Unplugging L2 Charger After Remote Start

[Jimrpa]

Ok, call me stupid. The first time I remote started my car when it was plugged into my L2 charger, I just unplugged my L2 charger before driving. Well, the car did NOT like that. The charge ring went orange, a box whining about a charge fault came up on the screen and so on. Fortunately, a key cycle and all was good. So, since then, I had been doing remote stop before unplugging the L2 charger. Today, I said to myself, “I wonder if pushing the charger release button will work?” And sure enough, car was remote started while plugged into the L2 charger, I pushed the charger release button, then disconnected the charge coupler, and the charge ring went to its normal color (blue? White?) Got in the cabin and the Press Start to Drive prompt was on the IP.
Maybe everyone else knew but I’m happy now ?

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[RickMachE]

There should be no need to do that. I have remote started, and set departure times, and with the car running disconnected my charger with no issues.

Although, yesterday, it displayed a wrench and Service Vehicle Soon message. I attributed that to 2.1.0, but perhaps...

 

[Maquis]

I’m a bit surprised the charge cable wasn’t locked, requiring a press of the button before removing.

On second thought, I shouldn’t really be surprised by how the software behaves.?

 

[RickMachE]

I’m a bit surprised the charge cable wasn’t locked, requiring a press of the button before removing.

On second thought, I shouldn’t really be surprised by how the software behaves.?

It locks on fast charging, not on L2.

 

[breeves002]

Some chargers I recommend pushing the release button on the handle firmly and waiting about a half second before pulling it out to avoid this issue.

 

[rodhx]

I have used remote start almost every day I am in the office since I got the MME in April. Walk up, unplug the L2 charger, get in, and start the car. No issues. Similar to breeves002 recommendation in that I typically push the charger release button, wait a heartbeat for it to stop, then unplug.

 

[Maquis]

It locks on fast charging, not on L2.

I’m fairly certain I can’t unplug mine as long as it’s actively charging. I’ll check and report back.
When I first got the car, I had to press the button in the morning in order to unplug even after it had finished, but it no longer does this - changed after some updates. There was a thread about this last year. Not everyone’s car behaved the same!

 

[Murse-In-Airy]

I always remote start with my L2 plugged in. It does not lock when charging. And it doesn’t error when I unplug… normally.
I have gotten the orange ring and “charge fault” warning a couple of times at both DCFC’s (after ending the charge on the EVSE screen and the EVSE saying to unplug the car) and with my home L2 (though it was not remote started at that time).
To me this charging fault seems completely random. It seems like an occasional bug where the car doesn’t recognize the charge was ended in the usual fashion. Just like the occasional notice that “the scheduled charge didn’t start” when in fact the car has reached the max charge.

 

[DevSecOps]

Per the owners manual the coupler unlock button is only for DCFC and does absolutely nothing for L2.

You're better off stopping the charging at your charger and then unplugging but that's even unnecessary.

As @breeves002 mentioned, pull the handle release and wait a second or two before yanking it out. That will normally prevent the issue

 

[noway]

Mine is always locking the cable as soon as it is plugged in, and never unlocks until charging is "formally" stopped. Just keeping the charger connected without charging stopped (even with no current, charger in "pause" mode) still keeps the lock. I once actually had to use the emergency release from under the bonnet because a public L2 charger failed to stop charging so car would no unlock the port (vehicle basically locked to the wall..).

I am very sure there is requirement in the EVSE standard to lock the cable in both plugs while charging, so if it does not there is a fault somewhere. AC voltage is only applied after the cable is locked, that is the EVSE wall box primary function). This is important since the plug is not exactly very safe in terms of something getting in contact with the terminals while unplugged, and to prevent arcing between cable when unplugging.

It might be as simple as the tab which the cable lock into is broken on the cable. There should be a closed square on the cable which the lock engage into, if the cable is removed with force this tab might be broken and the lock will not work.

The car reporting an error is totally appropriate in this instance since it should not be possible to unplug while charging.

 

[Jimrpa]

Some chargers I recommend pushing the release button on the handle firmly and waiting about a half second before pulling it out to avoid this issue.

Hey, thanks. When I was disconnecting, I was just pushing the release button on the charge coupler and pulling it out. No delays or anything.

 

[Jimrpa]

Per the owners manual the coupler unlock button is only for DCFC and does absolutely nothing for L2.

You're better off stopping the charging at your charger and then unplugging but that's even unnecessary.

As @breeves002 mentioned, pull the handle release and wait a second or two before yanking it out. That will normally prevent the issue

To be clear, the car isn’t actively charging. I plug it in at night and in the morning, charging is complete. I remote start it so that I have a comfortable cabin environment before I leave. I’ve never tried disconnecting the charge coupler while the car is actively charging (actually, I’d never do that - I’d go into FordPass and tell it to stop charging first).

 

[generaltso]

I am very sure there is requirement in the EVSE standard to lock the cable in both plugs while charging, so if it does not there is a fault somewhere.

The requirements are different in Europe because your Type 2 connectors don't have the latch on top.

 

[JamieGeek]

For all 4 of my plugins (3 EVs, 1 PHEV--including the Mach-E) I'd just grab the handle, press the release and pull it out. In my case my EVSE has some pretty noisy contactors so I can hear when it shuts off. They usually clunk off less than a second from when I press the release. (Haven't had any errors with any of them disconnecting either.)

None of them has ever locked the Level-2 to the car.

Edit: Ah yeah could be a US/Europe difference kind of thing.

 

[DevSecOps]

To be clear, the car isn’t actively charging. I plug it in at night and in the morning, charging is complete. I remote start it so that I have a comfortable cabin environment before I leave. I’ve never tried disconnecting the charge coupler while the car is actively charging (actually, I’d never do that - I’d go into FordPass and tell it to stop charging first).

I understand but the button to the right of the charge port doesn't do anything for L2. It's only for L3 (DCFC)

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