There are now three back up entry versions for the Model S depending on when it was built. The first two belong to vehicles that did not come with a key card. If your model did not come with a try card, try both methods below, as it is unclear where the exact build separation is.
In each case, the key fob is held to a spot on the body of the car until the key fob is recognized. Tesla uses an all electronic system, so there is no hard key and corresponding key cylinder available.
The instructions in newer models note that if the car does not respond, first try repositioning the fob. Failing that, try removing the dead battery from the fob and go through the process again. This last bit really shouldn’t be necessary.
Note that it will take several seconds for the car to recognize the fob.
Be patient – it took a full 20 seconds for the car to recognize the fob in the model we tested!
If you have a key card, place it on the door frame between the front and rear doors on the driver’s side and just above the bottom of the windows, as shown in the Model 3 and Y image below. The door handles will extend inviting you inside. Thankfully, recognition is near instantaneous. The vehicle can be locked this way as well.
Place the key fob at the base of the car on the driver’s side below the front of the rear door, as shown. If the car fails to respond, try changing the fob’s position. Finally, if the car continues not to respond, remove the battery from the fob and start over.
Once again, be patient. It may take several seconds in each position.
Tesla jumped the shark with the Model 3, doing away with the key fob altogether and relying on a mobile app to get their owner’s in and started. And it works. Of course, a mobile phone’s battery can be drained in a day or less, it can fail, or the phone itself can go missing. So, the back up is a key card, the size of a credit card. No pun intended, but don’t leave home without it. The process is the same for the newer Model Y.
There are videos to help here.
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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.
These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.
Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.
The author has 25 years of automotive experience and has assembled the most extensive collection of symbols and warning lights anywhere (over 1,000!) and can help you open and start any keyless start car with a dead key fob battery. BA, St. Joseph’s College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY
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