Most important Lightning secret: how to release a stuck charger cable

[Newton]

This has been mentioned before but it is so important I thought I'd call it out directly. Driving the Lightning is pretty easy if you pay attention and are sensible. Look at your miles/kWh * battery size * percent instead of the range meter ("guess-o-meter"), try to keep the truck between 10% and 90%, and charge at home if you can.

There is, however, one big trap that bit me last week and I'm glad that I read this forum to know about the solution. Not charging is one thing, holding my car hostage is a while different kettle of fish. The Electrify America charger in Eugene, OR 'hung' when it was attempting to authorize my truck. The rings turned red and I tried to cancel, but no matter what button I hit the charger stayed locked to the truck! (EA is terrible, this scenario should be impossible.) Of course I did it on the first ride I had taken my 90-year-old Mother on with the truck (my wife thought it was a good idea to show her how easy it was to charge an EV!)

Fortunately I had read the forum and knew that in the frunk was a charge release cable. It is in the front trunk, on the right side near the coolent overflow bottle. There is a nice lable with a lock to give you a hint.

Here it is:

Simply gently pull the yellow tab that is attached to the cable.

This should release the lock so you can remove the charging cable. It might help to ritually curse Electrify America first. It worked quite easily, it took no force.

The one thing that I don't know is how to re-attach the yellow tab to whatever it was attached to.

Anyway, I hope that this helps

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[jetfixr1]

Isnt the lightning such a fantastic vehicle? Mostly electronic, and old fashioned mechanical release cables for the frunk and charger port just in case!

 

[mrau]

Here are a couple of pics with the release cable attached to the coolant bottle.

@Newton

 

[Adventureboy]

The one thing that I don't know is how to re-attach the yellow tab to whatever it was attached to.

In my case, it just snapped back onto the clip when I used it. Reattaching was pretty straightforward. It took a bit of a wiggle.
I also was glad I read a post on this forum on this before I needed it.

 

[Newton]

Ah, that is where it goes. Thanks! I was a little stressed when I pulled it out.

I wish the cars had more mechanicals, like a manual switch to enable the contactors so you could start when the 12V is dead (are you listening, Kia?) I'm often miles away from cell phone service.

 

[MTBAZ]

I posted this last year. Still a great video for all lightning owners. It covers this and other items you don't typically think about.

https://www.f150lightningforum.com/forum/threads/lightning-roadside-service-info.13032/

 

[Heliian]

PSA: download a copy of the owners manual to your phone for all the wonderful information at your fingertips regardless of cell service or if you can't access the manual built in to the software.

 

[detansinn]

 

[Maxx]

If the yellow cable lets you release the charging cable, doesn’t that mean it is Ford that took EA hostage not the other way around?

 

[Mache_Enrique]

Thanks for posting this thread...I read it day or two after it started and it was front of mind as I had a bit of an issue Sunday with a magic dock Tesla Charger at the new Buckees in Colorado. Would not let go so I used the release, moved to a new stall and then charged.

Plug-n-charge would not work on these for me (I have the software update and it is turned on and it says Tesla with a check) but I used the Tesla app to initiate and all charged well. Funny side story...there was a very angry Tesla owner getting in the face of all the people icing the chargers (parking was a zoo...just opened). She walked up to me ready to yell at me for icing and saw I was plugging in...then walked quietly away hoping I did not see her about to rage at me.

 

[Its PJ Bia]

I had this happen, and then a few days later I saw a CSP was attached to my truck regarding reprogramming "Charge cord stuck reprogram" Campaign# 23B50. I'll be having my dealer look into it when i take it in for the 10k service.

 

[Lightning Bronson]

Isnt the lightning such a fantastic vehicle? Mostly electronic, and old fashioned mechanical release cables for the frunk and charger port just in case!

It's a truck made electric, not an electric truck!

And it's exactly why I bought one. ?

 

[wighty]

Should the emergency unlock in the trunk work on an L2 charger that is stuck as well? Or is that really just for DCFC plugs?

 

[TaxmanHog]

Should the emergency unlock in the trunk work on an L2 charger that is stuck as well? Or is that really just for DCFC plugs?

In the USA, the L2 is not interlocked like a DCFC plug is, so that emergency release is only for that purpose. Is it possible the latch on your L2 J1772 is malfunctioning? Did it get iced up overnight?

 

[wighty]

In the USA, the L2 is not interlocked like a DCFC plug is, so that emergency release is only for that purpose. Is it possible the latch on your L2 J1772 is malfunctioning? Did it get iced up overnight?

That is what I thought.

I don't see any ice build up, the latch release seems to be moving all the way (I have an identical EVSE I went and compared as well). The plug does seem to wiggle a decent amount. The vehicle charged fine over night and initiated a charge this morning for a few mins as well (stopped after I tried removing the plug again). I don't see any burn or scorch marks to make me think the pins overheated and fused.

Edit: after getting home and having more time to look at it, while the latch release lever pressed down without any issue it was clearly broke and not attached to the latch itself so it wouldn't release. I used a J hook to lift it up and release... now to see if I can fix it.

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