Cold Weather Best Practices
To ensure that Model Y provides you with the best
Charging
ownership experience possible in harsh cold weather
conditions, follow these best practices.
By using Trip Planner (if available in your market region)
to navigate to a Tesla charging location, Model Y pre-
heats the high voltage battery to ensure when you arrive
at the charger, the temperature of the battery is optimal
and ready to charge. This reduces the amount of time it
takes to charge. See (see Trip Planner on page 157).
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:
NOTE: Tesla recommends using Trip Planner to navigate
to a charging location for at least 30-45 minutes before
arrival to ensure optimal battery temperature and
charging conditions. If the drive to the charging location
is less than 30-45 minutes, consider preconditioning the
• 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 page 174).
NOTE: The thermal system may produce steam under
certain conditions. For example, odorless steam can
come from the front of your vehicle while charging at a
Supercharger in cold temperature. This is normal and
not a cause for concern.
• In 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.
• In 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.
Windows
• In the mobile app, go to Climate, swipe up from the
bottom and select Defrost Car, which helps melt
snow, ice, and frost on the windshield, windows, and
mirrors.
NOTE: Tesla recommends activating climate settings
at least 30-45 minutes before departure (see Climate
Controls on page 127). 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 cold temperatures, Model Y automatically makes a
slight adjustment to the position of the windows to
make it easier to open doors.
NOTE: Always connect to an external, low voltage
power supply before opening a door when the
vehicle has no power to avoid breaking a window.
Charge Port
• Use the mobile app to schedule a service
appointment for Tesla to provide hydrophobic
coating to the side and rear windows (not the front)
for a nominal fee.
• If your charge port latch freezes in place and a
charging cable becomes stuck in the charge port, try
manually releasing the charge cable. See Manually
Releasing Charge Cable on page 172.
• In extremely cold weather or icy conditions, it is
possible that your charge port latch may freeze in
place. Some vehicles are equipped with a charge port
inlet heater that turns on when you turn on the rear
defrost in cold weather conditions. You can also thaw
ice on the charge port latch by enabling Defrost Car
on the mobile app.
Doors
In severe winter conditions, ice buildup can make it more
difficult to open door handles. You can use the mobile
app to pop open the driver door in this situation.
1. In the mobile app, touch and hold any of the four
quick control buttons and follow the instructions to
customize quick controls with Unlatch Door.
NOTE: You can also prevent the occurrence of a charge
port latch freezing in place by using the Schedule
settings (see Scheduled Charging and Scheduled
Departure on page 174).
2. When you are next to your car, touch Unlatch Door to
pop open the driver door.
NOTE: If your charge port latch is frozen in place, it may
not lock the charging cable in place when inserted, but it
can still charge at a slow AC rate even if the latch is not
engaged.
Removing Ice From Door Handle
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 others to remove ice buildup.
Driving
85
