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

Limitations and False WarningsThe parking sensors may not function
correctly in these situations:
• One or more of the parking sensors is damaged, dirty, or covered (such as mud,
ice, or snow).
• Object is located below approximately 8 inches (20 cm) (such as a curb or lowbarrier).
• Weather conditions (heavy rain, snow, or fog) are interfering with sensor operation.
• Object is thin (such as a sign post).
• A sensor’s operating range has been exceeded.
• Object is sound-absorbing or soft (such as powder snow).
• Object is sloped (such as a sloped embankment).
• Model S has been parked in, or being driven in, extremely hot or cold
temperatures.
• The sensors are affected by other electrical equipment or devices that
generate ultrasonic waves.
• Object is located too close to the bumper. • A bumper is misaligned or damaged.
• An object that is mounted to Model S is interfering with and/or obstructing the
sensor (such as a bike rack or a bumper
sticker).
Other Parking Aids
In addition to Park Assist, when shifted into
Reverse gear, the backup camera displays a
view of the area behind Model S. See Rear
View Camera on page 64.
Park Assist
Driving55

Displaying Trip Information
Trip information displays on the touchscreen
when you touch Controls > Trips . There are
two trip meters available, A and B. To reset a particular trip meter, touch its associated
RESET .
Note: You can also display range and trip
information on the instrument panel (see
Using Left Steering Wheel Buttons on page
36).
Trip Information
56Model S Owner's Manual

Driving Tips to Maximize RangeYou can maximize your driving range usingthe same driving habits that you use to
conserve fuel in a gasoline-powered vehicle. In
addition to driving habits, energy
consumption depends on environmental conditions (such as cold weather and hillyroads). To get the maximum mileage from a
charge:
• Avoid frequent and rapid acceleration. • Instead of using the brake to slow down, move your foot off the accelerator.
Whenever Model S is moving and your
foot is off the accelerator, regenerative
braking slows down Model S and feeds
surplus energy back to the Battery (see
Regenerative Braking on page 59).
• Keep tires at the recommended inflation pressures (see Tire Care and Maintenance
on page 100).
• Lighten your load by removing any unnecessary cargo.
• Limit the use of resources such as heating and air conditioning. Using seat heaters to
keep warm is more efficient than heating the cabin. You can turn on Range mode toautomatically limit the power of theclimate control system (see Settings on
page 69).
The power meter on the instrument panel and
the Energy app provide feedback on energy
usage. With this feedback, you will soon become familiar with how driving habits andenvironmental conditions impact how muchenergy Model S is using.
Saving Energy
Model S has an energy-saving feature that
reduces the amount of energy being consumed when Model S is not in use. TouchControls > Displays > Energy Saving and
choose from the following options:
• OFF . All display systems remain powered
when Model S is not in use, providing the
most responsive experience. More energy
is consumed.
• NIGHTLY . Model S shifts to the energy-
saving mode at night (10 pm to 5 am).
• ON. Significantly less energy is consumed
whenever Model S is not in use. The start-
up time of the instrument panel and
Bluetooth could be slower.
• Always Connected . Preserves cell
connectivity when energy saving is active.
This allows the mobile app to connect toModel S more quickly, and provides
immediate 3G internet access when entering the car. Slightly more energy isconsumed.
Getting Maximum Range
Driving57

Braking SystemsModel S has an anti-lock braking system
(ABS) that prevents the wheels from locking
when you apply maximum brake pressure. This improves steering control during heavy
braking in 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 the ABS is operating
and is not a cause for concern. Keep firm and
steady pressure on the brake pedal while
experiencing the pulsing.The ABS indicator flashes briefly on
the instrument panel when you first
start Model S. If this indicator lights
up at any other time, an ABS fault
has occurred and the ABS is not
operating. Contact Tesla. The
braking system remains fully
operational and is not affected by an
ABS failure. However, braking
distances may increase.If the instrument panel displays this
indicator at any time other than
displaying briefly when you first start
Model S, a brake system fault is
detected or the brake fluid level is
low. Contact Tesla immediately.Emergency Braking
In an emergency, fully press the brake pedal
and maintain firm pressure, even on low
traction surfaces. The ABS varies the braking pressure to each wheel according to the
amount of traction available. This prevents wheels from locking and ensures that you
stop as safely as possible.Warning: Do not pump the brake pedal.
Doing so interrupts operation of the ABS
and can increase braking distance.Warning: Always maintain a safe distance
from the vehicle in front of you and be aware of hazardous driving conditions.
While the ABS can improve stopping
distance, it cannot overcome the laws of physics. It also does not prevent the
danger of hydroplaning (where a layer of
water prevents direct contact between
the tires and the road).
Brake Wear
Model S brake pads are equipped with wearindicators. A wear indicator is a thin metalstrip attached to the brake pad that squeals as
it rubs against the rotor when the pad wears
down. This squealing sound indicates that the
brake pads have reached the end of their
service life and require replacement. To stop
the squealing, contact Tesla Service.
Warning: Neglecting to replace worn
brake pads results in damage to the
braking system and can create a braking
hazard.
Brakes
58Model S Owner's Manual

Regenerative Braking
Whenever Model S is moving and your foot is off the accelerator, regenerative braking slows
down Model S and feeds any surplus 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
regenerative braking to increase driving range. Of course, this is no substitute for
regular braking when needed for safety.
Note: If regenerative braking is aggressively
slowing Model S, such as on a steep descent,
brake lights turn on to alert other road users
that you are slowing down.
The power meter on the instrument panel displays real-time feedback on the amount of
energy being gained by regenerative braking.
The amount of energy fed back to the Battery
using regenerative braking can depend on the current state of the Battery and the charge
level setting that you are using. If regenerative braking is limited, a dashed yellow line
displays on the power meter. For example,
regenerative braking may be limited if the
Battery is already fully charged or if the
ambient temperature is low.
To Set the Regenerative Braking Level
You can use the touchscreen to change thelevel of regenerative braking:
1. Touch Controls > Driving > Regenerative
Braking .
2. Choose from two levels:
•
Standard . Provides the maximum
amount of regenerative braking. When you release the accelerator,
Model S slows down faster, reducing
the need to use the brakes.
• Low . Limits the amount of
regenerative braking. When you
release the accelerator, Model S takes longer to slow down and coastsfurther.
Parking Brake The parking brake automatically engages
whenever you shift Model S into Park, and
releases whenever you shift into any other
gear.
Note: The parking brake operates on the rear
wheels only, and is independent of the foot-
operated brake system.
Use the touchscreen to manually release the parking brake (which also shifts Model S intoNeutral):
1. Touch Controls > E-Brake & Power Off .
2. Press the brake pedal, then touch Parking
Brake. If Model S was previously in Park, it
shifts into Neutral.
The parking brake indicator lights up on the instrument panel whenever
you use the touchscreen to manually
apply the parking brake.If an electrical issue occurs with the
parking brake, an amber parking
brake fault message displays at the
top center of the touchscreen.Caution: In the unlikely event that
Model S loses electrical power, you
cannot release the parking brake.
Brakes
Driving59

How It WorksThe traction control system constantly
monitors the difference in speed between the
front and rear wheels. If Model S experiences a
loss of traction, the traction control system
minimizes wheel spin by controlling brake
pressure and motor power.The electronic stability control
indicator displays on the instrument
panel whenever the traction control
system is actively controlling brake
pressure and motor power.Warning: Traction control does not
prevent accidents caused by driving
dangerously or turning too sharply at
high speeds.
Turning Off
Under normal conditions, you should leave
traction control on. Turn it off only in
circumstances where you deliberately want the wheels to spin, such as:
• Starting on a loose surface, such as gravel or snow.
• Driving in deep snow, sand or mud. • Rocking out of a hole or deep rut.
To turn traction control off, touch Controls >
Driving > Traction Control > Off .
The Traction Control Off indicator
displays at the top center of the
touchscreen whenever the traction
control system is turned off.
Although traction control turns on again
automatically the next time you start Model S,
turn it on using the touchscreen as soon as
the circumstances that required you to turn it off have passed.
Traction Control
60Model S Owner's Manual

Operating Cruise Control
Cruise control makes it easy for you to
maintain a consistent speed without holding your foot on the accelerator. This is usefulwhen driving at the same speed over a longdistance.
You must be driving over 17 mph (27 km/h) to operate cruise control.Warning: Do not use cruise control on
winding or slippery road surfaces, or
when traffic conditions make it unsafe to drive at a consistent speed.
To operate cruise control:
1. When driving over 17 mph (27 km/h),
touch the end of the cruise control lever.
The light on the lever turns on.
2. Accelerate until you reach your desired
cruising speed.
3. Move the cruise control lever up or down,
then release.
The instrument panel displays the Cruise On
message above the speedometer and a white
arrow on the speedometer shows your set speed.
You can accelerate at any time when driving at a set speed in cruise control. But when yourelease the accelerator, your speed returns tothe set speed.
Warning: Driving downhill can increase
driving speed, causing Model S to exceed
your set speed.Changing the Cruising Speed
Move the cruise control lever up (increase) ordown (decrease) until your desired speed is
reached.
Note: It may take a few seconds for Model S
to reach the new cruising speed. If you decrease the set speed to less than 17 mph
(27 km/h), cruise control cancels and the set speed clears.
Canceling and Resuming Cruise control cancels automatically if you doeither of the following:
• Press the brake.
• Drive below 17 mph (27 km/h).
• Shift out of Drive.
To cancel cruise control manually, briefly push the cruise control lever away from you. The
message on the instrument panel turns off, but the set speed remains displayed untilModel S powers off.
To resume cruising at the previously set
speed, briefly pull the cruise control lever
toward you. Cruise control resumes only if driving over 17 mph (27 km/h).
Cruise Control
Driving61

Cruise Control
62Model S Owner's Manual