Braking Systems
Model 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 firststart 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).
If Model S is equipped with Autopilot
hardware, Automatic Emergency Braking
automatically applies full braking in situations
where a collision is considered imminent (see
Automatic Emergency Braking on page 86).
Brake Wear Model S brake pads are equipped with wear
indicators. A wear indicator is a thin metal
strip 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
54Model S Owner
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 pressure from the accelerator to slow down, you can take advantage ofregenerative 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 Energy app displays real-time feedback
on the amount of energy being gained by
regenerative braking. You can also display the
power meter on either side of the instrument
panel by choosing Energy using the scroll
button on the steering wheel (see Steering
Wheel on page 37).
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 the
level of regenerative braking:
1. Touch Controls > Driving > Regenerative Braking.
2. Choose from two levels:
You can accelerate at any time when driving ata 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, even if
Model S comes to a standstill while following a
vehicle. When
traffic is moving again, Traffic-
Aware Cruise Control resumes operating at
your currently set speed. However, if an or
object is detected in front of Model S,
Traffic-
Aware Cruise Control goes into a HOLD state
and the instrument panel displays a message
indicating that you need to resume cruise
control. To resume, press the accelerator pedal
or pull the cruise control lever toward you (see
Canceling and Resuming on page 71).
In right hand
traffic, engaging the right turn
signal when driving in the right-most lane
within 164 feet (50 meters) of an exit (on a
controlled access road only, such as a highway
or freeway), causes
Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control to assume you are exiting. As a result,
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control begins to slow
down the vehicle. Likewise in left hand traffic,when engaging the left turn signal when
driving in the left-most lane within 164 feet
(50 meters) of an exit. The onboard GPS (Global Positioning System) determines if you
are driving in a region with right or left hand
traffic. In situations where GPS data is
unavailable (for example, inadequate signal), engaging the turn signal near an exit does not
cause
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control to slow
down the vehicle.
Note: If you double-pull the cruise control
lever (or single-pull when
Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control is active), Autosteer activates and the set speed changes to either your current
driving speed, or the speed limit plus any
offset you have defined, whichever is greater
(see Cruising at the Speed Limit on page
69).
Note: When
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control is
actively slowing down Model S to maintain the
selected distance from the vehicle ahead, the 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: Due to limitations inherent in
the onboard GPS, you may experience
situations in which
Traffic-Aware Cruise
Control slows down the vehicle, especially
near highway exits where a curve is
detected and/or you are actively navigating to a destination and not
following the route.
Warning: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control can
not detect all objects and may not brake/
decelerate for stationary vehicles,
especially in situations when you are
driving over 50 mph (80 km/h) and a
vehicle you are following moves out of
your driving path and a stationary vehicle
or object is in front of you instead. Always
pay attention to the road ahead and stay
prepared to take immediate corrective
action. Depending on
Traffic-AwareCruise Control to avoid a collision can
result in serious injury or death. In
addition,
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 be unable to provide adequate
speed control because of limited braking capability and hills. It can also misjudgethe distance from a vehicle ahead. Driving
downhill can increase driving speed, causing Model S to exceed your set
speed. Never depend on
Traffic-AwareCruise Control to slow down 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-AwareCruise Control to slow the vehicle down enough to prevent a collision can result in
serious injury or death.
Warning: Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
may occasionally brake Model S when not required or you are not expecting it. Thiscan be caused by closely following a
vehicle ahead, detecting vehicles or
objects in adjacent lanes (especially on curves), etc.
Adjust your following distance
To adjust the distance you want to maintain
between Model S and a vehicle traveling 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.
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control
68Model S Owner
1. With Model S in Park, stand within 10 feet (3 meters) and press and hold the top center buttonon the key (Lock/Unlock All button) until the hazard lights blink continuously.
Note: The hazard lights
flash once as Model S locks, then within five seconds, Model S powers
on and the hazard lights flash continuously. Do not proceed to the next step until the hazard
lights are flashing. If, after five seconds, the hazard lights are not flashing, release the button
on the key, move closer to Model S, and try again. If Summon receives no further input within ten seconds, Summon cancels.
2. Press the Front Trunk (Frunk) button on the key to move Model S forward into the parking space, or press the Rear Trunk button to reverse Model S into the parking space.
Initiate Automatic Parking Before Exiting the Vehicle (U.S. and Mexico Only)
If Require Continuous Press is set to NO, you can initiate the parking maneuver from inside
Model S before exiting:
1. While sitting in Model S with the vehicle powered on, double press the Park gear. The instrument panel displays a message indicating that Summon is engaged, and the
touchscreen displays a popup window.
2. On the touchscreen, choose the direction of travel.
3. Exit Model S and close the door.
Note: All doors and trunks must be closed.
Note: To cancel the parking maneuver before exiting the vehicle, touch Cancel on the popup window.
Summon now drives Model S into the parking space according to the direction you
specified on
the touchscreen.
Stopping or Canceling Summon
You can stop Model S at any time while Summon is active by pressing any button on the key or using the mobile app. Summon also cancels when:
About the Security System
If Model S does not detect a key nearby and a
locked door or trunk is opened, an alarm sounds and headlights and turn signals
flash.To deactivate the alarm, press any button on the key.
To manually enable or disable the alarm
system, touch Controls > Settings > Safety &
Security > Alarm. When set to on, Model S
activates its alarm one minute after the doors
lock and a recognized key is no longer
detected nearby.
Security Settings
122Model S Owner
AABS (Anti-lock Braking System) 54
Acceleration (dual-motor) 95
access panel, removing 153accessoriesinstalling 157
plugging into power socket 112
adaptive headlights 51
air circulation 103
air conditioning 102
air distribution 103
air
filter 105
air suspension 107
air vents 105
airbags 31
alarm 122
all-season tires 141
always connected, setting 62
anti-lock braking (ABS) 54
audioplaying files 108
steering wheel buttons 37
volume control 108
Auto High Beam 51
Auto Lane Change 76
auto-raising suspension 106
automatic emergency braking 85
Autopark 78
Autopilot 65
Autosteer 73
average range 62
B backup camera 64
battery (12V)complete discharge 130specifications 164Battery (high voltage)care of 130
coolant 153
specifications 165
temperature limits 130
battery (key), replacing 5
blind spot warning 83
Bluetoothdevices, playing audio files from 111
general information 113
phone, pairing and using 113
body repairs 157
body touch up 150
brake
fluid replacement 137
brakesautomatic in emergencies 85fluid level 154
overview of 54
specifications 164
brightness of displays 98
C Cabin Overheat Protection setting 98
cabin temperature control 102
Calendar app 120
California Proposition 65 177
camera (rear view) 64
car cover 150
car washes 148
cargo volume 162
carpets, cleaning 149
CE
certifications 179
CHAdeMO 129
chains 141
change of ownership 101
charge port 131
charge port light 134
chargingcharge settings 135
components and equipment 128
instructions 131
public charging stations 129
scheduling 135
status of 136
charging locations, finding 116
child protectiondisabling liftgate and rear door handles 7
disabling rear window switches 9child seatscleaning 149
installing and using 22
Tesla built-in rear facing 27
cleaning 148
climate controls 102
Cold Weather controls 95
collision avoidance assist 85
console12V power socket 112
cup holders 16
USB ports 111
consumption chart 62
contact informationroadside assistance 171
Tesla 178coolantBattery, checking level of 153
Battery, replacement interval 137
copyrights 175, 176
Creep 95
cruise control 67
cup holders 16
D
dashboard overview 2
Index
Index181
data recording 177
day mode 98
declarations of conformity 179
delivery mileage 177devicesBluetooth, playing audio files 111
connecting 111
playing audio
files from 110
dimensions 161
display brightness 98
dome (map) lights 48
door handles 6
door labels 159
Door Unlock Mode 6
doors 4
doors, opening 4
Drive gear 42
drive-away locking 7
driverprofiles 35
seat adjustment 17driver assistanceAuto Lane Change 76
automatic emergency braking 85
Autopark 78
Autosteer 73
blind spot warning 83
collision avoidance assist 85
forward collision warning 85
overtake acceleration 67
overview 65
settings for 98
side collision avoidance 83
side collision warning 83
staying inside lane markings 83
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control 67
drivingseating position 17
starting 41
tips to maximize range 62
E
electric parking brake 55
emergency
flashers 52
emergency rear door opening 8
emission label 158
energygained from regenerative braking 55
range information 43
energy & charging setting 98
Energy app 62
energy saving mode 62
Erase & Reset 101
event data recording 177
exteriorcar cover 150
cleaning 148exterior (continued)dimensions 161
lights 48
overview 3
polishing, touch up, & repair 150
F
factory defaults, restoring 101
factory reset 101
fan speed, interior 103
favorite destinations 118
Favorites 115
Favorites (Media Player) 110
FCC
certifications 179
features, downloading new 126
ferries, avoiding 117
firmware (software) updates 126flash drives, playing audio files from 110flashers, warning 52flat tire repair 144floor mats 150
fluidsreplacement intervals 137
reservoirs, checking 153
fog lights 48
forward collision warning 85
front passenger detection 33
front trunk 12
G
garage doors, opening 123
gates, opening 123
GAWR 159
gears 42
glove box 14
Gross Axle Weight Rating 159
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 159
ground clearance 161
GVWR 159
H hazard warning
flashers 52
head supports 18
headlightsadaptive 51
after exit 51
high beams 51
heated wipers 53
heating 102
height adjustments (suspension)auto-raising 106
automatic and manual settings 107
disabling (Jack mode) 107
Index
182Model S Owner
high beam headlights 51high voltageBattery specifications 165
components 128
safety 137
hills, stopping on 59
hitches 160
Home location 118
HomeLinkFCC certification 180
programming and using 123
hood 12
horn 37, 39
I
IC
certifications 179
Ideal range 98
identification labels 158
Insane setting (dual-motor) 95
instant range 62
instrument panelcharging status 136
cleaning 149
overview of 43interiorcleaning 149
dimensions 161
lights 48
overview 2
temperature control 102
Internet radio 109
intrusion detection 122
J
J1772 129
Jack mode 107
jacking 156
K
keyFCC and IC certifications 179
how to use 4
key not inside 41
ordering extras 5
replacing battery 5
keyless entry 4
L
labelTire and Loading Information 159
vehicle certification 159lane assist 83
lane change flash 52
lane change, automatic 76
lane departure warning 83
language setting 98
LATCH child seats, installing 25
Launch Mode 60liftgateadjust opening height 10
opening 10
lifting 156
lightsadaptive headlights 51
hazard warning 52
headlights after exit 51
turn signals 52
load limits 159
location-based suspension 106
locking and unlocking doors 4
Ludicrous setting (dual-motor) 95
lumbar support 17
M
maintenancebrake fluid, checking 154
cleaning 148
daily and monthly checks 137
fluid replacement intervals 137
panel, removing 153
replacing wiper blades 151
service intervals 137
tires 138
washer
fluid, topping up 155
washer jets, cleaning 151
map updates 119
maps 115
mats 150
Max Battery Power 95
media 108
mileage upon delivery 177
mirrors 40
mobile app 127
Mobile Connectordescription 129
using 131
modifications 157
motor specifications 163
N naming 101
navigation 115
NCC
certifications 179
Neutral gear 42
NHTSA, contacting 178
night mode 98
Index
Index183