2015 TESLA MODEL S wheel

Instrument Panel OverviewNote: The following illustration is provided for demonstration purposes only. Depending on
vehicle options, software version, and market region, the information displayed may be slightly different.
1. The center display changes depending on whether Model S is off or ready to drive. If Model S
is off, the center displays shows remaining estimated range and status of doors. Pressing thebrake powers Model S on—the indicator lights flash on for a second and the center display
shows speed, power, charge level, estimated range (see item 9), and active gear. When
Model S is plugged in, the instrument panel displays charging status (see Charging Status on
page 107).
2. Use the left steering wheel buttons to operate the audio system. You can also press and roll
the scroll wheel to change what displays on the left side of the instrument panel (see Steering
Wheel on page 37).
3. Pay attention to important status messages that display here.
4. All indicator lights flash on briefly when you press the brake to prepare to drive. They should
then turn off, unless the light applies to a current situation (see Indicator Lights on page
44).
5. Use the right steering wheel buttons for voice commands, to handle telephone calls, and to
control some features of Model S. You can customize what features the scroll wheel can control (see Using Right Steering Wheel Buttons on page 38).
6. Door lock status
7. Odometer
8. Outside temperature
9. Total estimated driving distance (or energy) available. Instead of driving distance as shown
here, you can display the percentage of battery energy remaining. To do so, touch Controls >
Settings > Units & Format > Energy & Charging (see Settings on page 77).
Note: When anticipating when you need to charge, use range estimates as a general guideline
only.
Note: In cold weather, some of the stored energy in the Battery may not be available on your
drive because the Battery is too cold. When this happens, a portion of the Battery meter is
blue and the driving distance value has a snowflake image next to it. If Model S is plugged in,
you can heat your Battery using wall power by turning on climate control using the mobile
app. When the Battery warms up, the blue portion on the meter and the snowflake image are
no longer displayed.
Instrument Panel
Driving43

IndicatorDescriptionHigh beams are currently turned on, and Auto High Beam will turn off the
high beams if light is detected in front of Model S. See Headlight High
Beams on page 49.High beams are temporarily turned off because the Auto High Beam feature
is on and Model S detects light. When light is no longer detected, the high beams will automatically turn back on. See Headlight High Beams on page
49.Electronic stability control systems are applying the brake to the relevant
wheel to prevent slippage (light flashes). See Traction Control on page 54.The traction control system has been disabled. See Traction Control on page
54.A Smart Air Suspension fault is detected. Contact Tesla. See Smart Air
Suspension on page 83.Smart Air Suspension’s automatic self-leveling is disabled. In other words,
Model S is in Jack mode and is ready to be lifted or pulled onto a transporter. Jack mode cancels when Model S is driven over 4.5 mph(7 km/h). See Smart Air Suspension on page 83.
The parking brake is manually applied. See Parking Brake on page 53.A parking brake fault is detected. Contact Tesla. See Parking Brake on page
53.An ABS (Anti-lock Braking System) fault is detected. See Brakes on page
52. Contact Tesla immediately.A brake system fault is detected or the brake fluid level is low. See Brakes
on page 52. Contact Tesla immediately.
Instrument Panel
Driving45

Headlights After ExitWhen 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 when you drive
through a corner.Turn Signals
Move 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.Warning: If Model S is equipped with both
Autopilot and the Tech Package option, engaging a turn signal can cause Model S
to accelerate when using Traffic-Aware
Cruise Control in specific situations. See Overtake Acceleration on page 63.
Lane Change Flash
To indicate a lane change, quickly press the
lever up or down against the spring pressure, then release. The corresponding turn signalflashes three times.
Hazard Warning Flashers
To turn on the hazard warning flashers, press
the button 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
50Model S Owner's Manual

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
52Model 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
Driving53

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 system minimizes wheel
spin by controlling brake pressure and motor
power. By default, the traction control system
is always active. Under normal conditions, it should remain active to ensure maximum
safety.
On standard Model S vehicles, traction control can be turned off at any time. Turn it off only
in circumstances where you deliberately want
the wheels to spin, such as when Model S is
stuck in snow or mud.
On a dual motor Model S, you can enable slip
start to allow the wheels to spin at a limited speed. Slip start can be enabled only whenModel S is moving 20 mph (32 km/h) or
slower. Slip start automatically disables when the speed exceeds 40 mph (64 km/h).This indicator displays on the
instrument panel whenever the
traction control system is actively
controlling brake pressure and
motor power to minimize wheel spin.Warning: Traction control can not
prevent accidents caused by driving dangerously or turning too sharply at
high speeds.
Allowing Wheel Slip
Under normal conditions, the traction control
system should remain enabled. Disable it 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 allow the wheels to spin on a standard single motor Model S, touch Controls >
Driving > Traction Control > Off .
To allow the wheels to spin on a dual motor
Model S, touch Controls > Driving > Traction
Control > Slip Start .
This indicator displays at the top
center of the touchscreen whenever
the wheels are allowed to spin (i.e.
when the traction control system on
a standard single-motor Model S is
turned off, or when Slip start on a
dual-motor Model S is enabled.
Although the traction control system automatically reactivates the next time you
start Model S, it is strongly recommended that you enable it immediately after thecircumstances that required you to disable it
have passed.
Traction Control
54Model S Owner's Manual

How Lane Departure Warning
Works
If Model S is equipped with Autopilot, 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: Lane Departure Warning is for
guidance purposes only. Never depend
on Lane Departure Warning to inform you of unintentionally driving outside of theboundaries 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 injuryor death. 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.Warning: Lane Departure Warning is
designed to activate when it detects lane markings. It is not designed to detect the
edge of a road. It is the driver's
responsibility to drive attentively and stay
within the boundaries of the driving lane.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 Departure Warning on or off,
touch Controls > Settings > Driver
Assistance > Lane Assist .
Limitations and Inaccuracies Lane Departure Warning can not always
clearly detect lane markings and you may
experience unnecessary or invalid warnings in
these 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 the
camera'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 roadconstruction.
• 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
Driving57

Canceling and Resuming
To manually cancel Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control, briefly push the cruise control lever
away from you. The message on the
instrument panel turns off, but the set speed remains displayed until Model S powers off.
To resume cruising at the previously set
speed, briefly pull the cruise control lever
toward you.
Note: When Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
cancels, Model S does not coast. Instead,
regenerative braking slows down Model S in
the same way as when you move your foot off
the accelerator when driving without cruise
control (see Regenerative Braking on page
53).
Warning: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
may immediately cancel, or may not be available, in the following situations:
• You press the brake pedal.
• Your driving speed drops below 18 mph (30 km/h) in situations when
Model S does not detect a vehicle
ahead within the specified distance.
• You shift Model S out of Drive.
• The driver's seat belt is unbuckled.
• A door is opened.
• The view from the radar sensor or camera is obstructed. This could be
caused by dirt, mud, ice, snow, fog,
etc.
• The traction control setting is manually disabled or is repeatedly
engaging to prevent wheels from
slipping.
• The wheels are spinning while at a standstill.• The cruise control system is failing
and requires service.
When Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is unavailable or cancels, all cruise control
functionality is unavailable. Model S no longer drives consistently at a set speed
and no longer maintains a specified
distance from the vehicle ahead.Warning: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
can cancel unexpectedly at any time for
unforeseen reasons. Always watch the
road in front of you and stay prepared to
take appropriate action. It is the driver's responsibility to be in control of Model S
at all times.
Limitations
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is particularly
unlikely to operate as intended in the
following types of situations:
• The road has sharp curves.
• Visibility is poor (due to heavy rain, snow, fog, etc.).
• Bright light (oncoming headlights or direct sunlight) is interfering with the
camera's view.
• The radar sensor in the center of the front grill is obstructed (dirty, covered, etc.).
• The windshield area in the camera's field of view is obstructed (fogged over, dirty,
covered by a sticker, etc.).
Caution: If your Model S is equipped with
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control, you must take your vehicle to Tesla Service if a
windshield replacement is needed. Failure
to do so can cause Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control to malfunction.Warning: Many unforeseen circumstances
can impair the operation of Traffic-Aware Cruise Control. Always keep this in mind
and remember that as a result, Traffic-
Aware Cruise Control may not slow down or may brake or accelerate Model S
inappropriately. Always drive attentively and be prepared to take immediate
action.Warning: Traffic-aware cruise control
may not brake/decelerate for stationary vehicles, especially in situations when youare driving over 50 mph (80 km/h) and a
vehicle you are following moves out of your driving path and a stationary vehicleor object is in front of you instead.
Always pay attention to the road ahead
and stay prepared to take immediate
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
64Model S Owner's Manual