warning TESLA MODEL S 2016 User Guide

High Beam HeadlightsPush the left-hand steering column lever away
from you. To cancel, pull the lever toward you.
If Model S is equipped with Driver Assistance
components (see About Driver Assistance on
page 65), and you have purchased the
optional Autopilot Tech Package, the high
beam headlights can automatically switch to low beam when there is light detected in front
of Model S (for example, from an oncoming vehicle or street lights). 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 offbecause Auto High Beam is turned on and
light is detected in front of Model S, you can
temporarily turn on high beams 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 the
Auto High Beam setting 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 turnedoff because Auto High Beam is on
and is detecting light in front of
Model S. When light is no longer
detected, the high beams will
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. It is the
driver

Lane Change Flash
To indicate a lane change, quickly press the
lever up or down against the spring pressure,
then release. The corresponding turn signal
flashes 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
52Model S Owner

Braking Systems
Model S 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 flashes briefly on
the instrument panel when you firststart Model S. 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.
If the instrument panel displays this
indicator at any time other than
displaying
briefly when you first start
Model S, a brake system fault is
detected or the brake
fluid level is
low. Contact Tesla immediately.
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).
If Model S is equipped with Autopilot
hardware, Automatic Emergency Braking
automatically applies full braking in situations
where a collision is considered imminent (see
Automatic Emergency Braking on page 86).
Brake Wear Model S brake pads are equipped with wear
indicators. A wear indicator is a thin metal
strip attached to the brake pad that squeals as it rubs against the rotor when the pad wears
down. This squealing sound indicates that the
brake pads have reached the end of their
service life and require replacement. To stop
the squealing, contact Tesla Service.
Warning: Neglecting to replace worn
brake pads results in damage to the
braking system and can create a braking
hazard.
Brakes
54Model S Owner

How It WorksThe traction control system constantly
monitors the speed of the front and rear
wheels. If Model S experiences a loss of
traction, the system minimizes wheel spin by
controlling brake pressure and motor power.
By default, the traction control system is
always active. Under normal conditions, it should remain active to ensure maximum
safety.
On standard (single motor) Model S vehicles,
traction control can be turned
off at any time.
Turn it off only in circumstances where you
deliberately want the wheels to spin, such as
when Model S is stuck in snow or mud.
On a dual motor Model S, you can enable slip
start to allow the wheels to spin at a limited speed. Slip start can be enabled only when
Model S is moving 20 mph (32 km/h) or
slower. Slip start automatically disables when
the speed exceeds 40 mph (64 km/h).
This 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 can not prevent
accidents caused by driving dangerously
or turning too sharply at high speeds.Warning: If the above indicator remains
illuminated without turning off traction
control (single motor vehicles) or
enabling slip start (dual motor vehicles), the traction control system may not be
operating correctly. Contact Tesla Service immediately.
Disabling Traction Control (single motor
vehicles)
Under normal conditions, the traction control
system should remain enabled. Disable it only
in circumstances where you deliberately want
the wheels to spin, such as:

How Park Assist Works
Model S has several sensors designed to detect the presence of objects nearby. When
moving slowly in Drive or Reverse, the sensors
alert you if an object is detected in close proximity to the front and rear of your
Model S.
Note: Depending on date of manufacture and options selected at time of purchase, someModel S vehicles are not equipped with theparking sensors.Warning: The Park Assist images provided
below are representative only. The exact
number and location of sensors may vary
depending on the date your Model S was
manufactured.
The sensors are activated when driving less
than 5 mph (8 km/h).
Warning: Never depend on Park Assist to
inform you if an area you are approaching is free of objects and/or people. Several
external factors can reduce the
performance of Park Assist, causingeither no readings or false readings (see
Limitations and False Warnings on page
58). Therefore, depending on Park Assist
to determine if Model S 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. Park assist does not
detect children, pedestrians, bicyclists,
animals, or objects that are moving, protruding, located too far above or
below the sensors, or too close or too far
from the sensors. Park Assist is for
guidance purposes only and is not intended to replace your own direct visual
checks. It is not a substitute for careful
driving.
Visual and Audio Feedback
When you shift to Reverse, the Park Assist
view displays on the left side of the instrument
panel, showing any objects that are in close
proximity to the front and rear of Model S.
This view closes when you shift into Drive
unless objects are detected close to the front
of the Model S, in which case the Park Assist
view closes automatically when your driving
speed exceeds 5 mph (8 km/h) . When
reversing, visual feedback also displays on the
touchscreen, immediately below the camera
view (see Rear View Camera on page 64).
You can manually close the park assist view on
the touchscreen by touching the X in the
upper left corner.
When driving with the Camera app displayed
on the touchscreen, you can switch to the
Park Assist view when driving at speeds below
5 mph (8 km/h) . Touch the button located in the upper left corner of the Camera appwindow. This is useful if you need assistance
with parallel parking.
If chimes are turned on (see Controlling
Audible Feedback on page 58), an audible
beep sounds as you approach an object. You
can temporarily mute the chime by pressing
the scroll wheel on the left side of the steering
wheel or by touching the mute button located
on the in the bottom left corner of the Park Assist view.
Note: If Model S is equipped with software
version 6.1 or newer, and you are driving with
the camera app displayed on the touchscreen,
you can switch to the Park Assist view by
touching the icon in the upper left corner of
Park Assist
Driving57

the camera app window. You must be drivingat speeds below 5 mph (8 km/h).
Note: If a sensor is unable to provide
feedback, the instrument panel displays an
alert message.Caution: Keep sensors clean from dirt,
debris, snow, and ice. Avoid using a high
pressure power washer on the sensors
and do not clean a sensor with a sharp or abrasive object that can scratch or
damage its surface.Caution: Do not install accessories or
stickers on or near the parking sensors.
Controlling Audible Feedback
You can use Park Assist with or without
audible feedback. To turn chimes on or
off,touch Controls > Settings > Safety &
Security > Park Assist Chimes.
You can also mute the chimes temporarily by
pressing the scroll wheel on the left side of the steering wheel or by touching the mute buttonin the bottom left corner of the Park Assist
view. The chimes are muted until you shift into
a
different gear or drive over 5 mph (8 km/h).
Limitations and False Warnings
The parking sensors may not function
correctly in these situations:

Performance Dual Motor Vehicles
Only
Launch Mode, available on performance dual motor vehicles only, provides optimum
acceleration on surfaces with good traction.Warning: Use Launch Mode only in
appropriate locations where there is no
cross
traffic or pedestrians present.
Launch Mode is designed for use on
closed circuit driving courses. It is the driver

The map displays superchargers
only.The map displays all visited
chargers, Chademo chargers, and
destination chargers. In situations
where a charging location may not
be reachable based on your
currently available driving range,
its associated icon on othe map
displays as semi-transparent.
When you are at risk of driving beyond the
range of known charging locations, a popup
message displays on the touchscreen giving
you the opportunity to display a list of
charging locations that are within range. The
list includes superchargers, destination
chargers, and locations where you have
previously charged. When you select a
charging location from the list, Model S
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.
In addition to the popup message that
displays when you are at risk of driving
beyond the range of known charging
locations, a warning symbol displays on the
range assurance icon:
Touch to display a search list of
charging locations that are
estimated to be within your driving
range. Then touch a location in the
search list to navigate to it.Based on the amount of energy
remaining in your Model S, there
are no known charging locations
within your driving range.
Getting Maximum Range
Driving63

Camera Location
Model S 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. Guide lines show your driving path
based on the position of the steering wheel. These guide lines adjust appropriately as you
move the steering wheel.
Note: Visual feedback from the parking
sensors displays below the camera image (see
Park Assist on page 57).
Note: Depending on date of manufacture and
options selected at time of purchase, some Model S vehicles are not equipped with
parking sensors.
Warning: Never depend on the rear view
camera to inform you if the area behind
you is free of objects and/or people when
reversing. The camera may not detect
objects or barriers that can potentially
cause damage or injury. In addition, several external factors can reduce the
performance of the camera, including a
dirty or obstructed lens. Therefore,
depending on the rear view camera to
determine if Model S 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 camera forguidance purposes only. It is not intendedto replace your own direct visual checks
and is not a substitute for careful driving.
Cleaning the Camera
To ensure a clear picture, keep the camera lens clean, and free of obstructions. Remove any
buildup of dirt by occasionally wiping the
camera lens with a soft damp cloth.
Caution: Do not use chemical-based or abrasive cleaners. Doing so can damage
the surface of the camera lens.
Rear View Camera
64Model S Owner

If Model S is equipped with Driver Assistance
components (see About Driver Assistance on
page 65) and you have purchased the optional Autopilot Tech Package, the forward lookingcamera and the radar sensor are designed to
determine when there is a vehicle in front of
you in the same lane. If the area in front of Model S is clear,
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
maintains a set driving speed. When a vehicle is detected,
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is
designed to slow down Model S as needed to maintain a selected time-based distance from
the vehicle in front, up to the set speed.
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control does not
eliminate the need to watch the road in front
of you and to apply the brakes when needed.
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is primarily
intended for driving on dry, straight roads,
such as highways and freeways. It should not
be used on city streets.
Warning: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is
designed for your driving comfort and
convenience and is not a collision warning or avoidance system. It is your
responsibility to stay alert, drive safely,
and be in control of the vehicle at all
times. Never depend on
Traffic-AwareCruise Control to adequately slow down
Model S. Always watch the road in front
of you and be prepared to take corrective
action at all times. Failure to do so can
result in serious injury or death.
Warning: Do not use Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control on city streets or on roads where
traffic conditions are constantly changing
and where bicycles and pedestrians are
present.
Warning: Do not use Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control on winding roads with sharp
curves, on icy or slippery road surfaces, or
when weather conditions (such as heavy
rain, snow, fog, etc) make it inappropriate
to drive at a consistent speed.
Traffic-
Aware Cruise Control does not adapt
driving speed based on road and driving
conditions.
Operating Traffic-Aware Cruise
ControlThe instrument panel
displays a gray speedometer
icon on the left side of the
driving speed to indicate
that
Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control is available but the
cruising speed has not been
set. Unless a vehicle is
detected ahead of you, you
must be driving at least
18 mph (30 km/h) to use
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control.
If a vehicle is detected ahead
of you, you can use
Traffic-
Aware Cruise Control at any
speed, even when stationary.
When driving at your desired speed, set the
cruising speed by moving the cruise control
lever up or down (or pulling it
briefly toward
you), then releasing.
The speedometer icon on the
instrument panel turns blue
and displays the set speed to
indicate that
Traffic-AwareCruise Control is actively
maintaining the set speed.
You can now release the accelerator pedal and
allow Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to maintain
your set speed. When no vehicle is detected 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,
accelerating and 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.
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control also adjusts the
speed as appropriate when entering and
exiting curves.
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
68Model S Owner