Brakes Brakes Braking Systems Warning: Always maintain a safe distance from the vehicle in front of you and be Warning: Properly functioning braking aware of hazardous driving conditions. systems are critical to ensure safety. If While the ABS can improve stopping you experience a problem with the brake distance, it cannot overcome the laws of pedal, brake caliper, or any component of physics. It also does not prevent the a Model X braking system, contact Tesla danger of hydroplaning (where a layer of immediately. water prevents direct contact between Model X has an anti-lock braking system the tires and the road). (ABS) that prevents the wheels from locking Automatic Emergency Braking is designed to when you apply maximum brake pressure. This automatically brake in situations where a improves steering control during heavy collision is considered imminent (see braking in most road conditions. Automatic Emergency Braking on page 125). During emergency braking conditions, the Warning: Automatic Emergency Braking ABS constantly monitors the speed of each is not designed to prevent a collision. At wheel and varies the brake pressure according best, it can minimize the impact of a to the grip available. frontal collision by attempting to reduce The alteration of brake pressure can be felt as your driving speed. Depending on a pulsing sensation through the brake pedal. Automatic Emergency Braking to avoid a This demonstrates that the ABS is operating collision can result in serious injury or and is not a cause for concern. Keep firm and death. steady pressure on the brake pedal while experiencing the pulsing. Brake Disc Wiping The ABS indicator briefly flashes Model X is equipped with brake disc wiping, yellow on the instrument panel when which automatically assists in maintaining you first start Model X. If this brake responsiveness in cold and wet weather indicator lights up at any other time, conditions. When such conditions are an ABS fault has occurred and the detected, brake disc wiping repeatedly applies ABS is not operating. Contact Tesla. an imperceptible amount of brake force to The braking system remains fully clear away water on the brake disc surface. operational and is not affected by an This ensures your brakes are responsive even ABS failure. However, braking during poor weather conditions. distances may increase. Hydraulic Fade Compensation If the instrument panel displays this Your vehicle is also equipped with hydraulic red brake indicator at any time other fade compensation. This assists in monitoring than briefly when you first start brake system pressure and ABS activity for Model X, a brake system fault is instances of lower brake performance. If lower detected, or the level of the brake brake performance is detected (as a result of fluid is low. Contact Tesla brake fade, or cold or wet conditions, for immediately. example), you may feel a drop in the brake pedal's position, detect some noise, and notice a strong increase in vehicle braking. Emergency Braking Continue to press the brake pedal without releasing or "pumping" them— just brake as In an emergency, fully press the brake pedal you normally would. and maintain firm pressure, even on low Caution: If the brakes are not functioning traction surfaces. The ABS varies the braking properly, stop the vehicle as soon as pressure to each wheel according to the safety permits and contact Tesla Service. amount of traction available. This prevents See Park on page 56 for information on wheels from locking and ensures that you stop using the Park button to stop the vehicle as safely as possible. in case of emergency. Warning: Do not pump the brake pedal. Warning: Always maintain a safe driving Doing so interrupts operation of the ABS distance from the vehicle in front of you and can increase braking distance. and be cautious in hazardous driving conditions. Do not rely on brake disc Driving 69