What is This (Missing) Tab on the Charge Port Door?

[Jimrpa]

Please move this post if this isn’t the right place for this subject.

On Saturday, I took my car to the automatic car wash (sacrilege, I know, but it is COLD outside!)
While the machine was doing its thing, I got a charge port ajar error. When I left the car wash, sure enough the charge port was open. Sadly, the body-colored cover was gone, leaving just the under-structure of the charge port door. Fortunately, the body-colored cover was in the wash tunnel, so I was able to get it. For those who don’t know, the body-colored cover slides onto the under structure, horizontally, from right to left. It took a bit of jiggling, but I was untimately able to slide it back on so my car doesn’t look ghetto.
On the underside of the body-colored cover, in addition to 6 tabs/slots which slide into corresponding tabs/slots on the under structure, there is a small “ramp” in the center, which rises from left to right. Basically, you can tell that the ramp is intended to engage with some kind of locking tab so that the tab would slide along the ramp and be pushed up then, when it hits the end of the ramp, it would drop down, locking the body-colored cover in place on the under structure. Whatever this mechanism was, it has broken off (see the picture - I’ve circled where it was).
My questions:

1. What is/was this structure?
2. Is it really important to ensuring the body colored cover stays securely attached to the under-structure?
3. Since it’s a molded piece of the actual understructure, how difficult is it to replace that understructure if I choose to get a replacement

Thanks!

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[AliRafiee]

Post picture

 

[Jimrpa]

Post picture

My bad, thanks. I’ve edited my post to include the picture.
OMG! I just noticed the “Easter Egg”!

 

[HuntingPudel]

That tab retains the door skin. Since it's broken off, you need a skin and the door. ??

 

[Jimrpa]

That tab retains the door skin. Since it's broken off, you need a skin and the door. ??

The outer cover is fine and undamaged. I actually reattached it. How difficult is it to replace the door?

 

[HuntingPudel]

The outer cover is fine and undamaged. I actually reattached it. How difficult is it to replace the door?

It’s integral to the charge port assembly, so the assembly needs to be removed before pulling the hinge apart and removing the door. ??

 

[Jimrpa]

It’s integral to the charge port assembly, so the assembly needs to be removed before pulling the hinge apart and removing the door. ??

Ok, this is sounding non-trivial at this point. I may have to come up with a “plan B”. Sigh.

 

[generaltso]

Ok, this is sounding non-trivial at this point. I may have to come up with a “plan B”. Sigh.

It's too late now, but my suggestion for the future is to live with a dirty car until spring.

 

[HuntingPudel]

Ok, this is sounding non-trivial at this point. I may have to come up with a “plan B”. Sigh.

If you get a new door skin, you could retain it in another fashion. You just likely won’t be able to remove it from the charge port assembly any more. ?‍?

 

[RickMachE]

This is why you don't take your car to a car wash, and if you do, you use a piece of blue painter's tape to secure that door.

 

[Jimrpa]

If you get a new door skin, you could retain it in another fashion. You just likely won’t be able to remove it from the charge port assembly any more. ?‍?

I don’t need a new “door skin”, I need the skeleton beneath the skin ?

 

[Jimrpa]

This is why you don't take your car to a car wash, and if you do, you use a piece of blue painter's tape to secure that door.

I could argue that it’s just an example of poor design on Ford’s part. I’ve never had a fuel filler door fall apart in a car wash ?

 

[RickMachE]

I could argue that it’s just an example of poor design on Ford’s part. I’ve never had a fuel filler door fall apart in a car wash ?

Dunno. Many posts where people say tape the door and tape the rear wiper? I never go in a carwash, period.

 

[Sikkun]

Mine was not lost in a car wash, but body shop is currently replacing the skin, door, and because the hinges started ripping out whatever the door attaches to.

They don’t seem to think it is a long fix for them at least.

 

[ericNdfw]

I had to have my charge door replaced for similar damage (the outer-plastic, painted "skin" was fine) and my dealer's collision center charged me $147.65 parts+labor. This was in February of 2022 so prices likely have gone up since then.

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