Tesla Model 3: Removing Ice From Door Handle
In severe winter conditions, ice buildup within
the door handle can prevent the door handle
from opening. The process for freeing a Model
3 door handle is slightly different than other
door handles; you can usually remove the ice
with a few forceful bumps to the door handle
using the bottom of your fist.
Caution: Remove any jewelry or objects
that can damage the paint prior to performing the procedure, and do not
attempt to use tools or excessive force.
Note: Preemptively applying WD-40 to the
door handle pivot pins can help prevent ice
buildup inside your door handle.
Perform the following to remove ice from the
door handle:
- Forcefully press the rear-most part of the
door handle to initially try to open the
door handle and release light or moderate
ice buildup.
- Working in a circular pattern around the
perimeter of the door handle, use the
bottom of your fist to forcefully bump the
door handle to break and release the ice
buildup.
- Aiming for the rearmost end of the wide
part of the door handle, use the bottom of
your fist to forcefully bump the door
handle. Increase the intensity of the
bumps as necessary, repeating steps 1 and
2 until the ice is removed and the door
handle can be opened.
Caution: Never bump the vehicle so
hard as to cause a dent; the force
used should be similar to knocking on
your neighbor's front door.

- Once the door handle is able to move,
open and close it a few more times to
release any remaining ice buildup. Make
sure the door handle is fully pressed in
(retracted) prior to entering the vehicle,
and check that the door is fully closed
before driving away.
Applying WD-40 to Door Handle Pivot Pins
In severe winter conditions, applying WD-40
to door handle pivot pins can help prevent ice
buildup that might immobilize the handle.
Consider applying WD-40 to the door handle
pivot pins if you are expecting freezing rain,
heavy snow, or icy conditions. Reapply as
needed.
Caution: Read and observe the
instructions and warnings provided by
WD-40 prior to performing this
procedure.
- To apply WD-40 to the door handle pivot pin:
- Open the door handle and prop it open
using a folded towel or other soft material.
- Attach the provided straw to the nozzle of
the WD-40 bottle.
- Put on eye protection.
- Place the end of the straw next to the
pivot pin and spray it for approximately
one second, taking care not to
accidentally spray other components.
Note: Rest the end of the straw on the top
of the spring around the pivot pin to
better aim the spray.
Warning: Make sure eye protection is
worn when performing this step.

- Remove the towel or other soft material
used to prop the door handle open.
- Pivot the door handle in and out
approximately ten times.
- For a second time, place the end of the
straw next to the pivot pin and spray it for
approximately one second, taking care not
to accidentally spray other components.
Note: Rest the end of the straw on the top
of the spring around the pivot pin to
better aim the spray.
- Remove the towel or other soft material
used to prop the door handle open.
- Pivot the door handle in and out
approximately ten times.
- Perform this procedure on the other three
door handles.
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Each tire should be checked monthly when
cold and inflated to the recommended
pressures that are printed on the Tire and
Loading Information label located on the
driver's door. If your vehicle has
tires of a different size than the size indicated
on the vehicle placard or tire inflation pressu
Model 3 has an occupancy sensor in the front passenger seat that controls the
status of the front
airbag.
Note: The occupancy classification system (OCS) meets the
regulatory requirement of FMVSS 208
and automatically detects when inflating the passenger front airbag would be
unnecessary or