brake TESLA ROADSTER 2008 Owners Manual

Important notes about your vehicle1-2
Introduction and consumer information
Introduction and consumer information
Important notes about your vehicleElectric vehicle precautions
WA R N I N G : HIGH VOLTAGE. The Tesla
Roadster
TM has both AC and DC high
voltage systems in addition to a normal 12V
DC system. High voltage is very dangerous
and can cause personal injury including
electric shock, severe burns and even fatal
injury. Always observe and obey the
instructions on all labels attached to
components on your vehicle - they are there
for your safety. Do not touch, remove or
replace any high voltage parts. If your vehicle
is involved in an accident, do not touch any
high voltage wiring (identified by the orange
outer sleeving), the connectors or the
components connected to the wiring.
S
California Proposition 65
WARNING: Certain vehicle components
contain or emit chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive harm. In
addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles
and certain products of component wear
contain or emit chemicals known to the State
of California to cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive harm.
S
WA R N I N G : C e r t a i n c o m p o n e n t s o f t h i s
vehicle such as airbag modules and
seat belt pretensioners may contain
Perchlorate Material. Special handling may be
required for service or vehicle end of life
disposal. See
http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/per
chlorate.
S
Vehicle modifications
WARNING: The fitting of non-approved
parts and accessories, or the
implementation of non-approved
modifications to any vehicle components,
including any “hacking” of the vehicle’s
software, may be dangerous and could affect
the safety of your vehicle and its occupants
and also invalidate the terms and conditions
of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
S
WA R N I N G : Te s l a M o t o r s
TM will not
accept any liability for death, personal
injury or damage to property which may
occur as a direct or indirect result of
non-approved modifications or the fitment of
non-approved accessories.
S
If you have a disability which requires
modification to your vehicle, consult Tesla
Motors before making these modifications.Service data recordingService data recorders in your vehicle are
capable of collecting and storing diagnostic
information about your vehicle. This
potentially includes information about the
performance or status of various systems and
control modules in your vehicle such as
motor, accelerator, or brakes. To properly
diagnose and service your vehicle, Tesla
Motors and service facilities may access
vehicle diagnostic information through a
direct connection to your vehicle.
Change of address or
ownershipIf you change your address, it is in your best
interest to notify Tesla Motors so we can
contact you should the need arise. Send in
the “Change of Address Notice” found in the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty” booklet, or
simply call Tesla Motors.
If you sell your vehicle, leave all original
owners package materials in the vehicle to
make it available for the next owner.
If you bought this vehicle used, either fill in
the “Change of Address Notice” found in the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty booklet, or
simply call Tesla Motors.
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Vehicle security4-8
Doors, locks, and security
Ve h i c l e P I N c o d eAs an alternate level of vehicle security, you
can restrict operation of your vehicle until a
PIN code is entered. The PIN code is used by
the following features that can be selected on
the Touch Screen’s parked screen (shown
above, the parked screen is active whenever
the hand brake is engaged).
Tesla Motors requires that you set your PIN
code when you receive your vehicle.
Note: If at some point in the future you sell
your vehicle, remember to inform the new
owner of the PIN code.
Setting the PIN code
With the hand brake engaged, touch
the SETTINGS icon on the main ‘parked
screen to display the settings screen.
Press the right arrow icon to navigate to the
second settings screen.
Touch Security PIN .
If a PIN code has been previously set, you will
be asked to enter the old PIN code. Enter the
old PIN code by touching the numbers on the
screen and then touch OK. If you enter an
incorrect PIN code, an invalid entry message
will be displayed. Either enter the correct PIN
code or touch the EXIT icon to return to the
previous screen. You will be then be asked to enter the new
PIN code. Enter a new PIN code and then
touch
OK.
Note: The PIN code must be between four
and eight digits in length.
You will then be asked to confirm the new PIN
code. Enter the new PIN code again and then
touch OK.
If the PIN code does not match the previously
entered code a message will be displayed
telling you that the PINs differ and you will
need to enter the PIN code again.
Valet mode. See
Va l e t m o d e ,
page 4-11 .
PIN Lock. See PIN lock,
page 4-10 .
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Charging components5-6Charging your vehicleCharging componentsTR0034
BRAKE F
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Main charging components1. Battery
2. Charging port
3. Charging port door
4. Charging cable
5. Cable hanger
6. High Power Connector
7. Smoke detector
The High Power Connector is the primary
source for recharging your vehicle.
During normal use, the High Power Connector
should be left on, even when the charging
cable is not connected to the vehicle. The
READY light on the control panel illuminates
green to indicate that the High Power
Connector is operating correctly.
Although the High Power Connector is on and
ready, no electricity is supplied until the
charging cable is connected to the vehicle,
and both the vehicle and the High Power
Connector determine that it is safe for
charging to begin.
For details on how to use the High Power
Connector to charge your vehicle, refer to the
manual titled “Charging Your Vehicle,”
provided in your owners package.
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6-1
Driving your vehicle
Driving basicsKey positions 6-2
Steering column lock 6-2
Starting the vehicle 6-3
Selecting gears 6-3
Driving tips 6-3
Hand brake 6-5
Braking 6-5
Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) 6-5
Traction control 6-6
Switches and controls Exterior lights 6-7
Turn signals 6-8
Windshield wiper and washer 6-8
Cruise control 6-9
Hazard warning 6-10
Horn 6-10
Instruments LCD panel 6-11
Warning indicators 6-12
Gear position indicators 6-13
Instrument panel lighting 6-14
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Driving basics6-2
Driving your vehicle
Driving your vehicle
Driving basicsKey positionsThe starter switch is located on the
right-hand side of the steering column and
uses the following key positions to control
the electrical circuits and steering column
lock.OFF•Park mode active
• Interior and trunk lights operational
• Exterior and hazard warning lights
operational
• Central door locking master switch
operational
• Trunk release switch operational
Note: When turning the key to the OFF
position, the circuits that operate in ACC
continue to operate until the key is removed.
ACC• Park mode still active
• Audio and navigation systems
operationalON•All instruments, warning indicators and
electrical circuits operationalSTART•The vehicle initiates the start-up
sequence to prepare for driving (if the
brake pedal is pressed). The gear position
indicator illuminates green and park
mode is deactivated.Removing the keyTo remove the key, turn the key to the OFF
position. Exterior lights (except hazard
warning lights) automatically turn off when
the key is removed from the starter switch.
If the key has been left in the starter switch,
an audible alert sounds when the driver’s
door is opened.
WARNING: Never remove the key from
the starter switch while the vehicle is
moving. The steering column lock will
engage, making it impossible to steer the
vehicle.
S
Steering column lockThe steering column lock is activated when
the key is removed from the starter switch,
but may not engage until the steering wheel
is turned and the mechanism aligned. To release the steering column lock, insert the
key into the starter switch and turn to the
ACC position. If it is difficult to turn the key, a
small movement of the steering wheel will
help to disengage the steering lock.
TR0004OFF
ACC
ON
STARTRoadster OHB.book Page 2 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM

Driving basics
6-3
Driving your vehicle
Starting the vehicleFollow these steps to prepare the vehicle for
driving:
1. Tesla recommends selecting the N gear position.
2. Press and hold down the brake pedal.
3. Insert the key into the starter switch, turn it to the START position, and release.
When released, the key automatically
returns to the ON position and, if the
start-up sequence is successful, the N
indicator will illuminate green and you’ll
hear an audible tone. .
Note: If the brake pedal is not pressed, a
message is displayed on the Touch
Screen. Press the brake pedal and turn
the key to the START position again.
The vehicle is now ready to be driven.
Selecting gearsThe transmission has two selectable drive
positions - forward (D) and reverse (R). In the
neutral (N) position the gear selector rests
between gears D and R.
Indicator lights in the instrument panel
illuminate to show the currently engaged
gear.
The vehicle can be driven away from
stationary with the gear selector in position D
or R. • R (Reverse). Selectable whenever the
vehicle’s forward speed is less than 5
mph. The maximum speed in reverse is
limited to 15 mph. An audible tone will be
heard when reverse gear is selected.
• N (Neutral). Select th is position and apply
the hand brake if the vehicle needs to be
stationary for a period of time. •
D (Drive). Can be selected whenever the
vehicle is stationary.
Note: P (Park) is not a gear you can select. It
is a state the vehicle is in when the
transmission is locked and the rear wheels
cannot turn. When the key is turned to the
ACC position, this state is activated
automatically, regardless of the position of
the gear selector. In the event that the
vehicle needs to hauled on a flatbed truck, P
must be deactivated before the vehicle can
be pulled onto the truck. See Ve h i c l e
recovery, page 10-13 .
Driving tipsDriving an electric vehicle is similar to driving
a gasoline-powered vehicle. Here are a few
guidelines you should be aware of to help you
maximize range.Drive sensibly to maximize rangeEnergy consumption depends on driving
habits and operating condition. Your vehicle
is designed to travel over 200 miles on a
charge.
To get the maximum mileage from a charge,
you should:
• Avoid frequent acceleration and
deceleration.
• Anticipate stops and instead of using the
brake pedal to slow down, move your foot
off the accelerator. Whenever the vehicle
is moving and your foot is off the
accelerator, regenerative braking slows
the vehicle and feeds energy back to the
battery.
EST.
PIN Code Chang brakedWhile starting, foot
brake must be pressed
ID:881 Data:0x00000002 1:03AM
<Press panel to dismiss>
TR0304
TR0008
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Driving basics
6-5
Driving your vehicle
Hand brake
WARNING: Do not apply the hand
brake when the vehicle is moving. This
could result in a loss of control and may
damage the rear brakes.
S
The hand brake operates on the rear wheels
only, and is totally independent of the foot
operated hydraulic brake system.
To apply the hand brake, pull the lever fully
upwards.
If the starter switch is in the ON
position and the hand brake is
applied, the warnin g indicator in the
instrument panel illuminates and the Touch
Screen will display the main Parked screen.
Caution: If the hand brake is applied
when the brakes are hot (such as after
prolonged or frequent hard use), care should
be taken that the hand brake is securely
engaged. As the brake discs cool, the amount
of brake force applied by the lever will
reduce. To release the hand brake, pull the lever up
slightly, depress the button (shown in
illustration) and fully lower the lever. The
warning indicator will extinguish and the
Touch Screen will display a Drive screen.
Braking
WARNING: After driving through heavy
rain, some loss of braking response may
be experienced. As soon as safety permits,
apply the brakes to generate heat and dry the
brake components. Never drive the vehicle
through deep water - doing so can cause
damage and void the New Vehicle Limited
Wa r ra n t y.
S
The brakes operate through dual circuits. If
one circuit fails, the other continues to
function, but brakin g performance is
reduced. If greater pedal effort, or longer
stopping distances are experienced, the car
should not be driven and Tesla Motors should
be contacted as soon as possible. The brakes are servo-assisted, but only when
the starter switch is in the ON position and
the electrical systems are operating. Without
servo assistance, greater pedal effort is
required to control the vehicle, resulting in
longer stopping distances.
Regenerative brakingWhenever the vehicle is moving and your
foot is off the accelerator, regenerative
braking slows the vehicle and feeds energy
back to the battery. By anticipating your
stops and simply removing your foot from
the accelerator to slow down, you can take
advantage of the energy gains of
regenerative braking. A visual display on the
instrument panel provides real-time
feedback of the vehicle’s regenerative
braking. See
LCD panel, page 6-11 .Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS)
WARNING: ABS cannot overcome the
physical limitations such as stopping
the vehicle in too short a distance, turning the
vehicle at high speeds, or the lack of grip on
the road’s surface.
S
WARNING: Do not take risks when
driving in the hope that ABS will correct
errors of judgement. In all cases it is the
driver&#39;s responsibility to drive with due care
and attention.
S
Your vehicle is equipp ed with an anti-lock
braking system (ABS) that prevents the
wheels from locking when maximum brake
BRAKE
TR0005
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Driving basics6-6
Driving your vehicle
pressure is applied. This allows you to
maintain steering control during heavy
braking on 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 ABS is operating and
is not a cause for concern. Keep firm and
steady pressure on the brake pedal while
experiencing the pulsation.Emergency braking
WARNING: DO NOT pump the foot
brake. ABS does this for you and by
pumping the foot brake yourself, you are
interfering with ABS operation which may
result in an increase in braking distance.
S
In an emergency, fully press the brake pedal
even when the road surface is slippery. ABS
will vary the braking pressure to each wheel
according to the amount of traction available.
This prevents the wheels from locking and
ensures that the vehicle stops as safely as
possible.
Note: ABS operates only when control of the
vehicle is jeopardized. It can not compensate
for driver error.ABS warning indicatorWhen the starter switch is turned to the ON
position, and also at frequent intervals while
driving, the ABS checks that all its
components are operating correctly. If a fault is detected, the warning
indicator in the instrument panel
flashes and the ABS shuts down. Contact
Tesla Motors as soon as possible.
The vehicle’s brakes remain fully operational
and are not affected by an ABS failure.
However, braking distances may increase and
wheels may lock under heavy braking.
Tra c t i o n c o n t ro l
WARNING: Traction control cannot
overcome the physical limitations of the
vehicle turning at too high a speed and
cannot prevent any accident which may
result.S
The traction control system constantly
monitors the difference in speed between the
front and rear wheels. If a loss of traction is
detected, it reduces torque to the rear wheels
to minimize wheel spin. When this happens,
you may notice the traction control warning
indicator on the instrument panel flash
quickly.
Traction control is automatically switched on
each time the starter switch is turned to the
ON position.Switching off traction controlIf required, traction control can be manually
switched off by pressing and holding the
switch on the center console for
approximately two seconds. When the
button is released, traction control will be
disabled. The warning indicator in the
instrument panel illuminates to inform
you that the vehicle is operating without the
advantages of traction control.
Under normal conditions, traction control
should be left on. The system should only be
switched off in circumstances where you
deliberately want the wheels to slip. As soon
as the circumstances requiring you to switch
traction control off have passed, press the
switch to turn traction control back on.BRAKE
TC
TC T CT C
T C
T C
D
R
N
TR0011
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Switches and controls
6-9
Driving your vehicle
Cruise control
WARNING: Only use cruise control
when conditions are favorable, on
straight, dry, open roads with light traffic.
S
The cruise control system allows you to
maintain a selected vehicle speed above
30 mph, without having to use the
accelerator pedal.
When cruise control is active, the
warning indicator in the instrument
panel illuminates.Operating cruise controlOperate cruise control using the following
controls on the left-hand steering column
lever:
O - OFF
I - initially sets the current speed.
Subsequent presses increase the speed. R - initially resumes a previously set speed.
Subsequent presses reduce the speed.
Setting the vehicle speedTo engage cruise control, the vehicle must be
moving at least 30 mph. Once you have
accelerated to your desired speed, press and
release I to set the speed at which the
vehicle is currently traveling. Cruise control is
engaged and the set speed will be
maintained when you release your foot from
the accelerator pedal. To actively disengage
cruise control, press the O button on the
end of the control lever.
Note: Cruise control automatically
disengages when you press the brake pedal,
apply the hand brake, or when the vehicle’s
speed falls below 30 mph.
Caution: When you disengage cruise
control, the vehicle decelerates rapidly. Changing the set speedAccelerate or decelerate to the desired speed
and then press and release I to change the
set speed. • Press and release I to increase the
speed in 1 mph increments or press and
hold until the desired speed is reached.
• Press and release R to reduce the speed
in 1 mph increments or press and hold
until the desired speed is reached.
Pressing R when the vehicle is at, or
below, 31 mph cancels cruise control.
Alternatively, use the rocker switch to
increase ( I) or reduce
( R) speed when cruise control is active. You can press the accelerator pedal to
exceed the set speed. Then, on releasing the
pedal, the vehicle will decelerate until the set
speed is reached.
Resuming a set speed
Caution: The resume function should
only be used if you are aware of the set
speed and want to return to it.
Press R to accelerate to the previously set
speed. This function will not operate if the
previously set speed is zero or if cruise
control is already operating.
The set speed is reset to zero when:
1. The starter switch is turned to the OFF position.
2. Reverse gear is selected.
3. The hand brake is applied.
4. The vehicle speed is below 1 mph.
R
O
TR0014CRUISE
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Instruments
6-11
Driving your vehicle
Instruments
BRAKE FAU LT
CRUISE
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PRND
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TR0028noc
LCD panelThe Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) panel in the
instrument panel operates whenever the
starter switch is in the ON position. The LCD
displays three types of information.AmmeterThe ammeter displays information about the
electrical current either entering or leaving
the Battery.
The numbers at the top left of the LCD
indicates the current (in amps).
Ammeter
Odometer,
trip display,
& range
Charge level
TR0031
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