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Can I use my phone to open the door?
- Thread starter atikovi
- Start date
E90alex
Active Member
There should be a lock/unlock icon in the center of the car graphic on the controls screen in the app.
But I wouldn’t advise to only use the app for an older Model S. The app controls require internet connection to control the car. There is no direct Bluetooth connection like on Model 3/Y or refreshed 2021+ S/X.
That means if you happen to be somewhere with poor or no cellular connectivity (eg deep in a parking garage or just a random AT&T dead zone), you will be locked out of your car and/or won’t be able to restart it without the key fob.
And honestly just for me personally, having to take the phone out and open the app and wait for it to connect every single time to unlock/lock/start the car is way more annoying and time consuming than just carrying the fob.
But I wouldn’t advise to only use the app for an older Model S. The app controls require internet connection to control the car. There is no direct Bluetooth connection like on Model 3/Y or refreshed 2021+ S/X.
That means if you happen to be somewhere with poor or no cellular connectivity (eg deep in a parking garage or just a random AT&T dead zone), you will be locked out of your car and/or won’t be able to restart it without the key fob.
And honestly just for me personally, having to take the phone out and open the app and wait for it to connect every single time to unlock/lock/start the car is way more annoying and time consuming than just carrying the fob.
Ok thanks, I was looking at the message after yours that says it is.
like I said its not in controls
To drive without the fob/key.
You have 2 min to begin driving before you need to hit it again.
E90alex
Active Member
That is remote start which requires Internet connection.
Different than phone key which is done over Bluetooth and doesn’t require you to take out your phone and open the app.
I learned something new today. It's really designed for temporary access to drive your car or for someone to bail you out if you lost your key and they have access to your tesla account.
So you CAN start and drive the car with the phone as long as there is internet service? Does the car need to be continuously covered be internet to keep running, and it will it just not start again if you're out of range?
As long as both car and phone are connected to the internet the "start" button in the app will allow you or anyone else to drive the car. When you or whoever is driving the car presses the park button on the shifter stalk the remote start process will have to be started again before the car can be driven.
E90alex
Active Member
So why did I have a problem with internet in order to add my other car with the battery problem, until I used my phone's hotspot? It was in an area of great internet coverage and also free wifi. I was getting the message, connecting.... but it never did.
Unless it was upgraded, the cell card in the car is likely now obsolete 3G service capable. The cell card in the car needs to be upgraded to do 4G cell service, or 5G if Tesla has that available for older cars now. You must have cell service for authentication, so the internet will not work alone for these functions on the car.
Also the cellular connection for the car needs to be via AT&T. I've been in spots which were an AT&T dead zone, car did not have connectivity, but my Verizon phone had fine coverage. I've also had the inverse, a Verizon dead spot but my car had connection via AT&T just fine.
