact Tesla
immediately. Apply steady pressure and keep the brakes
firm to bring the vehicle to
a stop when safe to do so.
The instrument panel displays this amber
brake indicator if a brake booster fault is detected. Apply steady pressure and keep the brakes
firm to stop the vehicle when
safety permits. Hydraulic Boost Compensation will be active (see
Hydraulic
Boost Compensation on page 77).
Emergency Braking
In an emergency, fully press the brake pedal and
maintain
firm pressure, even on low traction surfaces.
The ABS varies the braking pressure to each wheel
according to the amount of traction available. This prevents wheels from locking and ensures that you stop as safely as possible.
WARNING: Do not pump the brake pedal. Doing so
interrupts operation of the ABS and can increase
braking distance.
WARNING: Always maintain a safe distance from
the vehicle in front of you and be aware of
hazardous driving conditions. While the ABS can
improve stopping distance, it cannot overcome the
laws of physics. It also does not prevent the
danger of hydroplaning (where a layer of water
prevents direct contact between the tires and the
road).
CAUTION: Automatic Emergency Braking (see
Automatic Emergency Braking on page 132) may
intervene to automatically brake in situations
where a collision is considered imminent.
Automatic Emergency Braking is not designed to
prevent a collision. At best, it can minimize the
impact of a frontal collision by attempting to
reduce your driving speed. Depending on
Automatic Emergency Braking to avoid a collision
can result in serious injury or death.
Dynamic Brake Lights (if equipped)
If you are driving over 30 mph (50 km/h) and brake
forcefully
(or if Automatic Emergency Braking engages),
the brake lights
flash quickly to warn other drivers that
Model X is rapidly slowing down. If Model X stops
completely, the hazard warning lights
flash. Flashing
continues until you press the accelerator or manually press the hazard lights button to turn them
off (see
Hazard Warning Flashers on page 70).
NOTE: When towing a trailer (if applicable), the brake
lights on the trailer also operate as described above,
even when the trailer is not equipped with a separate
braking system.
WARNING: When towing a trailer (if applicable),
always increase your following distance. Sudden
braking may result in skidding, jack-knifing, and
loss of control.
Brake Disc Wiping
To ensure brakes remain responsive in cold and wet
weather,
Model X is equipped with brake disc wiping.
When cold and wet weather is detected, this feature
repeatedly applies an imperceptible amount of brake
force to remove water from the surface of the brake
discs.
Hydraulic Fade Compensation
Model X is equipped with hydraulic fade compensation.
This assists in monitoring brake system pressure and ABS activity for instances of reduced brake
performance. If reduced brake performance is detected (for example, as a result of brake fade, or cold or wet
conditions), you may hear a sound, feel the brake pedal pull away from your foot, and notice a strong increase in
Braking and Stopping
76MODEL X Owner
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NOTE: The parking brake operates on the rear wheels
only, and is independent of the pedal-operated brake
system.CAUTION: In the unlikely event that Model X loses
electrical power, you cannot access the
touchscreen and are therefore unable to release
the parking brake without first jump starting (see
Jump Starting on page 226).
WARNING: In snowy or icy conditions the rear
wheels may not have sufficient traction to prevent
Model X from sliding down a slope, particularly if
not using winter tires. Avoid parking on hills in
snowy or icy conditions. You are always
responsible for parking safely.
WARNING: Your Model X may display an alert if
the road is too steep to safely park on, or if the
parking brakes are not properly engaged. These
alerts are for guidance purposes only and are not a
substitute for the driver
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How It Works
The traction control system constantly monitors the speed of the front and rear wheels. If
Model X
experiences a loss of traction, the system minimizes wheel spin by controlling brake pressure and motor power. By default, the traction control system is on. Under normal conditions, it should remain on to ensure
maximum safety.
This yellow indicator flashes on the
instrument panel whenever the traction
control system is actively controlling brake
pressure and motor power to minimize wheel spin. If the indicator stays on, a fault is detected with the traction control system. Contact Tesla Service.
WARNING: Traction control cannot prevent
collisions caused by driving dangerously or turning
too sharply at high speeds.
Allowing Wheel Slip
To allow the wheels to spin at a limited speed, you can
enable Slip Start.
Slip Start can be enabled only when
Model X is moving 30 mph (48 km/h) or slower. Slip
Start automatically disables when the speed exceeds
50 mph (80 km/h).
Under normal conditions, Slip Start should not be enabled. Enable it only in circumstances where you
deliberately want the wheels to spin, such as:
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Camera Location
Model X is equipped with a rear view camera located
above the rear license plate.
Whenever you shift into Reverse, the touchscreen displays the view from the camera. Lines show your
driving path based on the position of the
steering yoke
(or steering wheel). These lines adjust as you move the
steering yoke (or steering wheel).
Model X also displays images from the side cameras (if
equipped). Simply swipe up or down to hide or show the
side camera views.
NOTE: Visual feedback from Park Assist also appears on
the
instrument panel (see Park Assist on page 80).
To display the view from the rear view
cameras at any time, open the app
launcher and touch the Camera app.
If a black screen appears on the touchscreen instead of the rear view camera feed when in Reverse, use the rear view mirrors and ensure your surroundings are safe before continuing to Reverse. If inoperability of the rear
view camera persists, use the mobile app to schedule a service appointment.
WARNING: Never depend on the cameras to
inform you if the area behind you is free of objects
and/or people. The cameras may not detect
objects or barriers that can potentially cause
damage or injury. In addition, several external
factors can reduce the performance of the
cameras, including a dirty or obstructed lens.
Therefore, depending on the cameras to determine
if Model X is approaching an obstruction can result
in damage to the vehicle and/or objects and can
potentially cause serious injury. Always inspect the
area with your own eyes. When reversing, perform
shoulder checks and use all mirrors. Use the
cameras for guidance purposes only. It is not
intended to replace your own direct visual checks
and is not a substitute for careful driving.
Cleaning a Camera
To ensure a clear picture, the camera lens must be clean
and free of obstructions. Remove any build-up of dirt or debris by spraying water onto the camera lens with a
spray bottle.
CAUTION: Do not attempt to remove dirt or debris
by wiping an exposed lens with your hands or a
cloth. This debris can damage the surface of the
lens when rubbed against it during wiping.
CAUTION: Do not use chemical-based or abrasive
cleaners. Doing so can damage the surface of the
lens.
Rear Facing Camera(s)
85Driving
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Towing CapacityThe total trailer weight (including all cargo and additional equipment), and the trailer tongue weight, must never
exceed the following:
Wheel/Rim SizeMaximum Towing Capacity*Maximum Tongue Weight**275/45R20 110 V / Y
SAE Class III