Frozen Charging Port Door? (Flap)

[siteguru]

Maybe it's because it has been a very dry cold here ... we've not had any snow recently - so there's less moisture in the air to cause the mechanism to freeze?

 

[crowe99]

Kind of hijacking the thread in desperation. But rather than being frozen, my charging flap won't stay closed so it seems to actuator has failed. Has anyone else come across threads on this topic or had the same problem out of interest? Maybe the cold weather affects that as well lol.

 

[Griffian]

Mine is not closing either after overnight charging. There is frozen water in the female part. I can wait for it to warm up a bit but hair drier would sort if you have to get going.

I had that too. Quick spray of WD40 did the trick. Found that suggestion on Google.

 

[pecker]

My flap is frozen closed and I used silicone spray, I desperately need to charge, any way I can get this open please ?

Thanks

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

My flap is frozen closed and I used silicone spray, I desperately need to charge, any way I can get this open please ?

Thanks

Go to post #1

I tell you how to open it.

 

[pecker]

My cover is still in place.

So trim tool to open ?

Then T45 bit ?

Sorry, I’m rushing so I can pick wife up from hospital, currrently at supercharger

 

[pecker]

Had to break it off, couldn’t get it open without trim tool.

Stupid problem to have really

 

[GoElectric]

Experienced this problem myself this morning. Waited a couple of minutes for the sun to shine on the car, but figured that wouldn't do much, because it was still -4°C outside.

So was thinking about what to do...slowly pressed along the edges to break ice (if there was any), then decided to smack it a couple of times on the position of the pin latch mechanism and (importantly) also below it, where the "obelisk" is.

When it opened I noticed that the culprit was in fact this long "obelisk" extrusion below the lock pin. There was visible ice present inside that slot. So...some sort of hydrophobic coating/wax in there and on the "obelisk" should solve the issue. It will prevent ice sticking to the surface.

There was no visible icing around the outer seal.

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

Had to break it off, couldn’t get it open without trim tool.

Stupid problem to have really

I imagine you've fitted it back on now?

Just slide it back on the 4 small tangs.

 

[pecker]

I imagine you've fitted it back on now?

Just slide it back on the 4 small tangs.

Hey,

Yes back on, luckily wasn’t broke in the end, just a very frustrating experience made worse by being desperate for a charge.

Not sure what else I could have done really.

 

[Ian Key]

Over the next few days now that the frost has gone is the time to reapply silicone to your flaps.

I use a combination of a spray and plumbers silicone grease applied with a small paintbrush.

 

[Gauthier]

I had that problem on my MG5. Barely a few degrees below zero. My dealer told me that some customers removes the soft plastic sock around the locking pin. When I tried to do that, the whole pin fell off.

So, now the flap does not lock, but it doesn't freeze either. I'll take that as a win, too bad if someone wants to rogue charge my car

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

I had that problem on my MG5. Barely a few degrees below zero. My dealer told me that some customers removes the soft plastic sock around the locking pin. When I tried to do that, the whole pin fell off.

So, now the flap does not lock, but it doesn't freeze either. I'll take that as a win, too bad if someone wants to rogue charge my car

View attachment 34794

It's very easy to refit should you require.

T40 or 45 bit.

 

[M44LCY]

I had that problem on my MG5. Barely a few degrees below zero. My dealer told me that some customers removes the soft plastic sock around the locking pin. When I tried to do that, the whole pin fell off.

So, now the flap does not lock, but it doesn't freeze either. I'll take that as a win, too bad if someone wants to rogue charge my car

View attachment 34794

From the photo, you have the facelift version. No tools needed - the pin is a 'bayonet' fitting. Put the sleeve over the pin then insert the pin into the hole in the cover/door/flap, turn clockwise until it locks. Job done.

 

[EvTek23]

When the charging door on my 4 became frozen during the prolonged cold spell a few weeks ago it was caused by the obelisk being iced solid into its receptor as has been pointed out by GoElectric. I think this is a magnet for a hall effect sensor and detects that the charging door is not shut, as it just ends up going into a cut out section below the locking pin where water collects and then freezes solid. I was able to move my car into the sun the following day which did the trick. I check this now to make sure there is no water remaining here.
I've also had the locking mechanism that the pin goes into freeze in which case the door will push in, but not latch closed after charging.
By gently pushing on the outside of the charging door when its frozen shut where both those items are located you can feel which part is frozen. If its solid its probably the magnet obelisk, if it has some movement but won't unlatch it's the locking mechanism that won't release the pin.
Some sort of heater in the area where these are fitted adjacent to the charging socket would have been helpful. Perhaps it should be on the wishlist.

 

[Tig170]

Had this in the early days - resolved with silicone lube. Just wait until the temp is above zero before investigating & applying (otherwise plastic parts will break, see post #52).

 

[M44LCY]

As documented in another thread, my chargeport cover stuck closed with a failed solenoid. It's only warranted for one year(!) - my solution? Turn the locking pin anti-clockwise, remove it altogether and put it in the glovebox - the next owner can decide whether he/she wants to refit it.

Removing the pin has no detrimental effects that I have encountered. Grip the flap at the bottom right corner and swing it open. The cover is held against the body by a spring(?) and doesn't open up unless you want it to. Sure, it means anyone else can open it - but why on earth would they want to?

Just remove the locking pin will resolve any freezing / solenoid / BCM problems that I've seen in the forum.

 

[Gauthier]

It's very easy to refit should you require.

T40 or 45 bit.

From the photo, you have the facelift version. No tools needed - the pin is a 'bayonet' fitting. Put the sleeve over the pin then insert the pin into the hole in the cover/door/flap, turn clockwise until it locks. Job done.

You seem to have misunderstood. I do NOT want that pin there, it makes the flap impossible to open when it is freezing outside.

 

[Bricktop X PWR]

You seem to have misunderstood. I do NOT want that pin there, it makes the flap impossible to open when it is freezing outside.

And you seem not to understand either.

I said it's very easy to fit should you require.

 

[M44LCY]

You seem to have misunderstood. I do NOT want that pin there, it makes the flap impossible to open when it is freezing outside.

That wasn't clear in your post. But, as I added later, I can see no harm in leaving the pin off.