The windows in your Tesla may be misbehaving. I’ve been a mechanic for 25 years, let me tell you why your windows are not working correctly.
To calibrate your Tesla Model S windows:
- Pull the window button up and hold for 5 seconds
- Press the button down and hold for 5 seconds
- Pull the window button up and hold for 5 seconds
- Window now calibrated
In this article, you’ll learn how to calibrate your Tesla S windows, why you need to calibrate your Tesla S windows, and how it’s slightly different than other cars.
How to Calibrate Your Tesla S Windows
The above points are the basics for calibrating your Tesla S. The following is more in-depth. We’ll discuss how to calibrate and then why it’s necessary.
If one or more of your Tesla S windows is not acting as it should, i.e., not fully opening or closing, then it needs to be calibrated.
The full process of calibration is as follows:
- Sit in the driver’s seat
- Close the door
- Select the window button on the door that corresponds with the faulty window
- Raise the window to fully closed
- Hold the button up for an additional 5 seconds
- Release the button
- Press the button down to fully open
- Continue to press for an additional 5 second
- Again pull the button up to fully closed
- Hold for an additional 5 seconds
- Release
This window is now calibrated. If any other windows are giving trouble, they must be calibrated similarly. This is done from the driver’s seat, not the corresponding window seat. This is slightly different than other cars, where you can move around the car to each window.
If the calibration hasn’t worked, try the process again. Your car may also need a Soft or Hard Reboot, which I explain later in this article. If the reboot doesn’t have the desired effect, you’ll have to make an appointment for a Service Center check. You can do this through your Tesla app.
Why Do We Need To Calibrate the Windows?
Now that we know how to calibrate one or all of the windows let’s look at why the windows are not working properly.
The reasons include:
- Age of Tesla
- Aging Window Seals
- Extreme Weather
Age of Tesla
The most common reason why your windows are not working properly is due to the age of your Tela. Like everything, once an item gets some years behind it, they just don’t perform as well as it should.
Your windows work with a regulator. And your Tesla windows work like any other vehicle’s windows. A motor in the door allows the window to go up and down.
As the regulator ages, the window begins to sag and gradually stops going up and down all the way.
Tesla S (and all Tesla models) use frameless glass in their doors. Every time you open the door, the window goes down slightly and back up when you close the door. So, in theory, compared to framed glass, the regulator in an S works harder than normal.
Aging Window Seals
As the regulator, if your Tesla is getting on in age, so are the window seals around the rims of your doors. When rubber and plastic age, they start to lose their flexibility and become slightly harder to the touch.
Because of this, the window finds it harder to make a full seal and will fall short of being fully closed. Unfortunately, the only fix for this is a Service Center call.
Extreme Weather
Extreme cold weather plays havoc with EVs. It can cause charging problems, but cold weather and snow cause your windows to stay open. All windows contain sensors, so they don’t close on pets or children, fingers, etc., but the sensor can’t tell the difference between fingers and snow and doesn’t completely close.
Again this can be an issue caused by frameless windows. Snow and ice work their way into the gap, stopping your window from closing completely.
If you have a snow brush, remove any snow from around the doors, especially if you are finished driving for the day. You could find your window down the next morning and your car full of snow. (if your car is outside)
Software Updates and Reboots
Tesla released an update that reminds owners that they have left their windows open. You receive a notification about 10 minutes after you leave the car and the car senses that you have left.
However, people were receiving this notification even though their windows were closed. It’s enough to drive you to distraction! According to your window sensors, the windows (or one window) are slightly open because of what we mentioned before, i.e., sag or hardened seals.
By calibrating your windows, the regulator will relearn the closed position, and you won’t receive any further false notifications.
You must keep your car as up-to-date as possible, making sure all updates are complete as scheduled.
If you find that your car is a little glitchy, the best thing to do is a hard or soft reboot.
Hard Update
- Put your Tesla in Park
- Remove any auxiliary items that are plugged in, i.e., phones, USB drives
- Press and hold the Brake
- Hold both scroll wheels on your steering wheel for 10-15 seconds
- The touchscreen will go black
- Tesla Logo will appear
- When everything is back, your system will be fully up to date
Soft Reset
- Shift into Park
- Remove any devices
- Hold both scroll wheels on the steering wheel for 10-15 seconds
- The touchscreen turns black
- Tesla Logo reappears
- Everything will once again be available
The difference between a hard and soft reboot is the holding of the Brake. Some think you can do a soft reboot while driving, but it is not recommended by Tesla. You are, after all, rebooting the screen and should not be distracted from the control of your car in any way while driving.
Software updates are sent all the time by Tesla wirelessly. Your Tesla S is full of technology and can sometimes be a little glitchy. However, the main reason your windows are acting up is the need for quick calibration.
I’ve written a ton on common Tesla issues, which hopefully you won’t ever experience, but if you do, we have you covered with these posts:
Check out the Tesla troubleshooting page for problem Teslas.
Check out the Tesla charging page for common Tesla charging problems.
Check out the Tesla category page for a list of popular Tesla posts.
If you are curious about other EV models, check out the EV FAQ category.
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