2015 TESLA MODEL S tow

Adjusting Position
Adjust the steering wheel to the desired driving position by moving the control on the
left side of the steering column.Warning: Do not make adjustments while
driving.
Adjusting Sensitivity
You can adjust the feel and sensitivity of the
steering system to suit your personal preference:
1. On the touchscreen, touch Controls.
2. Choose a steering option:
• Comfort - reduces the effort required to turn the wheel. In town, Model S
feels easier to drive and park.
• Standard - Tesla believes that this setting offers the best handling andresponse in all conditions.
• Sport - Increases the effort required to turn the wheel. When driving athigher speeds, Model S feels more
responsive.
The only way to really know which option you
like best is to try them.
Using Left Steering Wheel Buttons
Use the buttons on the left side of the steering
wheel to change radio stations, control the
media player’s volume, and control what
displays on the left side of the instrument panel (whenever the Navigation app is not
displaying instructions).
Note: The volume control on the steering
wheel does not adjust spoken navigation instructions. To control the volume of
navigation instructions, use the navigation
window on the touchscreen (see Using Maps
on page 90).
1. Next
If you are listening to local or satellite
radio and you have defined more than one
radio preset, press to play the next preset in the radio band that is currently playing.
If you have not defined more than one
preset, press to go to the next available
frequency.
If you are listening to Internet radio, or to
an audio file on a connected Bluetooth or USB device, press to skip to the next song
or station.
2. Scroll Wheel
• To adjust the media volume, roll up or down.
• To mute the media volume, or to pause/play an audio file, tap the
wheel.
• To choose what displays on the left side of the instrument panel, press
and hold the scroll wheel to display
the available options. Then roll the
scroll wheel to browse through the
options. Tap the scroll wheel when the option you want is highlighted.
3. Previous
Same as described above for Next, except
it skips to the previous song or station.
Note: Regardless of how you customize the
left side of the instrument panel, it
automatically changes to display navigation instructions (if applicable), or to let you knowif a door or trunk is open when Model S is in a
driving gear.
Steering Wheel
Driving37

Starting Model S
When you open a door, Model S powers on the instrument panel and touchscreen. Thecenter circle on the instrument panel displaysthe status of doors and the charge level, and
you can operate all controls.
To drive:
• PRESS THE BRAKE - the center circle on
the instrument panel changes to display
the speedometer, power meter, charge level, and selected gear (P, R, N, or D).
• SELECT A GEAR - all the way down for
Drive and all the way up for Reverse.
Everything you need to know when driving
Model S displays on the instrument panel.
Key Not Inside
If Model S does not detect a key when you
press the brake, the instrument panel displays
a message telling you that a key was not
detected.
Place the key in the center console cup holder
where Model S can best detect it.
If Model S still does not detect the key, try
holding it against the center console,
immediately below the 12V power socket (see 12V Power Socket on page 87). Or try using
another key. If another key does not work,
contact Tesla.
A number of factors can affect whether
Model S can detect the key. These include a
low battery in the key, interference from other
devices using radio signals, and objects
between the key and receiver.
Always keep the key with you. After driving,
you need it to restart Model S after it powers
off. And when you leave Model S, you must
bring it with you to lock Model S, either manually or automatically (see Walk-away
Locking on page 7).
Powering Off When you finish driving, shift into Park by
pressing the button on the end of the gear
selector. The parking brake automatically
engages and all systems keep operating.
When you leave Model S with the key, it
powers off automatically, turning off the
touchscreen and instrument panel.
Model S also powers off automatically after
being in Park for 15 minutes, even if you are
sitting in the driver’s seat.
Although usually not needed, you can power
off Model S while you are still sitting in the
driver’s seat. Touch Controls > E-Brake &
Power Off > Power Off . Model S automatically
powers back on again if you press the brake
or touch anywhere on the touchscreen.
Note: Model S automatically shifts into Park
whenever you leave the vehicle, even if you shift into Neutral before exiting. To keep
Model S in Neutral, see Leaving Model S in
Neutral - Tow Mode on page 42.
Starting and Powering Off
Driving41

Shifting GearsWhen Model S is in Park, you must press the
brake to shift to another gear.
Move the lever up or down to change gears.
If you try to shift into a gear that the current
driving speed prohibits, you will hear a chime
and the gear does not change.
Reverse
Push the lever all the way up and release. You can only shift into Reverse when Model S is
stopped or moving less than 5 mph (8 km/h). If moving less than 1 mph (1.6 km/h), you must
press the brake.
Neutral
Push the lever up or down to the first position
and release to shift into Neutral. Neutral
allows Model S to roll freely.
If Model S is in Park and you use the
touchscreen to release the parking brake ( Controls > E-Brake & Power Off ), Model S
shifts into Neutral (see Parking Brake on page
53).
Model S automatically shifts into Park when you exit. To leave Model S in Neutral, use the
touchscreen to engage Tow mode (see Leaving Model S in Neutral - Tow Mode on
page 42).
Drive
Push the lever all the way down and release. You can shift into Drive when Model S isstopped or moving less than 5 mph (8 km/h)
in Reverse. If Model S is moving less than
1 mph (1.6 km/h), you must press the brake to shift into Drive.
Park
With Model S stopped, press the end of the gear selector. Whenever Model S is in Park,
the parking brake is applied.
Model S automatically shifts into Park
whenever you:
• Leave the vehicle.
• Connect a charge cable.
Leaving Model S in Neutral - Tow
Mode
Model S automatically shifts into Parkwhenever you finish driving and leaveModel S. To keep Model S in Neutral when youexit, allowing it to roll freely (for example,pulling onto a transporter, etc.), activate Tow
mode:
1. Shift into Park.
2. Press the brake pedal.
3. Touch Controls > Settings > Service &
Reset > Tow Mode .
Model S beeps, and shifts into Neutral (which
releases the parking brake).
When Tow mode is active, Model S
displays this indicator light on the
instrument panel, along with a
message telling you that Model S will
remain free rolling.
Note: In Tow mode, Model S does not shift
into a driving gear. To cancel Tow mode, shift into Park or touch Tow mode again. Towmode also cancels if you use the touchscreen
to apply the parking brake ( Controls > E-
Brake & Power Off > Parking Brake ).
Gears
42Model S Owner's Manual

IndicatorDescriptionTire pressure warning. The pressure of a tire is out of range. If a fault with
the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is detected, the indicator
flashes. For a TPMS fault, contact Tesla. See Tire Care and Maintenance on
page 109.
A door or trunk is open. See Using Exterior Door Handles on page 6.Flashes green when the left turn signal is operating. Both turn signal
indicators flash green when the hazard warning flashers are operating.Flashes green when the right turn signal is operating. Both turn signal
indicators flash green when the hazard warning flashers are operating.Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is operating and is maintaining the set speed
because it is not actively tracking a vehicle in front. See Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control on page 60.Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is actively tracking a vehicle and will
decelerate/accelerate as needed to maintain your chosen following
distance. See Traffic-Aware Cruise Control on page 60.Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is in a Hold state because Model S came to a
standstill behind a vehicle in front. You will need to resume cruise. See
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control on page 60.Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is in a Hold state because Model came to a
standstill but a vehicle is not detected in front. You will need to resume
cruise. See Traffic-Aware Cruise Control on page 60.Model S is in Tow mode and can roll freely. It does not automatically shift
into Park when you exit. See Instructions for Transporters on page 150.Instrument Panel
46Model S Owner's Manual

Headlight High BeamsPush the left-hand steering column lever away
from you. To cancel, pull the lever toward you.
If Model S is equipped with Driver Assistance
features, you can set the headlights to
automatically switch to low beam when there is light detected in front of Model S. To turn
this feature on, touch Controls > Auto High
Beam .
Note: Your chosen setting is retained until you
manually change it. It can also be saved in
your driver profile.
In situations where high beams are turned off
because Auto High Beam is turned on and
light is detected in front of Model S, you can temporarily turn high beams on by pulling the
lever all the way toward you.
The following indicator lights are visible on
the instrument panel when high beams are turned on:
High beams are turned on, and
either the vehicle is not equipped
with Auto High Beam, or Auto High- Beam is turned off.High beams are currently turned on, and Auto High Beam is ready to turn
off the high beams if light is
detected in front of Model S.High beams are temporarily turned
off because Auto High Beam is on
and is detecting light in front of
Model S. When light is no longer
detected, the high beams
automatically turn back on.
To flash the headlight high beams, pull the
lever fully toward you and release.
Warning: Auto High Beam is an aid only
and is subject to limitations and system
issues. It is the driver's responsibility to make sure that the headlights are alwaysadjusted as appropriate for the weather
conditions and driving circumstances.
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 and
replacing wiper blades, see Wiper Blades and
Washer Jets on page 121.
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 > Service & Reset > 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.
Note: Wipers automatically return to their
normal position when you shift Model S out of
Park.
If Model S is equipped with the cold weather
option, you can de-ice wipers by touching Controls > Cold Weather > Heated Wipers .
The heated wipers automatically turn off after
heating the wipers for 15 minutes.
Washers
Press the button on the end of the left
steering column lever to spray washer fluid onto the windshield. You can press this buttonat two levels. Press partially for a single wipe,
without any washer fluid. Press fully for both
wipe 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 125).
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
Driving51

Traffic-Aware Cruise Control uses a camera
mounted on the windshield behind the interior
rear view mirror and a radar sensor in the
center of the front grill to detect whether
there is a vehicle in front of you in the same lane. If the area in front of Model S is clear,Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is designed todrive consistently at a set speed. When a
vehicle is detected, Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control is designed to slow down Model S if needed to maintain a selected time-baseddistance from the vehicle in front, up to the
set speed. Traffic-Aware Cruise Control does
not eliminate the need to watch the road in
front of you and to apply the brakes if needed.
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control makes it easy to maintain a consistent time-based distance
from a vehicle travelling in front of you in the
same lane. Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is
primarily intended for driving on dry, straight roads, such as highways and freeways. It
should not be used on city streets.
Note: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is available
only if your Model S is equipped with Autopilot hardware and you have purchased
the Tech Package.
Operating Traffic Aware Cruise
Control
1. Touch the end of the cruise control lever.
Unless a vehicle is detected ahead of you, you must be driving at least 18 mph
(30 km/h) to initiate Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control. If a vehicle is detected in front of you, you can initiate Traffic-Aware CruiseControl at any speed, even when
stationary.
The light on the lever turns on. Traffic-
Aware Cruise Control is now in standby
mode and is not actively controlling your speed until you specify a cruising speed,
as described in the next step.
2. Set your cruising speed by accelerating
until you reach a desired cruising speed
then moving the cruise control lever up or
down (or pull briefly toward you), then
releasing.
Once you've initally set a cruising speed, you can adjust the speed to cruise at the
speed limit that is currently being
determined by Speed Assist (see Speed
Assist on page 55). To do so, pull the
cruise control lever toward you and hold momentarily (about half a second). Whenyou release, your cruising speed is set to
the speed that is automatically or manually being determined by Speed
Assist, taking into consideration any offset you may have specified.
Note: When you adjust the cruising speed
based on the speed limit, the set speed
does not change when the speed limit changes. You will need to pull the lever
again. You can also manually adjust your
cruising speed at any time (see Changing
the Set Speed on page 62).
Warning: Do not rely on Speed Assist
to determine an accurate or
appropriate cruising speed. Always
cruise at a safe speed based on traffic and road conditions.
3. To set the distance you want to maintain
between Model S and a vehicle travelling
ahead of you, rotate the cruise control
lever to choose a setting from 1 (the
closest following distance) to 7 (the
longest following distance). Each setting
corresponds to a time-based distance that represents how long it takes for Model S,
from its current location, to reach the
location of the rear bumper of the vehicle ahead.
As you rotate the cruise control lever, the
instrument panel displays the current
setting. Release the lever when the
desired setting is displayed.
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
60Model S Owner's Manual

The instrument panel displays the Cruisemessage above the speedometer (see
Instrument Panel Indicator Lights on page
62) and a tick mark at the edge of the
speedometer indicates the set speed.
You can now release the accelerator pedal
and allow Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to maintain your set speed. When no vehicle isdetected ahead, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
maintains the set speed. If a vehicle is
detected, Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
maintains your chosen following distance, up to the set speed, decelerating Model S as
needed. When the vehicle you are following is no longer detected, Traffic Aware Cruise
Control accelerates back to the set speed.
You can accelerate at any time when driving at a set speed using Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control. But when you release the accelerator, Model S returns to the set speed.
When following a vehicle, Traffic-Aware
Cruise Control remains active at low speeds. If
Model S comes to a standstill and remains stationary for approximately three seconds
(slightly longer when driving on highway
conditions), you will need to resume Traffic-
Aware Cruise Control by pressing the
accelerator pedal or pulling the cruise control lever toward you (see Canceling and
Resuming on page 64). A message displays
on the instrument panel that you need to
resume Traffic-Aware Cruise Control.
When Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is actively
slowing down Model S to maintain the
selected distance from the vehicle ahead,
brake lights turn on to alert other road users
that you are slowing down. You may also notice slight movement of the brake pedal.
Warning: Do not depend on Traffic-
Aware Cruise Control to adequately and appropriately slow down Model S. Always
watch the road in front of you and stay
prepared to brake at all times. Traffic-
Aware Cruise Control does not eliminate the need to apply the brakes as needed,even at slow speeds.Warning: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
can not detect all objects and may not
detect a stationary vehicle or other objectin the lane of travel. There may be
situations in which Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control does not detect a vehicle, bicycle, or pedestrian. Depending on Traffic-
Aware Cruise Control to avoid a collision can result in serious injury or death.Warning: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
may react to vehicles or objects that either do not exist or are not in the lane
of travel, causing Model S to slow down
unnecessarily or inappropriately..Warning: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
may misjudge the distance from a vehicle ahead. Always watch the road in front of
you. It is the driver's responsibility to
maintain a safe distance from a vehicle
ahead of you.Warning: When you enable Traffic-Aware
Cruise Control in a situation where you are closely following the vehicle in front
of you, Model S may apply the brakes to
maintain the selected distance.Warning: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
has limited deceleration ability and may be unable to apply enough braking to
avoid a collision if a vehicle in front slows
suddenly, or if a vehicle enters your driving lane in front of you. Never dependon Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to slowdown the vehicle enough to prevent a
collision. Always keep your eyes on the
road when driving and be prepared to take corrective action as needed.Depending on Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control to slow the vehicle down enough
to prevent a collision can result in serious
injury or death.Warning: Driving downhill can increase
driving speed, causing Model S to exceed
your set speed. Hills can also make it
more difficult for Model S to slow down
enough to maintain the chosen following
distance from the vehicle ahead.Warning: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
may occasionally brake Model S when not required based on the distance from a
vehicle ahead. This can be caused by vehicles in adjacent lanes (especially on
curves), or by stationary objects.
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
Driving61