brake TESLA MODEL S 2021 Owner´s Manual
[x] Cancel search | Manufacturer: TESLA, Model Year: 2021, Model line: MODEL S, Model: TESLA MODEL S 2021Pages: 281, PDF Size: 7.63 MB
Page 13 of 281

Key Fob
You can quickly familiarize yourself with the
key fob by thinking of it as a miniature version
of
Model S, with the Tesla badge representing
the front. The key has buttons that feel like
softer areas on the surface.
1.
Rear trunk - Double-click to open or close
the rear trunk. Hold down for one to two
seconds to open the charge port door.
2.
Lock/Unlock All - Single-click to lock
doors and trunks (all doors and trunks
must be closed). Double-click to unlock
doors and trunks.
3.
Front trunk - Double-click to unlatch the
front trunk.
Once inside, power up Model S by pressing
the brake pedal within two minutes of
pressing the unlock button on the key fob
(see
Starting and Powering Off on page 51).
If you wait longer than two minutes, you must
press the unlock button again, or place the key fob near the card reader located
in the lower half of the left wireless phone charger, facing downward, on the center console.
When your key fob is detected, the two
minute authentication period restarts.
When approaching or leaving Model S carrying the key fob, you do not need to point the key fob at Model S as you press a button,
but you must be within operating range.
Radio equipment on a similar frequency can affect the key. If this happens, move the key
at least one foot (30 cm) away from other
electronic devices (phones, laptops, etc.).
If the key fob does not work (for example, its
battery is dead), you can touch its flat side
against the card reader on the driver
Page 53 of 281

Starting
When you open a door to enter Model S, the
instrument panel and touchscreen power on
and you can operate all controls. To drive
Model S, press the brake pedal and swipe up
or down on the touchscreen
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Restarting the Touchscreen
If your touchscreen is unresponsive or demonstrates unusual behavior, you can restart it to potentially resolve the issue.
NOTE: To ensure the safety of vehicle
occupants as well as other road users,
restarting the touchscreen should be done
only when the vehicle is in Park.
1.
Shift into Park.
2.
Hold down both scroll buttons on the steering yoke until the touchscreen turns
black.
3.
After a few seconds, the Tesla logo
appears. Wait approximately 30 seconds
for the touchscreen to restart. If the
touchscreen is still unresponsive or demonstrating unusual behavior after a
few minutes, try power cycling the
vehicle. See
Power Cycling the Vehicle on page 52.
NOTE: Restarting the touchscreen also
activates the gear selector on the center console.
NOTE: Restarting the touchscreen using the
scroll buttons does not power Model S off
and on.
Power Cycling the Vehicle
If your vehicle demonstrates unusual behavior
or a nondescript alert is present, you can try
power cycling the vehicle to potentially
resolve the issue.
1.
Shift into Park.
2.
On the touchscreen, touch Controls > Safety > Power Off.
3. Wait for at least two minutes without
interacting with the vehicle. Do not open
the doors, touch the brake pedal, touch
the touchscreen, etc.4.
After two minutes have passed, press the
brake pedal or open the door to wake the vehicle.
Starting and Powering Off
52MODEL S Owner
Page 64 of 281

WARNING: Although the instrument panel shows surrounding traffic, some vehicles may not be displayed. Never rely on the instrument panel to determine if a vehicle is present (for example, in your blind spot). Always use your mirrors and perform shoulder checks.
9.
Your Model S.
10.
The energy bar (a thin horizontal line at the bottom center of the instrument panel) displays
real-time energy usage. The bar is colored gray (or white if the display is in Dark mode) and moves to the right to represent energy being used during acceleration. The bar is green and
moves to the left to represent energy being gained through regenerative braking.
11.
When Autosteer is active and detects the driving lane, it is highlighted in blue (see Autosteer on page 93). Depending on the current driving scenario, you may see
neighboring lanes.
NOTE: In situations where Autosteer is unable to detect lane markings, the driving lane is
determined based on the vehicle you are following.
NOTE: If Navigate on Autopilot is active, the driving lane displays as a single blue line in
front of Model S (see Navigate on Autopilot on page 98).
Indicator Lights
Indicator lights display along the top of the
instrument panel to show status and alert you
of
specific vehicle conditions.
IndicatorDescriptionA brake system fault is
detected or the brake fluid
level is low. See Braking and Stopping on page 66. Contact Tesla
immediately.
A brake booster fault has
been detected. See
Braking and Stopping on page 66.
An ABS (Anti-lock Braking
System) fault is detected.
See
Braking and Stopping on page 66. Contact
Tesla immediately.
A parking brake fault is
detected. Contact Tesla.
See
Parking Brake on page 68.
IndicatorDescription
The parking brake is
manually applied. See
Parking Brake on page 68.
Tire pressure warning. The
pressure of a tire is out of
range. If a fault with the
Tire Pressure Monitoring
System (TPMS) is
detected, the indicator
flashes. For a TPMS fault,
contact Tesla. See Tire Care and Maintenance on page 188.
A seat belt for an
occupied seat is not
fastened. See
Seat Belts on page 29.
NOTE: Depending on the
date of manufacture, rear seating positions may not be equipped with a seat
belt reminder.
Instrument Panel
62MODEL S Owner
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IndicatorDescriptionAirbag safety. If this red
indicator does not flash on briefly when Model S prepares to drive, or if it
remains on, contact Tesla
immediately. See
Airbags on page 38.
Front fog lights are on, if
equipped. See Lights on page 56.
Parking lights (side
marker lights, tail lights,
and license plate lights)
are on. See
Lights on page 56.
Low beam headlights are
on.
High beam headlights are on. Illuminates when high
beams are on but the
Auto High Beam setting is
turned
off or if the Auto
High Beam setting is
turned on but is
temporarily unavailable.
See
High Beam Headlights on page 57.
High beam headlights 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. See High Beam Headlights on page 57.
High beam headlights 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
IndicatorDescriptionautomatically turn back
on. See High Beam Headlights on page 57.
This indicator flashes
amber when the
electronic stability control
systems are actively
minimizing wheel spin by
controlling brake pressure
and motor power. See
Traction Control on page 69. If this indicator
remains on, a fault is
detected and you should
immediately contact Tesla.
If a fault is detected that
reduces the performance
of the air suspension
system, this amber
indicator light displays. If
the problem persists,
contact Tesla. See
Air Suspension on page 158.
If a fault is detected that
disables the air
suspension system, this
red indicator light
displays. Contact Tesla.Vehicle Hold is actively
applying the brakes. See
Vehicle Hold on page 66.
Electronic stability control
systems are no longer
minimizing wheel spin.
See
Traction Control on page 69.
Model S is in Transport
mode and can roll freely. It
does not automatically
shift into Park when you
exit. See
Activate Transport Mode on page 219.
Instrument Panel
63Driving
Page 68 of 281

Vehicle HoldWhen Model S is stopped
while in a driving gear, the
brakes are automatically
applied without you having to put your foot on the
brake pedal. Whether
stopped on a
flat surface or
a hill, Vehicle Hold keeps the
brake applied, provided your
foot remains
off the
accelerator and brake
pedals. The speedometer
displays this indicator to
inform you that Vehicle Hold
is actively braking
Model S.
To disengage Vehicle Hold, press the
accelerator pedal or press and release the
brake pedal.
NOTE: Shifting into Neutral also disengages
Vehicle Hold.
NOTE: After actively braking Model S for
approximately ten minutes, Model S shifts into
Park and Vehicle Hold cancels. Model S also
shifts into Park when you open the driver
Page 69 of 281

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).
NOTE: Automatic Emergency Braking (see Automatic Emergency Braking on page 123)
may intervene to automatically brake in
situations where a collision is considered
imminent. Automatic Emergency Braking is
not designed to prevent a collision. At best, it
can minimize the impact of a frontal collision
by attempting to reduce your driving speed.
Depending on Automatic Emergency Braking
to avoid a collision can result in serious injury or death. .
Brake Disc Wiping
To ensure brakes remain responsive in cold
and wet weather, Model S is equipped with
brake disc wiping. When cold and wet
weather is detected, this feature repeatedly
applies an imperceptible amount of brake
force to remove water from the surface of the
brake discs.
Hydraulic Fade Compensation
Model S is also equipped with hydraulic fade
compensation. This feature assists in
monitoring brake system pressure and ABS
activity for instances of reduced brake
performance. If reduced brake performance is detected (for example, as a result of brake
fade, or cold or wet conditions), you may hear
a sound, feel the brake pedal pull away from
your foot, and notice a strong increase in
braking. Brake as you normally would and
continue to press the brake pedal without
releasing or "pumping".
CAUTION: If brakes are not functioning properly, stop the vehicle when safety permits and contact Tesla Service.
WARNING: Always maintain a safe driving distance from the vehicle in front of you and exercise caution when driving conditions are hazardous. Brake disc wiping and hydraulic fade compensation is not a substitute for adequately applying the brakes.
Hydraulic Boost Compensation
Model S is equipped with a brake booster that
activates the brakes when the brake pedal is pressed. Hydraulic boost compensation
provides mechanical assistance if the brake
booster fails. If a brake booster failure is
detected, the brake pedal feels
stiffer to press
and you may hear sound when you press the
brake pedal. To stop
Model S, apply steady
force to the brake pedal without releasing or
pumping. Drive cautiously and maintain a safe
distance from other road users
Page 70 of 281

The amount of energy fed back to the Battery using regenerative braking can depend on the
current state of the Battery. For example,
regenerative braking may be limited if the
Battery is already fully charged or if the
ambient temperature is too cold.
NOTE: If regenerative braking is limited, a
dashed black line displays on the energy bar
(see
Instrument Panel on page 60).
Parking Brake
To engage the parking brake, touch Controls > Safety > Parking Brake. Follow the onscreen
instructions.
NOTE: The parking brake operates on the rear
wheels only, and is independent of the pedal- operated brake system.
WARNING: In snowy or icy conditions the rear wheels may not have sufficient traction to prevent Model S from sliding down a slope, particularly if not using winter tires. Avoid parking on hills in snowy or icy conditions. You are always responsible for parking safely.
WARNING: Your Model S may display an alert if the road is too steep to safely park on, or if the parking brakes are not properly engaged. These alerts are for guidance purposes only and are not a substitute for the driver
Page 71 of 281

How It Works
The 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 on.
Under normal conditions, it should remain on
to ensure maximum safety.
This yellow 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 cannot prevent collisions caused by driving dangerously or turning too sharply at high speeds.
Allowing Wheel Slip
To allow the wheels to spin at a limited speed,
you can enable Slip Start. Slip Start can be enabled only when Model S is moving 30 mph (48 km/h) or slower. Slip Start automatically disables when the speed exceeds 50 mph (80 km/h).
Under normal conditions, Slip Start should
not be enabled. Enable it only in
circumstances where you deliberately want
the wheels to spin, such as:
Page 91 of 281

WARNING: Due to limitations inherent in the onboard GPS (Global Positioning System), you may experience situations in which Traffic-Aware Cruise Control slows down the vehicle, especially near highway exits where a curve is detected and/or you are actively navigating to a destination and not following the route.
WARNING: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control cannot detect all objects and, especially in situations when you are driving over 50 mph (80 km/h), may not brake/decelerate when a vehicle or object is only partially in the driving lane or when a vehicle you are following moves out of your driving path and a stationary or slow-moving vehicle or object is in front of you. Always pay attention to the road ahead and stay prepared to take immediate corrective action. Depending on Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to avoid a collision can result in serious injury or death. In addition, 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 be unable to provide adequate speed control because of limited braking capability and hills. It can also misjudge the distance from a vehicle ahead. Driving downhill can increase driving speed, causing Model S to exceed your set speed (and potentially the road