2008 TESLA ROADSTER warning

Important notes about your vehicle1-2
Introduction and consumer information
Introduction and consumer information
Important notes about your vehicleElectric vehicle precautions
WA R N I N G : HIGH VOLTAGE. The Tesla
Roadster
TM has both AC and DC high
voltage systems in addition to a normal 12V
DC system. High voltage is very dangerous
and can cause personal injury including
electric shock, severe burns and even fatal
injury. Always observe and obey the
instructions on all labels attached to
components on your vehicle - they are there
for your safety. Do not touch, remove or
replace any high voltage parts. If your vehicle
is involved in an accident, do not touch any
high voltage wiring (identified by the orange
outer sleeving), the connectors or the
components connected to the wiring.
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California Proposition 65
WARNING: Certain vehicle components
contain or emit chemicals known to the
State of California to cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive harm. In
addition, certain fluids contained in vehicles
and certain products of component wear
contain or emit chemicals known to the State
of California to cause cancer and birth
defects or other reproductive harm.
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WA R N I N G : C e r t a i n c o m p o n e n t s o f t h i s
vehicle such as airbag modules and
seat belt pretensioners may contain
Perchlorate Material. Special handling may be
required for service or vehicle end of life
disposal. See
http://www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazardouswaste/per
chlorate.
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Vehicle modifications
WARNING: The fitting of non-approved
parts and accessories, or the
implementation of non-approved
modifications to any vehicle components,
including any “hacking” of the vehicle’s
software, may be dangerous and could affect
the safety of your vehicle and its occupants
and also invalidate the terms and conditions
of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty.
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WA R N I N G : Te s l a M o t o r s
TM will not
accept any liability for death, personal
injury or damage to property which may
occur as a direct or indirect result of
non-approved modifications or the fitment of
non-approved accessories.
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If you have a disability which requires
modification to your vehicle, consult Tesla
Motors before making these modifications.Service data recordingService data recorders in your vehicle are
capable of collecting and storing diagnostic
information about your vehicle. This
potentially includes information about the
performance or status of various systems and
control modules in your vehicle such as
motor, accelerator, or brakes. To properly
diagnose and service your vehicle, Tesla
Motors and service facilities may access
vehicle diagnostic information through a
direct connection to your vehicle.
Change of address or
ownershipIf you change your address, it is in your best
interest to notify Tesla Motors so we can
contact you should the need arise. Send in
the “Change of Address Notice” found in the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty” booklet, or
simply call Tesla Motors.
If you sell your vehicle, leave all original
owners package materials in the vehicle to
make it available for the next owner.
If you bought this vehicle used, either fill in
the “Change of Address Notice” found in the
New Vehicle Limited Warranty booklet, or
simply call Tesla Motors.
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Important notes about this manual
1-3
Introduction and consumer information
Important notes about this manualRead this manual firstThis owners manual contains a great deal of
information you need to know about a Tesla
Roadster. We urge you to read it carefully and
familiarize yourself with the vehicle before
driving.
For your own safety, follow the instructions
and warnings contained in this manual.
Ignoring them could result in damage to the
vehicle or personal injury to you or others.
Vehicle damage caused by failure to follow
instructions is not covered by the New
Ve h i c l e L i m i t e d Wa r ra n t y.
Keep this manual in your Roadster as a
reference for the safe and enjoyable use of
your Tesla Roadster. Should you sell your
vehicle, be sure to provide this manual to the
new owner.
All specifications and descriptions are
accurate at the time of printing. Because
improvement is a constant goal at Tesla
Motors, we reserve the right to make changes
at any time, without notice and without
obligation.
This manual applies to all 2008 Tesla
Roadsters. As a result, you may find some
explanations for equipment or options not
installed on your vehicle. When required,
Tesla Motors distributes an addendum to
provide updated information.
An effective way to find the information you
need is to use the index at the back of this
manual. If you are unable to find the
information you need, note that the following additional documents are included in your
owners package and therefore the content
may be elsewhere:
• Audio and Navigation Guides - describes
how to use the audio and navigation
systems
• Touch Screen Users Manual - describes
how to use the screens to display
important information while parking,
driving, and char ging the vehicle
• Charging Your Vehicle - describes how to
use the High Power Connector to charge
your vehicle.
• High Power Connector Installation
Manual - provides pla nning guidelines for
the installation of the High Power
Connector as well as step-by-step
installation instructions. This manual is
included with the delivery of the High
Power Connector.
• Roadside Assistance Guide - describes
the Tesla Motors Roadside Assistance
program and provides instructions on
how to transport the vehicle
• Warranty Booklet - details the New
Ve h i c l e L i m i t e d Wa r ra n t y
• Tire Warranty - details the warranty for
the vehicle’s tires
In addition to these documents, Tesla Motors
may include an addendum in your owners
package if your vehicle specifications differ
from those in this manual. If you are missing a
document, contact Tesla Motors.
Copyright and trademarks© 2008 TESLA MOTORS INC. All rights re-
served. This material may not be reproduced
or copied, in whole or in part, without the
written permission of Tesla Motors, Inc.
“Tesla MotorsTM” and “Tesla RoadsterTM” are
trademarks of Tesla Motors, Inc. “HomeLink®”
is a registered trademark of Johnson
Controls, Inc. iPod® is a registered trademark
of Apple Computer, Inc. Havoline® is a
registered trademark of Chevron or its
affiliates. TORX® is a registered trademark of
Textron, Inc. All other trademarks are the
property of their respective owners. Symbols glossaryThe following symbols used within this
manual call your attention to specific types of
information:
WARNING: Indicates a situation in
which serious bodily injury or death
could result if the warning is ignored.
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Caution: Indicates a situation in which
bodily injury or damage to your vehicle,
or both, could result if the caution is ignored.
Identifies items that must be disposed
of safely to prevent unnecessary
damage to the environment.
Note: A note provides useful supporting
information and sometimes suggests how to
make better use of your vehicle.
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Interior
2-5
Your vehicle at a glance
Dashboard overview1. Touch Screen. See Touch Scr een Users Manual provided in your owners package .
2. Turn signals, headlight high beam and cruise control. See Exterior lights, page 6-7 and Cruise control, page 6-9.
3. Instruments. See Instruments, page 6-11.
4. Windshield wiper and washer. See Windshield wiper and washer, page 6-8.
5. Hazard warning light switch. See Hazard warning, page 6-10.
6. Heating and air conditioning. See Interior temperature control, page 7-4.
7. Gear selector. See Selecting gears, page 6-3.
8. Traction control switch. See Traction control, page 6-6.
9. Accessory power socket. See Accessory power socket, page 7-7.
10. Horn. See Horn, page 6-10 .
11. Starter switch. See Starting the vehicle, page 6-3.
12. Hood release. See Opening and closing the hood, page 9-3.
13. Trunk release. See Opening the trunk, page 4-6.
14. Instrument panel illumination control. See Instrument panel lighting, page 6-14.
15. Exterior lights master switch. See Exterior lights, page 6-7.
16. Power windows. See Operating the windows, page 7-2.
17. Central door locking. See Central door locking, page 4-4.
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3-1
Seating and safety restraints
SeatsSeat adjustment 3-2
Seat belts General information 3-3
Seat belt safety instructions 3-3
Using the seat belts 3-3
Seat belt reminder 3-4
Wearing seat belts during pregnancy 3-4
Seat belt tensioners 3-4
Caring for seat belts 3-4
Child seats and restraints 3-5
Airbag system General information 3-6
How the system works 3-6
Deployment effects 3-6
Obstruction of airbags 3-7
Airbag warning indicator 3-7
Airbag warning labels 3-7
Using child seats 3-7
Passenger airbag deactivation 3-7
Airbag service information 3-8
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Seats3-2Seating and safety restra
ints
Seating and Safety Restraints
Seat adjustment
WARNING: Never adjust the driver’s
seat while your vehicle is moving.
U n ex p e c t e d o r s u d d e n s e at m ove m e n t co u l d
result in an accident.
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Driver’s seat positionTo adjust the forward/rearward position of
the driver’s seat, raise the bar beneath the
front of the seat and slide the seat to the
required position. Release the bar to lock the
TR0001
12
seat into position. Ensure that the seat is
locked in position before driving, by trying to
slide the seat forward.
To reduce the risk of injury in the event of an
accident, Tesla recommends the following
when adjusting seat position:
• Adjust the seat so that you can press the
foot pedals fully to the floor with your
knees slightly bent.
• Make sure that you can comfortably reach
the top of the steering wheel.
• Ensure a distance of at least 10 inches (25
cm) between the steering wheel and your
breastbone. The airbag will not provide
adequate protection if you sit closer.
• Fasten your seat belt correctly.Lumbar supportAdjust lumbar support using the inflator bulb
located on the outside front edge of the
driver’s seat 1 or on the inside front edge of
the passenger seat 2 .
To increase lumbar support, squeeze the bulb
repeatedly until sufficie nt support is obtained.
To reduce the amount of support, press the
button located on the clamp between the
hose and the inflator bulb.Head restraintsEach seat is provided with a head restraint.
The head restraints are integral with the seats
and therefore can not be adjusted or
removed.
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Seat belts
3-3
Seating and s afety restraints
Seat beltsGeneral information
WARNING: Seat belts should be worn
by all occupants, for every journey no
matter how short. Failure to do so greatly
increases the risk of death or serious injury in
the event of an accident.
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It is an established fact that seat belts provide
good protection in accidents. Therefore
wearing a seat belt is required by law in most
states.
Both the driver and passenger seating
positions are equipped with three-point
inertia reel seat belts. Inertia reel belts are
tensioned automatically and allow freedom
of movement during normal driving
conditions.
The belt reel automatically locks, preventing
movement of occupants, whenever your
vehicle experiences the force associated with
hard acceleration, braking, cornering or on
impact in a collision. The reel may also lock
when driving on steep hills or slopes.Seat belt safety instructions
WARNING: Ensure that all seat belts are
worn correctly. An improperly worn
seat belt increases the risk of death or serious
injury in the event of a collision.
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WARNING: Seat belts are designed to
bear upon the bony structure of the
body, and should be worn low across the
pelvis, over the shoulder and across the
chest. Avoid wearing the lap section of the
belt across the abdominal area.
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WARNING: Always adjust the belt to
remove slack. Seat belts worn too loose
can result in injuries because they allow
excessive forward movement in an
accident.
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WARNING: Do not wear seat belts over
hard, fragile or sharp items in clothing,
such as pens, keys, eyeglasses, etc. In an
impact, the pressure from the seat belt on
such items can cause them to break, which in
turn may cause serious injury.
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WARNING: Seat belts should not be
worn with any part of the strap
twisted.SWA R N I N G : E a c h b e l t a s s e m b l y m u s t b e
used by only one occupant. It is
dangerous to put the belt around a child
being carried on an occupant’s lap.
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WARNING: It is essential that seat belts
that have been worn in an accident are
replaced, even if damage to the assembly is
not obvious. The belt anchors must also be
checked.
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WA R N I N G : C a r e m u s t b e t a k e n t o a v o i d
contaminating the seat belt webbing,
and seat belt mechanisms with any
chemicals, liquids, grit, dirt or cleaning
products. If a seat belt fails to retract or latch
into the buckle, it must be replaced
immediately.
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WARNING: No modifications or
additions should be made that prevent
the seat belt mechanism from taking up slack, or that prevent the seat belt being
adjusted to remove slack. A slack belt greatly
reduces the level of occupant protection.
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Using the seat beltsFastening the belt1. Ensure that the seat is correctly
positioned.
2. Take hold of the latch plate and pull it slowly across your chest and lap.
3. Insert the latch plate into the buckle and press down until you hear a “click” that
indicates it is securely locked into place.
4. Pull the belt to check that it is securely fastened.
5. Position the belt so that it is worn low across the front of the pelvis, and across
the chest and shoulder.TR0139
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Seat belts3-4
Seating and safety restraints
6. Pull the diagonal part of the belt towards the retractor to remove excess slack.Releasing the beltRelease the seat belts by pressing the red
button on the buckle. The belt retracts
automatically.Seat belt reminder
The seat belt warning indicator in the
instrument panel illuminates
whenever the driver’s seat belt is unbuckled.
Also, an audible sound will be heard for six
seconds if the starter switch is turned to the
ON position and the drivers seat belt is
unbuckled.
Wearing seat belts during
pregnancy
WARNING: Pregnant woman should
always wear seat belts to protect
themselves and th eir unborn child.
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WARNING: Never place anything
between you and the seat belt to
cushion the impact in the event of an
accident.
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The lap portion of the belt should be worn as
low as possible across the hips, not the waist.
Position the diagonal part of the belt
between the breasts and to the side of the
abdomen.
If you have any concerns about wearing seat
belts, contact your doctor.
Seat belt tensioners
WARNING: If the seat belt
pre-tensioners have been activated
once, they must be replaced. After any
accident, always have the airbags, seat belt
pre-tensioners and any associated
components checked and, if necessary,
replaced by Tesla Motors.
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The seat belts are equipped with
pre-tensioners that activate in conjunction
with the airbags and provide additional
protection in the event of a severe frontal
impact on your vehicle.
The pre-tensioners automatically retract the
seat belt buckle, reducing any slack in both
the lap and diagonal portions of the belts,
resulting in reduced forward movement of
the occupant. Following an accident in which the
pre-tensioners have been activated, the seat
belts continue to function as restraints and
must be worn if you drive your vehicle.
Caring for seat belts
WARNING: Regularly check the
condition of both belts. Replace seat
belts if you notice any damage to the belt
webbing, fittings, retractor mechanisms or
buckles.S
Three tests for checking seat belts:
1. With the seat belt fastened, give the webbing nearest the buckle a quick pull.
The buckle should remain securely
locked.
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 must lock automatically
and prevent further unreeling.
If a seat belt fails any of these tests, contact
Tesla Motors immediately.
For seat belt cleaning information, see Seat
belts, page 9-8 .
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Seat belts
3-5
Seating and s afety restraints
Child seats and restraintsCurrently, child seats and restraints are not
approved for use in your vehicle. Until these
are available, Tesla Motors strongly
recommends that children are not carried as
passengers in your vehicle.
WARNING: The seat belts fitted to your
vehicle are designed to secure adult
sized passengers only.
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WA R N I N G : C h i l d r e n under age 12 and
those weighing less than 80 lb (36 kg)
are not of sufficient size to be carried safely
wearing a standard seat belt of the type
fitted to your vehicle.
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WARNING: It is dangerous for children
to travel in any type of vehicle without
being restrained by a harness, child seat, or
restraint system suitable for both their age
and size.
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WARNING: Never let a passenger hold a
child on his or her lap while your vehicle
is moving. The passenger cannot protect the
child from injury in a collision.
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