Autosteer - Hands on the Steering Wheel

[Ron34238]

Despite having my hands on the steering wheel, I often get the "Apply light force to steering wheel" message, followed by the flashing display. Not sure what Tesla's definition of light force is. Sometimes a challenge to get the warning to disappear. Anyone have any suggestions as to where's the sweet spot that needs to be touched, squeezed, pushed?

Thanks,
Ron

 

[Brian's ReX]

I have seen it written by "AP Nag Cheaters" (a group to whom I am vehemently opposed!) that it takes about "11oz" of force to get your Tesla to recognize your 'hands on the wheel'. Note that 'squeezing' the wheel does not count as 'force'.

There will be times where you are trying to apply force in the same direction that the wheel may be turning itself, and this can make it seem as though it is difficult to override the 'nag'. But once you get the hang of it, it becomes second nature.

 

[Tam]

...force...

Please see:

Autopilot nag "Apply light force to steering wheel"

Do not squeeze, nor push.

It's a misnomer. It should be counter-torque, not force.

An example is my 200 mile trip in 3.5 hours with no nag at all.

 

[Ron34238]

Thanks guys. And thank you Tam for the link to the Model 3 discussion of the same question.

 

[Russell]

Turning the wheel left or right counts as light force.
Usually keeping a hand on either 3 o'clock or 9 o'clock position is enough.

 

[bishoppeak]

Spin a scroll wheel slightly

 

[ewoodrick]

It is the same type force that you would use to take it off of autopilot, just less of it. The car measures the rotational force (torque) on the wheel to determine if you are there. All you need is a single finger.

 

[Russell]

Spin a scroll wheel slightly

Oh yeah, even pressing a button the steering wheel counts. So does changing the TACC speed and following distance setting.

 

[BrianS85]

I hold the wheel around 7-8 o’clock and the weight of my hand/arm is enough to keep it from nagging. It also seems to be a reasonable spot to take control back in the event that you need to.

 

[Cycle11111]

I just put either hand on the wheel against the lower bottom spoke and as it steers it pushes against my hand and no nag. You really just need to provide modest resistance to the torque of the wheel turning and then no nag. Moving the scroll wheels also works.

 

[doctorwho]

It's weird how regularly I catch myself out paying far less visual attention to the road now that I have almost permanent tactile feedback through my hand on the wheel. I'm sure that I wouldn't be the only one to experience this outcome

 

[MichaelP90DL]

Despite having my hands on the steering wheel, I often get the "Apply light force to steering wheel" message, followed by the flashing display. Not sure what Tesla's definition of light force is. Sometimes a challenge to get the warning to disappear. Anyone have any suggestions as to where's the sweet spot that needs to be touched, squeezed, pushed?

Thanks,
Ron

It took me a while to figure out what to do. The first time I drove my Model S, the car took my autosteer privileges away. Anyhow, now I rest my right elbow on the console pad and grip the wheel at about the 3 o'clock position and let the weight of my arm sort of tug the wheel slightly to the right. That appears to satisfy the system.

 

[SBDPlaid]

If you let your left wrist sit in the rim of the wheel at about 7'oclock your hand will then be sort of hanging through the back side of the wheel, and that weight is enough to counter balance and not get the warning

 

[immolated]

You need rotational force, not squeezing. If you hold it with two hands, the weight balances out and you're not torquing the wheel. If you hold it with one hand at the 9'oclock position, that's enough to torque the wheel slightly.

 

[t153]

Rest your left elbow on the door panel and your four finger on the flat bottom of the steering wheel butted up against the lower spoke; seems to work well for me...