Tesla Model Y: Before Driving
When snow and ice accumulate on your vehicle, moving
parts, such as the door handles, windows, mirrors, and
wipers can freeze in place. To achieve maximum range
and performance, it is helpful to warm the cabin and
Battery before you leave. There are several ways to do
so:
- Touch Schedule, available on both the charging and
climate control screens, to set a time when you want
your vehicle to be ready to drive (see Scheduled
Charging and Scheduled Departure).
- On the mobile app, navigate to Climate to customize
the temperature at which you want to heat the cabin.
This also warms the high voltage Battery as needed.
- On the mobile app, navigate to Climate > Defrost Car
to melt snow, ice, and frost on the windshield,
windows, and mirrors. This also warms the high
voltage Battery as needed.
NOTE: Tesla recommends activating climate settings
at least 30-45 minutes before departure (see Climate
Controls). Preconditioning times
depend on outside temperature and other factors.
The Mobile App will notify you once your vehicle has
reached the desired preconditioning temperature.
- In extremely cold weather or icy conditions, it is
possible that your charge port latch may freeze in
place. In cases where you cannot remove or insert the
charge cable, or the vehicle is not Supercharging due
to the latch being frozen in place, use the Defrost Car
setting in the mobile app. This can help thaw ice on
the charge port latch so the charge cable can be
removed or inserted.
- Warming the Battery using Scheduled Departure or
the mobile app before driving can also reduce
charging time at a Supercharger or third party fast
charger, especially if the Supercharger or third party
fast charger is close enough that Trip Planner (if
available in your market region) does not have
sufficient time to precondition the Battery (see
Warming the Battery Before Supercharging).
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In severe winter conditions, ice buildup within the door handle can prevent
the door handle from opening. The process for freeing a Model Y door handle is
slightly different than other door handles;
In severe winter conditions, applying WD-40 to door handle pivot pins can
help prevent ice buildup that might immobilize the handle. Consider applying
WD-40 to the door handle pivot pins if you are
Cold weather can increase energy consumption because
more power is required for driving, cabin and Battery
heating. Follow these suggestions to reduce energy
consumption:
Use seat heaters to keep
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It is important to understand your vehicle's original tire
sizes and pressures, and the GVWR (Gross Vehicle
Weight Rating) and GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating).
This information can be found on two labels attached to Model Y.
Both labels are visible on the door pillar when the front door is open.
Navigate on Autopilot changes lanes to either prepare
Model Y for an upcoming off-ramp, to increase your
driving speed (not to exceed your set cruising speed), or
to move Model Y out of a passing lane when you are not
actively passing other road users. A message displays at
the top of the map's