Child-protection LockModel S has child-protection locks on the rear
doors and liftgate to prevent them from being
opened using interior handles. Use the
touchscreen to turn child protection locks on
or
off. Touch Controls > Settings > Doors &
Locks > CHILD-PROTECTION LOCK .
Note: It is recommended that you turn child-
protection locks on whenever children are
seated in the rear seats.
Drive-away Locking Model S automatically locks all doors
(including the trunks) whenever your driving
speed exceeds 8 km/h.
Walk-away Locking
Doors and trunks can automatically lock whenever you walk away carrying the key.
To turn this feature on or
off, touch Controls >
Settings > Doors & Locks > WALK-AWAY
DOOR LOCK .
Note: Depending on date of manufacture and
options selected at time of purchase, some Model S vehicles are not equipped with the
Walk-way Door Lock feature.
Note: If all doors are closed and you use the
key to unlock Model S, walk-away locking is
temporarily suspended for one minute. If you
open a door within this minute, it does not re-
lock until after all the doors are closed and
you have walked away with the key.
Unlocking When the Key Doesn
Opening
To open the front trunk:
1. Ensure that the area around the hood is
free of obstacles.
2. Touch Controls > Front Trunk on the
touchscreen, touch the front trunk button
on the mobile app, or double-click the front trunk button on the key.
3. Pull the hood up.When a door or trunk/liftgate is
open, the instrument panel displays
the Door Open indicator light. The
image of the Model S on the
touchscreen Controls window also
displays the open front trunk.Warning: Before opening or closing the
hood, it is important to check that the area around the hood is free of obstacles
(people and objects). Failure to do so
may result in damage or serious injury.
Note: The front trunk locks whenever closed
and you lock Model S using either the
touchscreen or externally using the key or
mobile app, you leave Model S carrying your key (if Walk-away Locking on page 7 is turned
on), or when Valet mode is active (see Valet
Mode on page 40).
Closing The Model S hood is not heavy enough to
latch under its own weight and applying
pressure on the front edge or center of the
hood can cause damage.
To properly close the hood:
1. Lower the hood until the striker touches
the latches.
2. Place both hands on the front of the hood
in the areas shown (in green), then press
down
firmly to engage the latches.
3. Carefully try to lift the front edge of the
hood to ensure that it is fully closed.
Caution: To prevent damage:
StartingWhen you open a door, Model S powers on
the instrument panel and touchscreen and you
can operate all controls.
To drive Model S:
1. PRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL - Model S
powers on and is ready to drive.
2. SELECT A GEAR - Move the gear lever all
the way down for Drive and all the way up
for Reverse. See Shifting Gears on page
46.
Note: If Passive Entry is
off and you do not
press the brake pedal to start Model S within
approximately
five minutes, a message
displays on the instrument panel and you must use the key to lock then unlock Model S againbefore starting the vehicle.
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 is not inside.
If you receive this message, 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 122). 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,
the key is needed to restart Model S after it powers
off. And when you leave Model S, you
must bring the key with you to lock Model S, either manually or automatically.
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
instrument panel and touchscreen.
Model S also powers
off automatically after
being in Park for 15 minutes, even if you are
sitting in the driver
Controlling Lights
Touch Controls on the bottom corner of the touchscreen to control most of the lights.
In addition to the lights that you can control from the touchscreen, Model S has convenience lights that turn on and
off automatically based on what you are doing. For example, you will notice
interior lights, marker lights, tail lights, door handle lights, and puddle lights that turn on when you
unlock Model S, when you open a door, and when you shift into Park. They turn
off automatically
after a minute or two or when you shift into a driving gear or lock Model S.
Note: Depending on options chosen at time of purchase, some vehicles are not equipped with fog
lights.
Lights
Driving53
1.If you turn on DOME lights, all interior dome (map) lights turn on when you unlock Model S,
open a door upon exiting, or shift into P (Park). They turn off after 60 seconds, when you lock
Model S, or when you shift into a driving gear. If set to AUTO, dome lights turn on only when
little or no light is detected.
You can also manually turn an individual dome light on or
off by pressing its lens. If you
manually turn a dome light on, it turns off when Model S powers off. If Model S was already
powered off when you manually turned the light on, it turns off after 60 minutes.
2. If you turn on AMBIENT lights, the lights on the door armrests turn on whenever the
headlights are on.
3. If you turn on AUTO HIGH BEAM, high beam headlights turn on and
off automatically based
on whether or not light is detected in front of Model S (see High Beam Headlights on page
56).
4. Touch to turn fog lights (if equipped) on or
off. Fog lights operate only when low beam
headlights are on. Fog lights do not operate when headlights are turned off or when high
beam headlights are on.
The Front Fog indicator displays on the instrument panel whenever front fog
lights are on.The Rear Fog indicator displays on the instrument panel whenever rear fog
lights are on.
Note: Depending on the market region and vehicle options, your vehicle may not be equipped
with front and/or rear fog lights.
Note: In some regions, there is no control for the front fog lights. They operate in conjunction
with the headlights and turn on only in situations where low beam headlights are on.
5. If Model S is equipped with a coil suspension system, you can adjust the angle of the
headlights to accommodate the load you are carrying. You may need to lower the angle of theheadlights to avoid blinding oncoming drivers in situations when you are carrying a
significantamount of weight in the rear trunk. After touching LEVEL, drag the slider to the desired
position:
0Headlights are not lowered. No change is needed when all front and rear seats are
occupied and only the front trunk is laden.1Headlights are lowered one level. Suitable when the front and rear seats are occupied and the rear trunk is laden.2Headlights are lowered two levels. Suitable when carrying heavy loads.
Note: Headlight adjustments are not available if Model S is equipped with Smart Air
Suspension because Model S levels automatically.
Lights
54Model S Owner
About the Security SystemIf Model S does not detect a key nearby and a
locked door or trunk is opened, an alarm sounds and the 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 you exit,
the doors lock, and a recognized key is no
longer detected.
If your Model S is equipped with the optional security package, it includes a battery-backed
siren that sounds in situations where a locked door or trunk is opened and Model S does notdetect a key nearby. If the Tilt/Intrusion
setting is on, the siren also sounds if Model S
detects motion inside the cabin or if the
vehicle is moved or tilted (for example, with a
tow truck or jack). To temporarily turn the Tilt/
Intrusion detection system
off, touch
Controls > Settings > Safety & Security > Tilt/
Intrusion > OFF . The Tilt/Intrusion setting is
enabled every time Model S is unlocked.
Note: If you plan to leave something that
moves, such as a dog, inside your locked
Model S, remember to turn
off Tilt/Intrusion .
Motion detected inside Model S activates the
siren.
Note: The Alarm must be on to enable Tilt/
Intrusion .
Security Settings
132Model S Owner
Opening the Charge Port
The charge port is located on the left side of
Model S, behind a door that is part of the rear
tail light assembly. Park so that the charge
cable easily reaches the charge port.
With Model S unlocked (or a recognized key is
within range) and in Park, press and release
the button on the Tesla charge cable to open the charge port door.
Note: If the charge cable is in range of the
charge port door, you can press the button on the charge cable to open the charge port door
even when Model S is locked or a recognized
key is not in range.
You can also open the charge port door using
any of these methods:
AABS (Anti-lock Braking System) 60
absolute speed limit 97
Acceleration (dual-motor) 104
Acceleration settings 67
access panel, removing 159accessoriesplugging into power socket 122
adaptive headlights 56
air circulation 112
air conditioning 111
air distribution 112
air
filter 115
air suspension 118
air vents 115
airbag, front passenger, disabling 37
airbags 35
alarm 132
all-season tires 151
always connected, setting 70
anti-lock braking (ABS) 60
audioplaying files 119
steering wheel buttons 41
volume control 119
Auto High Beam 56
Auto Lane Change 85
auto-raising suspension 117
automatic emergency braking 94
Autopark 87
Autopilot components 73
Autosteer 82
average range 70
B backup camera 72
battery (12V)complete discharge 140specifications 170Battery (high voltage)care of 140
coolant 159
specifications 170
temperature limits 140
battery (key), replacing 5
blind spot warning 91
Bluetoothdevices, playing audio files from 122
general information 124
phone, pairing and using 124
body repairs 163
body touch up 156
brake
fluid replacement 147
brakesautomatic in emergencies 94fluid level 160brakes (continued)overview of 60specifications 170
brightness of displays 107
C
Cabin Overheat Protection setting 107
cabin temperature control 111
Calendar app 131
camera (rear view) 72
cameras (autopilot) 73
car cover 156
car status, displaying 41, 42
car washes 154
cargo area 11
cargo volume 168
carpets, cleaning 155
CE
certifications 185
CHAdeMO 139
chains 151
change of ownership 110
charge port 142
charge port light 143
chargingcharge settings 144
components and equipment 138
instructions 142
public charging stations 139
scheduling 144
status of 145
charging locations, finding 127
child protectiondisabling liftgate and rear door handles 7
disabling rear window switches 9child seatscleaning 155
disabling front passenger airbag 37
installing and using 24
Tesla built-in rear facing 31
Chill acceleration 67
cleaning 154
climate controls 111
Climate Timer 114
Cold Weather controls 104
collision avoidance assist 93
console12V power socket 122
cup holders 17
USB ports 122
consumption chart 70
contact informationroadside assistance 177coolantBattery, checking level of 159
Battery, replacement interval 147
copyrights 182
Creep 104
Index
188Model S Owner