Energy Depletion
10-3
Roadside emergencies
Energy DepletionDealing with a discharged
BatteryWhen driving the vehicle, the Touch Screen
displays warning messages as the level of
charge approaches a low level. You’ll notice
the color of the charge level graph on the
Energy screen turn yellow, then red, to alert
you that you need to charge the vehicle.
If you ignore these warnings and continue to
drive the vehicle, the charge level will
eventually reach 0% and the car will stop. Pull
the vehicle over to a safe location and call
Roadside Assistance.
Caution: If the Battery’s charge level
falls to 0%, it must be plugged in
immediately. Failure to do so can
permanently damage the Battery and this
damage is not covered by the New Vehicle
Limited Warranty. Also, if you allow the
Battery to fall to a critically low level it may
not be possible to charge the vehicle. If you
are unable to charge the vehicle, contact
Te s l a M o t o r s . A few extra milesWhen the vehicle’s Battery is fully depleted
while driving, the vehicle switches to
RESERVE mode which provides you with the
opportunity to immedi ately get the vehicle
off the road. The distance you can drive in
RESERVE mode is very limited (depending
on energy being used it could be as little as 1
mile).
Roadster OHB.book Page 3 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM
Tire repair10-4
Roadside emergencies
Tire repairTire sealantYour vehicle has no spare tire. Instead, a tire
sealant is provided. This aerosol is located in
the trunk.
You must repair or replace a damaged tire as
soon as possible. Use of the aerosol is
temporary and is designed only to allow you
to drive the vehicle to the nearest repair
facility. The aerosol repairs only small
punctures in the tread. If damage is more
severe (such as punctures larger than 5 mm,
ripped tires, or tires that have separated from
t h e r i m ) , c a l l R o a d s i d e A s s i s t a n c e t o h a ve t h e
vehicle transported to a tire repair facility.
The tire sealant contains liquid latex and a
propellant. When injected into the tire
through the valve, the liquid latex penetrates
the puncture site and cures to form a
temporary repair. At the same time the propellant inflates the tire, allowing you to
drive the vehicle at low speed (less than 30
mph) to reach a tire repair facility.
Caution: Do not drive on a deflated tire
as this can seriously damage the wheel
and the vehicle.
Safety precautions
WARNING: Never exceed 30 mph (45
km/h) when driving with a repaired
tire. SWARNING: Never drive with a deflated
tire, vehicle handling and braking will
be compromised.
S
WARNING: Always read the directions
and warnings on the tire sealant before
starting a repair. Follow the directions on the
aerosol exactly and pay attention to the
following precautions.
S
WARNING: Always keep the tire sealant
out of the reach of children.
S
WARNING: The tire sealant contains
components which are harmful if
consumed or inhaled:
• If swallowed, do not induce vomiting.
Seek medical assistance immediately.
• If inhaled, breathe fresh air. If breathing is
affected, seek medical assistance
immediately.
• If the sealant comes into contact with the
eyes, immediately flush the eyes with
water. If irritation persists, seek medical
assistance. •
Do not breathe gas, fumes, vapor or spray
that may be emitted from the tire sealant.
Inhalation can cause drowsiness and
dizziness.
S
WARNING: Store the tire sealant in its
correct location in the trunk.
Temperatures in other locations may exceed
safe storage conditions. Never carry the tire
aerosol in the vehicle’s cabin area.
S
Repairing a tireIf possible, stop in a safe place away from
traffic. Always ask a passenger to wait in a
safe area away from traffic. Switch on the
hazard warning lights to alert other road
users, then follow these steps:
1. Inspect the deflated tire for cause of puncture. If possible, remove foreign
material (such as screws or nails) from the
tread.
2. Remove the tire sealant from the trunk.
TR0168
TR0167
Roadster OHB.book Page 4 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
Wheels10-6
Roadside emergencies
WheelsRemoving the wheel
WARNING: Never work under the
vehicle with a jack as the only means of
support. If the vehicle slips off the jack, you or
someone else could be seriously injured.
S
1. Apply the hand brake and remove the key from the starter switch.
2. Loosen each lug bolt one turn using the wheel bolt extension tool, the locking
wheel bolt adapter (located in the tool
kit), and a 17 mm socket and/or a wheel
wrench.
3. Position a jack at the jacking points identified on the vehicle (see Ve h i c l e
jacking points, page 10-11 ), and raise the
vehicle.
Caution: Jacking the vehicle from
any point other than those
specified can damage the vehicle.
4. Remove the lug bolts and store in a safe place. 5. Remove the wheel.
Caution: Place the wheel face up to
avoid scratching the surface.
Replacing the wheel
WARNING: Before replacing the wheel,
inspect the mating faces of the wheel
and hub. Remove any corrosion, dirt or
foreign material. Fitting the wheels without
correct surface-to-surface contact can cause
the wheel bolts to loosen, resulting in a loss of
vehicle control.
S
1. Position the wheel on the hub.
2. Fit the wheel bolts and tighten until the wheel is firmly seated against the hub.
3. Lower the vehicle and remove the jack.
4. Using a torque wrench, fully tighten the bolts in the sequence shown to 77 lbft
(105 Nm). 5. Return the wheel bolt extension tool and
the locking wheel bolt adapter to the tool
kit.
6. Check and tighten the wheel bolts every 1000 miles (1600 km).
TR0055
1
4
3
5
2
1
4
3
5
2
TR0151
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Fuse replacement
10-7
Roadside emergencies
Fuse replacementReplacing a fuse
WARNING: Use replacement fuses of
the same rating and type or fuses of
matching specification. Incorrect fuse ratings
can overload a system and cause a fire or
malfunction. Blown fuses should be replaced
and no attempt should be made to repair a
blown fuse.
S
Fuses protect the vehicle’s electrical systems
from damage. The failure of any fuse will
render the equipment it protects inoperative.
1. Before removing a fuse, turn off all electrical equipment and remove the key
from the starter switch.
2. Locate the fuse box. The fuse box is located behind the access panel on the
passenger side of the dashboard.
3. Open the panel to access the fuses. Remove the panel by using the
screwdriver supplied in the toolkit to rotate the fastener 90° counterclockwise,
then release the panel from the
dashboard.
4. Consult the fuse specification chart to determine which fuse is protecting the
non-functioning electrical system.
Note: A label is also affixed to the inside
of the panel.
5. Remove the appropriate fuse and replace with a fuse of the same amperage as the
original. If in doubt, check the fuse
specification chart on the following
pages.
6. Re-install the fuse panel by aligning the hinges at the bottom of the panel with
the slots on the surrounding dashboard
area. Secure the panel by rotating the
fastener 90° clockwise.
If a replacement fuse fails to solve an
electrical failure, or the replacement fuse fails
prematurely, contact Tesla Motors.TR0048
13579 2468
11 13 15 17
20 22 24 26
10 12 14 16 18 19 21 23 25 27
Fuse colors
Fuse color
Rating (amps)
Orange 5
Brown 7.5
Red 10
Blue 15
Yellow 20
Clear 25
Green 30
Roadster OHB.book Page 7 Th ursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM
Raising the vehicle
10-11
Roadside emergencies
Raising the vehicleVehicle jacking pointsRefer to the illustration, and the labels on the
vehicle, for correct jacking locations. If lifting
the vehicle on a two-post lift, refer to the next
page.
1. Side jacking point
This point will raise both the front and
rear wheels.
2. Front jacking point Caution: Jacking the vehicle at any
other point will damage the underside
of the vehicle.
Caution: Use a suitable rubber or wood
pad to protect the chassis from surface
damage. Do not lift from a body panel. WARNING: Never raise a vehicle when
the charge cable is connected, even if
charging is not in progress. Always
disconnect the charge cable before raising
the vehicle.
S
TR0137
11
22
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Raising the vehicle10-12
Roadside emergencies
Vehicle lifting points Refer to the illustration, and the labels on the
vehicle, for correct locations when lifting the
vehicle on a two-post lift. If jacking the
vehicle, refer to the previous page.
Before lifting on a two-post lift, you must
remove the rear undershield and fit rear lift
point adaptors 1 to the chassis. Rear lift point
adapters can be purchased from Tesla Motors. Position the arms of the two-post lift
under the rear lift point adapters and the
front jacking points 2.
WA R N I N G : D e a t h , s e r i o u s i n j u r y o r
vehicle damage can occur if the vehicle
is lifted on a two-post lift with the rear
undershield still in place.
S
WARNING: Never raise a vehicle that is
plugged in. Always unplug the vehicle
before raising it.
S
Caution: Rear lift point adaptors must
be used when lifting the vehicle on a
two-post lift.
TR0152
11
22
1
Roadster OHB.book Page 12 Thursday, October 2, 2008 8:59 AM
Vehicle recovery10-14
Roadside emergencies
4. Touch To w M o d e , then touch OK to
confirm. The Touch Screen displays the
following message to indicate that the
vehicle is in Tow Mode.
5. Release the hand brake, if appropriate.
Note: Although Tow Mode is activated, the
steering column lock will be engaged. To
disengage the steering column, turn the key
to the ACC position. If it is difficult to turn the
key, move the steering wheel slightly.
Caution: The car can roll freely when
Tow Mode is active. If the vehicle is not
on a flat surface, do not release the hand
brake until the vehicle is ready to be pulled. Note:
The vehicle can not be charged or
started until you exit Tow Mode.
Attaching the vehicle recovery eyeA vehicle recovery eye can be attached to the
front of the vehicle to allow the vehicle to be
pulled onto a transporter in situations when
the vehicle can roll freely.
WARNING: NEVER tow the vehicle
using the vehicle recovery eye. Doing
so can cause serious, even fatal injury to
other motorists and can also cause
significant damage to your vehicle.
S
1. Retrieve the recovery eye from the tool kit located in the trunk. See Tool kit
components, page 10-2.
2. Using the screwdriver (also supplied in the toolkit), remove the plug from the
recovery eye mounting point behind the
front grill. If a license plate has been
installed on the front of the vehicle, it
must be removed to access the recovery
eye.
3. Insert the recovery eye through the hole in the front grill and screw into the
mounting point. Ensure the recovery eye
is fully tightened.
After use, remove the recovery eye and return
it to the tool kit. Insert the plug back into the
mounting point to prevent dirt from entering.Transporter and trailer tie
down strapsWhen the vehicle is to be moved on a
transporter or trailer, it will be necessary to
use chocks and tie down straps to secure the
wheels. To avoid damage: • Ensure that metal parts on the tie down
straps do not contact the vehicle’s
painted surfaces or the face of any
wheels.
• Do not place tie down straps over or
through the vehicle’s body panels.
Caution: Attaching straps to the
chassis, suspension or other parts of
the body can damage the vehicle.
TR0162
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