
Replacing the Low Voltage Lead-Acid Battery
This procedure is intended for vehicles in North America
only.
CAUTION: To avoid damage that is not covered by
the warranty, replace your low voltage lead-acid
battery with the same type of battery. The low
voltage lead-acid battery for North American
vehicles is AtlasBX / Hankook 85B24LS 12V 45Ah.
You can purchase a new lead-acid low voltage
battery that is compatible with your vehicle from
your local service center
NOTE: Vehicles manufactured between approximately
July 2017 and October 2020 do not have a heat pump and should use
Vehicles Manufactured Before
Approximately October 2020 on page . Vehicles
manufactured afterward have a heat pump and should
use
Vehicles Manufactured After Approximately October
2020 on page .
Perform the following procedure to replace the lead- acid low voltage battery. Wear appropriate personal protection equipment (such as safety glasses, leather gloves when handling the lead-acid battery etc.).
Vehicles Manufactured Before
Approximately October 2020
Removal:
1.
Prepare the vehicle to remove the low voltage lead-
acid battery:
a.
Ensure the vehicle is in Park.
b.
Lower all windows.
c.
Open the front trunk.
d.
Leave a door propped open so you can get back
into the vehicle if needed.
e.
Disconnect the charge cable from the charge port.
2.
Move the driver and front passenger seat fully forward.
3.
Under the rear seat, press the left and right tabs to the side and lift the seat cushion up. The seat separates from the base but is still restrained by one wire harness on each side.
4.
Disconnect the wire harnesses and remove the seat cushion. Set the cushion aside.
5.
In the front trunk, remove the vehicle

7.
Power off the vehicle by navigating to Controls >
Safety > Power Off on the touchscreen.
8.
Disconnect the low voltage cable from penthouse:
a.
In the rear passenger seat, remove the foam cover and set it aside. The foam covers the low voltage
cable.
b.
Release and pull down the gray lever-arm on the
side of the low voltage connector.
c.
Pull the connector upward to disconnect it from the penthouse.
WARNING: The area under the seat cushion
houses the high voltage Battery. DO NOT
TOUCH OR PLACE ITEMS ON THE METAL
HOUSING! Doing so can cause serious damage
or injury.
9.
With a 10mm socket, loosen the nut that secures the
negative (-) terminal clamp to the negative (-) post on the low voltage lead-acid battery. Release the terminal clamp from the negative (-) post.
10.
With a 10mm socket, release the terminal cover and loosen the nut that secures the positive (+) terminal
clamp to the positive (+) post on the low voltage
lead-acid battery. Release the terminal clamp from the positive (+) post and cover the terminal clamp with a dry rag.
CAUTION: Do not allow the positive (+)
terminal clamp to contact nearby components
like the low voltage battery hold down bracket
or A/C cooling lines.Parts and Accessories
195Maintenance

3.
In the front trunk, remove the cabin intake duct and
set it aside.
4.
Power off the vehicle by navigating to Controls >
Safety > Power Off on the touchscreen.
5.
In the front trunk, disconnect the first responder loop
by sliding the red locking tab toward you, pressing
the black tab, and releasing it. Set the
first responder
loop aside.
6.
With a 10mm socket, loosen the nut that secures the
negative (-) terminal clamp to the negative (-) post on the low voltage lead-acid battery. Release the terminal clamp from the negative (-) post.
7.
With a 10mm socket, release the terminal cover and
loosen the nut that secures the positive (+) terminal
clamp to the positive (+) post on the low voltage
lead-acid battery. Release the terminal clamp from the positive (+) post and cover the terminal clamp with a dry rag.
CAUTION: Do not allow the positive (+)
terminal clamp to contact nearby components
like the low voltage lead-acid battery hold
down bracket or A/C cooling lines.
8.
Unplug the vent tube hose from the negative (-)
terminal side of the low voltage battery.
Parts and Accessories
199Maintenance

Learn how to perform simple Do It Yourself procedures, such as replacing wiper blades and cabin filters, or installing
the paint protection
film kit. See https://service.tesla.com/docs/Public/diy/index-model-3.html for instructions,
animations, and videos of these procedures.
NOTE: Due to market region or vehicle configuration specifics, some parts and procedures may not be available for
your vehicle. When navigating to
http://www.tesla.com, select your region and language to see an updated list of
parts and accessories available for your region.
CAUTION: Perform each procedure in this guide in
a dry and well-lit area. For your safety, only
perform a procedure if you feel comfortable doing
so, and always follow all provided instructions.Do It Yourself Maintenance
204MODEL 3 Owner

Understanding Tire Markings
Laws require tire manufacturers to place standardized information on the sidewall of all tires. This information
identifies and describes the fundamental characteristics of the tire. It also provides the tire identification number
(TIN) for certification of safety standards, and in case of a recall.
1.
Tire category: P indicates that the tire is for passenger vehicles.
2.
Tire width: This 3-digit number is the width (in millimeters) of the tire from sidewall edge to sidewall edge.
3.
Aspect ratio: This 2-digit number is the sidewall height as a percentage of the tread width. So, if the tread width is
205 mm, and the aspect ratio is 50, the sidewall height is 102 mm.
4.
Tire construction: R indicates that the tire is of Radial ply construction.
5.
Wheel diameter: This 2-digit number is the diameter of the wheel rim in inches.
6.
Load index: This 2 or 3-digit number is the weight each tire can support. This number is not always shown.
7.
Speed rating: When stated, indicates the maximum speed (in mph) at which the tire can be used for extended
periods. Q=99 mph (160 km/h), R=106 mph (170 km/h), S=112 mph (180 km/h), T=118 mph (190 km/h), U=124 mph (200 km/h), H=130 mph (210 km/h), V=149 mph (240 km/h), W=168 mph (270 km/h), Y=186 mph (300 km/h),
(Y)=vehicle

Uniform Tire Quality Grading
The following information relates to the tire grading system developed by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), which grades tires by tread wear, traction and temperature performance. Tires that have
deep tread, and winter tires, are exempt from these marking requirements.
Where applicable, quality grades are found on the tire

DO NOT TRANSPORT WITH
WHEELS ON THE GROUND
The motor(s) 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
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 221) before winching Model
3 onto a flatbed truck (see Pull onto the Flatbed
Truck on page 222). 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.
NOTE: Transport Mode is only intended to allow for
winching
Model 3 onto a flatbed truck or repositioning
the vehicle out of a parking space. While in Transport Mode, 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). See Activate Transport Mode on
page 221. Exceeding these boundaries can lead to
significant damage and overheating that is not covered
by the warranty.
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 154). 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. To enable
Transport Mode:

A
ABS (Anti-lock Braking System): 60
absolute speed limit: 114
acceleration, chill: 68
acceleration, sport: 68
acceleration, standard: 68
accessories: 23
plugging into power socket: 23
adjacent lane speed: 85
aero covers: 178
air conditioning: 116
air filter: 120
air vents: 119
airbag safety information: 44
airbags, location: 38
alarm: 127, 131
all-season tires: 181
Always Show Estimated Round Trip Energy: 146
ambient lights: 53
anti-lock braking (ABS): 60
apps: 5
Arcade: 151
audio: 47, 148, 151
playing files: 148, 151
settings: 148
steering wheel scroll button: 47
volume control: 148
auto fold: 49
auto high beam: 54
Auto Lane Change: 87
auto tilt: 49
AUTO wipers: 59
automatic emergency braking: 112
automatic navigation: 142
navigating: 142
Autopark: 100
autopilot: 108
side collision warning: 108
Autopilot: 77, 80, 85, 87, 100, 102, 111, 114
Auto Lane Change: 87
automatic emergency braking: 111
Autopark: 100
Autosteer: 85
collision avoidance assist: 111
forward collision warning: 111
overtake acceleration: 80
overview: 77
speed assist: 114
speed limit warning: 114
staying within speed limits: 114
Summon: 102
Traffic-Aware Cruise Control: 80
Autopilot components: 77
Autosteer: 85
average range: 165
B
backup camera: 72
Battery (high voltage): 156, 211
care of: 156
specifications: 211
temperature limits: 156
battery (key), replacing: 12
battery (low voltage): 156, 211
complete discharge: 156
specifications: 211
Blind Spot Camera: 108
Blind Spot Collision Warning: 108
Blind Spot Collision Warning Chime: 108
Bluetooth: 122, 149
devices, playing audio files from: 149
general information: 122
phone, pairing and using: 122
body repairs: 192
body touch up: 185
Boombox: 151, 152
brakes: 60, 112, 210
automatic in emergencies: 112
overview of: 60
specifications: 210
Bumper Clearance (Summon): 102
C
cabin air filter: 120
cabin camera: 115
cabin temperature control: 116
Calendar: 122, 124
calibrating windows: 16
California Proposition 65: 283
camera, rear-facing: 72
cameras (autopilot): 77
Camp: 118
car cover: 185
car wash mode: 183
car washes: 184
Caraoke): 149
card: 10
cargo area: 18
cargo volume: 210
Index