Who else has cold toes in their Model S?

santana338 · Feb 11, 2015

Originally posted in a Roadster thread following up Model S owners that also have this problem. Breaking this out into a Model S forum to see if there are others with the same issue:

So I thought I would search today and see if anyone else has this problem. Turns out I'm not alone.

I am comfortable in the car wearing a winter jacket and (before the car warms up) gloves if it is really cold. I set the heat to about 68 which is a comfortable temp (I keep my house at around 65 and that is comfortable for me) and I usually at least start the drive with the seat heater on. For some reason I can never get my feet warm in the car! On short trips it isn't a big deal, but on longer trips it gets to be pretty noticeable.

I keep the car in range mode so that may be a factor. I set the air to outside (recirculate causes fogging), I have the vents set to only the foot well, and I have the fan set to 8.

Does anybody else have this issue or is this just me and my poor extremity circulation?

PlanB · Feb 11, 2015

It's the range mode, had the same issue. It's also a lot colder on the east coast than west so that might have something to do with it. You can also try turning off the a/c but that might make your windows fog with colder weather.

Jgdixon · Feb 11, 2015

santana338 said:
Originally posted in a Roadster thread following up Model S owners that also have this problem. Breaking this out into a Model S forum to see if there are others with the same issue:

So I thought I would search today and see if anyone else has this problem. Turns out I'm not alone.

I am comfortable in the car wearing a winter jacket and (before the car warms up) gloves if it is really cold. I set the heat to about 68 which is a comfortable temp (I keep my house at around 65 and that is comfortable for me) and I usually at least start the drive with the seat heater on. For some reason I can never get my feet warm in the car! On short trips it isn't a big deal, but on longer trips it gets to be pretty noticeable.

I keep the car in range mode so that may be a factor. I set the air to outside (recirculate causes fogging), I have the vents set to only the foot well, and I have the fan set to 8.

Does anybody else have this issue or is this just me and my poor extremity circulation?

My new car was the same and they found a duct that wasn't attached. Although my Sig was colder in range mode.
Why do you use range mode all the time? I see you have a 40 do you drive a lot every day?

santana338 · Feb 11, 2015

Jgdixon said:
My new car was the same and they found a duct that wasn't attached. Although my Sig was colder in range mode.
Why do you use range mode all the time? I see you have a 40 do you drive a lot every day?

I'll try turning off range mode and see if it gets better.

I leave range mode on because I have a short daily commute (and I don't really get that cold on the drive), but once in a while I have to drive to Boston and back in the same day. This is just doable in the summer, but in the winter I need every bit of range I can get plus some charging while I am down there. So if I forget to put it in range mode on the way down it will take me longer to charge to get home. So I thought I would just leave it in range mode all the time so I don't forget.

mknox · Feb 11, 2015

I think it is a function of fan speed. I've noticed on longer drives that my car starts out nice and toasty, but after time, it does start getting cold down by my feet. I checked and Auto had turned the fan speed down quite low. I bumped the fan speed up a bit and the problem was solved. You can turn the temperature up which will temporarily increase the fan speed, but once the car temp rises, the fan will just slow down again if it's on Auto.

santana338 · Feb 11, 2015

santana338 said:
I'll try turning off range mode and see if it gets better.

It was definitely range mode. Driving home this afternoon with range mode off my feet were nice and toasty! Thanks for the help.

Jgdixon · Feb 11, 2015

santana338 said:
It was definitely range mode. Driving home this afternoon with range mode off my feet were nice and toasty! Thanks for the help.

What I do is warm it up from the app for one or 2 cycles while it's plugged in.
Then you get a warm cabin and battery so you have regen on a cold day. It won't warm the battery though in range mode.
So you'll have to remember before you go out to put in in range mode if going on s longer trip.

Andyw2100 · Feb 11, 2015

Jgdixon said:
What I do is warm it up from the app for one or 2 cycles while it's plugged in.
Then you get a warm cabin and battery so you have regen on a cold day. It won't warm the battery though in range mode.
So you'll have to remember before you go out to put in in range mode if going on s longer trip.

jgdixon already knows this, but others may not...we're hoping to get Tesla to offer a battery heating option, which would make some aspects of this easier. Please see this thread for details, and then vote in the poll: Would you use battery heating if it were available?

hingisfan · Feb 12, 2015

My feet are freezing....not in range mode....had my car 2 weeks....should I get service to check it out next time I'm there? Is there a way to test to make sure all the air is getting down there thats supposed to?

santana338 · Feb 12, 2015

hingisfan said:
My feet are freezing....not in range mode....had my car 2 weeks....should I get service to check it out next time I'm there? Is there a way to test to make sure all the air is getting down there thats supposed to?

What are you settings for the temp, fan, vent etc? If these are the same as mine (up thread), then yes, I would take it in or at least call. Once I turned range mode off not only did I have toasty toes, but when I preheated the cabin before driving this morning (as I usually do if I remember), I actually had some regen! I haven't seen regen in months and it took me a little while to get used to it again.

I responded to the battery heating poll in the affirmative too.

mknox · Feb 12, 2015

santana338 said:
It was definitely range mode. Driving home this afternoon with range mode off my feet were nice and toasty! Thanks for the help.

Range Mode also has the effect of slowing down the fan speed. It would be interesting to try Range Mode but with the fan speed manually bumped up.

Andyw2100 · Feb 12, 2015

santana338 said:
I responded to the battery heating poll in the affirmative too.

Heh! Thanks! Tell your friends.

CHG-ON · Feb 12, 2015

I have the same problem and find it annoying. I took it in for service and they said everything was fine. Apparently, when selecting only floor vents, a good 75% of the air goes through the dash. They said it was designed that way. I think it harkens back to the fogging issue they had some time back and personally think they over compensated. I don't understand why they couldn't put the majority of the airflow to the selected vent. If we want more air up at the windscreen when wanting it at the floor also, all we should need to do is select both vent options from climate. In order to get warm feet I have to put the temp much higher than I would like for the rest of my body. Seat heaters don't seem to help this.

Seems like a very easy fix to me.

EarlyAdopter · Feb 12, 2015

There's a service bulletin to address this issue.

Lloyd · Feb 12, 2015

88 degrees here today. Cold toes would be nice!

hingisfan · Feb 13, 2015

Running fan speed 8 with floor and windshield vents on now....much better. Usually I pre-heat at 28C and then when I get in I go down to 20C.

- - - Updated - - -

EarlyAdopter said:
There's a service bulletin to address this issue.

LOL

DFibRL8R · Mar 6, 2015

Had a long road trip in cold temps recently and noticed a significant change in floor temp when took a break and rode in the front passenger side (I do 99% of driving on road trips generally). The floor temp was hot (uncomfortably so IMO) on the passenger side compared to the driver's side which felt too cool. Climate control was synced for driver/passenger. I'll have service check to see if all is hooked up correctly.

Jgdixon · Mar 6, 2015

DFibRL8R said:
Had a long road trip in cold temps recently and noticed a significant change in floor temp when took a break and rode in the front passenger side (I do 99% of driving on road trips generally). The floor temp was hot (uncomfortably so IMO) on the passenger side compared to the driver's side which felt too cool. Climate control was synced for driver/passenger. I'll have service check to see if all is hooked up correctly.

I have D and was concerned about the air flow from the drivers side. Service found a hose or something like that disconnected.
it seemed a bit better but now that it has been really cold I complained again. They said they are aware of the issue but there is nothing they can do at this point. Guess that's what happens when a car is developed by people in California!

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Who else has cold toes in their Model S?

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