steering TESLA MODEL S 2015 Owner's Manual

Overview........................................................................................ 2Interior Overview........................................................................ 2Exterior Overview....................................................................... 3
Opening and Closing................................................................. 4Doors............................................................................................... 4
Keyless Locking and Unlocking 4Using the Key 4Using Exterior Door Handles 6Using Interior Door Handles 6Interior Locking and Unlocking 6Child-protection Lock 7Drive-away Locking 7Walk-away Locking 7Unlocking When the Key Doesn't Work 7Opening Interior Doors with No Power 8
Windows........................................................................................ 9
Opening and Closing 9Locking Rear Windows 9
Rear Trunk................................................................................... 10
Opening 10Closing 10Adjusting the Opening Height 10Interior Release 11Opening with No Power 11
Front Trunk.................................................................................. 12
Opening 12Closing 12Interior Emergency Release 13Opening with No Power 13
Glove Box..................................................................................... 14
Opening and Closing 14
Sunroof.......................................................................................... 15
Opening and Closing 15
Cup Holders................................................................................. 16
Opening and Closing 16
Seating and Safety Restraints.............................................. 17Front and Rear Seats............................................................... 17
Correct Driving Position 17Adjusting the Driver’s Seat 17Seat Heaters 18Folding Rear Seats 18Raising Rear Seats 19Head Supports 19Seat Covers 19
Seat Belts.................................................................................... 20
Wearing Seat Belts 20Wearing Seat Belts When Pregnant 20Seat Belt Pre-tensioners 21Testing Seat Belts 21Seat Belt Warnings 21
Child Safety Seats.................................................................... 23
Guidelines for Seating Children 23Choosing a Child Safety Seat 24Seating Larger Children 25Installing Child Safety Seats 25Installing Seat Belt Retained Child Seats 25Installing LATCHChild Seats 26Attaching Upper Tether Straps 26Testing a Child Safety Seat 27Warnings - Child Safety Seats 27
Tesla Built-In Rear Facing Child Seats............................. 28
Usage Restrictions 28Opening 28Folding 28Seating a Child 30Warnings - Tesla Child Seats 30
Airbags......................................................................................... 32
Location of Airbags 32How the Airbags Work 33Types of Airbags 33Passenger Front Airbag 34Inflation Effects 35Airbag Warning Indicator 35Airbag Warnings 35
Driving.......................................................................................... 36Driver Profiles............................................................................ 36
Creating a Driver Profile 36Restoring a Driver’s Profile 36Saved Driver Settings 36
Steering Wheel.......................................................................... 37
Adjusting Position 37Adjusting Sensitivity 37Using Left Steering Wheel Buttons 37Using Right Steering Wheel Buttons 38Using Voice Commands 38Heated Steering Wheel 39Horn 39
Mirrors.......................................................................................... 40
Adjusting Exterior Side Mirrors 40Rear View Mirror 40
Starting and Powering Off.....................................................41
Starting Model S 41Powering Off 41
Gears............................................................................................. 42
Shifting Gears 42Leaving Model S in Neutral - Tow Mode 42
Instrument Panel...................................................................... 43
Instrument Panel Overview 43Indicator Lights 44
Lights............................................................................................ 47
Controlling Lights 47Headlight High Beams 49Headlights After Exit 50Cornering Lights 50Turn Signals 50Hazard Warning Flashers 50
Wipers and Washers................................................................ 51
Wipers 51Washers 51
Brakes........................................................................................... 52
Braking Systems 52Brake Wear 52Regenerative Braking 53Parking Brake 53
Traction Control........................................................................54
How It Works 54
Speed Assist............................................................................... 55
How Speed Assist Works 55Controlling Speed Assist 56Limitations and Inaccuracies 56
Lane Departure Warning....................................................... 57
How Lane Departure Warning Works 57Controlling Lane Departure Warning 57Limitations and Inaccuracies 57
Forward Collision Warning................................................... 58
How Forward Collision Warning Works 58Visual and Audible Feedback 58Controlling Forward Collision Warning 58Limitations 58
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control.............................................. 60
Operating Traffic Aware Cruise Control 60Instrument Panel Indicator Lights 62Changing the Set Speed 62Overtake Acceleration 63Canceling and Resuming 64Limitations 64
Park Assist.................................................................................. 66
How Park Assist Works 66Visual and Audio Feedback 66Controlling Audible Feedback 67Limitations and False Warnings 67Other Parking Aids 67
Hill Start Assist.......................................................................... 68
Trip Information........................................................................ 69
Displaying Trip Information 69
Getting Maximum Range...................................................... 70
Driving Tips to Maximize Range 70Energy App 70Saving Energy 70
Rear View Camera.....................................................................71
Camera Location 71
Using the Touchscreen........................................................... 72Touchscreen Overview...........................................................72
The Big Picture 72
Controls........................................................................................74
Controlling Model S Features 74
Settings.........................................................................................77
Customizing Model S 77Erasing Personal Data 79
Climate Controls.......................................................................80
Overview of Climate Controls 80Customizing Climate Control 81Ventilation 82Climate Control Operating Tips 82
Smart Air Suspension............................................................. 83
Manual Height Adjustments 83Location-Based Suspension 83Automatic Lowering 84Jack Mode 84
Media and Audio.......................................................................85
Overview 85AM and FM Radio 85XM Radio 85Internet Radio 85Media Settings 86Favorites 86My Music & Devices 86USB Connections 8712V Power Socket 87
Phone............................................................................................ 88
Bluetooth®Compatibility 88Pairing a Bluetooth Phone 88Importing Contacts 88Unpairing a Bluetooth Phone 88Connecting to a Paired Phone 89Making a Phone Call 89Receiving a Phone Call 89In Call Options 89
Maps and Navigation.............................................................. 90
Overview 90Using Maps 90Starting Navigation 90During Navigation 91Favorite Destinations 92Updated Maps 92
Calendar....................................................................................... 93
Overview 93Calendar and Navigation 94
Security Settings...................................................................... 95
About the Security System 95
HomeLink ®
Universal Transceiver.......................................96
About HomeLink 96Programming HomeLink 96Troubleshooting HomeLink 96
Connecting to Wi-Fi................................................................ 98
Software Updates.................................................................... 99
Loading New Software 99Viewing Release Notes 99
Mobile App............................................................................... 100
Model S Mobile App 100
Charging......................................................................................101Electric Vehicle Components..............................................101
High Voltage Components 101Charging Equipment 102
Battery Information............................................................... 103
About the Battery 103Battery Care 103
Charging Model S................................................................... 104
Opening the Charge Port 104Plugging In 104During Charging 105Stopping Charging 105Charge Port Light 105Changing Charge Settings 106Charging Status 107
Maintenance............................................................................. 108Maintenance Schedule..........................................................108
Service Intervals 108Daily Checks 108Monthly Checks 108Fluid Replacement Intervals 108High Voltage Safety 108
Tire Care and Maintenance................................................. 109
Maintaining Tire Pressures 109Inspecting and Maintaining Tires 110Replacing Tires and Wheels 111Tire Types 111Driving in Low Temperatures 112Using Tire Chains 112Tire Pressure Monitoring 112
Temporary Tire Repair...........................................................114
Tire Repair Kit 114Inflating with Sealant and Air 115Inflating with Air Only 116Replacing the Sealant Canister 117
Cleaning....................................................................................... 118
Cleaning the Exterior 118Cleaning the Interior 119Polishing, Touch Up, and Body Repair 120Using a Car Cover 120Floor Mats 120
Wiper Blades and Washer Jets.......................................... 121
Checking and Replacing Wiper Blades 121Cleaning Washer Jets 121Fluid Reservoirs....................................................................... 123
Removing the Maintenance Panel 123Checking Battery Coolant 123Checking Brake Fluid 124Topping Up Washer Fluid 125
Fuses............................................................................................ 126
Fuse Box Locations 126Replacing a Fuse 126Fuse Box 1 127Fuse Box 2 129Fuse Box 3 131
Jacking and Lifting................................................................. 132
Jacking Procedure 132
Parts and Accessories........................................................... 133
Parts, Accessories, and Modifications 133Body Repairs 133
Specifications........................................................................... 134Identification Labels.............................................................. 134
Vehicle Identification Number 134Emission Control Label 134
Vehicle Loading....................................................................... 135
Load Capacity Labeling 135Calculating Load Limits 136Towing a Trailer 137Roof Racks 137
Dimensions and Weights..................................................... 138
Exterior Dimensions 138Weights 139
Subsystems...............................................................................140
Motor 140Transmission 140Steering 140Brakes 141Suspension 141Battery - 12V 141Battery - High Voltage 142
Wheels and Tires.....................................................................143
Wheel Specifications 143Wheel Alignment Values 143Tire Specifications 144Understanding Tire Markings 145Uniform Tire Quality Grading 147Wheels and Tires Glossary 148
Roadside Assistance............................................................. 149Contacting Roadside Assistance...................................... 149Instructions for Transporters............................................. 150
Use a Flatbed Only 150Disable Self-Leveling (air suspension vehicles only) 150Activate Tow Mode 150Connect the Tow Chain 151Pull Onto the Trailer and Secure the Wheels 152
Consumer Information.......................................................... 153About this Owner Information........................................... 153
Illustrations 153Errors or Inaccuracies 153Location of Components 153Document Applicability 153Copyrights and Trademarks 154
Disclaimers................................................................................ 155
Vehicle Telematics/Data Recorders 155Quality Control 155California Proposition 65 155
Reporting Concerns............................................................... 156
Contacting Tesla 156Reporting Safety Defects - US 156Reporting Safety Defects - Canada 156
Declarations of Conformity................................................. 157
Key and Passive Unlocking System 157Tire Pressure Monitoring System 158Media Control Unit 158HomeLink 159Radio Frequency Information 159
Contents

1.Interior doors ( Using Interior Door
Handles on page 6)
2. Cruise control ( Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control on page 60)
3. High beams ( Headlight High Beams on
page 49), Turn signals ( Turn Signals on
page 50), Wipers and washers ( Wipers
and Washers on page 51).
4. Steering wheel buttons - left ( Using Left
Steering Wheel Buttons on page 37)
5. Instrument panel ( Instrument Panel
Overview on page 43)
6. Steering wheel buttons - right ( Using
Right Steering Wheel Buttons on page
38)
7. Gear selector ( Shifting Gears on page
42)
8. Touchscreen ( Touchscreen Overview on
page 72)
9. Glove box button ( Glove Box on page
14)10. Power window switches ( Opening and
Closing on page 9)
11. Exterior mirror adjustment switches
( Mirrors on page 40)
12. Seats ( Front and Rear Seats on page
17)
13. Steering column adjuster (hidden from
view in the above image) ( Steering Wheel
on page 37)
14. Horn ( Horn on page 39)
15. Brakes ( Brakes on page 52)
16. Hazard warning lights ( Hazard Warning
Flashers on page 50)
17. Cabin climate control ( Climate Controls
on page 80)
18. Cup holders ( Cup Holders on page 16)
Note: On RHD (Right Hand Drive) vehicles, the
controls illustrated above are arranged similarly, but are mirrored on the right side of
the vehicle.
Interior Overview
2Model S Owner's Manual

Correct Driving Position
The seat, head support, seat belt and airbags work together to maximize your safety. Using
these correctly ensures greater protection.
Position the seat so you can wear the seat belt
correctly, while being as far away from the
front airbag as possible:
1. Sit upright with both feet on the floor and
the seat back reclined no more than 30
degrees.
2. Make sure you can easily reach the pedals
and that your arms are slightly bent when
holding the steering wheel. Your chest
should be at least 10 inches (25 cm) from the center of the airbag cover.
3. Place the shoulder section of the seat belt
mid-way between your neck and your
shoulder. Fit the lap section of the belt
tightly across your hips, not across your stomach.
Model S seats include integrated head
supports that cannot be adjusted or removed.
Adjusting the Driver’s Seat
1. Adjust lumbar support.
2. Adjust backrest.
3. Move seat forward/backward.
4. Adjust the seat’s height and tilt angle.
Warning:
Do not adjust seats while
driving. Doing so increases the risk of a
collision.Warning: Riding in a moving vehicle with
the seat back reclined can result in serious injuries in a collision, as you could
slide under the lap belt or be propelled
into the seat belt. Ensure your seat back is reclined no more than 30 degrees when
the vehicle is moving.
Front and Rear Seats
Seating and Safety Restraints17

Creating a Driver ProfileIf Model S is equipped with the optional tech
package, you only need to adjust Model S once. When you first adjust the driver’s seat,steering wheel, or driver’s side mirror, thetouchscreen prompts you to create a driver
profile to save these adjustments. Your profile also saves several other preferences you make
using the touchscreen’s Settings window.
A new driver can also add a driver profile by
touching Controls > Settings > Driver Profiles
(or by touching the driver icon on the
touchscreen's status bar, and touching Create
Driver Profile ). Enter the driver name and
touch Create Profile.
If you change the position of the steering
wheel, driver’s seat, or driver’s side mirror
after you have saved a profile, the touchscreen prompts you to save the new
position or restore the previously saved
position (other preferences are automatically
saved). To use a setting without saving or
restoring, just ignore the prompt.
Restoring a Driver’s ProfileTo adjust Model S based on a
driver’s profile, touch the driver
profile icon, located to the left side
of the Tesla “T” on the touchscreen’s
status bar. Then choose the driver
and the saved adjustments are
automatically made.
Saved Driver Settings
To see what settings are associated with your
driver profile, touch Controls > Settings >
Driver Profiles . Then touch See what’s saved .
A popup window lists the settings that are
associated with a driver profile. These settings
vary depending on the version of software currently running in Model S.
Driver Profiles
36Model S Owner's Manual

Adjusting Position
Adjust the steering wheel to the desired driving position by moving the control on the
left side of the steering column.Warning: Do not make adjustments while
driving.
Adjusting Sensitivity
You can adjust the feel and sensitivity of the
steering system to suit your personal preference:
1. On the touchscreen, touch Controls.
2. Choose a steering option:
• Comfort - reduces the effort required to turn the wheel. In town, Model S
feels easier to drive and park.
• Standard - Tesla believes that this setting offers the best handling andresponse in all conditions.
• Sport - Increases the effort required to turn the wheel. When driving athigher speeds, Model S feels more
responsive.
The only way to really know which option you
like best is to try them.
Using Left Steering Wheel Buttons
Use the buttons on the left side of the steering
wheel to change radio stations, control the
media player’s volume, and control what
displays on the left side of the instrument panel (whenever the Navigation app is not
displaying instructions).
Note: The volume control on the steering
wheel does not adjust spoken navigation instructions. To control the volume of
navigation instructions, use the navigation
window on the touchscreen (see Using Maps
on page 90).
1. Next
If you are listening to local or satellite
radio and you have defined more than one
radio preset, press to play the next preset in the radio band that is currently playing.
If you have not defined more than one
preset, press to go to the next available
frequency.
If you are listening to Internet radio, or to
an audio file on a connected Bluetooth or USB device, press to skip to the next song
or station.
2. Scroll Wheel
• To adjust the media volume, roll up or down.
• To mute the media volume, or to pause/play an audio file, tap the
wheel.
• To choose what displays on the left side of the instrument panel, press
and hold the scroll wheel to display
the available options. Then roll the
scroll wheel to browse through the
options. Tap the scroll wheel when the option you want is highlighted.
3. Previous
Same as described above for Next, except
it skips to the previous song or station.
Note: Regardless of how you customize the
left side of the instrument panel, it
automatically changes to display navigation instructions (if applicable), or to let you knowif a door or trunk is open when Model S is in a
driving gear.
Steering Wheel
Driving37

Using Right Steering Wheel Buttons
Use the buttons on the right side of the steering wheel to access call options while ona phone call, to browse the phonebook of aBluetooth-connected phone, to choose and
control a Model S feature, and to use voice commands.
Note: Whenever you receive or make a phone
call, the right side of the instrument panel
automatically displays call options to help you
easily handle phone calls on your Bluetooth-
connected phone.
1. Phone Menu or Voice Commands
During a phone call, press to display the phone menu, which gives you the option
to mute, hold, or end the call.
Press and hold to use voice commands to
call a contact, navigate, or listen to
Internet music. When you hear the tone,
speak your command. Release the button
when you finish speaking. For details, see Using Voice Commands on page 38.
2. Scroll Wheel
• To choose what displays on the right side of the instrument panel, press
and hold the scroll wheel to display
the available options. Then roll the
scroll wheel to browse through the options. Tap the scroll wheel when the
option you want is highlighted.
• When the right side of the instrument panel displays a menu, rolling the
wheel highlights the next item in a
menu and tapping the wheel selects
the highlighted item. When a menu is
not displayed, rolling the wheel
adjusts your chosen controllable
feature (see Item 3 below).
Note: The option you choose to display
using the right scroll wheel is retained
until you manually change it. It can also be
saved in your driver profile.
3. Customize the Scroll Wheel/Exit a Menu
Press, then use the scroll wheel to select
Phone to browse through and select
contacts and recent calls.
Press, then use the scroll wheel to select
Customize to choose the Model S feature
that you want to control whenever you
roll the wheel when a menu is not
displayed. You can choose from:
• All. Allows you to roll the wheel and
choose from all available functions
(listed next).
• Climate Temps . Roll the wheel to
change the temperature, or press the
wheel to turn the climate control
system on and off.
• Fan Speed . Roll the wheel to adjust
the speed of the fan used to cool or heat the cabin.
• Display Brightness . Roll the wheel to
change the brightness level of the
displays, or press the wheel to restore default settings.
• Sunroof (if equipped). Roll the wheel
to adjust the position of the sunroof.
• Media Source . Roll the wheel to
control what Media Player is playing,
or press the wheel to add/remove the
currently playing station or audio track as a Favorite.
Press the lower right button at any time to either exit a menu, or go back one level in the
menu structure.
Using Voice Commands
You can use voice commands to call a
contact, navigate, or listen to Internet music.
Press and hold the voice button on the upper
right side of the steering wheel. When you
hear the tone, speak your command while
continuing to hold down the voice button.
Release the button when you finish speaking.
• To call a contact on your Bluetooth- connected phone, say “Call” or “Dial,”
followed by the contact’s first and/or last name(s). For example, “Call Eric” or “Call
Mike Phillips.”
Steering Wheel
38Model S Owner's Manual

• To search for, or navigate to, a location,say “Where is,” “Drive,” or “Navigate,”
followed by an address, business name,
business category, or landmark. For
example, “Drive to Tesla in Menlo Park,”
“Drive to Starbucks on Homestead in
Cupertino,” or “Where is Stanford
University?” If you have defined a navigation address for your home or work
locations, you can use a voice command to "Navigate home" or "Navigate to work."
• To listen to an Internet music service, say “Listen to,” or “Play,” followed by the
name of the song, album, artist or
combination. To improve voice
recognition accuracy, provide multiple
cues in your command, such as artist plus
song (for example, “Play Honky Chateau
by Elton John” or “Listen to Boogie
Wonderland”).
Note: You can also use voice commands to
provide feedback to Tesla. Say "Note", "Report", "Bug note", or "Bug report" followed
by your brief comments. Model S takes a snapshot of its systems, including screen
captures of the touchscreen and instrument
panel. Tesla periodically reviews these notes
and uses them to continue improving Model S.
Heated Steering Wheel If Model S is equipped with the optional cold
weather package, you can also control a
heater in the steering wheel by touching Controls > Cold Weather > . When turned on,
a heater in the steering wheel keeps it at a
comfortable temperature.
Horn
To sound the horn, press the center pad on
the steering wheel.
Steering Wheel
Driving39

Instrument Panel OverviewNote: The following illustration is provided for demonstration purposes only. Depending on
vehicle options, software version, and market region, the information displayed may be slightly different.
1. The center display changes depending on whether Model S is off or ready to drive. If Model S
is off, the center displays shows remaining estimated range and status of doors. Pressing thebrake powers Model S on—the indicator lights flash on for a second and the center display
shows speed, power, charge level, estimated range (see item 9), and active gear. When
Model S is plugged in, the instrument panel displays charging status (see Charging Status on
page 107).
2. Use the left steering wheel buttons to operate the audio system. You can also press and roll
the scroll wheel to change what displays on the left side of the instrument panel (see Steering
Wheel on page 37).
3. Pay attention to important status messages that display here.
4. All indicator lights flash on briefly when you press the brake to prepare to drive. They should
then turn off, unless the light applies to a current situation (see Indicator Lights on page
44).
5. Use the right steering wheel buttons for voice commands, to handle telephone calls, and to
control some features of Model S. You can customize what features the scroll wheel can control (see Using Right Steering Wheel Buttons on page 38).
6. Door lock status
7. Odometer
8. Outside temperature
9. Total estimated driving distance (or energy) available. Instead of driving distance as shown
here, you can display the percentage of battery energy remaining. To do so, touch Controls >
Settings > Units & Format > Energy & Charging (see Settings on page 77).
Note: When anticipating when you need to charge, use range estimates as a general guideline
only.
Note: In cold weather, some of the stored energy in the Battery may not be available on your
drive because the Battery is too cold. When this happens, a portion of the Battery meter is
blue and the driving distance value has a snowflake image next to it. If Model S is plugged in,
you can heat your Battery using wall power by turning on climate control using the mobile
app. When the Battery warms up, the blue portion on the meter and the snowflake image are
no longer displayed.
Instrument Panel
Driving43

Headlight High BeamsPush the left-hand steering column lever away
from you. To cancel, pull the lever toward you.
If Model S is equipped with Driver Assistance
features, you can set the headlights to
automatically switch to low beam when there is light detected in front of Model S. To turn
this feature on, touch Controls > Auto High
Beam .
Note: Your chosen setting is retained until you
manually change it. It can also be saved in
your driver profile.
In situations where high beams are turned off
because Auto High Beam is turned on and
light is detected in front of Model S, you can temporarily turn high beams on by pulling the
lever all the way toward you.
The following indicator lights are visible on
the instrument panel when high beams are turned on:
High beams are turned on, and
either the vehicle is not equipped
with Auto High Beam, or Auto High- Beam is turned off.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 S.High beams are temporarily turned
off because Auto High Beam is on
and is detecting light in front of
Model S. When light is no longer
detected, the high beams
automatically turn back on.
To flash the headlight high beams, pull the
lever fully toward you and release.
Warning: Auto High Beam is an aid only
and is subject to limitations and system
issues. It is the driver's responsibility to make sure that the headlights are alwaysadjusted as appropriate for the weather
conditions and driving circumstances.
Lights
Driving49

Headlights After ExitWhen you stop driving and park Model S in
low lighting conditions, the exterior lights
automatically turn on. They automatically turn
off after two minutes or when you lock Model S.
You can turn this feature on and off using the
touchscreen. Touch Controls > Settings >
Vehicle > Headlights After Exit .
Cornering Lights
If Model S is equipped with the optional tech package, LED cornering lights broaden the
beam of the headlights when you drive
through a corner.Turn Signals
Move the left-hand steering column lever up(before turning right) or down (before turning
left).
The turn signals stop operating when
canceled by the steering wheel, or when you return the lever to the central position.
The corresponding turn signal
indicator lights up on the instrument
panel when a turn signal is
operating. You also hear a clicking
sound.Warning: If Model S is equipped with both
Autopilot and the Tech Package option, engaging a turn signal can cause Model S
to accelerate when using Traffic-Aware
Cruise Control in specific situations. See Overtake Acceleration on page 63.
Lane Change Flash
To indicate a lane change, quickly press the
lever up or down against the spring pressure, then release. The corresponding turn signalflashes three times.
Hazard Warning Flashers
To turn on the hazard warning flashers, press
the button located on the side of the
touchscreen closest to the steering wheel. All turn signals flash. Press again to turn off.
Note: Hazard warning flashers operate even
without a Model S key nearby.
Lights
50Model S Owner's Manual