Charging flap lock pin fell off

[Hikispray]

I have been driving without the locking pin since winter, it froze shut a few times and finally "fell" off, so figured it would be easier to not put it back.

 

[widziu]

It happened to my facelift several times. It was the solenoid failing to operate - you should hear a click/motor drive but nothing was happening. I found that if you just kept locking & unlocking via the key, it would eventually work.

My solution was to just remove the issue altogether by removing the locking pin. Grip it and rotate counter-clockwise and the bayonet fitting releases. The flap is held shut by a spring or cam so there hasn't been an issue with the flap flying open, and the charge port area remains dry. (Pre-Facelift versions might need a bit of tape to hold the flap closed - the "James & Kate" video mentioned previously shows this.)

When my car goes for a service, I'll ask them to check it out and hopefully they'll fix it. If not, I don't mind doing without the lock. If nothing else, not having to lock/unlock makes charging just a tiny bit easier.

Unfortunately the locking and unlocking method did not work for me, I am afraid. Took it to the dealer to find out the solenoid is broken, however the warranty for this bit is valid for only 12 months. They replaced it but left me short of just under £300. Will definitely grease/clean it regularly from now and will consider removing the pin, as advised by others.

 

[CanyonReveller]

That's a pricey moving pin! Glad to hear you got it sorted.

 

[cgwhite]

I have had both issues, the pin holding the rubber covers falls out all the time. Superglue or Gorilla glue to fix. Also during the winter I could not get the charging flap open at night during freezing conditions. It had to be forced open which damaged the locking mechanism, which was then replaced by the dealer. FL version.

 

[kemot]

I'm looking for the part number or the part itself - the external masking element for the charging flap, the one in the color of the paint.

It is attached to the flap mechanism. Unfortunately, I don't even have the MG part number to look for it in China - please help

I was also thinking about printing it on a 3D printer, but I would need a scanned model in the form of e.g. an stl file. If anyone has one, I'd love to hug it

I mean the one in the photo from the 2023 model