Tesla has an "oopsie"

[Angel Eyes]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/12749965/tesla-network-outage-down-elon-musk-cars-connectivity/

TESLA's network completely dropped on Wednesday in a massive outage that left drivers unable to connect to their cars.

According to Electrek, internal systems were fully down and around 11am ET, leaving users unable to connect their vehicles to the mobile app.

...

The outage – which appeared to be global – is said to be one of the "most wide-ranging" in Tesla's history.

CEO Elon Musk did not immediately comment on what happened.

Apparently he couldn't connect either.

[bedlamite]

Apparently he couldn't connect either.

He must have figured it was just taking a while for the signal to get to his car on the other side of Mars.

[Hawkmoon]

I don't know anything about Teslas. How do drivers connect with their cars? Does this mean the cars stop and the drivers can't go anywhere until the outage is restored?

[just Warren]

Thomas Edison could not be reached for comment.

[230RN]

Serves them right for taking the name of St. Nikola in vain.

[kgbsquirrel]

Serves them right for taking the name of St. Nikola in vain.

LandX must have been taken. 

[230RN]

I'm sure the car name was used as an honorarium to Tesla.  He was the one who basically figured out the modern induction motor.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Induction_motor

Me, I can't figure out how they got the servomotor that drives a compass needle toward North that small. And there aren't even any field windings in a compass.

'Tis a puzzlement.

Terry, 230RN

[dogmush]

I don't know anything about Teslas. How do drivers connect with their cars? Does this mean the cars stop and the drivers can't go anywhere until the outage is restored?

No, the cars were still drivable.  It limited the stuff you can do from the app (summon your car, remote unlock, remote A/C turn on, open doors from phone, stuff like that.) It also seems to have killed the pay processing on Superchargers.   I saw one guy on twitter say the pay just failed, and another said they could still charge the car, but at least two charges were still "pending" and looked like they would hit when the network came back up.

I guess the "phone is the key" stuff is either Bluetooth or NFC, because that functionality was apparently still working.

[Fly320s]

I don't know anything about Teslas. How do drivers connect with their cars? Does this mean the cars stop and the drivers can't go anywhere until the outage is restored?

Your smart phone is the primary key for the car, but there is a back-up key that is the size and shape of a credit card.  The card key uses RFID or similar to unlock the door and start the car.

Like dogmush said, only the advanced features that are controlled from the phone didn't work.   I was running around yesterday in my model 3 around the time of the outage, but I didn't notie any new problems.  For me, I've always had to have the Tesla app running and my bluetooth on to get my phone to connect to my car.  And it still doesn't work sometimes.  That is the feature I hate the most about the car and is also the reason I have no desire to ever again own a car that uses a smart phone as the key.

[Perd Hapley]

For me, I've always had to have the Tesla app running and my bluetooth on to get my phone to connect to my car.  And it still doesn't work sometimes.  That is the feature I hate the most about the car and is also the reason I have no desire to ever again own a car that uses a smart phone as the key.

https://youtu.be/h76RntKeWu0

[ConstitutionCowboy]

No, the cars were still drivable.  It limited the stuff you can do from the app (summon your car, remote unlock, remote A/C turn on, open doors from phone, stuff like that.) It also seems to have killed the pay processing on Superchargers.   I saw one guy on twitter say the pay just failed, and another said they could still charge the car, but at least two charges were still "pending" and looked like they would hit when the network came back up.

I guess the "phone is the key" stuff is either Bluetooth or NFC, because that functionality was apparently still working.

This tells me that the car is reporting/recording/transmitting everything that happens in those vehicles(I'm still having misgivings about calling them automobiles). If the remote control for those vehicles can't control everything without using some sort of network, there is more afoot with those vehicles than transportation. I'd advise not using a Tesla to have an extramarital tryst. You never know who is watching ... your spouses lawyers, blackmailers, jealous other sexual partners, porn collectors ...

Din't pick your nose or fart in a Tesla, either. You'll be the next internet craze ...

Woody

[Fly320s]

This tells me that the car is reporting/recording/transmitting everything that happens in those vehicles(I'm still having misgivings about calling them automobiles). If the remote control for those vehicles can't control everything without using some sort of network, there is more afoot with those vehicles than transportation. I'd advise not using a Tesla to have an extramarital tryst. You never know who is watching ... your spouses lawyers, blackmailers, jealous other sexual partners, porn collectors ...

Din't pick your nose or fart in a Tesla, either. You'll be the next internet craze ...

Woody

Yes, all of that data is kept, I presume.  I'm pretty sure we opted-out of the data tracking as mush as we could, but I am also pretty sure that Tesla tracks everything anyways.

The phone key shouldn't need the network to activate the car, but mine does sometimes. 

[Perd Hapley]

This tells me that the car is reporting/recording/transmitting everything that happens in those vehicles(I'm still having misgivings about calling them automobiles).

Aren't they even more automobiley than most automobiles?

[dogmush]

This tells me that the car is reporting/recording/transmitting everything that happens in those vehicles(I'm still having misgivings about calling them automobiles). If the remote control for those vehicles can't control everything without using some sort of network, there is more afoot with those vehicles than transportation. I'd advise not using a Tesla to have an extramarital tryst. You never know who is watching ... your spouses lawyers, blackmailers, jealous other sexual partners, porn collectors ...

Din't pick your nose or fart in a Tesla, either. You'll be the next internet craze ...

Woody

Tesla is pretty open about collecting a TON of data from their cars for use in refining autopilot as well as the other software  in the car.

[ConstitutionCowboy]

I'm quite happy with the hardware interfaces in my '96 Tahoe and '99 Suburban. You know, the gas pedal, brake pedal, key ignition, steering wheel, etc., etc. ...

The only software is what is between my ears. (I will admit though that updates are not very easy to install...  )

Woody

[HankB]

I'm quite happy with the hardware interfaces in my '96 Tahoe and '99 Suburban. You know, the gas pedal, brake pedal, key ignition, steering wheel, etc., etc. ...

The only software is what is between my ears. (I will admit though that updates are not very easy to install...  )

Woody

What, you don't like a lot of additional stuff available to go wrong?

I bet your refrigerator at home doesn't even have a video panel or built in coffee maker!

[dogmush]

I'm quite happy with the hardware interfaces in my '96 Tahoe and '99 Suburban. You know, the gas pedal, brake pedal, key ignition, steering wheel, etc., etc. ...

The only software is what is between my ears. (I will admit though that updates are not very easy to install...  )

Woody

It's adorable that you think that.  [Laughs in OBDII]

Software driven vehicles are the future. They are more efficient, safer, and tend to work better. If you really don't like them it's no skin off my nose, but eventually the last points ignited, carburated engine will break and there won't be more parts.  Then you will need to drive something with electronics. Might as well at least get good electronics and software.

[RoadKingLarry]

It's adorable that you think that.  [Laughs in OBDII]

Software driven vehicles are the future. They are more efficient, safer, and tend to work better. If you really don't like them it's no skin off my nose, but eventually the last points ignited, carburated engine will break and there won't be more parts.  Then you will need to drive something with electronics. Might as well at least get good electronics and software.

HERETIC!!!

[Boomhauer]

A lot of modern cars have the ability to unlock and control features with a cell phone app. No different than me controlling my Nest from my phone or my Ring doorbell, or when we had ADT we could arm/disarm it the same way.

My truck and my wife’s Challenger can both be, with subscription, remote started and such via cell phone.

I can tell you this though, after owning late model cars I have grown to like my bells and whistles and creature comforts a lot. Apple CarPlay is great, I love my remote start and backup camera, and I love having a very quiet and refined vehicle.

The construction equipment I work on is going the same way. It’s not bad to work on with an understanding of systems

[Fly320s]

Backup cameras are now required for US cars starting with the 2021 MY and I can foresee other tech being required in the future. 

As for creature comforts, I'm right there with you.  Remote start, remote HVAC control, and various media integration all make my car more enjoyable to me.  I I was a full-time track/race junkie, then maybe I would have a stripped down car with no amenities.

[230RN]

I wouldn't mind having a backup camera.  Half my accidents over the years have been backing accidents.

The other half have been fronting accidents.

[dogmush]

Backup cameras are now required for US cars starting with the 2021 MY and I can foresee other tech being required in the future. 

Backup cams were 2018 actually.  I agree that you are going to see things like radar, auto braking and more cams become mandatory over the next 10 years.

I really like the blind spot cameras that Honda and Hyundai use. Hit a blinker and the relevant blindspot is displayed in the instrument cluster.

[RoadKingLarry]

I wouldn't mind having a backup camera.  Half my accidents over the years have been backing accidents.

The other half have been fronting accidents.

my 2011 Ram 1500 has the back up camera and proximity sensors. The camera can make hooking up to a trailer a one man operation, if the lens is clean and the sun isn't shining on it too much.

[Fly320s]

Backup cams were 2018 actually. 

Man, I'm way behind.

[Perd Hapley]

I really like the blind spot cameras that Honda and Hyundai use. Hit a blinker and the relevant blindspot is displayed in the instrument cluster.

I've used that feature on a rental Honda, and it is really excellent.