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IndicatorDescriptionAirbag safety. If this red
indicator does not flash on briefly when Model S prepares to drive, or if it
remains on, contact Tesla
immediately. See
Airbags on page 38.
Front fog lights are on, if
equipped. See Lights on page 56.
Parking lights (side
marker lights, tail lights,
and license plate lights)
are on. See
Lights on page 56.
Low beam headlights are
on.
High beam headlights are on. Illuminates when high
beams are on but the
Auto High Beam setting is
turned
off or if the Auto
High Beam setting is
turned on but is
temporarily unavailable.
See
High Beam Headlights on page 57.
High beam headlights are currently turned on, and
Auto High Beam is ready
to turn
off the high beams
if light is detected in front
of
Model S. See High Beam Headlights on page 57.
High beam headlights are temporarily turned off
because Auto High Beam
is on and is detecting light
in front of
Model S. When
light is no longer
detected, the high beams
IndicatorDescriptionautomatically turn back
on. See High Beam Headlights on page 57.
This indicator flashes
amber when the
electronic stability control
systems are actively
minimizing wheel spin by
controlling brake pressure
and motor power. See
Traction Control on page 69. If this indicator
remains on, a fault is
detected and you should
immediately contact Tesla.
If a fault is detected that
reduces the performance
of the air suspension
system, this amber
indicator light displays. If
the problem persists,
contact Tesla. See
Air Suspension on page 158.
If a fault is detected that
disables the air
suspension system, this
red indicator light
displays. Contact Tesla.Vehicle Hold is actively
applying the brakes. See
Vehicle Hold on page 66.
Electronic stability control
systems are no longer
minimizing wheel spin.
See
Traction Control on page 69.
Model S is in Transport
mode and can roll freely. It
does not automatically
shift into Park when you
exit. See
Activate Transport Mode on page 219.
Instrument Panel
63Driving
Page 66 of 281
IndicatorDescriptionA blue snowflake appears
when some of the energy
stored in the Battery may
not be available due to
cold weather conditions.
During these cold weather
conditions, charging rates
may also be limited. If
Model S is plugged in, you
can heat your Battery by
turning on climate control
with the mobile app. The
snowflake disappears
when the Battery is
sufficiently warm.
Vehicle power is currently
being limited because the
energy remaining in the
Battery is low, the
vehicle
Page 67 of 281
Wipers and Washers
You can access wiper settings by touching
the wiper button on the steering yoke or
touching Controls > Wipers.
Lightly touch the wiper button on the steering yoke to wipe the windshield. For multiple
wipes, continue touching
Page 68 of 281
Vehicle HoldWhen Model S is stopped
while in a driving gear, the
brakes are automatically
applied without you having to put your foot on the
brake pedal. Whether
stopped on a
flat surface or
a hill, Vehicle Hold keeps the
brake applied, provided your
foot remains
off the
accelerator and brake
pedals. The speedometer
displays this indicator to
inform you that Vehicle Hold
is actively braking
Model S.
To disengage Vehicle Hold, press the
accelerator pedal or press and release the
brake pedal.
NOTE: Shifting into Neutral also disengages
Vehicle Hold.
NOTE: After actively braking Model S for
approximately ten minutes, Model S shifts into
Park and Vehicle Hold cancels. Model S also
shifts into Park when you open the driver
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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).
NOTE: Automatic Emergency Braking (see Automatic Emergency Braking on page 123)
may intervene to automatically brake in
situations where a collision is considered
imminent. Automatic Emergency Braking is
not designed to prevent a collision. At best, it
can minimize the impact of a frontal collision
by attempting to reduce your driving speed.
Depending on Automatic Emergency Braking
to avoid a collision can result in serious injury or death. .
Brake Disc Wiping
To ensure brakes remain responsive in cold
and wet weather, Model S is equipped with
brake disc wiping. When cold and wet
weather is detected, this feature repeatedly
applies an imperceptible amount of brake
force to remove water from the surface of the
brake discs.
Hydraulic Fade Compensation
Model S is also equipped with hydraulic fade
compensation. This feature assists in
monitoring brake system pressure and ABS
activity for instances of reduced brake
performance. If reduced brake performance is detected (for example, as a result of brake
fade, or cold or wet conditions), you may hear
a sound, feel the brake pedal pull away from
your foot, and notice a strong increase in
braking. Brake as you normally would and
continue to press the brake pedal without
releasing or "pumping".
CAUTION: If brakes are not functioning properly, stop the vehicle when safety permits and contact Tesla Service.
WARNING: Always maintain a safe driving distance from the vehicle in front of you and exercise caution when driving conditions are hazardous. Brake disc wiping and hydraulic fade compensation is not a substitute for adequately applying the brakes.
Hydraulic Boost Compensation
Model S is equipped with a brake booster that
activates the brakes when the brake pedal is pressed. Hydraulic boost compensation
provides mechanical assistance if the brake
booster fails. If a brake booster failure is
detected, the brake pedal feels
stiffer to press
and you may hear sound when you press the
brake pedal. To stop
Model S, apply steady
force to the brake pedal without releasing or
pumping. Drive cautiously and maintain a safe
distance from other road users
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The amount of energy fed back to the Battery using regenerative braking can depend on the
current state of the Battery. 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 black line displays on the energy bar
(see
Instrument Panel on page 60).
Parking Brake
To engage the parking brake, touch Controls > Safety > Parking Brake. Follow the onscreen
instructions.
NOTE: The parking brake operates on the rear
wheels only, and is independent of the pedal- operated brake system.
WARNING: In snowy or icy conditions the rear wheels may not have sufficient traction to prevent Model S from sliding down a slope, particularly if not using winter tires. Avoid parking on hills in snowy or icy conditions. You are always responsible for parking safely.
WARNING: Your Model S may display an alert if the road is too steep to safely park on, or if the parking brakes are not properly engaged. These alerts are for guidance purposes only and are not a substitute for the driver
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How It Works
The 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 on.
Under normal conditions, it should remain on
to ensure maximum safety.
This yellow 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 collisions caused by driving dangerously or turning too sharply at high speeds.
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 to spin, such as:
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How Park Assist Works
Model S has several sensors designed to
detect the presence of objects. When driving slowly in Drive or Reverse (for example, when
parking), the vehicle alerts you if an object is
detected in close proximity of your
Model S.
Objects are only detected in the direction of
the gear you selected; front objects in Drive,
rear objects in Reverse.
WARNING: You may not be alerted if Model S rolls freely in the opposite direction of the selected gear (for example, Park Assist does not display an alert if Model S rolls backwards down a hill while in Drive).
The sensors are activated when driving slower
than 5 mph (8 km/h).
WARNING: Never depend on Park Assist to inform you if an area you are approaching is free of objects and/or people. Several external factors can reduce the performance of Park Assist, causing either no readings or false readings (see Limitations and False Warnings on page 71). Therefore, depending on Park Assist to determine if Model S is approaching an obstruction can result in damage to the vehicle and/or objects, and can potentially cause serious injury. Always inspect the area with your own eyes. When reversing, perform shoulder checks and use all mirrors. Park assist does not detect children, pedestrians, bicyclists, animals, or objects that are moving, protruding, located too far above or below the sensors, or too close or too far from the sensors. Park Assist is for guidance purposes only and is not intended to replace your own direct visual checks. It is not a substitute for careful driving.
Visual and Audio Feedback
When you shift to Reverse, the Park Assist
view displays on the left side of the instrument panel, showing objects that are in
close proximity to the front and rear of
Model S. This view closes when you shift into
Drive unless an object is detected close to the
front of
Model S, in which case the Park Assist
view closes automatically when your driving
speed exceeds
5 mph (8 km/h). When
reversing, visual feedback also displays on the
touchscreen (see
Rear View Camera on page 76). You can manually close the park assist
view on the touchscreen by touching the X in
the bottom corner.
When driving with the Camera app displayed
on the touchscreen, you can switch to the
Park Assist view when driving at speeds
below
5 mph (8 km/h). Touch the button
located in the upper left corner of the Camera
app window. This is useful if you need
assistance with parallel parking.
If chimes are turned on (see Controlling Audible Feedback on page 71), an audible
beep sounds as you approach an object. You
can temporarily mute the chime by pressing
the scroll button on the left side of the
steering yoke or by touching the mute button
on the bottom left corner of the Park Assist
view.
Park Assist
70MODEL S Owner