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Cleaning the Exterior
To prevent damage to the paint, immediately remove
corrosive substances (bird droppings, tree resin, dead insects, tar spots, road salt, industrial fallout, etc.). Do not wait until
Model 3 is due for a complete wash. If
necessary, use denatured alcohol to remove tar spots
and stubborn grease stains, then immediately wash the area with water and a mild, non-detergent soap to remove the alcohol.
Keep the exterior cameras free of dirt, condensation, or obstructions. These substances can cause unclear pictures or Autopilot and safety features to stop working (see
Cleaning a Camera on page 167).
Follow these steps when washing the exterior of Model
3:
1.
Rinse Thoroughly
Before washing, flush grime and grit from the vehicle
using a hose. Flush away accumulations of mud in areas where debris easily collects (such as wheel wells and panel seams). If salt has been used on the highways (such as during winter months), thoroughly
rinse all traces of road salt from the underside of the
vehicle, wheel wells, and brakes.
2.
Hand Wash
Hand wash Model 3 using a clean soft cloth and cold
or lukewarm water containing a mild, high-quality car shampoo.
CAUTION: Some cleaners and car shampoos
contain chemicals that can cause damage or
discoloration, especially to plastic trim pieces,
lamps, or camera lenses. For example, some car
cleaning formulas contain hydroxide or other
highly alkaline or caustic ingredients that can
damage exterior components. Damage or
discoloration resulting from cleaning products
is not covered by the warranty.
3.
Rinse with Clean Water
After washing, rinse with clean water to prevent soap from drying on the surfaces.
4.
Dry Thoroughly and Clean Exterior Glass
After washing and rinsing, dry thoroughly with a chamois. If necessary, dry the brakes by going on a
short drive and applying the brakes multiple times.
Clean windows and mirrors using an automotive glass cleaner. Do not scrape, or use any abrasive cleaning
fluid on glass or mirrored surfaces.
Car Wash Mode
When taking Model 3 to a car wash, Car Wash Mode
closes all windows, locks the charge port door, and disables windshield wipers, Sentry Mode, walk-away door locking, and parking sensor chimes. To enable, touch
Controls > Service > Car Wash Mode. Your vehicle
must be in Park and not actively charging.
If using an automatic car wash, Enable Free Roll keeps
your vehicle in Neutral and prevents
Model 3 from
applying the Parking brake if you leave the driver
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Motor Type(s)
Rear motor: AC permanent magnet synchronous motor, liquid-cooled, with variable frequency drive.
Front motor (AWD vehicles): AC induction motor, liquid-cooled, with variable frequency drive.
Transmission
TypeSingle speed fixed gearGearbox Ratio9:1
Steering
SteeringSpecificationsTypeRack and pinion with electronic power steering, speed sensitiveNumber of turns lock to lock2.00Turning Circle (curb to curb)38 ft (11.6 m)
Brakes
Type4-wheel anti-lock braking system (ABS) with Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Integrated Advanced Stability Control and Electronic
Accelerator pedal actuated regenerative braking systemCalipers
Front: Four piston fixed
Rear: Integrated Electronic Parking Brake Sliding
Rotor Diameter (ventilated)
Front (non-Performance): 12.6"/320 mm
Front (Performance): 13.98"/355 mm
Rear (non-Performance): 13.2"/335 mm
Rear (Performance): 13.2”/335 mm
Front Rotor thickness
New: 0.98"/25 mm
Service limit: 0.91”/23 mm
Rear Rotor thickness
New: 0.79"/20 mm
Service limit: 0.71”/18 mm
Non-Performance Front Brake Pad
Thickness (excluding back plate)
New: 0.393"/10 mm
Service limit: 0.110"/2.8 mm
Subsystems
184MODEL 3 Owner
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Non-Performance Rear Brake Pad
Thickness (excluding back plate)
New: 0.354"/9 mm
Service limit: 0.078"/2 mm
Performance Front Brake Pad
Thickness (excluding back plate)
New: 0.393"/10 mm
Service limit: 0.085"/2.15 mm
Performance Rear Brake Pad
Thickness (excluding back plate)
New: 0.393"/10 mm
Service limit: 0.071"/1.8 mm
Parking brakeElectrically actuated parking brake integrated into rear caliper
Suspension
SuspensionSpecificationsFrontIndependent, double wishbone, coil spring/telescopic damper, sway barRearIndependent, multi-link, coil spring/telescopic damper
Battery - Low Voltage
Battery - 12VSpecificationsRating33 amp hour or higherVoltage and Polarity12V negative (-) ground
Battery - High Voltage
TypeLiquid-cooled lithium ion (Li-ion)Nominal Voltage (cars
manufactured in U.S.)360V DCTemperature RangeDo not expose Model 3 to ambient temperatures above 140
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Tesla Roadside Assistance is available to you 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for the duration of your warranty period. Tesla Roadside Assistance is also available to speak with roadside service professionals to answer any
questions and explain the proper procedure for transporting your vehicle.
When contacting Tesla Roadside Assistance, please provide:
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DO NOT TRANSPORT WITH
WHEELS ON THE GROUND
The rear motor in Model 3 generates power when the
wheels spin. Always transport
Model 3 with all four tires
off the ground. Ensure that the tires are unable to spin at
any time during transport.
WARNING: NEVER TRANSPORT YOUR VEHICLE
WITH THE TIRES IN A POSITION WHERE THEY
CAN SPIN. DOING SO CAN LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT
DAMAGE AND OVERHEATING. IN RARE CASES
EXTREME OVERHEATING MAY CAUSE THE
SURROUNDING COMPONENTS TO IGNITE.
Do not transport Model 3 using any method that is not
specified by Tesla. Adhere to the instructions provided in
the following sections and observe all warnings and
cautions provided. Damage caused by improper
transporting of your vehicle is not covered by the
warranty.
NOTE: Tesla is not liable or responsible for reimbursing
services not dispatched through Tesla Roadside Assistance.
Approved Methods for Transporting
NOTE: The tires are allowed to rotate slowly (under 3
mph or 5 km/h) and for a very short distance (less than
30 feet or 10 meters) only when Transport Mode is
enabled (see
Activate Transport Mode on page )
while the vehicle is being winched onto a
flatbed truck
or pulled out of a parking space for repositioning.
Exceeding these boundaries can lead to
significant
damage and overheating that is not covered by the
warranty.
A flatbed truck or comparable transport vehicle is the
recommended method of transporting
Model 3. The
vehicle can face either direction when using a
flatbed.
If Model 3 must be transported without a flatbed truck,
then wheel lifts and dollies must be used to ensure that
all four wheels are
off of the ground. This method may
only be used for a maximum of
35 miles (55 km), and
must not exceed the manufacturer speed rating of the
dollies. With this method, Tesla recommends the vehicle
facing forward so that the front wheels are lifted and the rear wheels are on dollies.
CAUTION: Enable Transport Mode (see Activate
Transport Mode on page ) before winching
Model 3 onto a flatbed truck (see Pull onto the
Flatbed Truck on page ). If Transport Mode is
not available or the touchscreen is not accessible,
self-loading dollies or tire skates must be used to
load the vehicle into the approved transportation
position. Tesla is not responsible for any damage
caused by or during the transport of Model 3,
including personal property damage or damage
caused by using self-loading dollies or tire skates.
WARNING: Model 3 is equipped with high voltage
components that may be compromised as a result
of a collision (see High Voltage Components on
page 151). Before transporting Model 3, it is
important to assume these components are
energized. Always follow high voltage safety
precautions (wearing personal protection
equipment, etc.) until emergency response
professionals have evaluated the vehicle and can
accurately confirm that all high voltage systems
are no longer energized. Failure to do so may
result in serious injury.
Activate Transport Mode
Transport Mode keeps the parking brake disengaged
while winching
Model 3 onto a flatbed truck. When
active, Transport Mode displays a message indicating that the vehicle will remain free-rolling. The following are
required to enable Transport Mode:
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1. Ensure the vehicle is in Park.2.
Chock the tires or otherwise ensure Model 3 is secure.
3.
Press and hold the brake pedal, then on the touchscreen, touch
Controls > Service > Towing. The
touchscreen displays a message reminding you how
to properly transport
Model 3.
4.
Press and hold the Transport Mode button until it
turns blue.
Model 3 is now free-rolling and can slowly
be rolled (no faster than walking speed) or winched.
To cancel Transport Mode, shift Model 3 into Park.
NOTE: If Model 3 loses 12V power after Transport Mode
is enabled, Transport Mode cancels.
CAUTION: If the electrical system is not working,
and you therefore cannot use the touchscreen to
activate Transport Mode, use self-loading dollies or
tire skates. Before doing so, always check the
manufacturer
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Tesla provide several options to help you and your passengers have some fun!
Entertainment
To browse a full library of games and to access video streaming services, touch the Entertainment icon in the
application launcher (see
Touchscreen Overview on page 4) when Model 3 is in Park.
The Entertainment app has two tabs: one for arcade games and another for the video streaming services that are
currently supported on your
Model 3.
NOTE: Due to vehicle configuration or market region, Entertainment features may not be available on your vehicle.
Toybox
But wait, there
Page 201 of 248
Document Applicability
Owner information that displays on the touchscreen is the most comprehensive and up-to-date source of information about your vehicle (touch
Controls >
Service > Owner