
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

Tool kit10-2
Roadside emergencies
Roadside emergencies
Tool kitTool kit locationThe tool kit is located in the storage space
beneath the trunk floor. To access the storage
space, pull the tab located at the rear edge of
the floor covering.TR0161
Tool kit components1.Hard-top Torx
® tool
2. Screwdriver
3. Wheel bolt extension tool
4. Locking wheel nut adapter
5. Ve h i c l e re c ove r y eye
TR0150
1
2
3
4
5
Roadster OHB.book Page 2 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM

Tire repair
10-5
Roadside emergencies
Note: In cold conditions, use the vehicle’s
heater to warm the aerosol.
3. Position the wheel (if possible) so that the puncture is at the bottom.
4. Remove the valve cap and clean the valve thread.
5. Vigorously shake the tire sealant for approximately 30 seconds.
6. Screw the filler tube onto the tire valve and break the safety seal.
7. Hold the tire sealant upright and turn the knob one-quarter turn clockwise. If you
need to stop the process, simply turn the
knob back to the ‘OFF’ position.
8. Empty the entire contents of the tire sealant into the tire. When the sealant
stops flowing through the filler tube, turn
the knob to the ‘OFF’ position and
unscrew the filler tube from the tire valve.
Note: If tire sealant comes into contact
with the vehicle’s paint, immediately
wash the area with water to avoid
permanent damage.
9. If the wheel rim has lifted from the ground, drive immediately for 6 to 12
miles (10 to 20 km) to distribute the
sealant evenly inside the tire. Then drive
gently and do not exceed 30 mph
(45 km/h).
WARNING: If the wheel rim has not
lifted from the ground, call
Roadside Assistance to have the vehicle
transported to a repair facility.
S
10. Drive to the nearest service station and inflate the tire to the correct pressure (see
Specifications and tire pressures,
page 11-4 .) If the required pressure
cannot be reached, then the tire is too
severely damaged and you should have
the vehicle transported to a tire repair
facility. Do not drive!
Note: When adjusting tire pressures, you
can display tire pressure values on the
Touch Screen’s tire pressure screen.
However, the values displayed by the
Touch Screen will not be updated until
you place the car in drive long enough for
the tire pressure monitoring sensors to
take new readings. For details, refer to the
Touch Screen Users Manual provided in
your owners package.
11. If the correct tire pressure was achieved, continue driving. Drive carefully and do
not exceed 30 mph (45 km/h). At the
earliest opportunity, have the tire
repaired or replaced and replace the used
tire sealant.
WARNING: Always inform the tire
repairer that tire sealant has been
used. If the tire is to be subsequently
deflated, only do so in a well ventilated
area. The aerosol sealant can damage the
wheel sensor that measures tire pressure.
Therefore, the wheel sensor must be
replaced.
S
Replacing the tire sealantAlways replace the used tire sealant with one
of the same type and capacity (400 ml). Tire
sealants are available through most reputable
automotive retailers.
Roadster OHB.book Page 5 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM