[ExCivilian]

I do believe that's what was giving me the same error Michael experienced. My EVSE was likely canted because I heard the actuator trying to lock and that prompted me to straighten it and hold it firmly in place until I heard it fully lock.

I suspect it would be difficult to place a DC off-angle because the bottom connections would act as alignment pins.

 

[ExCivilian]

The actual choice in the charging menu says unlock AC cable.

Yeah, actually that's correct. That's why I thought it was related to the problem you were having and turned it off like Huey did. VW is either referring to the AC portion (j1772) or it's not related to DC fast charging.

 

[ChristophW]

This all makes me think that a little shaving action with a utility knife or metal file on the notch walls of the EVSE connector could help.
If we all do the same as @Andy at Ross-Tech.com and shine a flash light in there while the lock pin does it’s thing will help us find the problematic wall and how much “adjustment” might be needed.

 

[ExCivilian]

This all makes me think that a little shaving action with a utility knife or metal file on the notch walls of the EVSE connector could help.
If we all do the same as @Andy at Ross-Tech.com and shine a flash light in there while the lock pin does it’s thing will help us find the problematic wall and how much “adjustment” might be needed.

During my issue it seemed to need more, not less, material to latch.

It wasn't acting like it was hitting something and retracting. It was not grabbing until I seated the plug firmly into the charge port. Huey posted a video where VW explains to ensure it's firmly seated, which raises an interesting point regarding how much they do/don't know of the tight tolerances involved.

To my knowledge we never received an instructional video like that for the eGolf. The early ones had a charge port recall and the SEs didn't even have a locking mechanism now that I think about it!

 

[Huey52]

In fairness there are over a dozen well done VW ID.4 specific video's in their own 'tube playlist, so I wouldn't read too much into the "assuring the plug is fully socketed." That's reasonable for any electrical device.

A locking mechanism has its pro's of course but as is obvious in Michael's case also its con's. ☯

... To my knowledge we never received an instructional video like that for the eGolf. The early ones had a charge port recall and the SEs didn't even have a locking mechanism now that I think about it!

 

[ExCivilian]

Wouldn't read too much into it in and of itself. Put together with this same issue occurring in their earlier EV, resulting in a recall, and VW removing the pin altogether from an entire trim level does change the calculus, imo.

Regardless of the video, they're still experiencing the same issue with their actuators six years later.

 

[Michael SD]

Michael SD, If you do opt for a Tiguan loaner, and it would be a good comparison, do spring for 91/93 octane fuel. A friend was told by his salesman - "it will take 87 regular gas" but of course didn't finish the sentence with ".. but it will have far less than optimal performance as the turbo psi and engine timing will be retarded, among other things, as a low octane pre-detonation safeguard."

But mostly here's hoping your plug-lock solenoid shows up and gets installed very soon. And you certainly do deserve some consideration for your long wait and very positive attitude! 👍

I did switch to the Tiguan, and I’m much happier driving it than the Jetta. I haven’t filled up the gas tank yet, but I don’t think I’ll be paying for premium fuel only to return it, which I expect will be next week.

 

[Michael SD]

I hope by substantial you mean a month's payment because that's what it will likely be. Or a $100 dollar gift card, which is what they gave me after a similar situation.

The service department manager said they would get VW to refund my first month payment. (Maybe I should make an extra large payment the first month!)

 

[Hedgehog26]

The service department manager said they would get VW to refund my first month payment. (Maybe I should make an extra large payment the first month!)

Is this HC VW? Or Kearny?

 

[Michael SD]

Is this HC VW? Or Kearny?

Herman Cook

 

[Michael SD]

I got the car back today. I think you will find the solution interesting. It wasn’t a faulty acuator after all. The emergency release cable was stuck and wouldn’t retract because of how it was assembled. You can see how the cable with the yellow cap was routed tightly around the bracket in the photos below. To fix it, they re-routed the cable underneath the bracket. (They still replaced the actuator assembly anyway.)

Here are the service technician’s notes.

14 days later, I’m back in my new car! They are refunding me my first month’s payment.

 

[ExCivilian]

That's awesome that it works! Those notes make me think a few thoughts:
1. Are they referencing an actual fault status/code? That is, for those of us with VCDS will we find a fault code if our vehicle is exhibiting this issue?

2. Are there more vehicles with this mis-cabling or was yours a one-off?

3. Fixing it entailed "splicing" into the harness. I don't like the sound of that.

4. Does yours charge with the TOU and unlock settings enabled that some of us have been experimenting with in TPG's thread?

Also, congratulations! Glad you're back in your ID4. How did you like the Passat relative to the Tiguan and both relative to the ID4? It's not often one gets to compare a handful of vehicles back to back like that. I assume you're getting ready for your desert trip so we'll need a full report/review on that excursion, please

 

[Michael SD]

I don’t know the answers to those first 2 questions. I’m not sure what to make of #3.

I’ll be charging it between midnight and 6 am. I am using the ChargePoint app rather than the onboard computer to start and end the charging. I don’t want to mess with all those settings in the car since ChargePoint does it all for me.

I took it to an EA charger this afternoon and brought it up from 55% to 80% very quickly (62kW max, 23 minutes). I was very impressed.

 

[Michael SD]

How did you like the Passat relative to the Tiguan and both relative to the ID4?

I much preferred the Tiguan to the Jetta. I did NOT like putting $60 of gas into the tank though! How do people justify that?

 

[ExCivilian]

I much preferred the Tiguan to the Jetta. I did NOT like putting $60 of gas into the tank though! How do people justify that?

I can't speak for the gassers. I can't imagine what kind of "performance" a Tiguan gets. Our Touareg TDI, however, costs $75 to fill but provides a hefty 600-700 mile range...oh, and can tow a 747

 

[PoRscheTek]

I don’t want to toot my own horn, ok yes I do but I had this fixed in my second post! Glad you’ve got it back but I think this is the failure of the technician not looking into the problem and relying on tech support.

 

[Andy at Ross-Tech.com]

That's awesome that it works! Those notes make me think a few thoughts:
1. Are they referencing an actual fault status/code? That is, for those of us with VCDS will we find a fault code if our vehicle is exhibiting this issue?

None of that stuff looks like fault codes although I'm sure they scanned with ODIS to see if any were present. F498 is the component identifier for the charge socket locking pin solenoid, it should be labeled as such in wiring diagrams, etc. 275839 looks like a ticket number, like the kind you get on a piece of paper at the butcher shop to wait your turn.

 

[PoRscheTek]

None of that stuff looks like fault codes although I'm sure they scanned with ODIS to see if any were present. F498 is the component identifier for the charge socket locking pin solenoid, it should be labeled as such in wiring diagrams, etc. 275839 looks like a ticket number, like the kind you get on a piece of paper at the butcher shop to wait your turn.

yes that 275839 number is the Tech support ref number but its listed he used GGF typo for GFF(Guided Fault Finding) and listed the stored fault P1CF4

 

[Andy at Ross-Tech.com]

Ah right you are, PoRscheTek. VCDS should be able to read that fault and would have this text:

Charge socket A; charge connector lock: blocked

 

[PoRscheTek]

Ah right you are, PoRscheTek. VCDS should be able to read that fault and would have this text:

Charge socket A; charge connector lock: blocked

I don't mean to be too harsh on the technician that worked on the vehicle but had he inspected the lock mechanism Michael could have had his car back in a few hours rather than two weeks. Having said that I also blame VW for requiring all issues be raised to tech support. Taking the autonomy of the field tech away gives no incentive to think.