Welcome, fellow Tesla enthusiast! Are you looking to give your Model 3 a proper rest, perhaps for a deep cleaning, an accessory installation, or to troubleshoot a software glitch? While your Tesla is designed to "sleep" most of the time, there are indeed times when a complete shutdown is the best course of action. Let's dive into how you can achieve this, step by step!
Understanding Tesla's "Off" State
Unlike traditional gasoline cars, Teslas don't have a simple "on" or "off" button in the same way. When you finish driving and exit the car, your Model 3 typically enters a low-power "sleep" mode, similar to a computer. It's still monitoring for your phone key, checking for software updates, and even running systems like Sentry Mode (if activated). A full power-off, as we'll describe, is a more thorough shutdown.
Step 1: Preparing Your Model 3 for Shutdown - Engage with Your Vehicle!
Before you initiate the shutdown process, let's ensure your Tesla is in the right state.
Ensure Your Vehicle is Stationary: This is crucial. Your Model 3 must not be moving to initiate a power-off from the touchscreen.
Shift into Park (P): This is the first and most fundamental step.
For Model 3 (2024 or later): Press the brake pedal to bring up the drive mode strip on the touchscreen, then tap the drive mode strip to put it in Park. If your touchscreen is unresponsive, you might use the drive mode selector on the overhead console.
For Model 3 (prior to 2024): Press the brake pedal, then push the button on the end of the drive stalk to put your car into Park.
Unplug Any Charging Cables: If your Tesla is currently plugged in, disconnect the charging cable before proceeding.
Close All Doors and Windows: While not strictly necessary for the digital shutdown, it's good practice, especially if you plan to disconnect the 12V battery later. This helps prevent accidental lockouts or glass shattering if you open a door after a full power-down.
Step 2: Initiating the Software Power Off - The Digital Disconnect
This is the primary method for powering off your Tesla Model 3 from within the vehicle.
Access the Controls Menu: On your Tesla's large touchscreen, locate and touch the "Car" icon or "Controls" in the bottom left-hand corner. This will open up the main menu.
Navigate to Safety: Within the "Controls" menu, you'll see various options. Tap on "Safety" or "Safety & Security".
Select "Power Off": Scroll down to the bottom of the Safety menu. You should see an option labeled "Power Off". Tap on this.
Confirm Your Action: A prompt will usually appear asking if you're sure you want to power off the vehicle. Confirm your selection.
What happens next? The touchscreen will go black, and you'll hear a few clicks as various systems shut down. The car is now in a deeply "asleep" state.
Step 3: The Waiting Game - Allowing Systems to Rest
This step is critical, especially if you're performing a shutdown to troubleshoot a software issue or to power cycle the vehicle.
Wait at Least Two Minutes: After the screen goes black, do not interact with the vehicle in any way. This means:
Do not open any doors.
Do not touch the brake pedal.
Do not touch the touchscreen.
Do not plug in any USB devices.
Any interaction during this period can interrupt the power cycling process and prevent a complete shutdown. This waiting period allows all the electrical systems to fully discharge and reset.
Step 4: Powering Back On - Waking Your Model 3
Once the waiting period is over, bringing your Tesla back to life is remarkably simple.
Press the Brake Pedal: Simply press your foot firmly on the brake pedal. The touchscreen will illuminate, and your Tesla will power back on.
Alternatively, Open a Door: Opening any car door will also wake the vehicle up.
When a Deeper Power Down is Needed: Disconnecting the 12V Battery
In rare circumstances, such as extensive maintenance, accessory installation that requires absolutely no power, or if you're storing the car for a very long period (though not generally recommended for lithium-ion batteries), you might need to disconnect the 12V (low voltage) battery. This is a more involved process and generally not for routine shutdowns.
Important Considerations Before Disconnecting the 12V Battery:
Safety First: Always refer to your official Tesla Owner's Manual or service documentation for the most accurate and up-to-date instructions for your specific Model 3 year. Incorrect procedures can cause damage or injury.
Professional Help: For anything beyond the touchscreen power-off, it's often best to consult a Tesla Service Center or a certified Tesla technician.
Window and Door Precaution: Before disconnecting 12V power, it's usually recommended to fully lower all door windows to avoid glass shattering and door lockout conditions. Also, open the LH and RH rear doors and pass a shop towel halfway through each door striker to prevent the latch from securing.
General Steps for 12V Disconnection (Highly Generalized - Refer to Manual!):
Perform Software Power Off: Follow Steps 1-3 above to power off the vehicle via the touchscreen.
Locate the 12V Battery: In newer Model 3 vehicles, the 12V battery is typically located in the frunk (front trunk) under a plastic trim. In some models, accessing it might require removing certain panels.
Disconnect the Negative Terminal: Carefully loosen the nut that attaches the 12V battery negative cable to the battery. Disconnect the cable.
Disconnect High Voltage Controller (if applicable): For full high-voltage system disablement (e.g., for major service), there's often an additional step involving disconnecting the electrical harness from the high voltage controller connector. This is usually a red-tabbed plug. Again, consult the service manual for the exact procedure.
Wait for Discharge: After disconnecting, wait at least 2 minutes for the electrical system to fully discharge.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some common questions about turning off your Tesla Model 3:
How to completely power off my Tesla Model 3? You can completely power off your Tesla Model 3 by going to
Controls>Safety>Power Offon the touchscreen and then waiting for at least two minutes without any interaction.How to force shut down Tesla Model 3? The "Power Off" option in the
Controls>Safetymenu is the standard way to force a shutdown. For a deeper, hardware-level shutdown (e.g., for maintenance), you would need to disconnect the 12V battery.How to reboot the touchscreen on my Tesla Model 3? To reboot only the touchscreen, hold down both scroll wheels on the steering wheel until the Tesla "T" logo appears. This restarts the display but doesn't power off the entire vehicle.
How to prevent battery drain when my Tesla Model 3 is parked? Minimize "vampire drain" by disabling features like Sentry Mode, Cabin Overheat Protection, and "Always Connected" (cellular connectivity) if not needed for long parking periods. Avoid frequently checking the Tesla app, as this wakes the car.
How to know if my Tesla Model 3 is truly off? After performing the touchscreen power-off, the touchscreen will be black and unresponsive. The car should also be silent, with no sounds from fans or pumps.
How to turn on my Tesla Model 3 after a full shutdown? Simply press the brake pedal or open any of the car's doors.
How to troubleshoot an unresponsive Tesla Model 3 touchscreen? First, try rebooting the touchscreen by holding both scroll wheels on the steering wheel. If that doesn't work, perform a full power-off via the
Controls>Safety>Power Offmenu, wait 2 minutes, and then power it back on.How to prepare my Tesla Model 3 for long-term storage? For long-term storage, it's generally recommended to keep your Tesla plugged in and charge the battery to around 50-60%. If charging isn't possible, charge it to 90% and minimize energy-consuming features. Disconnecting the 12V battery for extremely long periods is a more advanced step and comes with its own considerations.
How to know when I should power off my Tesla Model 3? You should power off your Tesla Model 3 if you're experiencing software glitches, an unresponsive touchscreen, or if you're performing maintenance or installing accessories that require the vehicle to be completely off.
How to find my Tesla Model 3's Owner's Manual? For the most up-to-date and customized information for your specific vehicle, you can view the Owner's Manual directly on your Tesla's touchscreen by touching the app launcher and then selecting the "Manual" app.
For a quick visual guide on how to power off your Tesla from inside, check out this video:
