Get Roadside Assistance Guide for Tesla Model-Y SUV 2023

Instructions for Transporters

dollies. With this method, Tesla recommends the vehicle

facing forward so that the front wheels are lifted and the

rear wheels are on dollies.

DO NOT TRANSPORT WITH

WHEELS ON THE GROUND

The motors in Model Y generate power when the wheels

spin. Always transport Model Y with all four tires oﬀ the

ground. Ensure that the tires are unable to spin at any

time during transport.

WARNING: NEVER TRANSPORT YOUR VEHICLE

WITH THE TIRES IN A POSITION WHERE THEY

CAN SPIN. DOING SO CAN LEAD TO SIGNIFICANT

DAMAGE AND OVERHEATING. IN RARE CASES

EXTREME OVERHEATING MAY CAUSE THE

SURROUNDING COMPONENTS TO IGNITE.

CAUTION: Enable Transport Mode (see Activate

Transport Mode on page 223) before winching Model

Y onto a ﬂatbed truck (see Pull Onto Flatbed Truck

From Front on page 224 and Pull Onto Flatbed Truck

From Rear on page 224). If Transport Mode is not

available or the touchscreen is not accessible, self-

loading dollies or tire skates must be used to load

the vehicle into the approved transportation

position. Tesla is not responsible for any damage

caused by or during the transport of Model Y,

including personal property damage or damage

caused by using self-loading dollies or tire skates.

NOTE: Transport Mode is only intended to allow for

winching Model Y onto a ﬂatbed truck or repositioning

the vehicle out of a parking space. While in Transport

Mode, the tires are allowed to rotate slowly (under 3

mph or 5 km/h) and for a very short distance (less than

30 feet or 10 meters). See Activate Transport Mode on

page 223. Exceeding these boundaries can lead to

signiﬁcant damage and overheating that is not covered

by the warranty.

Do not transport Model Y using any method that is not

speciﬁed by Tesla. Adhere to the instructions provided in

the following sections and observe all warnings and

cautions provided. Damage caused by improper

transporting of your vehicle is not covered by the

warranty.

WARNING: Model Y is equipped with high voltage

components that may be compromised as a result

of a collision (see High Voltage Components on

page 165). Before transporting Model Y, it is

important to assume these components are

energized. Always follow high voltage safety

precautions (wearing personal protection

equipment, etc.) until emergency response

professionals have evaluated the vehicle and can

accurately conﬁrm that all high voltage systems

are no longer energized. Failure to do so may

result in serious injury.

NOTE: Tesla is not liable or responsible for reimbursing

services not dispatched through Tesla Roadside

Assistance.

Approved Methods for Transporting

A ﬂatbed truck or comparable transport vehicle is the

recommended method of transporting Model Y. The

vehicle can face either direction when using a ﬂatbed.

Activate Transport Mode

Transport Mode keeps the parking brake disengaged

while winching Model Y onto a ﬂatbed truck. When

active, Transport Mode displays a message indicating

that the vehicle will remain free-rolling. To enable

Transport Mode:

• Low voltage power is required. You will be unable to

use the touchscreen to activate Transport Mode if

Model Y has no power.

If Model Y must be transported without a ﬂatbed truck,

then wheel lifts and dollies must be used to ensure that

all four wheels are oﬀ of the ground. This method may

only be used for a maximum of 35 miles (55 km), and

must not exceed the manufacturer speed rating of the

• Model Y must detect a key. Transport Mode is

available only when a key is detected.

To activate Transport Mode:

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Instructions for Transporters

1. Ensure Model Y is in Park.

2. Chock the tires or make sure Model Y is secure.

3. Press and hold the brake pedal, then on the

touchscreen, touch Controls > Service > Towing. The

touchscreen displays a message reminding you how

to properly transport Model Y.

4. Press and hold the Transport Mode button until it

turns blue. Model Y is now free-rolling and can slowly

be rolled (no faster than walking speed) or winched.

To cancel Transport Mode, shift Model Y into Park.

NOTE: If your vehicle is equipped with a lead-acid low

voltage battery (see Jump Starting on page 227):

Transport Mode may cancel if Model Y loses low voltage

power after Transport Mode is enabled.

3. Fully insert the tow eye into the opening, then turn it

counter-clockwise until securely fastened.

CAUTION: If the electrical system is not working,

and you therefore cannot use the touchscreen to

activate Transport Mode, use self-loading dollies or

tire skates. Before doing so, always check the

manufacturer's speciﬁcations and recommended

loading capacity.

Pull Onto Flatbed Truck From Front

NOTE: If Model Y has no low voltage power, you need an

external low voltage power supply to open the hood or

use the touchscreen.

CAUTION: To avoid damage, only pull the vehicle

onto a ﬂatbed truck using a properly-installed tow

eye. Using the chassis, frame, or suspension

components to pull the vehicle can result in

damage.

4. Attach the winch cable to the tow eye.

CAUTION: Before pulling, make sure the tow

eye is securely tightened.

1. Locate the tow eye. The tow eye is located in the

front trunk.

5. Activate Transport Mode.

6. Pull Model Y slowly onto the ﬂatbed truck.

Pull Onto Flatbed Truck From Rear

NOTE: If Model Y has no low voltage power, you need an

external low voltage power supply to open the hood or

use the touchscreen.

CAUTION: To avoid damage, only pull the vehicle

onto a ﬂatbed truck using a properly-installed tow

eye. Using the chassis, frame, or suspension

components to pull the vehicle can result in

damage.

1. Locate the tow eye. The tow eye is located in the

front trunk.

2. Release the front tow eye cover by pressing ﬁrmly on

its top right perimeter until it pivots inward, then

gently pulling the raised section toward you.

NOTE: The front tow eye cover is connected to the

vehicle's black negative (-) terminal.

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Instructions for Transporters

CAUTION: Before pulling, make sure the tow

eye is securely tightened.

5. Activate Transport Mode.

6. Pull Model Y slowly onto the ﬂatbed truck.

Secure the Tires

The vehicle's tires must be secured onto the truck using

the eight-point tie-down method:

• Ensure any metal parts on the tie-down straps do not

contact painted surfaces or the face of the wheels.

• Do not place tie-down straps over the body panels or

through the wheels.

2. Release the rear tow eye cover by pressing ﬁrmly on

its top right perimeter until it pivots inward, then

gently pulling the raised section toward you.

CAUTION: Attaching the tie-down straps to the

chassis, suspension or other parts of the vehicle's

body may cause damage.

NOTE: Vehicles equipped with a hitch receiver cannot

be pulled from the rear tow eye. Use the tow bar or

hitch receiver only to pull the vehicle to a safe

location, such as onto a ﬂatbed truck. Do not

transport the vehicle with wheels on the ground.

If Vehicle Has No Power

If Model Y has no low voltage power, perform the

following steps to open the hood or jump start the low

voltage battery.

3. Fully insert the tow eye into the opening, then turn it

counter-clockwise until securely fastened.

1. Open the hood. See Opening Hood with No Power on

page 21 for more information on opening the hood if

the vehicle does not have power.

2. Jump start the low voltage battery (see Jump

Starting on page 227).

NOTE: Tow providers: See Running Out of Range on

page 226 for more information on transporting the

vehicle to a charging station and preparing the vehicle

to charge.

CAUTION: Because the windows automatically

lower slightly when you open or close a door,

always connect to an external, low voltage power

supply before opening a door if the vehicle has no

power to avoid breaking a window (see Jump

Starting on page 227).

4. Attach the winch cable to the tow eye.

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Running Out of Range

NOTE: In the unlikely event your vehicle runs out of

range while driving, pull over when safe to do so and

contact Tesla Roadside Assistance on page 222 or your

preferred tow provider.

If Model Y runs out of range, the low voltage battery is

no longer supported – and when low voltage is not

supported, the vehicle cannot charge. Therefore, the low

voltage battery must be supported by an external power

supply to allow you to charge the high voltage (HV)

Battery. Once the vehicle begins charging, the external

power supply is no longer required.

In the case of running out of range away from a charger,

the tow provider should transport Model Y to the

nearest charging station and unload the vehicle within

the charging cable's reach. Once the vehicle is

positioned next to a charger, follow these instructions:

NOTE: If the vehicle is being transported to a charger,

make sure the tow provider does not leave until

conﬁrming that the vehicle's high voltage Battery is

successfully charging.

1. Jump start the low voltage battery (see Jump

Starting on page 227). The low voltage battery must

be jump started to support the high voltage Battery.

2. Wait a few minutes. Once the touchscreen powers on,

plug the charge cable into Model Y to begin charging

the high voltage Battery.

3. When Model Y begins to charge, disconnect the

external power supply from the low voltage battery.

Before transporting to a non-Tesla charger, ensure your

vehicle is equipped with an adapter that accommodates

the speciﬁc type of charging station you will be using.

Even at a non-Tesla charger, you will need to jump start

the low voltage battery before you can begin charging.

CAUTION: Always ensure Model Y has enough

range for your drive, or for being stored for an

extended period. Do not rely on the range

estimates displayed on the touchscreen or mobile

app as range can decrease faster than projected

due to ambient temperature, driving habits, wind,

vehicle settings (such as Sentry Mode), etc.

NOTE: Towing your vehicle as a result of running out of

range is not covered by the warranty.

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Jump Starting

7. When external low voltage power is no longer

required, disconnect both cables from the terminals

on the battery, beginning with the black negative (-)

cable.

The procedure for jump starting diﬀers depending on

whether the low voltage battery is lead-acid or lithium-

ion. To determine which battery your vehicle uses, touch

Controls > Software > Additional Vehicle Information.

Both procedures are provided in this section.

8. Reinstall the cabin intake trim panel by placing it

back in its original location and pressing down until it

is secure.

The following instructions assume you are using an

external low voltage power supply (such as a portable

jump starter). If jump starting Model Y using another

vehicle, refer to the vehicle manufacturer's instructions.

9. Replace the maintenance panel by placing it back in

its original location and pressing down until it is

secure.

CAUTION: Model Y cannot be used to jump start

another vehicle. Doing so can result in damage.

10. Close the hood.

CAUTION: Avoid short circuits when jump starting

Model Y. Connecting cables to the wrong jump

post, touching leads together, etc., can damage

Model Y.

Jump Starting the Low Voltage

(Lithium-Ion) Battery

Vehicles manufactured in Gigafactory Shanghai after

approximately October 2021, and in the Fremont Factory

after approximately December 2021, are equipped with a

Lithium-Ion low voltage battery.

Jump Starting the Low Voltage

(Lead-Acid) Battery

Vehicles manufactured in Gigafactory Shanghai before

approximately October 2021, and in the Fremont Factory

before approximately December 2021, are equipped with

a Lead-Acid low voltage battery.

1. Open the hood (see Opening Hood with No Power on

page 21).

2. Remove the maintenance panel by pulling it upwards

to release the trim clips that hold it in place.

If jump starting Model Y using another vehicle, refer to

that vehicle manufacturer's instructions. The following

instructions assume you are using an external low

voltage power supply (such as a portable jump starter).

3. If equipped with a HEPA ﬁlter, carefully fold the HEPA

ﬁlter gasket towards the front of the vehicle to gain

access to the low voltage jump post.

1. Open the hood (see Opening Hood with No Power on

page 21).

2. Remove the maintenance panel by pulling it upwards

to release the trim clips that hold it in place.

3. If equipped with a HEPA ﬁlter, carefully fold the HEPA

ﬁlter gasket towards the front of the vehicle to gain

access to the low voltage battery.

NOTE: Space to access the low voltage battery is

limited. Consider removing the push clips from the

rear cowl to improve accessibility.

4. Connect the low voltage power supply's red positive

(+) cable to the red positive (+) terminal on the low

voltage battery.

CAUTION: To avoid damaging Model Y, do not

allow the positive cable to contact other metal

components, such as the battery tie-down

bracket.

4. Pull back the black seal to reveal the positive jump

post. Remove the red cover and connect the external

low voltage power supply’s red positive (+) cable to

the red positive (+) jump post.

5. Connect the low voltage power supply's black

negative (-) cable to the black negative (-) terminal

on the low voltage battery.

CAUTION: To avoid damaging the vehicle, do

not allow the positive cable to contact other

metal components.

6. Turn on the external power supply (refer to the

manufacturer’s instructions). Touch the touchscreen

to wake it up.

NOTE: It may take several minutes to receive enough

power to wake up the touchscreen.

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Jump Starting

5. The HEPA ﬁlter bolt (shown below) serves as the

negative (-) jump post. Connect the low voltage

power supply’s black negative (-) cable to the black

negative HEPA jump post.

6. Turn on the external power supply (refer to the

manufacturer’s instructions) for 20-30 seconds.

CAUTION: If you leave the power supply on for

longer than 30 seconds, the low voltage battery

may not self-recover and the vehicle might not

be able to shift into Drive. Disconnect the

power supply and the low voltage battery to

enable another battery self-recovery attempt.

NOTE: If attempting to activate Transport Mode (to

winch the vehicle onto a ﬂatbed truck), the low

voltage battery is not required to self-recover. Leave

the power supply connected continuously until the

vehicle has been secured.

7. Open the driver door and wait two minutes.

8. Ensure the vehicle is able to shift into Drive.

9. Replace the maintenance panel by placing it back in

its original location and pressing down until it is

secure.

10. Close the hood.

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Roadside Assistance for Your Tesla Model-Y SUV 2023

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