The front doors have obvious manual release but I don't like Tesla's solution for the rear doors.
Tesla clearly saw this as a casual release in non-accident or low pressure situations where it is more an inconvenience if the actuator were to fail.
TBF, all cars with child locks disengage interior levers with no option to open except from the outside.
Electric locks, like Tesla, have manual releases that are more obvious and still hidden (usually hidden lower on the door panel, as a non-obvious lever like BMW)
solutions i've seen but don't like:
-exposed pull cord. It's simple but very exposed to accidental release.
Since Tesla's is in the door pocket, people will use that pocket to store stuff.
Grabbing a jacked, or snack (whatever) stuffed in there and grabbing that cord at speed... not good. Also, children.
-a more polished plastic plug in I saw on ebay with a tiny flip up handle. This is so finicky and not really understandable to a passenger, it's not much better than OEM.
I wanted something easy to see, easy to grab and universally understandable to a casual passenger that wants to quickly exit should the actuator fail.
Also, a priority to not be an obvious attraction to children or unintentional pull by use of the door pocket.
Fortunately, the auto industry already has emergency manual release levers.
I found one that would lay flush to floor, so the rubber cover would lay flat and would remain 'invisible', stock appearance.
Pull away the cover and an easy to grab handle that does not require explanation.
Bonus, glow in the dark so it can easily be used at night. Something I would say is impossible with the stock setup and a passenger not intimate with how the release works.
So, if you are mechanically inclined, this may be a good approach for you. Very simple since Tesla only has a simple, looped, metal cable and make a finishing plate (or mod the stock cover) to completely cover the opening if you wish.
*I am debating adding a label that says "PULL UP to release door" in the door pocket, so it's more clear that you have to pull up the rubber mat.
Again, the child's wandering curiosity issue... but may add that.
Tesla clearly saw this as a casual release in non-accident or low pressure situations where it is more an inconvenience if the actuator were to fail.
TBF, all cars with child locks disengage interior levers with no option to open except from the outside.
Electric locks, like Tesla, have manual releases that are more obvious and still hidden (usually hidden lower on the door panel, as a non-obvious lever like BMW)
solutions i've seen but don't like:
-exposed pull cord. It's simple but very exposed to accidental release.
Since Tesla's is in the door pocket, people will use that pocket to store stuff.
Grabbing a jacked, or snack (whatever) stuffed in there and grabbing that cord at speed... not good. Also, children.
-a more polished plastic plug in I saw on ebay with a tiny flip up handle. This is so finicky and not really understandable to a passenger, it's not much better than OEM.
I wanted something easy to see, easy to grab and universally understandable to a casual passenger that wants to quickly exit should the actuator fail.
Also, a priority to not be an obvious attraction to children or unintentional pull by use of the door pocket.
Fortunately, the auto industry already has emergency manual release levers.
I found one that would lay flush to floor, so the rubber cover would lay flat and would remain 'invisible', stock appearance.
Pull away the cover and an easy to grab handle that does not require explanation.
Bonus, glow in the dark so it can easily be used at night. Something I would say is impossible with the stock setup and a passenger not intimate with how the release works.
So, if you are mechanically inclined, this may be a good approach for you. Very simple since Tesla only has a simple, looped, metal cable and make a finishing plate (or mod the stock cover) to completely cover the opening if you wish.
*I am debating adding a label that says "PULL UP to release door" in the door pocket, so it's more clear that you have to pull up the rubber mat.
Again, the child's wandering curiosity issue... but may add that.
