Cautionary Tale

[Newboj]

I decided when I bought my Mach E that I would baby it, but not be overly obsessive. This meant that I would keep her clean, but take her through car washes to keep it that way. Sure it added a few swirl marks to the piano black trim, but that was going to happen over time anyway. Other than that, I hadn’t had any issues….until last week.

About mid-way through the wash I look at my dash and see the Charge Port Door Open warning. I look out my driver side window and sure enough, it was. When the brush roller came by it must have pushed hard enough to pop it open. I’m freaking out, but what can you do. I tried applying the brakes just to see if it would some how stop the wash, but that didn’t work. So I sat in misery for the wash to finish.

When I got to the vacuum station I surveyed the damage. First, the charge door cover was gone! I grabbed a car wash attendant and he let me back into the wash and there it was on the floor of the wash. Amazingly, it wasn’t damaged and the clips were unharmed. I slid that back into place without an issue. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it unscathed. During the wash the charge port door was over-extended (there were posts about that happening months ago) and it dented the body.

If there is any good news from this story, it’s that the car wash is going to cover the repair.
So, two things we can learn:

1) Avoid automated car washes
2) @Ford Motor Company, please consider a locking charge port door or a release mechanism with a deeper release point.

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[AllenXS]

I use a touch less wash when I’m not doing it myself

 

[ChasingCoral]

You can also tape down the door before washing and add one of these:
https://www.macheforum.com/site/thr...nt-prevention-–-3d-printed-diy-solution.5812/

Search on charge port door and on carwash and you'll find you are not alone.

 

[machefan]

I decided when I bought my Mach E that I would baby it, but not be overly obsessive. This meant that I would keep her clean, but take her through car washes to keep it that way. Sure it added a few swirl marks to the piano black trim, but that was going to happen over time anyway. Other than that, I hadn’t had any issues….until last week.

About mid-way through the wash I look at my dash and see the Charge Port Door Open warning. I look out my driver side window and sure enough, it was. When the brush roller came by it must have pushed hard enough to pop it open. I’m freaking out, but what can you do. I tried applying the brakes just to see if it would some how stop the wash, but that didn’t work. So I sat in misery for the wash to finish.

When I got to the vacuum station I surveyed the damage. First, the charge door cover was gone! I grabbed a car wash attendant and he let me back into the wash and there it was on the floor of the wash. Amazingly, it wasn’t damaged and the clips were unharmed. I slid that back into place without an issue. Unfortunately, she didn’t make it unscathed. During the wash the charge port door was over-extended (there were posts about that happening months ago) and it dented the body.

If there is any good news from this story, it’s that the car wash is going to cover the repair.
So, two things we can learn:

1) Avoid automated car washes
2) @Ford Motor Company, please consider a locking charge port door or a release mechanism with a deeper release point.

Paintless dent repair should be able to fix it like new. Every area has one, just look it up. PDR

 

[Newboj]

That’s my hope.

 

[Logal727]

Still confused how this design made it into production

 

[newmme]

Hopefully an OTA can add Car Wash Mode (and Dog Mode). I know it has been some challenges on updates, but Car Wash Mode can do several things that are nice, like fold mirrors and turn off auto wipers and lock charge port). This article lists what all Car Wash Mode could do.

Car Wash Mode

 

[RickMachE]

Hopefully an OTA can add Car Wash Mode (and Dog Mode). I know it has been some challenges on updates, but Car Wash Mode can do several things that are nice, like fold mirrors and turn off auto wipers and lock charge port). This article lists what all Car Wash Mode could do.

Car Wash Mode

There is no lock...

 

[Mach-Lee]

Car wash probably had their brushes adjusted wrong so they were putting too much pressure on the body. Only the tips (1-2") should be hitting the car. That amount of pressure is not good for your paint either, you could also lose your side emblems. Use a touchless wash instead.

 

[Chuck]

My car is over a year old. I've yet to take it to a carwash.

 

[leeman]

Lost Mine just handwashing today.

 

[Rabidsquirrel22]

That’s my hope.

Were you able to fix it with PDR? I just got an identical dent on mine from this same exact situation.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Were you able to fix it with PDR? I just got an identical dent on mine from this same exact situation.

I got a similar dent from someone bashing the drivers side door with a sideways clenched fist smash or 7 (Yes really) right on the upper seam. The PDR guy took about 20 minutes but you can’t see the dent any longer. Worth the try I’d say.

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