Unexpected encounter with Mach E Technician Trainer

[DRJJJJJ]

I was getting my mail at the community mailbox the other day and as I returned, someone stopped my and asked if this was my Mach E and how I liked it. She introduced herself and mentioned she worked for Ford, training technicians on the Mach E. She asked for feedback and was very happy to know I was pleased with car so far. But she mentioned she had one important tip for me that she wished dealerships would inform their buyers about (although it is written in the manual as well), so I wanted to pass it along.

She said when I am through charging to make sure I press the small round unlock button on lower right side of charging port before I remove charger. I have had the car for 3 mos and have never done this. She stated that most people are not doing this and its a simple way to prevent costly damage to the charging port.

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[Mach-Lee]

She said when I am through charging to make sure I press the small round unlock button on lower right side of charging port before I remove charger. I have had the car for 3 mos and have never done this. She stated that most people are not doing this and its a simple way to prevent costly damage to the charging port.

This advice only applies while DC charging. Yes you need to press the unlock button and wait for the white circle before touching the CCS connector to remove.

While AC charging, you can just press the J1772 latch to stop charging.

If you try to remove the DC CCS connector by pressing the latch first, you could end up damaging the lock mechanism. I’ve seen people force it when it doesn’t come out right away, because they didn’t unlock it first. You must wait for the connector to unlock first (white circle) before pressing the latch.

In summary, you must stop DC and AC charging differently. AC with the latch, and DC with the unlock button first.

 

[DRJJJJJ]

This advice only applies while DC charging. Yes you need to press the unlock button and wait for the white circle before touching the CCS connector to remove.

While AC charging, you can just press the J1772 latch to stop charging.

If you try to remove the DC CCS connector by pressing the latch first, you could end up damaging the lock mechanism. I’ve seen people force it when it doesn’t come out right away, because they didn’t unlock it first. You must wait for the connector to unlock first (white circle) before pressing the latch.

In summary, you must stop DC and AC charging differently. AC with the latch, and DC with the unlock button first.

Thanks for clarification!

 

[sukhoi_584th]

Or stop DCFC on the charger and you don't need to press the button, right?

 

[HuntingPudel]

Yeah, I used to press the button at home until I figured out that it does nothing when AC charging. Since then, I just use the disconnect button on the J1772 handle. I don’t DCFC much but I have always used the button next to the charge port to initiate a charge session disconnect. ??

 

[hybrid2bev]

Or stop DCFC on the charger and you don't need to press the button, right?

You could. But in my experience the car cannot distinguish between you purposefully stopping the charging on the dispenser and a charging fault error. So, the car displays a red charging ring and a charging fault message on the IPC (even though there's no real error).

I got in the habit of pressing the unlock button on the car to stop DCFC sessions.... no error messages that way.

 

[Mirak]

The DCFC plug should unlatch if you stop the charge at the charger. You will hear a noticeable unlatching sound. That's how I do it, and it has never failed me.

You could also use the button on the car to stop the charge and unlatch. And if that doesn't work, I think there's an emergency unlatch procedure that involves removing frunk panels.

 

[dbsb3233]

I was getting my mail at the community mailbox the other day and as I returned, someone stopped my and asked if this was my Mach E and how I liked it. She introduced herself and mentioned she worked for Ford, training technicians on the Mach E. She asked for feedback and was very happy to know I was pleased with car so far. But she mentioned she had one important tip for me that she wished dealerships would inform their buyers about (although it is written in the manual as well), so I wanted to pass it along.

She said when I am through charging to make sure I press the small round unlock button on lower right side of charging port before I remove charger. I have had the car for 3 mos and have never done this. She stated that most people are not doing this and its a simple way to prevent costly damage to the charging port.

I've been doing it this way for 3 years. I figured out quickly that it prevents the "Charge Fault" messages that sometimes occur by stopping the charger instead. Even though the fault message is usually nothing more than an annoyance, it's still better to avoid it altogether. It means something isn't handshaking right and that's never a good thing. I have more concern for my car than the charger, so I err on the side of it functioning well. When we hit that button, it tells the car to terminate charging rather than the other way around.

Once I got in the habit of always doing that when DCFC charging (which we do a lot of), I just do it for everything (L2 as well). Doesn't seem to make any difference there, but doesn’t hurt either. Good to just get in the habit.

 

[MellowJohnny]

I've always stopped the dispenser, maybe I'll try the unlock button instead. Had one issue recently where the DCFC handle would not release after stopping from the dispenser, but after carefully trying to re-engage it in the port a few times I felt the button on the handle pop up, and then I was able to remove. So I'll chalk that one up to the dispenser handle.

Scary part was the SYNC unlock button was not even lit, and pressing the unlock button on the charge port just lit up the red fault ring.

If it happens to you, just remember the sage advice from the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy: DON'T PANIC

 

[kdonnel]

You could. But in my experience the car cannot distinguish between you purposefully stopping the charging on the dispenser and a charging fault error. So, the car displays a red charging ring and a charging fault message on the IPC (even though there's no real error).

I got in the habit of pressing the unlock button on the car to stop DCFC sessions.... no error messages that way.

In several dozen DCFC sessions, I have always ended them from the dispenser or the app. I have never pressed the button on the car and have never had a charge fault error.

I do wait a until the dispenser stops making noises before unplugging and have always found the handle unlocked and easily removed.

Maybe those getting a red charging ring are moving faster than I do.

 

[sukhoi_584th]

In several dozen DCFC sessions, I have always ended them from the dispenser or the app. I have never pressed the button on the car and have never had a charge fault error.

I do wait a until the dispenser stops making noises before unplugging and have always found the handle unlocked and easily removed.

Maybe those getting a red charging ring are moving faster than I do.

I've also never seen the red ring from stopping a DCFC session at the charger over about a dozen sessions.

 

[dbsb3233]

I've also never seen the red ring from stopping a DCFC session at the charger over about a dozen sessions.

It used to happen more in the first year. A software update may have improved the handshake some.

Frankly, I find it easier to use the button on the car anyway. Hit the button, listen for the unlock (about 2 seconds), then remove the handle. Gotta be right there to remove the handle anyway, and standing right there allows you to hear the lock release.

 

[BigMach-E]

Yeah, even though on Level 2 the button to the right of the charge port does basically nothing, I’ve always pressed the button, press the unlatch button on charger, hold for two seconds, remove. Just habit I guess. Same process for level 3.

 

[AliRafiee]

I’m actually very annoyed that the charge port is not automatically locked during DCFC charging, like my previous EV.

Some random jackass could walk by and fuck shit up.

My last EV also had a button to lock the port with L2 chargers.

My i4 also locks the port all the time when the car is locked.

 

[stealthytolkien]

Thank you for the tip.

Also, there’s no “AC charging”. They’re both DC charging (at home and at a station). The difference is the amperage. That little brick of a charger we have in our garage likely has a rectifier circuitry in it.

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