Powered Charge Port Door - Be Careful

[USMA81]

I was driving my new Macan 4 from LA to Phoenix after taking delivery at the Porsche LA Experience Center. I stopped in Palm Springs to DC charge. I backed in, parked, opened the powered charging door, and folded down the DC flap. I grabbed the charging cable, but then realized I had not backed close enough for the cable to reach the port. So I put the cable back, got in the car and backed it up closer to the charger. When I got out, I noticed the charge door tried to close when I moved the car. The charging door had jammed half way closed on the open DC flap - I had not closed the DC flap. The door wouldn’t budge. I was fortunate that the local Porsche dealer was still open and they graciously got a tech on it after I shed tears that this would strand me a state away from home. The tech had a difficult time, but finally brute-forced the door back enough to close the DC flap. It didn’t damage the door or flap.

A software update should be programmed to cause the door to attempt to open fully if it jams. In the interim, be careful to not cause the powered door to close if the DC port is folded down, open.

Fortunately in normal use, the DC port closes automatically after a connected DC cable is unplugged from the vehicle - so this problem should be rare, but if it does occur, it is a pain to fix.

 

[evdriver2016]

I have auto on my Rivian and it is ok but got manual on the Macan. I dunno for Macan it just feels more “manual is better”.

Very good PSA though. As I think this would be a common occurrence.

 

[daveo4EV]

my doors back off if they encounter the DC charge port flap - not saying this isn't bad - but in the same situation my powered doors did not jam…YMMV

 

[krissrock]

despite this,...i kinda wish i did spec the auto doors

 

[byebye]

Auto doors are a must have!
It’s worth the drawbacks

 

[iPadOnWheels]

Thanks for the heads up! I'm sure this would happen to me too.

I always wondered why there's a dc flap, my model 3 did not have one.

 

[krissrock]

Thanks for the heads up! I'm sure this would happen to me too.

I always wondered why there's a dc flap, my model 3 did not have one.

the charge port is probably made by a 3rd party for all of the car mfr's, and it's not "custom" for each car's charge door situation...

 

[iPadOnWheels]

I love the fact that there's a little light in there. With my Model 3 I always had to use my phone to illuminate so that I could find the port. I think I heard OutOfSpec Dave say that the manual door doesn't have lighting in there.

 

[USMA81]

David, Good to know that the door will attempt to re-open if it jams on the DC port. That makes sense they would program it to re-open. Perhaps mine didn’t re-open because I have another issue. My comfort entry is not working on the driver side of the vehicle. Maybe if the driver side antenna doesn’t detect a key fob, as is my case, the charge door on that side of the car won’t re-open. The vehicle is at the dealer for the comfort entry issue, but I don’t think I will test it again once the comfort entry works.

Despite this, I too am glad I got the powered door.. It just feels more premium. I have an Audi Etron and that powered door also is very nice.

 

[daveo4EV]

Thanks for the heads up! I'm sure this would happen to me too.

I always wondered why there's a dc flap, my model 3 did not have one.

Tesla/NACS EV's do not have separate DC connectors - NACS combines the high-voltage AC/DC power supply pins and the same electrical connectors are used for AC power if you're doing AC charging (home/residential) and DC power when doing "fastCharging" - so there is no flap to cover the DC pins, because there are no DC pin's on a Tesla/NACS vehicle…

personally I'm not sure why there has to be a flap to cover the PINs - seems like excessive health/safety design not anything actually functional - I think the DCFlap causes more problems than it potentially fixes - but what the hell do I know.

 

[iPadOnWheels]

I see, the European Tesla’s have the type 2 ccs connector which the Macan also has.

 

[USMA81]

I’m guessing the separate DC flap is to prevent rain entering the terminals while a/c charging outdoors.

Also, my comfort entry problem was diagnosed to be rodent damage to wiring harness. I believe, but can’t prove, this happened at the port or at the LA Experience Center prior to delivery. Under my ownership, the vehicle so far has been outside only one night, during the trip home. Not sure if they are covering this under warranty as I didn’t catch the issue at delivery.

 

[Sahajesh]

Is there a safe way to force the door open if it’s stuck?

I’d like the power door option but only if you can force it open without breaking.

 

[USMA81]

The tech first tried to get the door to retract by connecting with the vehicle system. He had trouble doing so, and so had to resort to forcing it open a bit. He had to use some tools to do it. I wasn’t watching closely, but I think it was a screwdriver, nothing special. See other post on here, however, that indicates that under normal circumstances, the door might retract if it encounters resistance from the DC port. My circumstances might have been unique because of the other problem I’m experiencing in the car.

 

[Sahajesh]

I’m more concerned about it being stuck for ice or some other failure.

Not keen on taking a screwdriver to it and potential damage to the paintwork when you are applying force blindly.

Fine if the service guys do it, they can pay for any damage!

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