Can't Open The Charging Port Door! A New Years Tale

Maybe glue a rubber bumper inside the cover so it doesn't close if the cap is in the wrong slot?

 

I once came back to my 2012 PIP at the airport parking lot to find my charge port cover open. I'm guessing someone did this more out of curiosity than any malicious intent. So the problem Toyota faced is how to protect the SAE port with the access door open and no charge unit inserted. The 2017 PIP locking cover is an improvement that was needed, but now the problem is that plugging in to recharge now has extra steps and a larger port door. Not elegant from a design standpoint. I'm used to pressing the cover with my right hand and plugging in the charging unit with my left hand. Toyota intentionally designed the cover so it won't close with the cap in the cap receptacle, so people don't leave the cap in the receptacle all the time, so I understand their thinking. I guess the bypass would be to remove the cap altogether. I also worry the cap receptacle will wear out since it uses friction to hold the cap in place.

 

what is the danger of the pip door being left open? we've already done the electron theft bit.

 

SAE 1772 section 8.5.7b states "When coupled, the vehicle inlet shall have an effective sealing system for outdoor use to provide a degree of protection against corrosion, windblown dust and rain, splashing water, hose-directed water, and external ice formation per UL 50, type 3S: Standard for Enclosures for Electrical Equipment as specified in UL2251: Plugs, Receptacles, and Couplers for Electric Vehicles"

My worry, since the PIP coupler has to be angled up for ergonomic reasons, more crud might go in the holes when the charging system is not coupled. Notice that all the outdoor charging stations, the coupler is angled down?

 

That's interesting because it prevents my charge door from closing.

 

Both our current cars' gas flap is opened from the outside, manually. One has a locking cap because the wife was worried during the 2008 gas price spike. The other is only 3 years old
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So I don't see having to unlock the car being a must to open any such flap.

Imagine how freaked people would be about water in the charging area without it.

The port cap should be plenty of protection.

 

tesla looks a lot simpler. some pippers were/are freaked out about the water in there, and some primers are talking about gaskets and caulking and drilling drain holes in their new cars. you can't appease the freakers.

 

My version of this would be after having completely disassembled the interior trim panels to gain access to the manual release as per the owners manual the wife walks up, ask what I'm doing, gives the door a try and it opens right up. Then she drives off in the other car. Then after putting everything back together I close the door and can't get it open again. Maybe next year?

 

Pizza Driver (or anyone): How do you get the charging door open when the port cap is in the auxiliary position? I forgot to replace the cap. Now, after latching it by mistake, my door won't open or close, but it is ajar at the moment. The dashboard sensor says it's open. With fob in hand, I pushed and pulled on it, but no luck. Is there a latch I can jimmy to undo it behind the door? Any help is appreciated.

 

Yes...right there on page 116 of the owners manual.

 

Thanks Lee Jay. I'm at work, where I'm lucky enough to charge for free. However, my books are at home. I haven't advanced to 116 yet in my reading. They are horribly written, BTW.

 

Chemical engineers build weapons. Electrical engineers build weapon delivery systems. Civil engineers build targets.

But, back to the original subject, my wife seriously shamed me when I was replacing the fan belt on my old Chevy S10 years ago. The sketch on the hood was missing and I didn't draw a diagram when I took it off. It looked WAY too simple for that kind of effort. Naturally, I fought that thing for about 45 minutes. She finally came out to see why I was taking so long. She said, "Let me try." I kind of snorted-giggled thinking, "Sure. She's about as mechanical as a flower garden." Wouldn't you know, she laced that thing in there in about 10 seconds!!! I just hung my head in total embarrassment. She straightened up and smiled like a rodeo cowboy who'd just tied up a calf in record time. I lost count of how many times she reminded me of that. But I still love her anyway.

 

As I thought, there exists a latch that opens the charging door in an emergency. Thank you !

 

It's a little tricky, but I figured it out. No need to use a wrench or tool to get the charging door open. I just stuck my hand up there from inside the trunk and pressed on the tab through the 2nd hole, as shown in the diagram (pp116). With a little upward pressure on the tab, the door popped open. I even did it at night. The trunk light is right next to it, so light was sufficient. There is no dirt or grease, so your hand should be clean in the end.

 

Can't open the charging door. Duh, I looked it up in the Owner's Manual Quick Guide, pg. 6. You have to have your key with you! I should have known. Opens easily.

 

that would be a pain for me. i'm always going out to the garage to plug in. having to grab the fob overtime would make me crazy. i'd probably try to disable it.

 

Strange! Do you need your key to open the fuel door, too? I can see having some sort of security (PiP has no security for the charging door), but like @bisco said, having to get your key to go out in the garage and plug in is a bit of a pain for some people, depending on where they keep their keys.

 

You don't want people opening the door and messing around in there...do you?

 

I don't want it, but the PiP does nothing to prevent it. Looks like the Prime designers saw that and fixed it.