top tesla tips
Contact TOCA for additions or corrections
1. Read the manual, available on the display screen.
2. Yes, panel gaps.
3. Yes, not industry-best paint.
4. Yes, white seats are easy to clean.
5. Tesla does not have SiriusXM radio, AM radio, Android Auto or Apple CarPlay built-in.
6. You cannot buy your Tesla after the lease ends.
7. Tesla does not offer extended warranty on the Model 3 (but third-parties do).
8. Tell new passengers how to open the door from the inside before they need to open the door, to avoid damage. Use the button, not the handle.
9. Your car is a computer, so rebooting it may correct some problems. Press in and hold both scroll wheels on your steering wheel until the display goes blank, then release and wait for the screen to reappear. Pressing the brake pedal makes no difference. Try it now, so you know what to expect when you need to do it. It also works while driving, but may be disorienting or unsafe.
10. Supercharging: Be nice if others are waiting, you might be the one waiting someday. Charge and go, don’t sit there idle. Move your car if you will be longer than expected. You may get charged an idle fee by Tesla if you stay plugged in after charging is completed; avoid fee by increasing your charge limit after getting the notification that your car is done charging. Superchargers charge slower the closer you get to a full charge. Try charging more often, but for shorter durations. Trust the built-in navigation when it comes to charging on a trip. Pay attention to the stall labels: 1A and 1B draw from the same power supply, which means slower charging for both vehicles that are on that same stall. Supercharging slows down significantly if the car is cold. When you are at 100% charge, there’s no where for regeneration electricity to go and you’ll get a warning.
11. Try these phone apps: PlugShare, ChargePoint and ABetterRoutePlanner.
12. You can’t force a new software update, but you can choose to get them sooner via the screen option.
13. Your Tesla has a separate standard 12vdc car battery that will eventually need to be replaced, just like an ICE car. Don’t ignore warnings on the display about it. If you smell rotten egg, it’s too late. More battery info here.
14. The in-cabin climate air filters may get moldy and smell bad, requiring replacement. See online videos for help or place a service request.
15. Some people have successfully “forced” a service ranger visit (vs. driving to a service center) by selecting the “Other” option on the Tesla phone app and adding a text comment.
16. Don’t forget your key card if you are going out of town or if you use a valet.
17. The faster you drive, the shorter your range will be.
18. The more you use heat/AC, the shorter your range will be.
19. You may be less anxious by setting the display to show % charge instead of miles remaining.
20. Sudden, hard, unexpected “phantom braking” while using Auto Pilot (cruise control) is real and could cause you to be rear-ended. Some drivers hover their foot over the accelerator pedal to override when it happens, or choose not to use auto-pilot.
21. There is no spare tire. There are kits available online for patch repair, inflator pumps and complete kits with tire/wheel, jack and tools.
22. A plugged in Tesla is a happy Tesla. Below 20% charge, your car won’t heat/cool the battery pack as needed when parked and Sentry Mode is disabled. Don’t charge to 100% unless you’re going to drive soon.
23. For home charging, a NEMA 14-50 outlet works fine if you don’t want to buy a Tesla Wall Connector (charger). You’ll just need the inexpensive adapter, available on the Testa site.
24. Tinting your windows helps cool the cabin. Also, Tesla and third-parties sell pop-in roof shades.
25. If you have insurance questions including glass repair, call your insurance, not members of this group, because everyone’s situation is different.
26. There’s a tremendous variety of aftermarket accessories available online.
27. There’s a tremendous variety of YouTube how-to videos online.
28. Feel free to ask questions and offer help and advice via this group.
29. There's a tow hook in your front trunk (all models?)
30. If your phone no longer opens your door, make sure your Bluetooth has not been disabled. Also, try turning Bluetooth off and then back on to re-connect your phone as a key.
31. Charging adapter stuck in charge port? There's a manual release in the trunk (all models?)
32. Stuck in mud or sand? Use Slip Start option.
33. You will wear out tires faster than a "regular" car. This is due to EV weight, high torque and regenerative braking. Consider tires that have a tread life warranty.
34. It's regenerative braking, not breaking.
35. Tesla Phone App:
- Check charging progress in real time; start/stop charging.
- Heat or cool your car before driving – even if it's in a garage.
- Lock or unlock from afar.
- Locate your vehicle with directions or track its movement.
- Send an address from your favorite apps to start navigation in
your car.
- Allow your passengers to quickly control media.
- Flash lights or honk the horn to find your vehicle when parked.
- Vent or close the panoramic roof (pre-2018 Model S).
- Summon your vehicle out of your garage or a tight parking
space (for vehicles with FSD).
- Update your vehicle software from wherever you are.
- Engage with Powerwall2: monitor how much energy is stored
from solar, used by your home, or exported to the grid.
- Download your solar production and battery usage data.
36. "Phantom" battery drain while parked will occur based on Cabin Overheat Protection setting, constantly waking up the car from the phone app and the use of Sentry Mode, such as parking for days at an airport.
37. To send a bug report to Tesla: Press right button on steering wheel, say "bug report (description)"
38. Try browsing to ABetterTheater.com for full-screen video.
39. Having the seatback leaned forward then moving the seat all the way forward can contact and crack the vanity mirror.
40. Veterans do not have to pay the annual Arkansas $200 EV registration fee.
41. Leaving your car at an airport:
To minimize battery drain, follow these tips
- Arrive with as much charge as possible
- Turn off Sentry Mode
- Turn off Smart Summon Standby
- Turn off Scheduled Departure Preconditioning
- Disable Cabin Overheat Protection
- Try to park in a covered area
- Don't constantly check your car via the smartphone application
- Disable third-party apps
