2008 TESLA ROADSTER stop start

Driving basics
6-3
Driving your vehicle
Starting the vehicleFollow these steps to prepare the vehicle for
driving:
1. Tesla recommends selecting the N gear position.
2. Press and hold down the brake pedal.
3. Insert the key into the starter switch, turn it to the START position, and release.
When released, the key automatically
returns to the ON position and, if the
start-up sequence is successful, the N
indicator will illuminate green and you’ll
hear an audible tone. .
Note: If the brake pedal is not pressed, a
message is displayed on the Touch
Screen. Press the brake pedal and turn
the key to the START position again.
The vehicle is now ready to be driven.
Selecting gearsThe transmission has two selectable drive
positions - forward (D) and reverse (R). In the
neutral (N) position the gear selector rests
between gears D and R.
Indicator lights in the instrument panel
illuminate to show the currently engaged
gear.
The vehicle can be driven away from
stationary with the gear selector in position D
or R. • R (Reverse). Selectable whenever the
vehicle’s forward speed is less than 5
mph. The maximum speed in reverse is
limited to 15 mph. An audible tone will be
heard when reverse gear is selected.
• N (Neutral). Select th is position and apply
the hand brake if the vehicle needs to be
stationary for a period of time. •
D (Drive). Can be selected whenever the
vehicle is stationary.
Note: P (Park) is not a gear you can select. It
is a state the vehicle is in when the
transmission is locked and the rear wheels
cannot turn. When the key is turned to the
ACC position, this state is activated
automatically, regardless of the position of
the gear selector. In the event that the
vehicle needs to hauled on a flatbed truck, P
must be deactivated before the vehicle can
be pulled onto the truck. See Ve h i c l e
recovery, page 10-13 .
Driving tipsDriving an electric vehicle is similar to driving
a gasoline-powered vehicle. Here are a few
guidelines you should be aware of to help you
maximize range.Drive sensibly to maximize rangeEnergy consumption depends on driving
habits and operating condition. Your vehicle
is designed to travel over 200 miles on a
charge.
To get the maximum mileage from a charge,
you should:
• Avoid frequent acceleration and
deceleration.
• Anticipate stops and instead of using the
brake pedal to slow down, move your foot
off the accelerator. Whenever the vehicle
is moving and your foot is off the
accelerator, regenerative braking slows
the vehicle and feeds energy back to the
battery.
EST.
PIN Code Chang brakedWhile starting, foot
brake must be pressed
ID:881 Data:0x00000002 1:03AM

TR0304
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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
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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
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Instruments
6-13
Driving your vehicle
Charge indicator. Flashes amber when
the vehicle is charging.
Charge indicator. Illuminates red when
the charging port door is open and
the vehicle is not charging.
Caution: Never run the vehicle until the
Battery is fully depleted. If the Battery
is fully depleted, all electrical systems on the
vehicle are inoperable and the vehicle can not
be driven.
Tire pressure indicator. Illuminates
when the pressure of a tire is out of
range. If a fault with the Tire Pressure
Monitoring System (TPMS) is detected, the
warning indicator flas hes. Check the Touch
Screen for more information.
Seat belt warning. Illuminates
whenever the driver’s seat belt is
unbuckled and the starter switch is in the ON
position. 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. If the car is driven more than a
tenth of a mile with the driver’s seat belt
unbuckled, you’ll hear a warning tone.
Airbag warning. Illu minates during the
system check that occurs when the
starter switch is turned to the ON position.
This indicator should extinguish within
approximately six seconds. If the light fails to
illuminate, or fails to extinguish after six
seconds, a fault has occurred and you must
contact Tesla Motors. Warning: If the airbag indicator is
illuminated, the airbag system will be
deactivated. Contact Tesla Motors
immediately. In the event of an accident the
airbags may not inflate.
S
Non-critical fault. Illuminates yellow
when a non-critical fault is detected.
For example, when power is reduced due to
high temperature. Bring the vehicle to Tesla
Motors for servicing as soon as possible.
Critical fault. Illuminates red when a
critical fault is detected. This is usually
accompanied by the inability to drive the
vehicle and a shutdown of all electrical
systems. Stop the vehicle as soon as it is safe
to do so, and contact Tesla Motors.
Traction control. Illuminates when the
traction control has been manually
deactivated and will il luminate briefly in
situations where traction control is in use.
Cruise control. Illuminates when the
cruise control system is operating.
Frost warning. Illuminates when the
temperature outside the vehicle falls
below 37º F (3º C). Extinguishes when the
temperature raises again to
exceed 41º F (5º C).
Gear position indicatorsWhen the starter switch is turned to the ON
position, the gear po sition indicators
sequentially (and briefly) illuminate red and then green. When the start-up sequence is
complete, the indicator corresponding to the
currently selected gear (
N) remains
illuminated green. For more information, see
Selecting gears, page 6-3 .FAULTFAULTTCCRUISEPRND
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Power windows7-2
Comfort and convenience
Comfort and convenience
Power windowsDriver’s door window controls1.Driver’s window
2. Passenger window
Note: The passenger window can also be
operated using the switch on the passenger
door.
Operating the windows
WARNING: Closing power windows on
fingers, hands or other vulnerable parts
of the body may result in serious injury.
Ensure that your passenger is familiar with
the window controls and aware of the
potential dangers.
S
WARNING: To prevent the risk of injury,
always remove the key from the starter
switch if a child is to be left unattended in the
vehicle.SWARNING: Never leave a child or an
animal unattended in the vehicle with
the windows closed and the roof fitted. In hot
weather conditions they could succumb to
heat exhaustion and experience serious
bodily injury or death.
S
The windows can be operated whenever the
starter switch is in the ACC or ON positions.
Both windows are equipped with a one-touch
opening switch. To open a window, briefly
press the switch down and release. The
window will continue to lower until fully open.
Pressing the switch again, while it is opening,
will stop the window.
To raise a window, pull the switch and hold
until the window is fully raised.
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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.
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Wheels and tires11-8Technical specificationsIn addition to the marking requirements,
passenger car tires must conform to Federal
Safety Requirements.
Note: Your vehicle is equipped with
directional tires. Therefore, you can see the
tire markings only on the outside of the
passenger tires. TreadwearThe treadwear grade is a comparative rating
based on the wear rate of the tire when
tested under controlled conditions on a
specified government test course.
For example; a tire graded 150 would wear
one and a half times as well on a government
test course as a tire graded 100. The relative
performance of tires depends on the actual
conditions of their use, however, and may
depart significantly from the norm due to
variations in driving habits, service practices,
and differences in road characteristics and
climate.Tra c t i o n
WARNING: The traction grade assigned
to this tire is based on straight-ahead
braking tests, and does not include;
acceleration, cornering, hydroplaning or peak
traction characteristics.
S
The traction grades, from highest to lowest,
are; AA, A, B, and C. These grades represent
a tire’s ability to stop on a wet pavement as
measured under controlled conditions on
specified government test surfaces of asphalt
and concrete. A tire marked C may have poor
traction performance.
Te m p e r a t u r e
WARNING: The temperature grade for
this tire is established for a tire that is
properly inflated and not overloaded.
Excessive speed, under-inflation, or excessive
loading, either separately or in combination,
can cause heat buildup and possible tire
failure.S
The temperature grades are A (the highest),
B, and C, representing the tire's resistance to
the generation of heat and its ability to
dissipate heat when tested under controlled
conditions on a specified indoor laboratory
test wheel.
Sustained high temperature can cause the
material of the tire to degenerate and reduce
tire life, and excessive temperature can lead
to sudden tire failure.
The grade C corresponds to a level of
performance which all passenger car tires
must meet under the Federal Motor Safety
Standard No. 109.
Grades B and A represent higher levels of
performance on the laboratory test wheel
than the minimum required by law.Tire care
WARNING: Defective tires are
dangerous. Do not drive if any tire is
damaged, is excessively worn, or is inflated to
an incorrect pressure.
S
Always consider tire conditions when driving,
and regularly inspect the tread and side walls
for any sign of distorti on (bulges), cuts or
wear.
The way you drive has a significant influence
on your safety and on the life of your tires.
Cultivate good habits for your own benefit:
• Observe posted speed limits.
• Avoid fast starts, stops and turns.
• Avoid potholes and objects in the road.
• Do not run over curbs or hit the tire
against the curb when parking.
Caution: Avoid contaminating tires with
vehicle fluids that can cause damage.Tire pressure information
WARNING: If the vehicle has been
parked in strong sunlight or used in high
ambient temperatures, do not reduce the tire
pressures. Move the vehicle into the shade and
allow the tires to cool before checking.
S
Correctly inflated tires will ensure that you
enjoy the best combination of vehicle range,
tire life, ride comfort and road handling.
Tire pressure should be checked when the
tires are cold. Inflate each tire to the pressure
recommended by Tesla Motors on the vehicle
placard, or tire inflation pressure label.
As an added safety feature, your
vehicle has been equipped with a tire
pressure monitoring system (TPMS) that
illuminates a tire pressure telltale when one or
more of your tires is significantly
under-inflated. Accordingly, when the low tire
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Wheels and tires
11-9
Technical specifications
pressure telltale illuminates, you should stop
and check your tires as soon as possible, and
inflate them to the proper pressure.
Driving on a significantly under-inflated tire
causes the tire to overheat and can lead to
tire failure. Under-inflation also reduces
Battery range and tire tread life, and may
affect the vehicle’s handling and stopping
ability.
The TPMS is not a substitute for proper tire
maintenance, and it is the driver’s
responsibility to maintain correct tire
pressure, even if under-inflation has not
reached a level to trigger illumination of the
TPMS tire pressure telltale.Checking tire pressures
WARNING: Tire pressures should be
checked using an accurate pressure
gauge when cold. Under-inflation is the most
common cause of tire failures and may result
in severe tire cracking, tread separation or
“blowout”, with unexpected loss of vehicle
control and increased risk of injury.
S
Check the pressures when the tires are cold.
Be aware that it only takes 1 mile (1.5 km) of
driving to warm up the tires sufficiently to
affect the tire pressures. If it is necessary to
check the tires when they are warm, you
should expect the pressures to have
increased. Do not let air out of warm tires in
an attempt to match the recommended cold
tire pressures.
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.
Always inflate your tires to the Tesla Motors
recommended inflation pressure even if it is
different from the maximum inflation
pressure information found on the tire itself.
For the correct tire pressures, refer to
Specifications and tire pressures, page 11-4
.
The following procedure should be used to
check and adjust tire pressures: 1. Remove the cap from the valve, then firmly press the tire gauge onto the valve
and measure the pressure.
2. If required add air to reach the required pressure.
3. Check the pressure by removing the tire gauge and then re-attaching it.
Note: Failure to remove and re-attach the
gauge to the valve could cause the gauge
to show an incorrect reading.
4. If too much air is added, air can be released by pushing on the metal stem in
the center of the valve.
5. Recheck the pressure with the tire gauge and adjust if necessary.
6. Refit the valve cap.
Va l ve sFit the valve caps securely to prevent dirt
from entering the valve. Periodically check
the valve for damage and leaks.
Tire wear
WARNING: The tires should be
regularly checked for wear and to make
sure that there are no cuts, bulges or
exposure of the ply/cord structure. Do not
drive with tires which are worn or damaged.
The safety of the vehicle and occupants will
be adversely affected.p
Tires fitted as original equipment have wear
indicators moulded into the tread pattern.
When the tread has been worn down to 1/16”
(inch). the indicators start appearing at the
surface of the tread pattern, producing the
effect of a continuous band of rubber across
the width of the tire.
A tire must be replaced as soon as an
indicator band becomes visible or the tread
depth reaches the minimum permitted by
legislation.
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