New Mach-E won’t fast charge

[Ddunk1026]

Currently out of state and annoyed. 23
Mach e gt performance purchased 2 weeks ago. I have been charging it on a level 2 at work with no issues. Drove it on a weekend road trip this weekend to visit my parents. Stopped and used a fast charger once with no issues, then plugged it into a 110 outlet with my mobile cord at my parents with no issues.
I went to charge it at a fast charger before leaving town today and it gives me an error saying charging fault. I tried about 8 different chargers at 3 totally different locations and different charging providers and also saw other EVs (including a Mach e) use the same chargers successfully that I had tried. I did a factory reset and it did not help. I now have it plugged back into a 110 and this is working, but that isn't sufficient to get me home. I also found a level 2 charger and it worked. I plan to stay overnight and take it to ford in the morning. Anybody have any other suggestions as to why it would stop taking a fast charge but accept a level one or two?? One potential issue: my dad was helping wash and wax it and put some wd40 on my mobile cord connection, and then plugged it back into the car. I didn’t think too much of it at the time but now I’m wondering if this is interfering??

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[AKgrampy]

Currently out of state and annoyed. 23
Mach e gt performance purchased 2 weeks ago. I have been charging it on a level 2 at work with no issues. Drove it on a weekend road trip this weekend to visit my parents. Stopped and used a fast charger once with no issues, then plugged it into a 110 outlet with my mobile cord at my parents with no issues.
I went to charge it at a fast charger before leaving town today and it gives me an error saying charging fault. I tried about 8 different chargers at 3 totally different locations and different charging providers and also saw other EVs (including a Mach e) use the same chargers successfully that I had tried. I did a factory reset and it did not help. I now have it plugged back into a 110 and this is working, but that isn't sufficient to get me home. I also found a level 2 charger and it worked. I plan to stay overnight and take it to ford in the morning. Anybody have any other suggestions as to why it would stop taking a fast charge but accept a level one or two?? One potential issue: my dad was helping wash and wax it and put some wd40 on my mobile cord connection, and then plugged it back into the car. I didn’t think too much of it at the time but now I’m wondering if this is interfering??

The Mobile cord is probably not the issue as the DCFC uses the other pins that are covered. I guess I would inspect the DCFC pins to ensure nothing got sprayed into them! Certainly never spray WD40 into the pins. I have never DCFC’d but perhaps you could share some more specific fault info so others may have more of an idea of what may be occurring.

 

[zvez]

Currently out of state and annoyed. 23
Mach e gt performance purchased 2 weeks ago. I have been charging it on a level 2 at work with no issues. Drove it on a weekend road trip this weekend to visit my parents. Stopped and used a fast charger once with no issues, then plugged it into a 110 outlet with my mobile cord at my parents with no issues.
I went to charge it at a fast charger before leaving town today and it gives me an error saying charging fault. I tried about 8 different chargers at 3 totally different locations and different charging providers and also saw other EVs (including a Mach e) use the same chargers successfully that I had tried. I did a factory reset and it did not help. I now have it plugged back into a 110 and this is working, but that isn't sufficient to get me home. I also found a level 2 charger and it worked. I plan to stay overnight and take it to ford in the morning. Anybody have any other suggestions as to why it would stop taking a fast charge but accept a level one or two?? One potential issue: my dad was helping wash and wax it and put some wd40 on my mobile cord connection, and then plugged it back into the car. I didn’t think too much of it at the time but now I’m wondering if this is interfering??

interestingly, this post was cut and pasted by a bot on the other mach e forum.

 

[Ddunk1026]

interestingly, this post was cut and pasted by a bot on the other mach e forum.

Haha nope? I did copy and paste because somebody had suggested posting here but I’m definitely a human.

 

[Ddunk1026]

The Mobile cord is probably not the issue as the DCFC uses the other pins that are covered. I guess I would inspect the DCFC pins to ensure nothing got sprayed into them! Certainly never spray WD40 into the pins. I have never DCFC’d but perhaps you could share some more specific fault info so others may have more of an idea of what may be occurring.

So initially I wasn’t seeing the error message coming from the car; just the charging station saying it was connecting, then a charging error of some kind. When I did notice the error in the car, the first message was just “service vehicle soon” and then also “charge station fault. See manual.” The manual says this message means an issue with the cord or charging station. Of course, I think I’ve ruled this out with 10ish different cords, stations, and several charging companies and it seems to be a vehicle issue.

 

[RickMachE]

Why on earth would someone spray WD-40 into a charging port, especially on a brand new vehicle?

 

[B177y]

Why on earth would someone spray WD-40 into a charging port, especially on a brand new vehicle?

There are a group of die-hard "WD-40 fixes everything/makes everything better" in this world... OP's Dad sounds like one.

So initially I wasn’t seeing the error message coming from the car; just the charging station saying it was connecting, then a charging error of some kind. When I did notice the error in the car, the first message was just “service vehicle soon” and then also “charge station fault. See manual.” The manual says this message means an issue with the cord or charging station. Of course, I think I’ve ruled this out with 10ish different cords, stations, and several charging companies and it seems to be a vehicle issue.

My car stopped all charging while on a trip, on a Sunday, during Thanksgiving weekend... So I feel your pain. Mine was blamed on a "bent sense pin" in the charging port on the car. Had the same single non descriptive "charging error" message, then nothing.

Since you can still L1 and L2, my guess is the WD-40 damaged or got on to something that it shouldn't have. There is a temperature sensor in the car charging port that is famous for being finicky (search this forum and you'll find some trouble shooting).

If I was in your spot now and based on my previous issue, I would do this (this is ALL AT YOUR OWN RISK!):

-Check for any visible damage to the car charging port pins (sense pins are the two smallest ones)

-Get a can of compressed air for computers and carefully blow out the charging port (on the car) and everything around it to hopefully get any WD out of any place it shouldn't be.

-Throw away the charger cord. If you're adventurous, try hitting it with electronics cleaner or something that will remove all of the WD but not harm sensitive plastics and such. Or get pops to buy you a new one.

If the repair isn't covered by the warranty due to the WD-40 incident, the cost of a new charging port was about $1000+ IIRC. Mine took 12 weeks to arrive, so be prepared.

Find all of your dad's WD and throw it away!

Good luck!

 

[azerik]

Oh see, if you used your dads WD-40 it's not free range organic sulfate free and probably contains traces of nuts.

FYI did you try activating the charger before plugging in? Ignore what EA says and activate the charger via the "chargers" button in the Ford Pass app. (Also if you didn't set up a credit card in Connected Services or BOCN that too might be why you're getting the generic error). I can't use Plug and Charge, still. If it does actually work it crapps out seconds later. This weekend it worked for 8 seconds twice. Then I had to move to another charger and activate it before plugging in, at which it was actually charging but the EA station screen was just spinning like it was connecting to the car. I put in my 25kw and rolled on. I could see it charging when I keyed the car on with it plugged in.

 

[AKgrampy]

I was hoping you would get more advice like @azerik provided. You do not have much experience with DCFC so there remains just as much chance that you are making a mistake as there is a problem with the car. No matter what visually inspect those pins before DCFC again!

 

[Ddunk1026]

Oh see, if you used your dads WD-40 it's not free range organic sulfate free and probably contains traces of nuts.

FYI did you try activating the charger before plugging in? Ignore what EA says and activate the charger via the "chargers" button in the Ford Pass app. (Also if you didn't set up a credit card in Connected Services or BOCN that too might be why you're getting the generic error). I can't use Plug and Charge, still. If it does actually work it crapps out seconds later. This weekend it worked for 8 seconds twice. Then I had to move to another charger and activate it before plugging in, at which it was actually charging but the EA station screen was just spinning like it was connecting to the car. I put in my 25kw and rolled on. I could see it charging when I keyed the car on with it plugged in.

I appreciate this response. I don’t pretend to be an expert and am still figuring it out. I definitely wanted to ask people with more experience! I did try activating the charger before using it. Somebody was helpful at the charter and suggested that.
I just got it into ford and it has pages and pages (probably 100+) error messages that go back weeks or a month. His initial thought was that it could be an issue with the charging port, but most of the errors were related to the computer. It said the fast charging had been disabled along with a lot of messages about the cameras, screen, and lights. Hoping it’s something they can fix today.

 

[Gil McC]

The Mobile cord is probably not the issue as the DCFC uses the other pins that are covered. I guess I would inspect the DCFC pins to ensure nothing got sprayed into them! Certainly never spray WD40 into the pins. I have never DCFC’d but perhaps you could share some more specific fault info so others may have more of an idea of what may be occurring.

Remember guys WD40 is: Water Displacement formula 40!

 

[bshaw]

One potential issue: my dad was helping wash and wax it and put some wd40 on my mobile cord connection, and then plugged it back into the car.

What were you trying to solve by putting WD40 on the mobile cord connection? Because it's such a tight fit with the body of the charger?

 

[AKgrampy]

Remember guys WD40 is: Water Displacement formula 40!

The first 39 failed. After this event they will release WD41 for EV’s.

 

[B177y]

I appreciate this response. I don’t pretend to be an expert and am still figuring it out. I definitely wanted to ask people with more experience! I did try activating the charger before using it. Somebody was helpful at the charter and suggested that.
I just got it into ford and it has pages and pages (probably 100+) error messages that go back weeks or a month. His initial thought was that it could be an issue with the charging port, but most of the errors were related to the computer. It said the fast charging had been disabled along with a lot of messages about the cameras, screen, and lights. Hoping it’s something they can fix today.

So, what's the verdict from Ford? What caused all of your error messages?

 

[Ddunk1026]

Update for anyone interested: the service guy ran the vin and the car had probably hundreds of errors recorded from the past few weeks: lights and camera not working, computer issues, and fast charging being disabled. They ran diagnostics on the car and between that and talking with ford came up with that they have to remove the front bumper and go through the wiring. If the wiring checks out, the next step is to order a new charging port. He thought all of this would take 2 weeks to 2 months. I’m pretty disappointed that a 2 week old vehicle has so many bugs to be worked out, and I’m having to leave it two states over while they figure it out. Ford did give me a vehicle to take in the meantime.
As for the wd40 situation. I didn’t directly say this happened as to not give them a reason to point it back at me, but I did ask if there was a possibility it was something that could be solved by simply cleaning dirt and debris out of the port. He said their “pinpoint diagnostics” gave no indication it was a problem with the connection. The only thing the diagnostics had suggested to rule out regarding the connection was the locking mechanism, which was fine. Obviously (maybe) this whole post is nuanced as I am not a mechanic, but this was my takeaway understanding.

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