lock TESLA ROADSTER 2008 Owner's Manual

Driving basics
6-5
Driving your vehicle
Hand brake
WARNING: Do not apply the hand
brake when the vehicle is moving. This
could result in a loss of control and may
damage the rear brakes.
S
The hand brake operates on the rear wheels
only, and is totally independent of the foot
operated hydraulic brake system.
To apply the hand brake, pull the lever fully
upwards.
If the starter switch is in the ON
position and the hand brake is
applied, the warnin g indicator in the
instrument panel illuminates and the Touch
Screen will display the main Parked screen.
Caution: If the hand brake is applied
when the brakes are hot (such as after
prolonged or frequent hard use), care should
be taken that the hand brake is securely
engaged. As the brake discs cool, the amount
of brake force applied by the lever will
reduce. To release the hand brake, pull the lever up
slightly, depress the button (shown in
illustration) and fully lower the lever. The
warning indicator will extinguish and the
Touch Screen will display a Drive screen.
Braking
WARNING: After driving through heavy
rain, some loss of braking response may
be experienced. As soon as safety permits,
apply the brakes to generate heat and dry the
brake components. Never drive the vehicle
through deep water - doing so can cause
damage and void the New Vehicle Limited
Wa r ra n t y.
S
The brakes operate through dual circuits. If
one circuit fails, the other continues to
function, but brakin g performance is
reduced. If greater pedal effort, or longer
stopping distances are experienced, the car
should not be driven and Tesla Motors should
be contacted as soon as possible. The brakes are servo-assisted, but only when
the starter switch is in the ON position and
the electrical systems are operating. Without
servo assistance, greater pedal effort is
required to control the vehicle, resulting in
longer stopping distances.
Regenerative brakingWhenever the vehicle is moving and your
foot is off the accelerator, regenerative
braking slows the vehicle and feeds energy
back to the battery. By anticipating your
stops and simply removing your foot from
the accelerator to slow down, you can take
advantage of the energy gains of
regenerative braking. A visual display on the
instrument panel provides real-time
feedback of the vehicle’s regenerative
braking. See
LCD panel, page 6-11 .Anti-lock Braking System
(ABS)
WARNING: ABS cannot overcome the
physical limitations such as stopping
the vehicle in too short a distance, turning the
vehicle at high speeds, or the lack of grip on
the road’s surface.
S
WARNING: Do not take risks when
driving in the hope that ABS will correct
errors of judgement. In all cases it is the
driver's responsibility to drive with due care
and attention.
S
Your vehicle is equipp ed with an anti-lock
braking system (ABS) that prevents the
wheels from locking when maximum brake
BRAKE
TR0005
Roadster OHB.book Page 5 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM

Driving basics6-6
Driving your vehicle
pressure is applied. This allows you to
maintain steering control during heavy
braking on 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 ABS is operating and
is not a cause for concern. Keep firm and
steady pressure on the brake pedal while
experiencing the pulsation.Emergency braking
WARNING: DO NOT pump the foot
brake. ABS does this for you and by
pumping the foot brake yourself, you are
interfering with ABS operation which may
result in an increase in braking distance.
S
In an emergency, fully press the brake pedal
even when the road surface is slippery. ABS
will vary the braking pressure to each wheel
according to the amount of traction available.
This prevents the wheels from locking and
ensures that the vehicle stops as safely as
possible.
Note: ABS operates only when control of the
vehicle is jeopardized. It can not compensate
for driver error.ABS warning indicatorWhen the starter switch is turned to the ON
position, and also at frequent intervals while
driving, the ABS checks that all its
components are operating correctly. If a fault is detected, the warning
indicator in the instrument panel
flashes and the ABS shuts down. Contact
Tesla Motors as soon as possible.
The vehicle’s brakes remain fully operational
and are not affected by an ABS failure.
However, braking distances may increase and
wheels may lock under heavy braking.
Tra c t i o n c o n t ro l
WARNING: Traction control cannot
overcome the physical limitations of the
vehicle turning at too high a speed and
cannot prevent any accident which may
result.S
The traction control system constantly
monitors the difference in speed between the
front and rear wheels. If a loss of traction is
detected, it reduces torque to the rear wheels
to minimize wheel spin. When this happens,
you may notice the traction control warning
indicator on the instrument panel flash
quickly.
Traction control is automatically switched on
each time the starter switch is turned to the
ON position.Switching off traction controlIf required, traction control can be manually
switched off by pressing and holding the
switch on the center console for
approximately two seconds. When the
button is released, traction control will be
disabled. The warning indicator in the
instrument panel illuminates to inform
you that the vehicle is operating without the
advantages of traction control.
Under normal conditions, traction control
should be left on. The system should only be
switched off in circumstances where you
deliberately want the wheels to slip. As soon
as the circumstances requiring you to switch
traction control off have passed, press the
switch to turn traction control back on.BRAKE
TC
TC T CT C
T C
T C
D
R
N
TR0011
Roadster OHB.book Page 6 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM

Instruments6-14
Driving your vehicle
Instrument panel lightingThe control for the instrument panel lighting
is located on the dashboard below the Touch
Screen. When instrument panel lighting is
turned on using the adjacent switch, you can
adjust the amount of backlighting on the
instrument panel, the Touch Screen, and the
center console by turning this knob clockwise
to increase the backlighting and
counter-clockwise to decrease the
backlighting.TR0033Roadster OHB.book Page 14 Thursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM

Interior temperature control7-4
Comfort and convenience
Interior temperature controlGeneral informationThe temperature of the air inside the vehicle
is controlled using the controls on the center
console.
Heating is provided by a high voltage electric
heater located under the hood. Cooling is
provided by an all-electric air conditioning
system located under the hood. In addition to
cooling the cabin, the system also cools the
Battery.
Note: In high ambient temperatures, the
system may not be able to achieve the
desired cabin temperature. This is normal,
with priority being given to cooling the
Battery to ensure that cell temperatures stay
within a range that supports long life and
efficient performance.Control panel1. Driver’s seat heater
2. Passenger’s seat heater
3. Temperature control
4. Air conditioning system
5. Heating system
6. Fan speed control
7. Air recirculation
8. Air distribution
The heating and air conditioning in your Tesla
Roadster operate differently from those in
conventional vehicles in two key ways. First,
the temperature control 3 doesn’t do
anything unless either the air conditioning 4
or the heating system 5 button is pressed.
Second, because the vehicle is designed to
conserve the Battery’s energy, the air conditioning system and the heating system
must be manually turned on each time you
start the vehicle—even if they were turned on
when you shut the vehicle off.
Also note that if both the air conditioning and
heating is turned on at the same time, you get
a nominal amount of cooling. If operating
when the ambient temperature is below 2°, it
is recommended you press the air
recirculation
7 button.
Operating the systemNote: The fan, heating and air conditioning
system are powered by the Battery.
Prolonged use decreases the range of the
vehicle.
Heating and air conditioning must be
reselected each time the starter switch is
turned to the ON position or whenever the
fan is turned off.Fan speedRotate the fan control 6 clockwise to increase
fan speed.
With the fan switched off, the amount of air
entering the vehicle depends on your driving
speed. To operate the air conditioning or
heating systems, the fan must be turned on.Te m p e r a t u r eRotate the temperature control 3 clockwise
or counterclockwise to adjust the
temperature of the heated or cooled air.
Unlike the temperature control system of a
conventional vehicle, the temperature of the
air entering the vehicle will change only if the
heating or air conditioning system is
operating.Air conditioningEnsure that the fan 6 is on, then press button
4 to operate the air conditioning system. The
indicator in the switch illuminates blue when
the system is operating. Press again to switch
off.
TR0020
1
2
47
5368
Roadster OHB.book Page 4 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM

Interior temperature control
7-5
Comfort and convenience
Rotate the temperature control to achieve
the desired air temperature.
Note: In high ambient temperatures, cooling
may be temporarily diverted away from the
passenger compartment to cool the Battery.HeatingEnsure that the fan 6 is on, then press button
5 to operate the heating system. The
indicator in the switch will illuminate amber
when the system is operating. Press again to
switch off.
Rotate the temperature control to achieve
the desired air temperature.Air recirculationPress button 7 to operate air recirculation.
The indicator in the switch will illuminate
green. Press again to switch off.
When air recirculation is operating, and the
soft-top or hard-top is installed, 90% of the
air from within the passenger compartment is
recirculated, instead of being drawn from
outside the vehicle. This is useful for
preventing fumes from entering the vehicle
or to effectively maintain a constant
temperature.
Note: It is recommended that recirculation is
switched off for a short period each hour to
refresh the air inside the vehicle, and to help
prevent the windshield from fogging.Air distributionRotate the air distribution control 8 to
change the points at which air enters the
passenger compartment. Windshield vents
Footwell vents
Face vents
Air flow from the vents can be mixed by
positioning the control between the
distribution settings.
Ve n t i l a t i o nAir is drawn into the ventilation system
through the grill at the front of the vehicle.
Keep the grill clear of obstructions (leaves,
snow, etc.).
Press the thumb depression to open the
vents and rotate to direct the air. The vents
on each side of the dashboard can be
adjusted to direct air onto the side windows.
Note: With the face level vents open, airflow
to the foot and windshield outlets is reduced. TR0026
Windshield defrostingFor maximum efficiency when removing frost
or mist from your windshield, set the controls
as follows:
1. Rotate the air distribution control to windshield.
2. Rotate the fan control fully clockwise.TR0027
Roadster OHB.book Page 5 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM

Interior accessories
7-7
Comfort and convenience
Interior accessoriesInterior lightThe interior light is located on the rear header
rail. The light has three positions:
1. Light on.
2. Automatic operation. The light
illuminates whenever the vehicle is
unlocked or if a door is opened. The light
turns off 30 seconds after the door is
closed or when the starter switch is
turned to the ON position.
3. Light off. The light does not illuminate
when a door is opened.
Sun visorsTo help reduce the glare from the sun, visors
are provided for both the driver and
passenger. Pull the visor down (towards you)
when required.
TR0095
2
1
3
TR0097
Accessory power socketThe accessory socket has a hinged cover to
prevent dirt from getting into the socket when
not in use.
Power from the socket is available whenever
the starter switch is in the ACC or ON
positions.
Note: The power socket is suitable for
accessories requiring up to 10A or a maximum
of 125 watts.USB PortThe USB port, located directly above the
power socket, is for service use only. This port
is not designed for use with any personal
devices.
Accessory power
TR0075USB port
(service use only)
Roadster OHB.book Page 7 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM

Removable roof7-10Comfort and convenienceInstalling the soft-top
WARNING: Never attempt to install the
soft-top while the vehicle is moving.
This could cause an accident in which you or
others may be seriously injured or killed.
S
Open both doors. Remove the soft-top and
support stays from the bag.
Note: The support stays and the side rails of
the soft-top assembly have arrows on them
which should point to the front of the vehicle
when installing.
1. Fit the two support stays between the header rails. The support stays need to be
flexed to enable them to fit into the slots
in the header rails. 2. Inspect the channels in the header rails
and remove any debris (such as leaves)
that may have accumulated.
3. Position the soft-top across the space between the two support stays. Ensure
that the arrows molded on the side rails
are pointing to the front of the vehicle.
4. Standing at the drivers side, unroll the soft-top. Starting at the drivers side
minimizes potential damage to the roof
seals.
5. Position the side rail so that the black locating pins are located in the
uppermost slots on the front and rear
header rails.TR0131
6. Ensure that the front and rear edges of the soft-top are correctly located in the
channels on the header rails.
7. Rotate the side rail downwards until the side rail locking pins are correctly located
in the lower slots and you can hear them
‘click’ into place.
8. Check that both locking pins are correctly engaged by attempting to rotate the side
rail upwards.
9. Repeat steps 5 through 8 for the passenger side of the soft-top. You may
need to pull on the side rail to engage the
locating pins on the header rails.
10. Inspect the fitted soft-top to ensure that the front and rear edges are correctly
located in the channels on the header rails.
Incorrect fitment can result in damaged
seals and water leakage.
WARNING: Before driving, check that
both side rails are securely fitted. An
incorrectly fitted or unsecured soft-top could
result in an accident which could lead to
serious injury or even death.
S
Note: Unless you specified otherwise when
your vehicle was delivered, Tesla Motors has
set your windows to accommodate the
hard-top. To prevent water from entering the
cabin when using your soft-top, you will need
to have Tesla Motors adjust your windows.
Roadster OHB.book Page 10 Thursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM

Removable roof
7-11
Comfort and convenience
TR0128
Removing the soft-top
WA R N I N G : N e v e r a t t e m p t t o r e m o v e
the soft-top while the vehicle is moving.
This could cause an accident in which you or
others may be seriously injured or killed.
S
Caution: It is recommended that you
release the side towards the front of the
vehicle first to prevent the adjusters for the
tensioning cables from damaging the seals.
1. With the vehicle stationary, open both doors.
2. Locate the two release levers on the inside face of the side rail.
3. Press both levers inwards to release the side rail locking pins and rotate the rail
upwards. You may need to push down on
the side rail while pressing the levers.
4. Lift the side rail to disengage the two locating pins from the front and rear
header rails.
5. Release the front and rear edges of the soft-top from the channels in the header
rails and then roll the soft-top towards the
center of the vehicle.
6. Repeat the above steps for the other side. 7. Remove the soft-top from the vehicle and store in the soft-top bag.
8. Remove the two soft-top support stays from the vehicle. Flex the ends of the stays
inwards to release them from the header
rail.
9. Store the soft-top support stays in the bag with the soft-top.
Roadster OHB.book Page 11 Thursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM

Maintenance
9-3
Maintenance and care
TR0043
Opening and closing the hood
Never work on a vehicle that is plugged
in. Always remember to unplug the
vehicle before working under the hood or the
underside of the vehicle.
S
WA R N I N G : M a ke s u re t h a t t h e h o o d i s i n
the fully open position before working in
the area under the hood. In windy conditions,
you may need to secure the hood stay to
prevent the hood from being closed by the
wind.S
Opening1. Pull the hood release handle located to the left of the steering column.
2. Raise the hood.
3. Insert the hood stay into the slot.ClosingReturn the hood stay to its original position
and lower the hood to the closed position.
Press down firmly on ea ch side of the hood
(see illustration) to engage the locks. You can
hear the locks ‘click’ into place.
Caution: Before driving, check that the
locks on both sides of the hood are fully
engaged by attempting to lift the hood - there
should be no movement.
Roadster OHB.book Page 3 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM

Windshield wiper and washer9-6
Maintenance and care
Windshield wiper and washerChecking the wiper bladePeriodically check and clean the wiping edge
of the wiper blade.
Check the blade rubber for cracks, splits and
roughness. If any damage, wear or roughness
is detected, replace immediately to prevent
damage to the glass.
Clean the blade edge by wiping with a soft
cloth or sponge, using warm soapy water.
Replacing the wiper bladeInstall only a replacement wiper blade that is
identical to the original specification.1. Lift the wiper arm away from the windshield.
2. Turn the blade at right angles to the arm.
3. Depress the locking tab while sliding the blade down the arm.
To install the new blade, position the new
assembly on the wiper arm and slide the
blade towards the hooked end of the arm
until it locks into place.
Windshield washer jetsWasher jets are set when your vehicle is
manufactured and should not need adjusting.
If necessary, use a needle to clear blockages,
or lever gently to redirect the spray towards
the center of the windshield.
TR0078
TR0079
TR0070
Roadster OHB.book Page 6 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM