Tesla Documentation

The official sources — without the runaround.

Owner's manuals

Tesla maintains the current manual online but does not publish year-specific archives. For older cars, the in-car Manual app is most accurate. These links cover both:

Model Y · Currenttesla.com — HTML, live-updated Model 3 · Currenttesla.com — HTML, live-updated Model S · Currenttesla.com — HTML, live-updated Model X · Currenttesla.com — HTML, live-updated Cybertruck · Currenttesla.com — HTML, live-updated

Year-specific PDFs (community archives)

For year-locked PDFs (useful for older cars), these third-party archives have proven reliable:

StartMyCar — Model Y by yearPDF archive, 2020-current StartMyCar — Model 3 by yearPDF archive, 2017-current CarManualsOnline — all modelsPDF archive going back to 2012

Service manuals

Tesla publishes the full service manual freely. No subscription required for read-only access. This is where wiring diagrams, torque specs, and diagnostic port pinouts live.

Model Y Service Manual2020-2024 generation Model 3 Service Manual2017-2023 generation Model S Service Manual2012-current Model X Service Manual2016-current Diagnostic CablesOBD-II vs DoIP vs footwell port details

Video tutorials (official)

Tesla produces a "Meet Your..." video series for each model. These are the closest things to an actual orientation:

Meet Your Model YTesla.com · official series Meet Your Model 3Tesla.com · official series Interactive Model Y TourTesla.com · clickable, dive into specific features Touchscreen WalkthroughTesla.com · the full UI in one video Physical ControlsTesla.com · stalks, wheels, buttons

Heads up

Tesla's video pages may default to the latest generation (2025+ "Juniper" redesign, stalkless). If your car is pre-2025 and has a drive stalk + scroll wheels, look for videos showing those physical controls. The interactive Model Y tour lets you toggle generations.

Independent video creators

Long-running channels with reliable, well-produced Tesla tutorials:

Ryan Shaw TechYouTube · deep-dive Model Y/3 tutorials Andy SlyeYouTube · long-form Tesla ownership content i1TeslaYouTube · ownership tips, repairs, mods Tesla JoyYouTube · feature walkthroughs

Software releases

Tesla rolls out software updates quietly. These are the canonical sources for what changed and when:

Not A Tesla AppTracks every update, ranked by what's changed TeslascopeRollout tracking, release notes by region

Aftermarket diagnostic tools

For owners who want deeper access to the car's CAN bus, OBD-II port, or Ethernet diagnostic port:

joshwardell/model3dbcGitHub · community Tesla DBC file nmullaney/candashGitHub · Android Tesla dashboard via OBD-II EVOffer CAN cablesReliable A-pillar 20-pin breakout cables S3XY ButtonsAftermarket hardware buttons for Tesla functions