How To Turn Off And Power Down Your Tesla Model
How to Turn Off and Power Down Your Tesla Model
For new Tesla owners, understanding how to properly turn off and power down their vehicle can be a bit confusing, especially given the differences between electric vehicles and traditional gasoline-powered cars. Here’s a detailed guide on how to do it.
Automatic Power Off
Tesla models are designed to power off automatically under certain conditions. When you finish driving, simply shift the vehicle into Park by pressing the button on the end of the drive stalk. Once in Park, the vehicle will power off automatically, turning off the instrument panel and touchscreen, provided you leave the vehicle with the key fob or phone key.
Manual Power Off
If you need to completely power down your Tesla, you can do so through the vehicle's touchscreen. Here are the steps:
- Access the Controls Menu: On the touchscreen, navigate to the "Controls" menu.
- Select Safety: Scroll down to the "Safety" section.
- Power Off: At the bottom of the Safety menu, you will find the "Power Off" option. Select this to shut down the vehicle completely.
Important Considerations
- Sleep Mode: If you do not manually power off your Tesla, it will eventually go into a low-power sleep mode after a few hours, especially if settings like Sentry Mode and Cabin Overheat Protection are disabled. This mode allows the vehicle to conserve energy while still being accessible via the Tesla app.
- Restarting the Vehicle: To restart your Tesla after powering it off, simply press the brake pedal. This will power the vehicle back on and make it ready to drive.
Additional Tips
- Using the App: If you have set up your phone as a key, walking away from the vehicle will lock it, but it will remain in a low-power mode. You can confirm and control the vehicle's status via the Tesla app.
- Power Cycling: If you need to power cycle your Tesla for maintenance or troubleshooting, ensure the vehicle is in Park, then follow the steps to power off through the touchscreen. Wait at least two minutes without interacting with the vehicle before restarting it by pressing the brake pedal or opening the door.
Common Practices
Many Tesla owners find that they rarely need to manually power off their vehicles. Instead, they simply put the vehicle in Park and walk away, allowing the car to lock and enter sleep mode automatically. This approach is recommended for daily use, as manually powering off the vehicle is typically only necessary for specific maintenance tasks or when installing third-party hardware.
By following these steps and understanding the automatic and manual power-off processes, Tesla owners can ensure their vehicles are properly managed and maintained.