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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Basic Questions​

What is TeslaMate?​

TeslaMate is an open-source Tesla data logger that collects vehicle data through Tesla's API and stores it in a local database. It provides detailed driving records, charging statistics, location tracking, and other features.

What is the relationship between Mytesla and TeslaMate?​

Mytesla is a frontend application built on TeslaMate data. TeslaMate handles data collection and storage, while Mytesla provides a more modern user interface and additional features.

Do I need to pay?​

  • TeslaMate: Completely free and open source
  • TeslaMateAPI: Enhanced service based on open source teslamateapi
  • Mytesla.cc: One-time purchase
  • Tailscale: Free for personal use (20 devices)
  • Cloudflare: Free for under 50 users

Where is data stored?​

All data is stored on your own server. Mytesla.cc is just a frontend interface and does not store your vehicle data.

Installation Issues​

Docker Installation Failed​

Problem: Cannot connect to the Docker daemon

Solution:

# Ensure Docker service is started
sudo systemctl start docker

# Add user to docker group
sudo usermod -aG docker $USER

# Re-login
newgrp docker

Port Already in Use​

Problem: bind: address already in use

Solution:

# Find process using the port
sudo lsof -i :4000

# Modify port in docker-compose.yml
ports:
  - "14000:4000"  # Change to another port

Database Connection Failed​

Problem: could not connect to database

Solution:

  1. Check database container status:
   docker-compose ps database
  1. View database logs:
   docker-compose logs database
  1. Ensure environment variables are correct:
   docker-compose exec teslamate env | grep DATABASE

Configuration Issues​

Tailscale Cannot Connect​

Problem: Tailscale status shows offline

Solution:

  1. Check if Auth Key is correct
  2. Ensure Auth Key is set to "Reusable"
  3. Check firewall settings:
   sudo iptables -L

Encryption Key Error​

Problem: unable to decrypt

Solution:

  • Ensure TM_ENCRYPTION_KEY is consistent across all services
  • Key must be 32 characters
  • Once set, cannot be changed

Usage Issues​

Vehicle Data Not Updating​

Possible Causes:

  1. Tesla API limitations
  2. Vehicle in deep sleep
  3. Network connection issues

Solution:

# Check TeslaMate logs
docker-compose logs teslamate | grep -i error

# Restart service
docker-compose restart teslamate

Cannot Access Grafana​

Problem: Accessing /grafana shows 404

Solution:

  1. Check Grafana configuration:
   GF_SERVER_ROOT_URL=https://mytesla.example.ts.net/grafana
   GF_SERVER_SERVE_FROM_SUB_PATH=true
  1. Check Traefik routing:
   - "traefik.http.routers.grafana.rule=Host(`${TS_HOSTNAME}.${TS_TAILNET_NAME}`) && PathPrefix(`/grafana`)"

Can services be publicly accessible?​

Not recommended to expose services directly. Please use:

  • Tailscale (recommended)
  • Cloudflare Zero Trust

How to view logs?​

# View all logs
docker-compose logs

# View specific service logs
docker-compose logs teslamate

# View logs in real-time
docker-compose logs -f teslamateapi

Insufficient Disk Space​

Cleanup Solutions:

# Clean unused images
docker image prune -a

# Clean logs
docker-compose logs --no-color > logs_backup.txt
docker-compose down
docker-compose up -d

Advanced Issues​

Multi-Vehicle Support​

Both Mytesla and TeslaMate support multiple vehicles:

  1. Add vehicles in TeslaMate
  2. API will automatically recognize all vehicles
  3. Switch vehicles in Mytesla

Container Cannot Start​

  1. Check logs:
   docker-compose logs container_name
  1. Check resources:
   df -h  # Disk space
   free -m  # Memory
  1. Reset container:
   docker-compose rm -f container_name
   docker-compose up -d container_name

Contact Support​

If none of the above solutions solve your problem:

When asking questions, please provide:

  • Error logs
  • Configuration files (hide sensitive information)
  • System environment information
  • Steps to reproduce