battery TESLA MODEL 3 2023 User Guide

About the High Voltage Battery
Model 3 has one of the most sophisticated battery
systems in the world. The most important way to preserve the high voltage Battery is to
LEAVE YOUR
VEHICLE PLUGGED IN when you are not using it. This is
particularly important if you are not planning to drive
Model 3 for several weeks.
NOTE: When left idle and unplugged, your vehicle
periodically uses energy from the Battery for system
tests and recharging the
low voltage battery when
necessary.
There is no advantage to waiting until the Battery

NOTE: Although Tesla recommends charging to 100% at
least once per week, remember that regenerative
braking is reduced while driving with a fully charged
battery. See
Regenerative Braking on page 61.
Submerged Vehicle
As with any electric vehicle, if your Tesla has been
exposed to
flooding, extreme weather events or has
otherwise been submerged in water (especially in salt water), treat it as if it

Toggle between Scheduled Departure and Scheduled Charging by touching
Controls > Charging > Switch to
Scheduled Charging/Scheduled Departure when Model
3 is in Park.
NOTE: Scheduled Charging/Scheduled Departure
settings are also available on the Climate Controls screen and in the Tesla mobile app.
Think of Scheduled Charging as "When do I want
charging to start?" and think of
Scheduled Departure
Off-Peak Charging which is "When do I want charging to
be complete?"
Scheduled Charging can be used together with
Scheduled Departure Preconditioning but not with
Scheduled Departure Off-Peak Charging.
Scheduled Charging/Scheduled Departure settings are
automatically saved for each location.
NOTE: If you plug in Model 3 with both Off-Peak
Charging and Scheduled Charging deselected, your
vehicle charges immediately.
Using Scheduled Charging
Use Scheduled Charging to specify a daily time in which
you want
Model 3 to start charging.
With Scheduled Charging selected, enable the feature
then set a daily time to start charging.
NOTE: Scheduled Charging starts charging immediately
if
Model 3 is plugged in up to six hours after the
scheduled start time. However, if
Model 3 is plugged in
after six hours of the scheduled charging time, charging may not start until the scheduled time on the next day.
Using Scheduled Departure
Use Scheduled Departure to set a daily time when you
want
Model 3 to be ready to drive. Model 3
automatically calculates when it needs to start preconditioning and/or charging. This ensures that charging is complete and/or the cabin climate and
Battery are preconditioned by your departure time.
When Scheduled Departure is displayed, touch
Schedule to set a daily time when you want Model 3 to
be ready to drive. Specify a time, then touch
Settings to
enable one or both of the following departure features.
When plugging in with
Off-Peak Charging enabled, the
vehicle
briefly draws power (you may hear clicking) to
calculate the necessary charging start time.
After you

Range Assurance
The driving range displayed in Model 3 is an estimate of
the remaining battery energy based on EPA-rated
consumption. It may not account for your personal
driving patterns or external conditions. The displayed range on the
touchscreen may decrease faster than the
actual distance driven.
To view estimated range based
on your recent energy consumption, open the Energy
app to display the graph.
NOTE: Rated driving range is based on EPA-rated
consumption in the United States, which deviates from tests advertised and performed in other jurisdictions.
Model 3 helps protect you against running out of energy.
Your vehicle continuously monitors its energy level and proximity to known charging locations.
Touch Chargers in the Navigation search
bar to toggle between types of chargers,
including Superchargers and destination charging sites.
When you are at risk of driving beyond the range of
known charging locations, the touchscreen displays a message giving you the opportunity to display a list of
charging locations that are within range. When you
select a charging location from the list,
Model 3 provides
navigation instructions and the turn-by-turn direction list
displays the predicted amount of energy that will remain when you arrive at the charging destination.
Trip Planner (if available in your market region) routes
you through Supercharger locations to minimize the amount of time you spend charging and driving. To
enable, touch
Controls > Navigation > Trip Planner (see
Trip Planner on page 146).
Energy App
The Energy app provides a visual representation of your vehicle

WARNING: Contact Tesla immediately if you notice
any significant or sudden drop in fluid levels or
uneven tire wear.
Fluid Replacement Intervals
Battery coolant and brake fluid levels should only be
checked by
Tesla or a professional automotive repair
shop. Specific service information is available in the
Service Manual.

WARNING: The area under the seat cushion
houses the high voltage Battery. DO NOT
TOUCH OR PLACE ITEMS ON THE METAL
HOUSING! Doing so can cause serious damage
or injury.
9.
With a 10mm socket, loosen the nut that secures the negative (-) terminal clamp to the negative (-) post on the low voltage lead-acid battery. Release the terminal clamp from the negative (-) post.
10.
With a 10mm socket, release the terminal cover and loosen the nut that secures the positive (+) terminal
clamp to the positive (+) post on the low voltage
lead-acid battery. Release the terminal clamp from the positive (+) post and cover the terminal clamp with a dry rag.
CAUTION: Do not allow the positive (+)
terminal clamp to contact nearby components
like the low voltage battery hold down bracket
or A/C cooling lines.
11.
Unplug the vent tube hose from the negative (-)
terminal side of the low voltage lead-acid battery.
12.
With a 10mm socket, loosen the nut and release the
battery hold down from the top of the low voltage
lead-acid battery by unhooking and sliding it back, taking care to ensure it does not slip into the vehicle.
13.
Using the battery handle, carefully remove the low
voltage lead-acid battery, taking care not to touch or damage the surrounding components.
WARNING: When lifting the low voltage lead-
acid battery, stand in front of the vehicle and
use proper lifting technique. The low voltage
battery weighs approximately 25 lb (12 kg).
Failure to do so may cause serious injury.Maintenance Service Intervals
169Maintenance

14.
Inspect the new low voltage lead-acid battery to ensure it is equipped a red plug on the positive (+) terminal side. If the new low voltage battery does not have a red plug, use a small trim tool transfer the red plug from the old battery to the new one.
CAUTION: Dispose of the old low voltage lead-
acid battery according to local laws, such as
dropping it off at a battery recycling facility.
Keep the low voltage battery upright and place
it on a towel or piece of cardboard when
transporting it.
Installation:
1.
Remove the protective caps from the positive (+) and negative (-) posts on new low voltage lead-acid
battery.
2.
Carefully maneuver the new low voltage battery into place, taking care not to touch or damage nearby
components.
3. Install the low voltage battery hold down and use a
10mm socket to tighten the bolt that secures it to the low voltage lead-acid battery. Torque the bolt to 6
Nm (4.4 ft-lb).4.
In the rear passenger seat, connect the penthouse cable to the connector:
a.
Ensure the gray lever-arm is down, then install the
connector.
b.
Secure the connector by gently tugging the gray
lever-arm upward until it clicks into place.
c.
Replace the foam cover on top of the penthouse cable.
Maintenance Service Intervals
170MODEL 3 Owner

WARNING: The area under the seat cushion
houses the high voltage Battery. DO NOT
TOUCH OR PLACE ITEMS ON THE METAL
HOUSING! Doing so can cause serious damage
or injury.
5.
Connect the positive (+) terminal by positioning the terminal clamp over the terminal post. Using a 10mm socket, torque the nut to 6 Nm (4.4 ft-lb). Install the
positive (+) terminal cover.
6.
Connect the negative (-) terminal by positioning the terminal clamp over the connector. Using a 10mm socket, torque the nut to 6 Nm (4.4 ft-lb).
7.
Connect the vent tube hose into the negative (-) terminal side of the low voltage lead-acid battery.
8.
Replace the cabin intake duct.
9.
Open one of the vehicle

12.
Replace the underhood apron by aligning the clips into their openings in the front trunk. Press down to lock them in place. The clips make an audible clicking
sound when secured.
13.
Close the front trunk. If an alert to replace to low voltage lead-acid battery was previously shown on the touchscreen, ensure the alert no longer appears.
Vehicles Manufactured After
Approximately October 2020
Removal:
1.
Prepare the vehicle to remove the low voltage lead-
acid battery:
a.
Ensure the vehicle is in Park.
b.
Lower all windows.
c.
Open the front trunk.
d.
Leave a door propped open so you can get back
into the vehicle if needed.
e.
Disconnect the charge cable from the charge port.
2.
Remove the vehicle

7.
With a 10mm socket, release the terminal cover and loosen the nut that secures the positive (+) terminal
clamp to the positive (+) post on the low voltage
lead-acid battery. Release the terminal clamp from the positive (+) post and cover the terminal clamp with a dry rag.
CAUTION: Do not allow the positive (+)
terminal clamp to contact nearby components
like the low voltage lead-acid battery hold
down bracket or A/C cooling lines.
8.
Unplug the vent tube hose from the negative (-)
terminal side of the low voltage battery.
9. With a 10mm socket, loosen the nut and release the
battery hold down from the top of the low voltage
lead-acid battery by unhooking and slipping it back. If needed, tilt the battery hold down backward so it does not slip into the vehicle.10.
Carefully remove the low voltage lead-acid battery,
taking care not to damage the surrounding components.
WARNING: When lifting the lead-acid battery,
stand in front of the vehicle and use proper
lifting technique. The lead-acid battery weighs
approximately 25 lb (12 kg). Failure to do so
may cause serious injury.
11.
Inspect the new low voltage lead-acid battery to make sure it is equipped with a red plug on the
positive (+) terminal side. If the new lead-acid battery does not have a red plug, transfer the red plug from
the old battery to the new one.
CAUTION: Dispose of the old low voltage lead-
acid battery according to local laws, such as
dropping it off at a battery recycling facility.
Keep the battery upright and place it on a towel
or piece of cardboard when transporting it.Maintenance Service Intervals
173Maintenance