Passenger Front Airbag
Model S has an occupancy sensor in the front
passenger seat that controls the status of the
airbags based on the weight of the occupant.
If the passenger airbag is OFF, it will not
inflate when a collision occurs, and PASS
AIRBAG OFF displays in the top right corner of the touchscreen. If the passenger airbag is
ON, it will
inflate when a collision occurs, but
its status does not display in the top right
corner of the touchscreen.
Note: The occupancy sensor system meets the regulatory requirement of FMVSS 208 and
automatically detects when
inflating the
passenger front airbags would be unnecessary
or potentially harmful.
Front passenger seat
occupancy*Passenger airbag
statusEmptyOFFInfant in child safety
seat (up to 20 lbs/
9kg)OFFChild or small
occupant
(20-100 lbs/9-45 kg)ON** or OFFHeavy object/
occupantON***Values are approximate. Occupants whose weight is close to the low weight threshold
can cause the status to occasionally turn on
and
off depending on seating position and
physique.
**The absence of the status, PASS AIRBAG
OFF, in the top right corner of the
touchscreen indicates that the passenger
airbag is ON and will
inflate in the event of a
collision.
Note: It takes approximately six seconds after
you power on Model S for the occupancy
sensor to report accurate status of the front
passenger airbag. As a result, when you
firstpower on Model S, even in situations when it
should be OFF because the passenger seat is
either empty or carrying a weight of 20 lbs (9
kg) or less, the touchscreen will take about six
seconds to display the status, PASS AIRBAG
OFF. If it fails to do so, contact Tesla service
immediately and seat passengers in the rear
seating positions only.
If the passenger airbag is permanently on,
even when the seat is empty and the seat belt is unbuckled, contact Tesla immediately.
To make sure the sensing system can correctly detect occupancy status, eliminate the
following:
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
How It WorksThe traction control system constantly
monitors the speed of 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.This indicator flashes on the
instrument panel whenever the
traction control system is actively
controlling brake pressure and motor
power to minimize wheel spin. If the
indicator stays on, a fault is detected with the traction control system.
Contact Tesla Service.Warning: Traction control cannot prevent
accidents caused by driving dangerously
or turning too sharply at high speeds.Warning: If the above indicator remains
illuminated in situations in which you have
not enabled Slip Start (described next), the traction control system may not be
operating correctly. Contact Tesla Service immediately.
Allowing Wheel Slip
To allow the wheels to spin at a limited speed,
you can enable Slip Start. Slip Start can be
enabled only when Model S is moving 30 mph
(48 km/h) or slower. Slip Start automatically
disables when the speed exceeds 50 mph
(80 km/h).
Under normal conditions, Slip Start should not
be enabled. Enable it only in circumstances where you deliberately want the wheels tospin, such as:
AM and FM Radio
Media Player provides both AM and FM radio
service that you can select from the Radio
source. To tune the radio to a
specificfrequency, choose a frequency and then touch the next or previous arrows to move from one
frequency to the next (or previous). You can
also tap or drag your
finger on the tuner to
the desired frequency. The three bars on the
left side of the frequency number indicate the
strength of the signal for the chosen
frequency. Touch HD to play high
definitionversions of available frequencies.
Mark a radio station as a favorite to display it
on the Radio source for easy access (see
Favorites and Recent on page 110).
SiriusXM Satellite Radio
If Model S is equipped with the optional sound
package, you can listen to SiriusXM, a
subscription-based satellite radio service. To
receive satellite radio channels, you must
provide the radio service provider with the
radio ID for your touchscreen.
To display the radio ID:
1. Touch Radio and select the SiriusXM radio source.
2. Move the channel selector to channel 0.
3. The Radio ID displays in the station information area.
To select a SiriusXM channel, you can either
manually scroll through channel numbers, or
you can browse channels by category.
Note: SiriusXM radio is available only if ModelS is equipped with the optional sound
package and the panoramic roof. To optimize
aerodynamics, Model S does not have an
external antenna. The internal antenna is
compatible only with the panoramic roof.
Internet Radio
Internet radio services are accessed over a
data connection. To use Internet radio, touch Media Player
High Voltage Components
1. Front Motor (dual-motor vehicles only)
2. AC Compressor
3. Battery Coolant Heater
4. Forward Junction Box
5. High Voltage Cabling
6. On-board Charger
7. DC-DC Converter
8. Cabin Heater
9. Battery
10. Charge Port
11. Rear Motor
Warning: The high voltage system has no user serviceable parts. Do not disassemble, remove or replace high voltage components, cables or connectors. High voltage cables are coloredorange for easy
identification.
Warning: Read and follow all instructions provided on the labels that are attached to Model S.
These labels are there for your safety.Warning: In the unlikely event that a fire occurs, immediately contact your local fireemergency responders.
Electric Vehicle Components
128Model S Owner
Service Intervals
Regular maintenance is the key to ensuring
the continued reliability and
efficiency of your
Model S.
Rotate the tires every 6250 miles (10000 km),
maintain the correct tire pressures, and take
Model S to Tesla at the regularly scheduled
maintenance intervals of every 12 months, or
every 12,500 miles (20,000 km), whichever
comes
first. It is also important to perform the
daily and monthly checks described below.
Model S must be serviced by
Tesla-certifiedtechnicians. Damages or failures caused by
maintenance or repairs performed by non-
Tesla
certified technicians are not covered by
the warranty.
Daily Checks
Inspecting and Maintaining TiresRegularly inspect the tread and side walls for
any sign of distortion (bulges), cuts or wear.Warning: Do not drive Model S if a tire is
damaged, excessively worn, or inflated to
an incorrect pressure. Check tires
regularly for wear, and ensure there are
no cuts, bulges or exposure of the ply/
cord structure.
Tire Wear
Adequate tread depth is important for proper
tire performance. Tires with a tread depth less
than 4/32” (3 mm) are more likely to
hydroplane in wet conditions and should not
be used. Tires with a tread depth less than
5/32” (4 mm) do not perform well in snow and
slush and should not be used when driving in
winter conditions.
Model S is originally
fitted with tires that have
wear indicators molded into the tread pattern. When the tread has been worn down to 4/32”(3 mm), the indicators start to appear at thesurface of the tread pattern, producing the
effect of a continuous band of rubber across
the width of the tire. For optimal performance
and safety, Tesla recommends replacing tires
before the wear indicators are visible.
Tire Rotation, Balance, and Wheel Alignment
Tesla recommends rotating the tires every
6250 miles (10,000 km).
Unbalanced wheels (sometimes noticeable as
vibration through the steering wheel)
affectvehicle handling and tire life. Even with regular
use, wheels can get out of balance. Therefore,
they should be balanced as required.
If tire wear is uneven (on one side of the tire
only) or becomes abnormally excessive, check
the alignment of wheels.
Note: When replacing only two tires, always
install the new tires on the rear.
Punctured Tires
A puncture eventually causes the tire to lose pressure, which is why it is important to check
tire pressures frequently. Permanently repair
or replace punctured or damaged tires as
soon as possible.
Your tubeless tires may not leak when
penetrated, provided the object remains in the tire. If, however, you feel a sudden vibration or
ride disturbance while driving, or you suspect a tire is damaged, immediately reduce yourspeed. Drive slowly, while avoiding heavy
braking or sharp steering and, when safe to do so, stop the vehicle. Arrange to have Model S
transported to a Tesla service center, or to a
nearby tire repair center.
Note: In some cases, you can temporarily
repair small tire punctures (under 1/4” (6
mm)) using an optional tire repair kit available from Tesla. This allows you to slowly drive
Model S to Tesla or to a nearby tire repair
facility (see Temporary Tire Repair on page
144).Warning: Do not drive with a punctured
tire, even if the puncture has not causedthe tire to
deflate. A punctured tire candeflate suddenly at any time.
Flat Spots
If Model S is stationary for a long period in
high temperatures, tires can form
flat spots.
When Model S is driven, these flat spots cause
a vibration which gradually disappears as the
tires warm up and regain their original shape.
To minimize
flat spots during storage, inflatetires to the maximum pressure indicated on the tire wall. Then, before driving, release airto adjust tire pressure to the recommendedlevels.
Improving Tire Mileage
To improve the mileage you get from your
tires, maintain tires at the recommended tire
pressures, observe speed limits and advisory
speeds, and avoid:
Checking and Replacing Wiper
BladesCaution: Wiper blades do not lock into a lifted position. When cleaning or
replacing a wiper blade, lift the wiper arm
only a short distance from the windshield,
just far enough to access the blade. Do
not lift a wiper arm beyond its intended
position. Doing so can cause damage that
is not covered by the warranty.
To make wiper blades easy to access, turn offthe wipers, shift Model S into Park, then use
the touchscreen to move them to the service
position. Touch Controls > Settings > Service &
Reset > Service Mode > ON.
Note: Wipers automatically return to their
normal position when you shift Model S out of Park.
Periodically check and clean the edge of the wiper blade and check the rubber for cracks,
splits and roughness. If damaged, replace the blade immediately to prevent damage to the
glass.
Contaminants on the windshield, or on the wiper blades, can reduce the
effectiveness of
the wiper blades. Contaminants include ice,
wax spray from car washes, washer
fluid with
bug and/or water repellent, bird droppings,
tree sap, and other organic substances.
Follow these guidelines for cleaning: