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Disable Drive for Car Show

BBryson

Member
Mar 4, 2015
101
69
Ocoee, FL
I'm registering my Model S in a Car Show to support Honor Flight for Veterans. I would like to be able to have the car be "On" but not be able to be put into "Drive" while it's on display. Having a charge cable plugged in would achieve this, but I'm looking for a more elegant solution.

Any suggestions?
 

PeterK

Model X & 3 Owner
Jan 17, 2013
1,713
657
Cambridge, MA
I'm registering my Model S in a Car Show to support Honor Flight for Veterans. I would like to be able to have the car be "On" but not be able to be put into "Drive" while it's on display. Having a charge cable plugged in would achieve this, but I'm looking for a more elegant solution.

Any suggestions?

I’ve used the charge cable method multiple times at car shows. I just leave the rest of the cable under the car or in the trunk. Simple, foolproof, and creates a discussion point for people who might otherwise not realize it’s electric.
 

croman

Active Member
Nov 21, 2016
4,626
6,551
Chicago, IL
Tesla should help you enable showroom mode. At least it doesn't sound all that hard to do for them. I think it's a code you enter into the car.
 

Rluebke

Member
May 14, 2017
8
12
Sunriver, OR
I asked this very question last week to Tesla sales person at my local Tesla Store location. He said Hold down the Tesla logo for several seconds at the top of the display and you will get a popup field asking for an "access code". Type "showroom" and it will disable driving but allow other features to be demoed. It is what is used in the showrooms.
 

demundus

Active Member
Jul 5, 2015
1,289
825
Oceanside, CA
I asked this very question last week to Tesla sales person at my local Tesla Store location. He said Hold down the Tesla logo for several seconds at the top of the display and you will get a popup field asking for an "access code". Type "showroom" and it will disable driving but allow other features to be demoed. It is what is used in the showrooms.
WAHHHHH???

Thats crazy! also awesome if true
 

BruceW

Member
Apr 2, 2017
77
118
Davidsonville, Maryland
I asked this very question last week to Tesla sales person at my local Tesla Store location. He said Hold down the Tesla logo for several seconds at the top of the display and you will get a popup field asking for an "access code". Type "showroom" and it will disable driving but allow other features to be demoed. It is what is used in the showrooms.

And how do you then get it out of showroom mode to drive home?
 

Chaserr

Hyperactive Hyperdrive
Sep 5, 2017
2,656
5,569
Logan
It had been removed the last time I tried to use it, that was years ago so maybe they turned it back on. Usually a mode like that you do the same to disable it, so hold T and type showroom again
 
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Reactions: David29

LoL Rick

Like Buttah
Apr 21, 2014
940
1,223
Land O Lakes, FL
When showing the car, I usually leave the drivers door just barely latched and not fully shut. That keeps the screens on for about 30 minutes if there is no activity. The door handles remain extended so that is a drawback if you'd rather have them flush. But at least you can keep the key out of the car and it can stay on without the ability to shift into gear.

Something else I do at shows is keep the parking lights on. That has become more difficult with a recent software update and now requires getting out of the car first, then reaching back in through the window to turn them on. They do make the car look nice, though.
 

Rluebke

Member
May 14, 2017
8
12
Sunriver, OR
I haven't tried the showroom trick yet - the advisor said it matter of factly like all cars had that feature - and yes he said to repeat the process to turn it off.
 

JohnnyG

Weee!
Jun 24, 2016
872
1,186
Columbus, OH
I've known about and used the showroom code for a couple years, but vowed to my OA that I would never spread it all over the internet. This is a horrible thing to blast out to the masses. I implore you to remove the post from here. It could have simply been sent in a PM.

Once some [email protected] gets wind of this, they can go into a showroom and turn-off the showroom mode on all the cars. Then, customers can blast the radio to 11, lay on the horn, spray other customers with washer-fluid, fill the showroom floor with water from the A/C creating a slip/fall hazard, and (if the key is close enough nearby) run over other customers.

If this code gets leaked-out, Tesla will remove (change) the code for the safety of the people in the showrooms, and the few of us who use it legitimately will be without.
 

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