brake light TESLA MODEL S 2015 User Guide

The instrument panel displays the Cruisemessage above the speedometer (see
Instrument Panel Indicator Lights on page
62) and a tick mark at the edge of the
speedometer indicates the set speed.
You can now release the accelerator pedal
and allow Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to maintain your set speed. When no vehicle isdetected ahead, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
maintains the set speed. If a vehicle is
detected, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
maintains your chosen following distance, up to the set speed, decelerating Model S as
needed. When the vehicle you are following is no longer detected, Traffic Aware Cruise
Control accelerates back to the set speed.
You can accelerate at any time when driving at a set speed using Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control. But when you release the accelerator, Model S returns to the set speed.
When following a vehicle, Traffic-Aware
Cruise Control remains active at low speeds. If
Model S comes to a standstill and remains stationary for approximately three seconds
(slightly longer when driving on highway
conditions), you will need to resume Traffic-
Aware Cruise Control by pressing the
accelerator pedal or pulling the cruise control lever toward you (see Canceling and
Resuming on page 64). A message displays
on the instrument panel that you need to
resume Traffic-Aware Cruise Control.
When Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is actively
slowing down Model S to maintain the
selected distance from the vehicle ahead,
brake lights turn on to alert other road users
that you are slowing down. You may also notice slight movement of the brake pedal.
Warning: Do not depend on Traffic-
Aware Cruise Control to adequately and appropriately slow down Model S. Always
watch the road in front of you and stay
prepared to brake at all times. Traffic-
Aware Cruise Control does not eliminate the need to apply the brakes as needed,even at slow speeds.Warning: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
can not detect all objects and may not
detect a stationary vehicle or other objectin the lane of travel. There may be
situations in which Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control does not detect a vehicle, bicycle, or pedestrian. Depending on Traffic-
Aware Cruise Control to avoid a collision can result in serious injury or death.Warning: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
may react to vehicles or objects that either do not exist or are not in the lane
of travel, causing Model S to slow down
unnecessarily or inappropriately..Warning: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
may misjudge the distance from a vehicle ahead. Always watch the road in front of
you. It is the driver's responsibility to
maintain a safe distance from a vehicle
ahead of you.Warning: When you enable Traffic-Aware
Cruise Control in a situation where you are closely following the vehicle in front
of you, Model S may apply the brakes to
maintain the selected distance.Warning: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
has limited deceleration ability and may be unable to apply enough braking to
avoid a collision if a vehicle in front slows
suddenly, or if a vehicle enters your driving lane in front of you. Never dependon Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to slowdown the vehicle enough to prevent a
collision. Always keep your eyes on the
road when driving and be prepared to take corrective action as needed.Depending on Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control to slow the vehicle down enough
to prevent a collision can result in serious
injury or death.Warning: Driving downhill can increase
driving speed, causing Model S to exceed
your set speed. Hills can also make it
more difficult for Model S to slow down
enough to maintain the chosen following
distance from the vehicle ahead.Warning: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
may occasionally brake Model S when not required based on the distance from a
vehicle ahead. This can be caused by vehicles in adjacent lanes (especially on
curves), or by stationary objects.
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
Driving61

Canceling and Resuming
To manually cancel Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control, briefly push the cruise control lever
away from you. The message on the
instrument panel turns off, but the set speed remains displayed until Model S powers off.
To resume cruising at the previously set
speed, briefly pull the cruise control lever
toward you.
Note: When Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
cancels, Model S does not coast. Instead,
regenerative braking slows down Model S in
the same way as when you move your foot off
the accelerator when driving without cruise
control (see Regenerative Braking on page
53).
Warning: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
may immediately cancel, or may not be available, in the following situations:
• You press the brake pedal.
• Your driving speed drops below 18 mph (30 km/h) in situations when
Model S does not detect a vehicle
ahead within the specified distance.
• You shift Model S out of Drive.
• The driver's seat belt is unbuckled.
• A door is opened.
• The view from the radar sensor or camera is obstructed. This could be
caused by dirt, mud, ice, snow, fog,
etc.
• The traction control setting is manually disabled or is repeatedly
engaging to prevent wheels from
slipping.
• The wheels are spinning while at a standstill.• The cruise control system is failing
and requires service.
When Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is unavailable or cancels, all cruise control
functionality is unavailable. Model S no longer drives consistently at a set speed
and no longer maintains a specified
distance from the vehicle ahead.Warning: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
can cancel unexpectedly at any time for
unforeseen reasons. Always watch the
road in front of you and stay prepared to
take appropriate action. It is the driver's responsibility to be in control of Model S
at all times.
Limitations
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is particularly
unlikely to operate as intended in the
following types of situations:
• The road has sharp curves.
• Visibility is poor (due to heavy rain, snow, fog, etc.).
• Bright light (oncoming headlights or direct sunlight) is interfering with the
camera's view.
• The radar sensor in the center of the front grill is obstructed (dirty, covered, etc.).
• The windshield area in the camera's field of view is obstructed (fogged over, dirty,
covered by a sticker, etc.).
Caution: If your Model S is equipped with
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, you must take your vehicle to Tesla Service if a
windshield replacement is needed. Failure
to do so can cause Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control to malfunction.Warning: Many unforeseen circumstances
can impair the operation of Traffic-Aware Cruise Control. Always keep this in mind
and remember that as a result, Traffic-
Aware Cruise Control may not slow down or may brake or accelerate Model S
inappropriately. Always drive attentively and be prepared to take immediate
action.Warning: Traffic-aware cruise control
may not brake/decelerate for stationary vehicles, especially in situations when youare driving over 50 mph (80 km/h) and a
vehicle you are following moves out of your driving path and a stationary vehicleor object is in front of you instead.
Always pay attention to the road ahead
and stay prepared to take immediate
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
64Model S Owner's Manual

Driving Tips to Maximize RangeYou can maximize your driving range usingthe same driving habits that you use to
conserve fuel in a gasoline-powered vehicle. In
addition to driving habits, energy
consumption depends on environmental conditions (such as cold weather and hillyroads). To get the maximum mileage from a
charge:
• Avoid frequent and rapid acceleration. • Instead of using the brake to slow down, move your foot off the accelerator.
Whenever Model S is moving and your
foot is off the accelerator, regenerative
braking slows down Model S and feeds
surplus energy back to the Battery (see
Regenerative Braking on page 53).
• Keep tires at the recommended inflation pressures (see Tire Care and Maintenance
on page 109).
• Lighten your load by removing any unnecessary cargo.
• Limit the use of resources such as heating and air conditioning. Using seat heaters to
keep warm is more efficient than heating the cabin. To automatically limit the
amount of power that the climate control system uses to maintain the temperatureof the Battery and the cabin area, touch
Controls > Driving > Range Mode > ON .
Note: On Dual Motor vehicles, you can turn on
Range Mode only when acceleration is set to Sport (if you change Acceleration to Insane,Range Mode automatically turns off).
The power meter on the instrument panel and
the Energy app (described next) provide
feedback on energy usage. With this
feedback, you will soon become familiar with how driving habits and environmental
conditions impact how much energy Model S
is using.
Energy App Use the energy app to view real-time and
projected energy usage. Choose from two
types of charts:
• Consumption Chart: - display how much energy Model S has consumed over thepast 5, 15 or 30 miles (10, 25 or 50 kms).
• Trip Chart - If your Model S is equipped with the navigation option, you can trackthe amount of energy being consumed
while navigating to a destination. The gray
line represents predicted usage and the
green line represents actual usage. Touchthe zoom icon in the top right corner to change the zoom level.
Note: The Trip Chart displays energy usage
only if you are currently navigating to a destination.
Note: In some situations, values and distances
on the Trip chart may be inaccurate. For example, when charging Model S during anactive navigation route. To resolve
inaccuracies, cancel and reinitiate navigation to the destination.
Saving Energy Model S has an energy-saving feature that
reduces the amount of energy being
consumed when Model S is not in use. Touch Controls > Displays > Energy Saving and
choose from the following options:
• OFF . All display systems remain powered
when Model S is not in use, providing the most responsive experience. More energy
is consumed.
• NIGHTLY . Model S shifts to the energy-
saving mode at night (10 pm to 5 am).
• ON. Significantly less energy is consumed
whenever Model S is not in use. The start-
up time of the instrument panel and
Bluetooth could be slower.
• Always Connected . Preserves cell
connectivity when energy saving is active.
This allows the mobile app to connect to
Model S more quickly, and provides
immediate 3G internet access when entering the car. Slightly more energy isconsumed.
Getting Maximum Range
70Model S Owner's Manual

Manually control the touchscreen’s
brightness and control its day (light
background) or night (dark background)
setting. When set to Auto, the
touchscreen automatically changes between Day and Night brightness
depending on the ambient lighting
conditions. To disable the touchscreen
momentarily for cleaning purposes, touch
Clean Mode . You can also put Model S
into an energy saving mode so it consumes less energy when not in use
(see Getting Maximum Range on page
70). Note that the Displays settings can
also be accessed from the Settings screen.
8. E-Brake & Power Off
You can manually:
• Apply and release the parking brake (see Parking Brake on page 53).
• Power off (see Powering Off on page
41).
9. Doors & Locks (see Using Interior Door
Handles on page 6)
10. Lights (see Lights on page 47)Warning: Do not read the touchscreen
while driving. Doing so increases the
likelihood of a collision. Everything you need to know when driving is displayed
on the instrument panel.
Controls
76Model S Owner's Manual

Lowering) until you are driving faster than
the auto-raising speed thresholds described above.
• If Model S reaches a saved location and the existing suspension setting is higher
than the level that has been saved for that
location, the suspension is not adjusted.
To remove an auto-raising location
If you do not want the suspension to auto-
raise at a saved location, touch the X in the
touchscreen message that displays at a saved
location. Doing so removes the auto-raise
location and the suspension no longer raises automatically when you arrive at the location.
Note: Manually lowering the suspension to
Standard or Low while at a saved location also
removes the auto-raising location.
Automatic Lowering When Model S is moving above typical
driveway or parking lot speeds, Smart Air
Suspension automatically lowers ride height
to improve aerodynamics and handling. For
most average speed driving, the suspension is
automatically set to Standard. As described
above, when you make manual height
adjustments, the suspension automatically lowers at increased driving speeds.
When carrying loads, Smart Air Suspension also maintains a level height between the
front and rear.
You can adjust the speed at which the Air
Suspension automatically transitions to the LOW ride height by touching Controls >
Suspension > Automatic Lowering on the
touchscreen. This setting is saved to your Driver Profile .
Note: You can temporarily override the ride
height by pressing the brake pedal, touching an air suspension control in Controls >
Suspension , and then manually choosing a
ride height. Your suspension's automatic
lowering setting is restored the next time you
drive.If a fault is detected with the air
suspension system, a yellow
indicator lights up on the instrument
panel. If the problem persists,
contact Tesla.
Jack Mode
Before jacking or lifting, set the suspension to
Jack mode to prevent the self-leveling that
occurs even when Model S is powered off.
Press the brake pedal, then touch Controls >
Suspension > Jack .
When Model S is in Jack mode, a red
air suspension indicator lights up on
the instrument panel.
To deactivate, touch Jack again.
Note: Jack mode automatically cancels when
you drive over 4.5 mph (7 km/h).
Smart Air Suspension
84Model S Owner's Manual

Service Intervals
Regular maintenance is the key to ensuring
the continued reliability and efficiency of your
Model S.
Rotate the tires every 5000 miles (8000 km),
maintain the correct tire pressures, and take Model S to Tesla at the regularly scheduledmaintenance intervals of every 12 months, orevery 12,500 miles (20,000 km), whichever
comes first. It is also important to perform the
daily and monthly checks described below.
Model S must be serviced by Tesla-certified
technicians. Damages or failures caused by
maintenance or repairs performed by non-
Tesla certified technicians are not covered by
the warranty.
Daily Checks • Check the Battery’s charge level, displayed on the instrument panel.
• Check that all exterior lights, horn, turn signals, and wipers and washers are
working.
• Check the operation of the brakes, including the parking brake.
• Check the operation of the seat belts (see Seat Belts on page 20).
• Look for fluid deposits underneath Model S that might indicate a leak. It is
normal for a small pool of water to form
(caused by the air conditioning system’s dehumidifying process).
Monthly Checks • Check the mileage to determine if the tires need to be rotated (every
5000 miles/8000 km), and check the
condition and pressure of each tire (see
Tire Care and Maintenance on page 109).
• Check washer fluid level and top up if necessary (see Topping Up Washer Fluid
on page 125).
• Check that the air conditioning system is operating (see Climate Controls on page
80).Warning: Contact Tesla immediately if
you notice any significant or sudden drop in fluid levels or uneven tire wear.Fluid Replacement Intervals
Do not change or top up Battery coolant and
brake fluid yourself. Tesla service technicians replace fluids at the regularly scheduled
service intervals:
• Brake fluid. Every 2 years or 25,000 miles (40,000 km), whichever comes first.
• Battery coolant. Every 5 years or 62,500 miles (100,000 km), whichever
comes first.
Note: Any damage from opening the Battery
coolant reservoir is excluded from the warranty.
High Voltage Safety Your Model S has been designed and built
with safety as a priority. However, be aware of these precautions to protect yourself from the
risk of injury inherent in all high-voltage
systems:
• Read and follow all instructions provided on the labels that are attached to Model S.These labels are there for your safety.
• The high voltage system has no user- serviceable parts. Do not disassemble,
remove or replace high voltage components, cables or connectors. High
voltage cables are colored orange for
easy identification.
• If an accident occurs, do not touch any high voltage wiring, connectors, or
components connected to the wiring.
• In the unlikely event that a fire occurs, immediately contact your local fire
emergency responders.Warning: Always disconnect the charge
cable before working underneath Model S, even if charging is not in
progress.Warning: Keep your hands and clothing
away from cooling fans. Some fans
operate even when Model S is powered
off.Caution: Some fluids (battery acid,
Battery coolant, brake fluid, windshield
washer additives, etc.) used in motor
vehicles are poisonous and should not be
inhaled, swallowed, or brought into contact with open wounds. For your
safety, always read and follow
instructions printed on fluid containers.
Maintenance Schedule
108Model S Owner's Manual

Winter Tires
Your Model S is not originally equipped with
winter tires. In snowy and icy conditions, consider installing winter tires. Winter tires are
designed to increase traction in snowy or icy
conditions. When installing winter tires, always install a complete set of four tires at the sametime. Winter tires must be the same size,brand, construction and tread pattern on allfour wheels. Contact Tesla for winter tire
recommendations.Winter tires can be identified by a
mountain/snowflake symbol on the
tire's sidewall.
When driving with winter tires, you may
experience more road noise, shorter tread life, and less traction on dry roads.
Driving in Low Temperatures Tire performance is reduced in low ambient
temperatures, resulting in reduced grip and an
increased susceptibility to damage from
impacts. Performance tires can temporarily
harden when cold, causing you to hear
rotational noise for the first few miles (kms)
until the tires warm up.
Using Tire Chains Tesla has tested and approved Security Chain
Company (SCC) Model Z-563 chains for use
on the rear wheels. These chains must only be
used if your Model S has 245/45R19 rear tires
installed. Do not use chains on 21 inch tires.
When installing tire chains, follow the
instructions provided by the tire chain
manufacturer. Mount them as tightly as
possible.
When using tire chains:
• Drive slowly. Do not exceed 30 mph (48 km/h).
• Avoid heavily loading Model S (heavy loads can reduce the clearance between
the tires and the body).
• Remove the tire chains as soon as conditions allow.
Note: Tire chains are prohibited in some
jurisdictions. Check local laws before installing
tire chains.
Caution: Using non-recommended tire
chains, or using tire chains on other sized tires, can damage the suspension, body,wheels, and/or brake lines. Damagecaused by using non-recommended tire
chains is not covered by the warranty.Caution: Ensure that tire chains cannot
touch suspension components or brake
lines. If you hear the chains making
unusual noises that would indicate
contact with Model S, stop and
investigate immediately.
Tire Pressure Monitoring
Each tire should be checked monthly when
cold and inflated to the recommended pressures that are printed on the Tire and
Loading Information label located on the
driver’s door pillar (see Maintaining Tire
Pressures on page 109). If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size indicated
on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressure
label, determine the proper tire inflation
pressure for those tires.
As an added safety feature, your vehicle has
been equipped with a tire pressure monitoring
system (TPMS) that displays a tire pressure
telltale (Tire Pressure Warning) on the
instrument panel when one or more of your
tires is significantly under- or over-inflated.
Accordingly, when the Tire Pressure indicator
light displays on the instrument panel alerting
of tire pressure, stop and check your tires as
soon as possible, and inflate them to the
proper pressure (see Maintaining Tire
Pressures on page 109). Driving on a
significantly under-inflated tire causes the tire
to overheat and can lead to tire failure. Under-
inflation also reduces fuel efficiency and tire
tread life, and may affect the vehicle's
handling and stopping ability.
If Model S detects a fault with the
Tire Pressure Monitoring System
(TPMS), this indicator flashes for one
minute whenever you power on
Model S.
Note: Installing accessories that are not
approved by Tesla can interfere with the TPMS system.
Warning: The TPMS is not a substitute for
proper tire maintenance, including
manually checking tire pressures and
regularly inspecting the condition of tires.
It is the driver's responsibility to maintain
correct tire pressure, even if under- or
over-inflation has not reached the level
Tire Care and Maintenance
112Model S Owner's Manual

Cleaning the Exterior
To prevent damage to the paint, immediately
remove corrosive substances (bird droppings, tree resin, dead insects, tar spots, road salt,industrial fallout, etc). Do not wait untilModel S is due for a complete wash. If
necessary, use denatured alcohol to remove
tar spots and stubborn grease stains, then
immediately wash the area with water and a
mild, non-detergent soap to remove the
alcohol.
Follow these steps when washing the exterior of Model S:
1. Rinse Thoroughly
Before washing, flush grime and grit from
the bodywork using a hose. Flush away accumulations of mud in areas where
debris easily collects (such as wheel arches and panel seams). If salt has beenused on the highways (such as duringwinter months), thoroughly rinse all tracesof road salt from the underside of the
vehicle.
2. Hand Wash
Hand wash Model S using a soft cloth and cold or lukewarm water containing a mild,
good quality car shampoo.
3. Rinse with Clean Water
After washing, rinse with clean water to
prevent soap from drying on the surfaces.
4. Dry Thoroughly and Clean Exterior Glass
After washing and rinsing, dry thoroughly with a chamois.
Clean windows and mirrors using an
automotive glass cleaner. Do not scrape,
or use any abrasive cleaning fluid on glass
or mirrored surfaces.Cautions for Exterior CleaningCaution: Do not use windshield treatment
fluids. Doing so can interfere with wiper
friction and cause a chattering sound.Caution: Do not use hot water and
detergents.Caution: In hot weather, do not wash in
direct sunlight.Caution: If using a pressure washer,
maintain a distance of at least 12" (30 cm) between the nozzle and the surface ofModel S. Keep the nozzle moving and do
not concentrate the water jet on any one area.Caution: Do not aim water hoses directly
at window, door or hood seals, or through wheel apertures onto brake components.Caution: Avoid using tight-napped or
rough cloths, such as washing mitts.Caution: If washing in an automatic car
wash, use Touchless car washes only. These car washes have no parts (brushes,etc.) that touch the surfaces of Model S.Using any other type of car wash could
cause damage that is not covered by the warranty.Caution: Do not used chemical based
wheel cleaners. These can damage the finish on the wheels.Caution: Avoid using a high pressure
power washer on the rear view camera or
parking sensors (if equipped) and do not
clean a sensor or camera lens with a
sharp or abrasive object that can scratch
or damage its surface.
Cleaning
118Model S Owner's Manual

Checking Brake FluidWarning: Contact Tesla immediately if
you notice increased movement of the
brake pedal or a significant loss of brake
fluid. Driving under these conditions can result in extended stopping distances orcomplete brake failure.The Brake indicator on the
instrument panel alerts you if the
quantity of fluid in the brake
reservoir drops below the
recommended level. If it displays
while driving, stop as soon as safety
permits by gently applying the
brakes. Do not continue driving.
Contact Tesla immediately.
Fluid Level Check
Tesla checks the brake fluid level at the
regularly scheduled maintenance intervals. To check it yourself, park Model S on level
ground. When Model S is cool, remove the maintenance panel (see Removing the
Maintenance Panel on page 123).
Check the fluid level visually by looking at the
outside marks on the side of the reservoir
without removing the filler cap.
The brake fluid level should always be
between the MIN and the MAX marks.
Note: Although brake fluid level drops slightly
during normal use as a result of brake pad wear, it should not drop below the MIN mark.
Topping Up the Brake Fluid
Do not top up your brake fluid. Tesla service does this when you bring Model S in for
regular servicing. The following instructions are provided for information purposes andfuture reference only:
1. Clean the filler cap before removing to
prevent dirt from entering the reservoir.
2. Unscrew the cap and remove.
3. Top up the reservoir to the MAX mark
using brake fluid meeting DOT3 or DOT4 specifications.
4. Replace the filler cap.Warning: Only use new fluid from a
sealed air-tight container. Never use previously used fluid or fluid from apreviously opened container—fluid
absorbs moisture which decreases
braking performance.Warning: Brake fluid is highly toxic. Keep
containers sealed and out of the reach of children. In the event of accidentalconsumption, seek medical attention
immediately.Caution: Brake fluid damages painted
surfaces. Immediately soak up any spills
with an absorbent cloth and wash the
area with a mixture of car shampoo and
water.
Fluid Reservoirs
124Model S Owner's Manual

Fuse Box 1Note: Access to fuse box 1 requires removal of components that must be performed by a Tesla
service technician. The following fuse list is provided only to assist you in determining if a fuse in this box needs to be replaced. Contact Tesla Service if one of these fuses needs to be replaced.FuseRatingCircuit Protected115 AWiper Park210 AHeadlight Leveling, Vanity Lights315 ASeat Heater, Second Row Right415 ASeat Heater, Second Row Middle515 ASeat Heater (Driver’s Seat)610 ANot Used720 AElectronic Parking Brake (Redundant)85 ASteering Module Column920 ABase Audio System1025 APanoramic Sunroof11OpenNot Used1215 ASeat Heater, Second Row Left135 ACabin HVAC Functions1415 ASeat Heater, First Row Left1515 ANot Used1620 AElectronic Parking Brake (Primary)1715 ACoolant Pump 2
Fuses
Maintenance127