Model Y Tricks, Hacks, and Tips: Easy To Follow

All Tesla models share many common features and every Tesla model also has features that are uniquely suited to and made for it. While some features are software or hardware related some features are reserved for the upper tier models like the Model X and S, to make them exclusive.

In this article I found a few features that are exclusively made for the Model Y and some that are found on every Tesla model. Nonetheless, it’s still interesting to know and fun to try out. Check out all these features and let me know which ones you found most helpful.

1. You Can Make Your Tesla Faster 

While the Model S is much faster than the Model Y in top speed and acceleration, you can make your Model Y faster by activating the Ludicrous Mode. 

This mode allows you to increase the acceleration by 10%. While 10% doesn’t seem like much, when you factor in the current acceleration, it means your car can go from 0-60mph in 2.3 seconds. That’s faster than many Ferrari models! 

While it’s unlikely that you’ll ever need this feature, it puts your electric vehicle on par with many faster petrol guzzlers. Ludicrous Mode allows you to accelerate faster by pressing down on the brake and accelerator simultaneously and then releasing them at once. This activates maximum battery power and gives Tesla a massive acceleration boost. 

While you’re probably aware that the Tesla Model Y is on par with most cars in terms of speed, very few people think of electric vehicles as racing cars. However, with the Ludicrous and Ludicrous+ mode, you can convert your Tesla for drag racing. 

2. You Can Activate Multiple Driver Profiles 

Everyone has their own driver preferences depending on their temperament and experience with driving. If you’re going to share your vehicle, you can save multiple driver profiles on your Tesla Model Y. While you may like to drive faster, your partner might not, and this is where multiple driver profiles come in handy. 

A driver profile will contain the following:

• Navigation history and preferences. 
• Temperature and light settings. 
• Autopilot history and other driving preferences. 
• Seat and mirror adjustment settings.

Your driver profile will save data on your navigation and driving preferences, which will give you access to saved routes and other time-saving data. By activating different driver profiles, you can save navigation data for different users, making it easy to access frequented routes. 

You can now also save your driver profile to the cloud and use it in different Tesla Models. This can come in handy when you’re someone that often uses many different Teslas for whatever reason.

3. Prevent Rolling Accidents With Creep Mode 

Do you live in a hilly area, or is your driveway on an elevated surface? If so, creep mode may save your car! Creep mode is present in the Tesla Model Y and will ensure the car applies torque when in drive mode. This will allow your car to slowly roll forward or backward and may prevent accidents that most people have when they forget to put their vehicles in park mode. 

While this feature is helpful if you live in hilly areas, it won’t prevent your Tesla from rolling down, and you’ll have to keep your foot on the brakes or put it in parking mode to prevent any mishaps. 

Creep mode isn’t automatically activated in your Model Y, and it’s only recommended for more experienced drivers. Get used to driving your Tesla regularly, and only try activating creep mode when you understand all the features in your vehicle.

Here’s a hands-on demonstration on how to turn on creep mode:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vqWXW14BMIo

Did you know:

The Tesla Model Y excels in all safety categories. It won the IIHS Top Safety Pick+ and it got 5 stars in every category measured by the NHTSA.

4. You Can Adjust Your Model Y Rear Hatch Height 

There’s nothing worse than bumping your rear hatch on your garage door. Teslas aren’t cheap to repair, and even a paint job or dent repair can be costly. Fortunately, Tesla’s Model Y has a solution to this problem. 

You can adjust the rear hatch height on your Tesla Model Y to prevent the rear hatch from bumping into the garage door or ceiling. Simply open the trunk using the usual settings and manually adjust the trunk height. Hold the button on the underside of the liftgate for a few seconds until you get a confirmation notification. 

Release the button and close the truck. Open it using the automatic settings and check whether the settings have been saved. This feature can be quite helpful if your garage has a lower ceiling and you prefer to open the trunk inside the garage. 

Speaking of garage doors, check out this related article that I wrote about automatic Tesla Garage Door Openers and how to set it up without Homelink. I found a few handy alternatives.

Random Fun Fact:

You can link up to 10 driver profiles in the Tesla Model Y! However, each profile should have a different key, making more profiles difficult to manage.

You can create different profiles even if you aren’t going to share the car. Create a “work” profile, “holiday” profile, or other profiles based on your mood or driving preferences. With Tesla’s driver profiling, you can automate your routes every day of the week!

5. Limit the Tesla’s Top Speed 

If your Tesla is regularly used by others, you can limit the top speed to prevent speeding tickets. This feature also helps you reduce the output of the batteries and puts the vehicle in a type of power-saving mode. (This mode is also helpful if you have a habit of pushing the speed limits!) 

When limiting the top speed of your vehicle, you can set the maximum speed to as low as 50 Mph. This is great for beginner drivers or teens and can be used to teach learner drivers. When you limit the Tesla’s speed, the power and acceleration are also limited to 25%. 

While this can be a helpful feature when leaving your vehicle in your kid’s hands, it’s only available on Teslas with the software version of 2018.24 or above and may not be applicable in older Teslas. However, you can always set a speed limit with the valet function in older models. 

On a similar note, if you’d like to find out how to make your Tesla Model X dance, then check out this step-by-step guide that I wrote. Even if you don’t own a Model X, this is still fun to know!

6. Enable Valet Mode When Lending Your Tesla 

Valet mode is a lifesaver. It allows you to restrict access to the trunk, top speed, personal information, and many other features of the car. The valet mode is useful when you’re attending functions, lending your car to someone you don’t trust with your personal information, or when you’re letting teens drive your precious vehicle. 

Valet mode has the following features: 

• Disables navigation history so no one will be able to see where you’ve been. 
• Limits maximum speed, power, and acceleration so you don’t have to worry about getting a speeding ticket when you aren’t driving. 
• The glovebox and front trunk are locked, so you won’t have to worry about missing items when your car is with the valet. 
• Access to driver profiles is disabled. The valet will have to drive the car in a neutral profile. 
• Keys, personal information, and HomeLink are disabled. 

If you’d like to find out everything there is to know about Tesla Valet Mode, then check out this related article that I wrote.

To access valet mode on your Tesla, you’ll have to create a 4 digit that will help you lock and unlock the valet mode. You can also set the valet mode from your Tesla mobile app if you forget your pin. However, be careful to set the valet mode before lending your car since you can only access valet mode when the Tesla is parked.

Random Stat:

All Tesla owners are careful not to leave their car in the wrong hands. However, the statistics are in your favor as a Tesla owner: Teslas are 90% less likely to be stolen than other cars. Teslas’ range of safety features no doubt play a part in this.

7. Activate Dog Mode for Pets

Tesla isn’t only comfortable for humans; it’s also comfortable for your pets. One of the best features of Teslas is Dog Mode. This mode allows you to set a comfortable temperature inside the car for your pets when you’re gone. The temperature can be controlled from your Tesla app, and you won’t have to leave your furry friend in a car that’s overheating. 

Dog mode can be activated with a simple tap from your phone and will display the temperature on the main screen. This helps deter someone walking past your car from thinking your pets are in danger of overheating. 

An alternative to dog mode is camping mode. This is very similar to dog mode and allows you to set the indoor temperature at a comfortable level when the car is parked. Your Tesla will only activate the air conditioning system, and the batteries won’t be used for any other function. 

This is helpful if you’re on a long drive and want to get a nap on the side of the road or if you just want to relax in your car when the home AC system isn’t working. Tesla’s air conditioning system not only cools down the air inside the car but also purifies it, allowing you to have a stress-free nap. 

8. Use Tesla’s Voice Commands Effectively 

All Tesla models have voice command controls, and the Model Y is no different. While these voice controls are quite effective, it’s surprising that most people don’t use them regularly. Here are some helpful voice commands on the Tesla Model Y: 

Voice Navigation System 

Do you spend a few minutes searching for your destination on Maps and then transferring the data to your Tesla? With Tesla’s voice commands, you can set the navigation route on the GPS without even touching the screen or app. 

Simply say the name of your destination, and the navigation system will detect the location. It’s better to be specific when describing your destination, but you don’t really have to say more than the location, street number, and city. 

Search Google 

If you’ve already gotten used to Siri and Alexa for Google searches, it’s time to start using Tesla’s voice system to do the same. You can search on Google while driving or when the car is on autopilot by saying “search Google for.” This function works best when you’re searching for a definitive answer to a common question. If you want to do research, use your phone instead. 

Mute the GPS Voice 

There’s nothing more irritating than the voice of the GPS on a route that you’re accustomed to. While you don’t have to set the GPS if you don’t want to, sometimes you may set it out of habit. Instead of canceling the GPS route when driving, you can use voice commands to mute the GPS. 

Simply say “Mute voice guidance,” and the car will turn it off. You can still check the GPS route, but you won’t have to deal with the irritating voice guidance. 

Set Temperature 

There’s nothing easier than setting the temperature using voice commands on your Tesla. Just say “set temperature to” and mention the temperature you want the AC to function at. While it doesn’t take long to tap on the temperature controls, you can set the temperature without taking your hands off the steering wheel while driving. 

9. You Can Easily Improve Your Model Y’s Range 

The range of the Tesla Model Y is around 303 miles for the Performance model and 330 miles for the long-range trim. While this may be enough for your whole week’s commute, you also have to factor in the charging time. 

This table shows the estimated charging times based on what charger you’re using: 

Charger	Home Outlet (120v)	Level 2 (240v)	Supercharger (480v)
Estimated charging time	15-24 hours	8-12 hours	15-20 minutes

Whether you’re charging with a supercharger or using your home outlet, you’ll benefit from improving the range of your vehicle, especially on long drives. Here are some tips to improve your Tesla’s range:

• Use the seat heater to save power. When heating the car in cold weather, the seat heater in your Tesla is more efficient than the heating system. Try to prioritize the seat heater in the winter and only use the heating system when needed. 
• Remove snow from your vehicle. If you live in an area where snowfall can bog down your car, remove all snow before driving. Teslas are designed with cutting-edge aerodynamics, and snow on the car’s surface will affect their range. 
• Drive slightly slower. While there’s nothing wrong with testing the limits of your car, driving slightly slower than the maximum speed limit may increase your car’s range and translate to fewer charging spots. The Model Y is most efficient at 50 mph, but going at 60 or 65 won’t cause a major drop in efficiency. 
• Use cruise control. Cruise control will help you significantly increase the range of your Tesla. Cruise control can minimize the acceleration if you’re on the highway, improving the range. 

Frequently Asked Questions

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