traction TESLA MODEL Y 2023 Owners Manual

Overview................................................................3
Exterior Overview............................................................................3
Interior Overview.............................................................................4
Touchscreen Overview..................................................................5
Opening and Closing.......................................10
Keys.....................................................................................................10
Doors..................................................................................................14
Windows............................................................................................17
Rear Trunk.........................................................................................18
Front Trunk......................................................................................20
Interior Storage and Electronics..............................................23
Seating and Safety Restraints.....................27
Front and Rear Seats...................................................................27
Seat Belts.........................................................................................33
Child Safety Seats.........................................................................36
Airbags..............................................................................................43
Driving..................................................................50
Driver Profiles.................................................................................50
Steering Wheel...............................................................................52
Mirrors...............................................................................................54
Starting and Powering Off.........................................................55
Shifting..............................................................................................56
Lights.................................................................................................58
Car Status..........................................................................................61
Wipers and Washers....................................................................64
Braking and Stopping..................................................................65
Traction Control.............................................................................69
Park Assist.......................................................................................70
Vehicle Hold....................................................................................72
Acceleration Modes......................................................................73
Track Mode......................................................................................74
Trip Information.............................................................................76
Rear Facing Camera(s)...............................................................77
Pedestrian Warning System......................................................78
Towing and Accessories.............................................................79
Cold Weather Best Practices....................................................85
Autopilot..............................................................88
About Autopilot.............................................................................88
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control.....................................................91
Autosteer.........................................................................................96
Navigate on Autopilot................................................................101
Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control.....................................104
Autopark...........................................................................................111
Summon...........................................................................................113
Smart Summon..............................................................................116
Active Safety Features...................................119
Lane Assist......................................................................................119
Collision Avoidance Assist........................................................122
Speed Assist..................................................................................125
Cabin Camera................................................................................126
Using the Touchscreen..................................127
Climate Controls...........................................................................127
Phone, Calendar, and Web Conferencing...........................133
Voice Commands.........................................................................136
Safety & Security Settings.......................................................138
Dashcam.........................................................................................140
Sentry Mode..................................................................................142
USB Drive Requirements for Recording Videos..............144
Smart Garage Connectivity.....................................................145
Connecting to Wi-Fi...................................................................148
Software Updates........................................................................149
Mobile App......................................................................................151
Navigation and Entertainment...................153
Maps and Navigation..................................................................153
Media................................................................................................159
Theater, Arcade, and Toybox...................................................162
Charging and Energy Consumption........165
Electric Vehicle Components..................................................165
High Voltage Battery Information.........................................167
Charging Instructions.................................................................169
Scheduled Charging and Scheduled Departure..............174
Getting Maximum Range..........................................................175
Maintenance......................................................177
Maintenance Service Intervals................................................177
Tire Care and Maintenance......................................................184
Cleaning...........................................................................................191
Windshield Wiper Blades, Jets and Fluid...........................195
Jacking and Lifting......................................................................197
Parts and Accessories................................................................198
Do It Yourself Maintenance....................................................206
Specifications..................................................207
Identification Labels..................................................................207
Vehicle Loading..........................................................................208
Dimensions.....................................................................................210
Subsystems....................................................................................213
Wheels and Tires..........................................................................215
Roadside Assistance.....................................222
Contacting Tesla Roadside Assistance...............................222
Instructions for Transporters..................................................223
Running Out of Range..............................................................226
Jump Starting...............................................................................227
Troubleshooting.............................................229
Troubleshooting Alerts.............................................................229
Contents

WARNING: Always pay attention to road and traffic conditions when driving. To minimize driver distraction and
ensure the safety of vehicle occupants as well as other road users, avoid using the touchscreen to adjust
settings while the vehicle is in motion.
Use the touchscreen to control many features that, in traditional cars, are controlled using physical buttons (for example, adjusting the cabin heating and air conditioning, headlights, etc.). You also use the touchscreen to control
media, navigate, use entertainment features, and customize
Model Y to suit your preferences. For hands-free access
to common touchscreen controls, use voice commands (see
Voice Commands on page 136).
If the touchscreen is unresponsive or demonstrates unusual behavior, you can restart it (see Restarting the
Touchscreen on page 7).
NOTE: Illustrations are provided to improve conceptual understanding only. Depending on vehicle options, software
version, market region and regional and language settings, the details displayed on the screen will differ.
1.
Status bar: This area on the top of the touchscreen displays the time of day, the outside temperature, and the
following icons:
Touch to lock/unlock all doors and trunks.4:20 pmYour vehicle automatically updates the time. If the time is incorrect, confirm your vehicle has
internet and GPS connectivity with the latest software.
Touchscreen Overview
5Overview

2. With the belt unfastened, unreel the webbing to its limit. Check that unreeling is free from snags, and
visually check the webbing for wear. Allow the webbing to retract, checking that retraction is
smooth and complete.3.
With the webbing half unreeled, hold the tongue plate and pull forward quickly. The mechanism should lock automatically and prevent further unreeling.
If a seat belt fails any of these tests, contact Tesla immediately.
For information about cleaning seat belts, see Seat Belts
on page 193.
Seat Belt Warnings
WARNING: Seat belts should be worn by all
occupants at all times, even if driving for a very
short distance. Failure to do so increases the risk
of injury or death if a collision occurs.
WARNING: Secure small children in a suitable child
safety seat as described in the Child Safety Seat
topic. Always follow the child safety seat
manufacturer

For dual-strap tethers, position a strap on each side of
the head support.
For dual-strap tethers in the third row (if equipped), position both straps over the head support.
WARNING: Before running a tether strap OVER a
head support, you MUST LOWER the head support
(see Head Supports on page 31).
For single-strap tethers at the outboard seating
positions, run the strap over the outside-facing side of
the head support (same side of the head support as the
seat belt retraction mechanism).
If running the strap over the outside-facing side of the head support is not possible (such as there is not
enough slack in the strap), raise the head support
(see
#unique_133 on page ) and run the strap under the
head support.
Child Safety Seats
40MODEL Y Owner

Parking lights are on (side marker
lights, tail lights, and license plate lights) . See
Lights on page 58.
Low beam headlights are on.High beam headlights are on and Auto
High Beam is disabled or currently
unavailable.Auto High Beam is enabled and high
beams are on.
Model Y is ready to turn
off the high beams if light is detected.
See
High Beam Headlights on page 59.
Auto High Beam is enabled but high beams are not on because light is
detected in front of
Model Y. When
light is no longer detected, high beams
automatically turn back on. See
High
Beam Headlights on page 59.
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.
Electronic stability control systems are no longer minimizing wheel spin. On a
Rear Wheel Drive vehicle, the traction
control system has been turned
off, or
on an All-Wheel Drive vehicle, Slip Start has been enabled. See
Traction Control
on page 69.
Trailer mode (if equipped) is active (see
Towing and Accessories on page 79).
Vehicle Hold is actively applying the brakes. See
Vehicle Hold on page 72.
A door or trunk is open. See Doors on
page 14, Rear Trunk on page 18, or
Front Trunk on page 20.
A blue snowflake appears when some
of the energy stored in the Battery may not be available due to cold weather conditions. During these cold weather
conditions, charging rates may also be limited. If
Model Y is plugged in, you
can heat your Battery by turning on climate control with the mobile app. The
snowflake disappears when the
Battery is
sufficiently warm.
Appears when regenerative braking is limited. See
Regenerative Braking on
page 66 for more information.
Vehicle power is currently being limited
because the energy remaining in the
Battery is low, the vehicle

Braking SystemsWARNING: Properly functioning braking systems
are critical to ensure safety. If you experience a
problem with the brake pedal, brake calipers, or
any component of a Model Y braking system,
contact Tesla immediately.
Model Y 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 briefly flashes amber on
the
touchscreen when you first start Model
Y. 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. Drive cautiously and avoid heavy braking.
If the touchscreen displays this red brake
indicator at any time other than
briefly

when you first start Model Y, a brake
system fault is detected, or the level of the
brake
fluid is low. Contact Tesla
immediately. Apply steady pressure and
keep the brakes
firm to bring the vehicle to
a stop when safe to do so.
The touchscreen displays this amber brake
indicator if a brake booster fault is detected. Apply steady pressure and keep the brakes
firm to stop the vehicle when
safety permits. Hydraulic Boost
Compensation will be active (see
Hydraulic
Boost Compensation on page 66).
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).
CAUTION: 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.
CAUTION: In emergency situations, if the brakes
are not functioning properly, press and hold the
Park button on the drive stalk to bring the vehicle
to a stop. Do not use this method to stop the
vehicle unless absolutely necessary.
Dynamic Brake Lights (if equipped)
If you are driving over 30 mph (50 km/h) and brake
forcefully
(or if Automatic Emergency Braking engages),
the brake lights
flash quickly to warn other drivers that
Model Y is rapidly slowing down. If Model Y stops
completely, the hazard warning lights
flash. Flashing
continues until you press the accelerator or manually press the hazard lights button to turn them
off (see
Hazard Warning Flashers on page 60).
NOTE: Dynamic brake lights will not flash while Track
Mode is enabled (see
Track Mode on page 74).
NOTE: When towing a trailer (if applicable), the brake
lights on the trailer also operate as described above,
even when the trailer is not equipped with a separate
braking system.
WARNING: When towing a trailer (if applicable),
always increase your following distance. Sudden
braking may result in skidding, jack-knifing, and
loss of control.
Brake Disc Wiping
To ensure brakes remain responsive in cold and wet
weather,
Model Y 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.
Braking and Stopping
65Driving

WARNING: In snowy or icy conditions the rear
wheels may not have sufficient traction to prevent
Model Y 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 Y 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

How It Works
The traction control system constantly monitors the speed of the front and rear wheels. If
Model Y
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
touchscreen 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.
Disabling Traction Control
Under normal conditions, the traction control system should remain on. Turn it
off only in circumstances
where you deliberately want the wheels to spin, such as:

Track Mode, available only on Performance Model Y
vehicles, is designed to modify the stability control, traction control, regenerative braking, and cooling systems to increase performance and handling while driving on closed circuit courses. Track Mode improves
cornering ability by intelligently using the motors, and regenerative and traditional braking systems. When enabled, the cooling system runs at an increased level during and after aggressive driving sessions to allow
your vehicle

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the tire grading system developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), which grades tires by tread wear, traction and temperature performance. Tires that have
deep tread, and winter tires, are exempt from these marking requirements.
Where applicable, quality grades are found on the tire