1.Front trunk - Double-click to open the
front trunk.
2. Lock/Unlock All - Single-click to lock
doors and trunks (all doors and trunks
must be closed). Double-click to unlock doors and trunks.
3. Trunk - Double-click to open the rear
trunk. Hold down for one to two seconds
to open the charge port door.
Once inside, power up Model 3 by pressing the
brake pedal within two minutes of pressing
the unlock button on the key fob (see Starting
and Powering Off on page 49). If you wait
longer than two minutes, you must press the
unlock button again, or place the key fob near
the card reader located behind the cup holders on the center console. When your key
fob is detected, the two minute authentication period restarts.
When approaching or leaving Model 3
carrying the key fob, you do not need to point the key fob at Model 3 as you press a button,
but you must be within operating range.
Radio equipment on a similar frequency can
affect the key. If this happens, move the key at
least one foot (30 cm) away from other electronic devices (phone, laptop, etc).
If the key fob does not work (for example, its
battery is dead), you can touch it
3.Insert the new battery (type CR2032) with
the ‘ +’ side facing up.
Note: CR2032 batteries can be purchased
through online retailers, local
supermarkets and drug stores.Caution: Wipe the battery clean
before fitting and avoid touching the
battery
Note: Installing winter tires with aggressive
compound and tread design may result in
temporarily-reduced regenerative braking power. However, your vehicle is designed to recalibrate itself to restore regenerative
braking power after a short period of normal
driving.Warning: In snowy or icy conditions
Model 3 may experience traction loss
during regenerative braking, particularly
when in the Standard setting and/or not
using winter tires. Tesla recommends
using the Low setting (see To Set the
Regenerative Braking Level on page 61)
in snowy or icy conditions to help maintain vehicle stability.
The amount of energy fed back to the Batteryusing regenerative braking can depend on the
current state of the Battery and the charge
level setting that you are using. For example,
regenerative braking may be limited if the Battery is already fully charged or if the
ambient temperature is too cold.
Note: If regenerative braking is limited, a
dashed line displays on the energy bar (see
Driving Status on page 57).
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:
DrivingAcceleration: Adjust the amount of acceleration. Chill limits acceleration for
a slightly smoother and gentler ride, whereas Standard provides the normal
level of acceleration.
Note: When Chill is selected, Chill displays on the touchscreen above the
driving speed.
Steering Mode : Adjust the amount of effort required to turn the steering
wheel. Sport feels more responsive whereas Comfort feels easier to drive
and park (see Adjusting Steering Effort on page 46).
Regenerative Braking : When you release the accelerator when driving,
regenerative braking slows Model 3 and feeds any surplus energy back to
the Battery. If set to LOW, Model 3 does not slow down as quickly, but also
feeds less energy back to the Battery (see Regenerative Braking on page
60).
Note: Regardless of the setting selected, the energy gained by regenerative
braking is reduced if the Battery is full, or is extremely cold or hot (in which
case, surplus energy is used to heat or cool it).
Traction Control : Turn slip start on to allow wheels to spin (see Traction
Control on page 62).
Creep : When on, Model 3 applies forward torque in Drive and backwards
torque in Reverse when you release the brake pedal (similar to a
conventional vehicle with an automatic transmission). The torque moves the
vehicle slowly on
Charging
Electric Vehicle Components
High Voltage Components
1. Air Conditioning Compressor
2. Front Motor (Dual Motor vehicles only)
3. Cabin Heater
4. High Voltage Battery
5. High Voltage Battery Service Panel
6. Rear Motor
7. High Voltage Cabling
8. Charge Port
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 typically colored orange for easy identification.Warning: Read and follow all instructions provided on the labels that are attached to Model 3.
These labels are there for your safety.Warning: In the unlikely event that a fire occurs, immediately contact your local fire
emergency responders.
Electric Vehicle Components
Charging123
Battery Information
About the Battery
Model 3 has one of the most sophisticated
battery systems in the world. The most
important way to preserve the Battery is to LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE PLUGGED IN when
you are not using it. This is particularly important if you are not planning to drive
Model 3 for several weeks. When plugged in,
Model 3 wakes up when needed to
automatically maintain a charge level that
maximizes the lifetime of the Battery.
Note: When left idle and unplugged, your
vehicle periodically uses energy from the Battery for system tests and recharging the
12V battery when necessary.
There is no advantage to waiting until the
Battery’s level is low before charging. In fact, the Battery performs best when charged
regularly.
Note: If the Model 3 Battery becomes
completely discharged in a situation in which
towing is required, the owner is responsible
for towing expenses. Discharge-related towing
expenses are not covered under the Roadside
Assistance policy.
The peak charging rate of the Battery may
decrease slightly after a large number of DC
Fast Charging sessions, such as those at
Superchargers. To ensure maximum driving
range and Battery safety, the Battery charge
rate is decreased when the Battery is too cold,
when the Battery’s charge is nearly full, and when the Battery conditions change with
usage and age. These changes in the condition of the Battery are driven by battery physics
and may increase the total Supercharging
duration by a few minutes over time.
Battery Care
Never allow the Battery to fully discharge.
Even when Model 3 is not being driven, its
Battery discharges very slowly to power the
onboard electronics. The Battery can
discharge at a rate of approximately 1% per day, though the discharge rate may vary
depending on environmental factors (such as
cold weather), vehicle configuration, and your
selected settings on the touchscreen.
Situations can arise in which you must leave
Model 3 unplugged for an extended period of time (for example, at an airport when
traveling). In these situations, keep the 1% in
mind to ensure that you leave the Battery with a sufficient charge level. For example, over a
two week period (14 days), the Battery may
discharge by approximately 14%.
Discharging the Battery to 0% may result in
damage to vehicle components. To protect
against a complete discharge, Model 3 enters
a low-power consumption mode when the
displayed charge level drops to approximately
0%. In this mode, the Battery stops supporting
the onboard electronics and auxiliary 12V
battery. Once this low-power consumption
mode is active, immediately plug in Model 3 to
prevent a jump-start and 12V battery
replacement.
Note: If the vehicle is unresponsive and will
not unlock, open, or charge, then the 12V
battery may have become discharged. In this
situation, contact Tesla.
Temperature Limits
For better long-term performance, avoid
exposing Model 3 to ambient temperatures
above 140
Model 3 and using the touchscreen whileparked and plugged in, Model 3 draws energyfrom the wall outlet instead of the Battery.Caution: The connector end of the charge
cable can damage the paint if dropped
onto the vehicle.
During Charging
During charging, the charge port light (the Tesla "T" logo) pulses green, and thetouchscreen displays the charging status. The
frequency at which the charge port light
pulses slows down as the charge level
approaches full. When charging is complete,
the light stops pulsing and is solid green.
Note: If Model 3 is locked, the charge port
light does not light up.
If the charge port light turns red while
charging, a fault is detected. Check the
touchscreen for a message describing the
fault. A fault can occur due to something as
common as a power outage. If a power outage
occurs, charging resumes automatically when
power is restored.
Note: When charging, particularly at high
currents, the refrigerant compressor and fan
operate as needed to keep the Battery cool.
Therefore, it is normal to hear sounds during
charging.
Note: Air conditioning performance is
generally not affected by charging. However,
under certain circumstances (for example, you
are charging at high currents during a
particularly warm day), the air coming from
the vents may not be as cool as expected and
a message displays on the touchscreen. This is
normal behavior and ensures that the Battery stays within an optimum temperature range
while charging to support longevity and optimum performance.
Warning: Never spray liquid at a high
velocity (for example, if using a pressure
washer) towards the charge port while
charging. Failure to follow these
instructions can result in serious injury or
damage to the vehicle, charging
equipment, or property.
Stopping Charging
Stop charging at any time by disconnecting
the charge cable or touching Stop Charging
on the touchscreen.
Note: To prevent unauthorized unplugging of
the charge cable, the charge cable latch
remains locked and Model 3 must be unlocked or able to recognize your authenticated phone
before you can disconnect the charge cable.
To disconnect the charge cable:
1. Press and hold the button on a Tesla
connector to release the latch. You can
also touch Stop Charging on the
touchscreen (see Charging Status and
Settings on page 128).
2. Pull the connector from the charge port.
Note: The charge port automatically closes
within approximately 10 seconds of removing the connector from the charge port.Caution: Tesla strongly recommends
leaving Model 3 plugged in when not in use. This maintains the Battery at the
optimum level of charge.
Manually Releasing Charge Cable
If the usual methods for releasing a charge
cable from the charge port (using the charge
handle release button, touchscreen, or mobile
app) do not work, carefully follow these steps:
1. Ensure that Model 3 is not actively
charging by displaying the charging
screen on the touchscreen. If necessary,
touch Stop Charging .
2. Open the rear trunk.
3. Pull the charge port
Regularly inspect the exterior paint for
damage. Treat minor chips and scratches
using a paint touch-up pen (available for
purchase from Tesla). Use the touch-up pen
after washing but before polishing or waxing.
Repair rock chips, fractures or scratches. Body
repairs should be performed only by a Tesla
approved body shop. Contact Tesla for a list of
approved body shops.Caution: Do not use cutting pastes, color
restoration compounds, or polishes
containing harsh abrasives. These can
scour the surface and permanently
damage the paint.Caution: Do not use chrome polish or
other abrasive cleaners.
Using a Car Cover
To preserve the cosmetic appearance of the
body when Model 3 is not being used, use a genuine Tesla car cover. Car covers can be
purchased from Tesla. See Parts and
Accessories on page 145.
Caution: Use only a Tesla-approved car
cover when Model 3 is plugged in. Using a
non-Tesla car cover can prevent the
Battery from being adequately cooled
during charging.
Floor Mats
To extend the life of your carpet and make
them easier to clean, use genuine Tesla