THE CENTRAL QUESTION ...
How can I avoid a slog through the Owners Manual to learn the most salient tips and tricks for driving the Model S?
COURSE ABSTRACT
Tips and tricks generally associated with the control and driving of the Model S are discussed.
Course level: Advanced
2. 2
Tips and
Tricks
Driving, part 2
MS-310b
This course is presented as part of
Evannex University—a free, open
learning environment that presents
concise, video-based mini-courses for
those who have interest in electric
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3. Cruise Control (CC)
Incremental adjustments
when CC is active, lightly tap the cruise level
up/down to get +/- 1 mph increments in
speed
tap up down further for +/- 5 mph
increments in speed (@JoshG)
Suspend vs. cancel CC (@Todd Birch)
press the end of the CC stalk to cancel and
reset to zero, but leave CC “armed”
press forward on the CC stalk to suspend but
leave CC ready to resume
3
4. Coasting
If you remove your foot from
the accelerator, you’ll invoke
regen and the car will slow
if you want the car to coast
(i.e., not to invoke regen), do a
half-tap on the shift column to
go to N (@AC1K)
4
5. Wiper Blades—I
Wipers can get gritty or caked with ice in
winter weather
To clean wipers (or replace them):
On the touch screen, go to controls —>
vehicle —> settings
in the wipers section, set service mode to
“on”
the wipers will come up to a 3/4 position
and stop (@SCWGreg)
5
6. Wiper Blades—II
For a single wipe of your wipers,
simple press that wiper stalk
inward, like a button (@SCWGreg)
light and short for a wipe
long for a wash and wipe
6
7. Reverse
Side mirrors can be programmed to tilt
down (for better visibility) when the Model
S is put in reverse
shift into R
adjust the mirrors to tilt down using
mirror buttons on driver side door
press “save” on the touch screen to save
to your driver profile
go to controls —> settings —> mirror
auto-tilt to turn the feature on/off
7
8. “EasyPass” Transmitters
Can be fastened to the right of
the rear view mirror base in the
shaded area of the windshield
if you need two transmitters,
one can be fastened or held on
the plastic base surface of the
rear view mirror.
Alternative: can be placed in
the plastic nose cone
8
9. 9
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Editor's Notes
Let’s continue our discuss of tip and trick for driving with a discussion of cruise control.
Cruise control is especially useful in the Model S because it enables the driver to maintain even driving speed that can result in better overall range.
Early versions of the Model S had standard cruise control, while later versions implement adaptive cruise control, enabling the car to sense vehicles ahead of it and moderate speed accordingly.
For standard cruise control, it’s possible to initiate
>> Incremental adjustments through the cruise control stalk —the top stalk on the left side of the steering column.
>> when CC is active, lightly tap the cruise level up/down to get +/- 1 mph increments in speed
>> tap up/down further for +/- 5 mph increments in speed
It’s worth noting that Model Ss build in mid-2014 and after have a different cruise control stalk arrangement, but the basic functionality remains the same.
>> It’s also important to understand the difference between the “suspend” and “cancel” operations for CC
>> press the end of the CC stalk to cancel and reset to zero, but leave CC “armed”
>> press forward on the CC stalk to suspend but leave it ready to resume
One of the things that does take a week or two to get used to is the idea that
you don’t coast when you remove your foot from the accelerator.
In fact,
>> If you remove your foot from the accelerator, you’ll invoke regenative braking and the car will slow
>> if you want the car to coast (i.e., not to invoke regen), do a half-tap on the shift column to go to N
The car will coast without regen being invoked.
By the way, there are situations when your car will coast—for example if you have a full range charge, your Model S will coat when you remove your foot from the accellerator until the batter depletes enough to accommodate the regen charge.
>> Your windshield wipers can get gritty or caked with ice in winter weather.
Because the wipers are recessed behind the rear lip of the hood, they can be difficult to get at if you need to do so.
>> To clean wipers (or replace them):
>> On the touch screen, go to controls, then vehicle, thensettings
>> in the wipers section of the setting menu, set “service mode to “on”
>> the wipers will come up to a 3/4 position on the window and stop, allowing you to get at them easily.
When you’re done, put the set-service-mode switch to the “off” position, and the wipers will return to their normal position.
There are many times when you’ll need a single swipe of your wipers to clean the windshield.
>> For a single wipe of your wipers, simply press that wiper stalk inward, like a button
>> light and short for just a single wipe, or
>> long for a spray of windshield washer fluid and a wipe
With the introduction of Model S software version, 6.1, the rear camera of the Model S finally has guidelines that help in backing up.
You can also automatically tilt the rear view mirrors downward, allowing you to see and avoid a curb or other low lying object while backing up.
>> Side mirrors can be programmed to tilt down (for better visibility)
when the Model S is put in reverse (if you have the Tech package)
>> first, shift into R
>> adjust the mirrors to tilt down using mirror buttons on driver side door
>> press “save” on the touch screen to save to your driver profile
>> go to controls —> settings —> mirror auto-tilt to turn the feature on/off
The Model S windshield is infused with a material that attenuates heat. It works quite well, but also impedes radio frequency transmission for toll transmitters and other electronic RF devices. There is only one area of the windshield that is not infused with the material.
Therefore, a transmitter
>> Can be fastened to the right of the rear view mirror base in the shaded area of the windshield
>> if you need two transmitters, one can be fastened or held on the plastic base surface of the rear view mirror.
It will transmit through the base
>> An Alternative is to fasten the transmitter in the plastic nose cone of the Model S