2014 TESLA MODEL S Owner's manual (North America)

1.If you turn on DOME lights, interior dome
(map) lights turn on when you unlock
Model S, open a door upon exiting, or shift into P (Park). They turn off after 60
seconds, when you lock Model S, or when you shift into a driving gear.
You can also turn an individual dome light
on or off by pressing its lens. If you
manually turn a dome light on, it turns off
when Model S powers off. If Model S was
already powered off when you manually
turned the light on, it turns off after 60
minutes.
2. If you turn on AMBIENT lights, the lights
on the door armrests turn on whenever
the headlights are on.
3. DRL (Daytime Running Lights) operate
only when driving with the headlights off.
In jurisdictions where required by law (Canada), daytime running lights can not
be turned off.
4. If Model S is equipped with optional front
fog lights, touch to turn them on or off.
The Front Fog indicator displays
on the instrument panel
whenever the optional front fog
lights are on.
The fog lights operate only when the
headlights are on. Whenever headlights
are turned off, fog lights also turn off.
5. Exterior lights are set to AUTO each time
you start Model S. Touch these options to
temporarily change the exterior light
setting:
OFFAll exterior lights
(headlights, tail lights, side
marker lights, parking
lights, and license plate
lights) turn off until you
manually turn them back
on or until the next time
you drive Model S.PARKINGOnly the side marker
lights, parking lights, tail
lights and license plate
lights turn on.ONAll exterior lights
(headlights, tail lights, side
marker lights, parking
lights, and license plate
lights) turn on.AUTOAll exterior lights
(headlights, tail lights, side
marker lights, parking
lights, and license plate
lights) turn on
automatically when
driving in low lighting
conditions. If you change
to a different setting,
lights always revert to this
AUTO setting on your
next drive.
Note: Optional fog lights operate
automatically whenever the headlights are
on. When headlights are off, fog lights are
also off.
Lights
Driving47

Headlight High BeamsPush the left-hand steering column lever away
from you. To cancel, pull the lever toward you.The high beam indicator lights up on
the instrument panel whenever high
beams are on.
To flash the headlight high beams, pull the
lever fully toward you and release.
Headlights After Exit
When you stop driving and park Model S in
low lighting conditions, the exterior lights
automatically turn on. They automatically turn
off after two minutes or when you lock Model S.
You can turn this feature on and off using the
touchscreen. Touch Controls > Settings >
Vehicle > Headlights After Exit .
Cornering Lights
If Model S is equipped with the optional tech
package, LED cornering lights broaden the beam of the headlights whenever you drive
through a corner.
Lights
48Model S Owner's Manual

Turn SignalsMove the left-hand steering column lever up(before turning right) or down (before turning
left).
The turn signals stop operating when
canceled by the steering wheel, or when you return the lever to the central position.
The corresponding turn signal
indicator lights up on the instrument
panel when a turn signal is
operating. You also hear a clicking
sound.
Lane Change Flash
To indicate a lane change, quickly press the
lever up or down against the spring pressure, then release. The corresponding turn signal
flashes three times.
Hazard Warning Flashers
To turn on the hazard warning flashers, press
the switch located on the side of the
touchscreen closest to the steering wheel. All
turn signals flash. Press again to turn off.
Note: Hazard warning flashers operate even
without a Model S key nearby.
Lights
Driving49

WipersTo wipe the windshield, rotate the end of the
left-hand steering column lever away from
you. You can choose from four levels:
• 1st: Auto with low rain sensitivity.*
• 2nd: Auto with high rain sensitivity.*
• 3rd: Continuous, slow.
• 4th: Continuous, fast.
For a single wipe, press and release the end of the lever.
If the wipers are set to Auto and the sensor
detects no water, the wipers do not wipe.
When you operate the wipers, headlights automatically turn on (if they are not onalready).
*Model S has a rain sensor located on the
inside of the windshield at the base of the interior mirror. When wipers are set to Auto,
the frequency at which they wipe depends on
how much water the sensor detects. When
wipers are set to the 2nd level, the sensor is
more sensitive.
To extend the life of wiper blades, remove ice from the windshield before turning wipers on.
Ice has sharp edges that can damage the
rubber on the blades.
Periodically check and clean the edge of the
wiper blade. If damaged, replace the blade
immediately. For details on checking replacing
wiper blades, see Wiper Blades and Washer
Jets on page 112.
Caution:
In harsh climates, ensure that the
wiper blades are not frozen or adhered to
the windshield.De-icing Wipers
To make wiper blades easy to access so you
can remove any ice and snow, shift Model S
into Park, then use the touchscreen to move
them to the service position. Touch Controls >
Settings > Vehicle > Service Mode > ON .
When parking in cold outdoor climates, it is helpful to leave Model S with the wipers in the
service position. In this position, they are
closer to the defrost vent, allowing you to thaw them by directing air from the climatecontrol system towards the windshield.
If Model S is equipped with the cold weather
option, you can de-ice wipers by touching
Controls > Cold Weather > Heated Wipers .
This control heats the wipers for 15 minutes
and then automatically turns off.
Note: Wipers automatically return to their
normal position when you shift Model S out of
Park.
Washers Press the button on the end of the left
steering column lever to spray washer fluid
onto the windshield. You can press this button at two levels. Press partially for a single wipe,without any washer fluid. Press fully for bothwipe and wash. When washing the windshield,
the wipers will perform two wipes after you
release the button, then a third wipe a few seconds later.
Periodically top up washer fluid (see Topping
Up Washer Fluid on page 116).
De-icing Washer Nozzles
If Model S is equipped with the cold weather
option, washer nozzles have de-icers that turn on whenever the ambient temperature nearsfreezing, or when you turn on the heatedwipers ( Controls > Cold Weather > Heated
Wipers ). The washer de-icers turn off when
the heated wipers turn off (after 15 minutes),
provided the temperature is warm enough to
prevent freezing.
Wipers and Washers
50Model S Owner's Manual

How Speed Assist Works
If Model S is equipped with Driver Assistance
features, a camera mounted on the windshield behind the interior rear view mirror detectsspeed limit signs. The signs are then analyzed
and compared against GPS data to determine
the speed limit at your current driving
location. For routes where no signs are present, speed limits are determined using
GPS data (if available). Instead of determining the speed limit based on signs and GPS data,you can also manually enter an arbitrary
speed limit.
When you turn on Speed Assist, the
speedometer displays a gray line to indicate
the speed limit. Warnings (described below) take effect when you exceed this limit.
In situations where the system does not have
confidence in the acquired speed limit, the speedometer displays a dashed line instead,
and warnings do not take effect. The system
may be uncertain about a speed limit if a
speed, although initially detected, is no longer known or may no longer apply. In some cases,the dashed line displays at the originallydetected speed, whereas in other cases itdisplays at 0 mph.
If you set the assistance level to Display (see
Controlling Speed Assist below), a speed limit
sign displays in the center of the instrumental
panel whenever you exceed the speed limit
and the speedometer displays the excess
speed in gray.
Note: A speed limit sign also displays in the
center of the instrumental panel when an
automatically detected speed limit changes.
If you set the assistance level to Chime (see
Controlling Speed Assist) and exceed the
speed limit, the speedometer displays excess
speed in gray, and you also hear a warning
chime.
Note: Speed limit warnings go away
automatically after 10 seconds, or when Model
S slows down below the specified limit.
Warning: Do not rely on Speed Assist to
determine the appropriate speed limit.
Speed Assist
Driving51

Always drive at a safe speed based on
traffic and road conditions.Caution: If your Model S is equipped with
Speed Assist, you must take your vehicle to Tesla Service if a windshield
replacement is needed. Failure to do so
can cause Speed Assist to malfunction.
Controlling Speed Assist
To turn Speed Assist on or off, and control
how it works, touch Controls > Settings >
Driver Assistance > Assistance Level , then
choose an assistance level:
• Off. The speed limit is not displayed.
• Display . Speed limit information visually
displays on the speedometer and when you exceed the limit, a speed limit sign
displays in the center of the instrument panel, and the speedometer displays theexcess speed in gray.
• Chime . In addition to the visual display, an
audible chime sounds whenever you
exceed the speed limit.
You can also specify how the speed limit is
determined:
• Relative . The speed limit is determined
automatically based on detected traffic
signs and GPS data. If desired, you can set
a speed limit offset (+ or -) if you want to
be alerted only when you exceed the
speed limit by a specified amount. For example, you would increase the offset to+10 mph if you only want to be alerted
when you exceed the speed limit by 10 mph.
• Absolute . Manually specify any speed limit
between 20 and 140 mph (30 and
240 km/h).
Note: GPS data is not always accurate. The
GPS can misjudge the road's location and
provide the speed limit for a directly adjacent
road that may have a different speed limit. For example, The GPS can assume Model S is on a
freeway when it’s actually on a nearby surface
street, and vice versa.
Limitations and Inaccuracies Speed Assist may not be fully functional or
may provide inaccurate information in these
situations:
• Visibility is poor and speed limit signs are not clearly visible (due to heavy rain,
snow, fog, etc.).
• Bright light (oncoming headlights or direct sunlight) is interfering with thecamera's view.
• Model S is being driven very close to a vehicle in front of it which is blocking the
camera's view.
• The windshield area in the camera's field of view is obstructed (fogged over, dirty,
covered by a sticker, etc.).
• Speed limit signs are concealed by objects.
• The speed limits stored in the GPS database are incorrect or outdated.
• Model S is being driven in an area where GPS data is not available.
• Traffic signs do not conform to standard recognizable formats.
• A road or a speed limit has recently changed.
Speed Assist
52Model S Owner's Manual

How Lane Departure Warning
Works
If Model S is equipped with Driver Assistance
features, a camera mounted on the windshield
behind the interior rear view mirror monitors
the markers on the lane you are driving in. If a
front wheel passes over a lane marking and
the associated turn signal is off, you feel three
slight vibrations in the steering wheel.
Lane Departure Warning operates only when
Model S is traveling over approximately
30 mph (50 km/h).Warning: Never depend on Lane
Departure Warning to inform you of
unintentionally driving outside of the
boundaries of the driving lane. Several
external factors can reduce the
performance of Lane Departure Warning,
causing either no readings or false
readings. Therefore, depending on this
system to stay within the boundaries of the driving lane can result in serious injury
or death. Lane Departure Warning is for
guidance purposes only. Always keep
your eyes on the road when driving. It is
the driver's responsibility to stay alert,
drive safely, ensure the vehicle stays in
the traveling lane, and be in control of the
vehicle at all times.Caution: If your Model S is equipped with
Lane Departure Warning, you must take
your vehicle to Tesla Service if a
windshield replacement is needed. Failure
to do so can cause Lane Departure
Warning to malfunction.Controlling Lane Departure
Warning
To turn Lane Assist on or off, touch Controls >
Settings > Driver Assistance > Lane Departure
Warning .
Limitations and Inaccuracies
Lane Departure Warning can not always
clearly detect lane markings and you may experience unnecessary or invalid warnings inthese situations:
• Visibility is poor and lane markings are not clearly visible (due to heavy rain, snow,fog, etc.).
• Bright light (oncoming headlights or direct sunlight) is interfering with thecamera's view.
• Model S is being driven very close to a vehicle in front of it which is blocking thecamera's view.
• The windshield area in the camera's field of view is obstructed (fogged over, dirty,covered by a sticker, etc.).
• Lane markings are excessively worn or have been adjusted due to road
construction.
• Lane markings are changing quickly (for example, lanes branching off, crossing
over, or merging).
• The road is narrow or winding. • Objects or landscape features are casting strong shadows on lane markers.
Lane Departure Warning
Driving53

How Park Assist Works
If Model S is equipped with the Park Assist option, both the front and rear bumpers
include several sensors. When moving slowly
in Drive or Reverse, the sensors alert you if an object is detected close to the front or rear
bumper, respectively.Warning: The Park Assist images
provided below are representative only.
The exact number and location of Park
Assist sensors may vary depending on
the date your Model S was manufactured.
When driving less than 3 mph (4.8 km/h), the
sensors are activated.
Warning: Never depend on Park Assist to
inform you if an area you are approaching is free of objects and/or people. Several
external factors can reduce the
performance of Park Assist, causing
either no readings or false readings (see Limitations and False Warnings on page
55). Therefore, depending on Park
Assist to determine if Model S is
approaching an obstruction can result indamage to the vehicle and/or objects,
and can potentially cause serious injury.
Always inspect the area with your own
eyes. When reversing, perform shoulder
checks and use all mirrors. Park assist
does not detect children, pedestrians,
bicyclists, animals, or objects that are moving, protruding, located too far above
or below the sensors, or too close or too far from the sensors. Park Assist is for
guidance purposes only and is not
intended to replace your own direct
visual checks. It is not a substitute for careful driving.
Visual and Audio Feedback
Whenever Model S is moving slowly inReverse or Drive at a speed of less than 3 mph
(4.8 km/h) , the left side of the instrument
panel provides feedback to alert you if an object is detected near the corresponding
back or front bumper. When reversing, visual feedback also displays on the touchscreen,
immediately below the camera view (see Rear
View Camera on page 64).
If chimes are turned on (see Controlling
Audible Feedback on page 54), an audible
beep sounds as you approach an object. You can temporarily mute the chime by pressing
the scroll wheel on the left side of the steering
wheel.
Note: If a sensor is unable to provide
feedback, the instrument panel displays an
alert message.
Caution: Keep sensors clean from dirt,
debris, snow, and ice. Avoid using a high
pressure power washer on the sensors
and do not clean a sensor with a sharp or abrasive object that can scratch ordamage its surface.Caution: Do not install accessories or
stickers on or near the parking sensors.
Controlling Audible Feedback
You can use Park Assist with or without
audible feedback. To turn chimes on or off,
touch Controls > Settings > Safety &
Security > Park Assist Chimes .
You can also mute the chimes temporarily by
pressing the scroll wheel on the left side of
the steering wheel. The chimes are muted
until you shift into a different gear or drive
over 3 mph (4.8 km/h).
Park Assist
54Model S Owner's Manual