Washing Macan EV & Charge Ports

[Litespeed]

My Macan EV is equipped with the electric charge port doors.

I do not believe the car is equipped with a wash mode, as I have seen on other EVs.

I have experienced an issue with the charge port doors opening unintentionally when the car is being washed.

The first time the charge port doors opened when I was in a wash bay with the keys in my pocket and I sprayed near the doors! Once I moved the key away from the car, this did not happen.

The latest time was when I took the car through a drive through car wash (no, not with brushes - just a spray kind). I was sitting in the car with it on with the machine spraying around the car when a warning came on the dash indicating that both charge port doors were open and to close one! This was quite distressing as water was being sprayed into the open charge ports. I notified my dealer and they suggest to make sure the car is off and doors are locked. I haven’t tried this yet but I am going to assume this may not work as the keys are going to be in the car! Has anyone experienced the same or similar issue?

I am going to think that Porsche is going to come up with a ’wash mode feature’ on the infotainment system that will lock the charge port doors during the wash. Based on how quickly Porsche resolves issues, I am not holding my breath!

 

[daveo4EV]

My Macan EV is equipped with the electric charge port doors.

I do not believe the car is equipped with a wash mode, as I have seen on other EVs.

I have experienced an issue with the charge port doors opening unintentionally when the car is being washed.

The first time the charge port doors opened when I was in a wash bay with the keys in my pocket and I sprayed near the doors! Once I moved the key away from the car, this did not happen.

The latest time was when I took the car through a drive through car wash (no, not with brushes - just a spray kind). I was sitting in the car with it on with the machine spraying around the car when a warning came on the dash indicating that both charge port doors were open and to close one! This was quite distressing as water was being sprayed into the open charge ports. I notified my dealer and they suggest to make sure the car is off and doors are locked. I haven’t tried this yet but I am going to assume this may not work as the keys are going to be in the car! Has anyone experienced the same or similar issue?

I am going to think that Porsche is going to come up with a ’wash mode feature’ on the infotainment system that will lock the charge port doors during the wash. Based on how quickly Porsche resolves issues, I am not holding my breath!

I have experienced this also - both charge port doors open!!!!

this is one of the issues I plan to bring up with my dealer.

 

[Litespeed]

I have experienced this also - both charge port doors open!!!!

this is one of the issues I plan to bring up with my dealer.

Thanks! Glad I am not the only one…

 

[Diego]

Unfortunately Porsche should have shown some humility and learned from who have been making electric cars for longer than Porsche has. "Car wash" function was on my tesla since day one and it's simply a software function so not so difficult to implement (checking lateral glasses and lock the charge doors). Hope for you they implement it soon (that's one of the reason I have not selected the electric charge doors).

 

[daveo4EV]

Thanks! Glad I am not the only one…

question: was your car wash "stationary" car wash - where you pull the car in - stop - and the wash moves around the vehicle?

or a rolling car wash - you put vehicle in neutral and the car moves "through" the car wash rolling along a trail

in my case it was a stationary cash wash - car was stopped - wash moved around the vehicle - the 2nd time I washed the car I left it in drive vs. putting it in park - and my charge ports did not open during the wash…

 

[Awaz]

That's a shame. I hope a solution is rolled out.
Electric charge port doors look cute when they work, but it was likely such problems would occur.
Never thought washing would cause it to open though, but something like not opening in freezing cold was envisaged.
Most cars are equipped with manual ones, and we are used to it. So, I didn't think the electric version was necessary, so got the manual one.

 

[Diego]

in my case it was a stationary cash wash - car was stopped - wash moved around the vehicle - the 2nd time I washed the car I left it in drive vs. putting it in park - and my charge ports did not open during the wash…

That's the expected behavior but it's not always possibile to stay in the car during a stationary car wash (at least in Italy).
It is strange that they have not implemented a car wash “Mode” after there is a system that prevents the second charging port from opening if the first one is open...

 

[daveo4EV]

I never had any issues with the electric ports on my Tesla or Taycan - the issue I had was not only did the ports open but _BOTH_ ports were open - that should not be possible!

 

[TomO]

What I’ve figured out to do is unlock the car, then leave my keys inside the car while I’m washing. No unexpected openings/closings/locks that way

 

[krissrock]

the charge doors will stay locked if you just lock the car right?

 

[daveo4EV]

the charge doors will stay locked if you just lock the car right?

not clear - even with the car "locked" I'm able to open the ports via the PCM screen while in the drivers seat with the car "locked" - the 2nd time I went to the pull-in car pash - I did not put the car in "park" but rather "brake hold" - and the ports remained closed during the entire car wash…

so a work around may or may not be do not put the car in park - this has only worked once for me so far - so we're still testing…

 

[wmras]

Charge ports opening was not my concern in our first high-tech touchless car wash - the frunk hood opening was! The wash was so powerful it triggered the hood open but would not let it pop up - the hood caught the safety latch but allowed a ton of water into the frunk.

 

[Litespeed]

Charge ports opening was not my concern in our first high-tech touchless car wash - the frunk hood opening was! The wash was so powerful it triggered the hood open but would not let it pop up - the hood caught the safety latch but allowed a ton of water into the frunk.

Oh no! That would not be good. Now you have me worried that is going to happen to me!

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