Unable to Lvl2 charge, DCFC is just fine

[HaroldCal]

So I have been having this off and on issue since I got my truck, wherein I am unable to reliably charge at home (or any other lvl2 charger), but I can DCFC just fine. I plug in, I can hear the EVSe contactor engaging, I think I can hear the truck contactor engaging, but I end up I just get the solid orange ring of death.

I originally had an issue like this awhile back, and posted about it in this thread , but I think what I am experiencing now might be slightly different.

First, to answer a few obvious things: I have multiple EVSEs, and multiple EVs in the house. This means that I can prove the problem is NOT the EVSE, the power, etc. All of my EVSEs work on all of our other EVs. I have also tried nearby public L2 chargers, with the same results. But I can DCFC just fine, no problem at all.

It doesn't seem to be temperature related. I have tried on hot days, cool nights, after being parked for awhile, etc.

So after being unable to charge for the last week, I took it today to DCFC, with the intention of taking it back to the dealer again. After DCFCing (jsut to prove I still could), I brought it home, plugged it in, and lo and behold, it started charging just fine on L2.

The only other thing different about today vs the last week is that I haven't been driving much lately, but today I made a trip across town. So that got me thinking: Is it possible that this could be 12v battery related? Anyone seen anything similar? Like maybe if the 12v battery is low, it won't fully engage the contactors or some such? I'm an IT nerd, not an electrical engineer, so I'm just grasping at straws here. I don't want to leave my truck at the dealer for another 2 weeks to have them tell me that nothing is wrong with it.

Sponsored

 

[FordTough98198]

So I have been having this off and on issue since I got my truck, wherein I am unable to reliably charge at home (or any other lvl2 charger), but I can DCFC just fine. I plug in, I can hear the EVSe contactor engaging, I think I can hear the truck contactor engaging, but I end up I just get the solid orange ring of death.

I originally had an issue like this awhile back, and posted about it in this thread , but I think what I am experiencing now might be slightly different.

First, to answer a few obvious things: I have multiple EVSEs, and multiple EVs in the house. This means that I can prove the problem is NOT the EVSE, the power, etc. All of my EVSEs work on all of our other EVs. I have also tried nearby public L2 chargers, with the same results. But I can DCFC just fine, no problem at all.

It doesn't seem to be temperature related. I have tried on hot days, cool nights, after being parked for awhile, etc.

So after being unable to charge for the last week, I took it today to DCFC, with the intention of taking it back to the dealer again. After DCFCing (jsut to prove I still could), I brought it home, plugged it in, and lo and behold, it started charging just fine on L2.

The only other thing different about today vs the last week is that I haven't been driving much lately, but today I made a trip across town. So that got me thinking: Is it possible that this could be 12v battery related? Anyone seen anything similar? Like maybe if the 12v battery is low, it won't fully engage the contactors or some such? I'm an IT nerd, not an electrical engineer, so I'm just grasping at straws here. I don't want to leave my truck at the dealer for another 2 weeks to have them tell me that nothing is wrong with it.

Does the amber ring happen at the same time each plug in? We had an issue on our Mach E where after 3 minutes exactly it shut off every time. Unplugging and re-plugging engaged it again and it would charge just fine. We changed the output of our L2 charger to a lower amount and now the issue is seemingly gone, however it charges slightly slower. We didn’t have any issues at the higher rate with the Lightning. When we asked the dealership they said something about the charge port needing to be replaced and they ordered the part on warranty. Waiting on that to arrive, bud meanwhile it’s charging fine using lower amps on the L2 charger. No amber ring.

 

[HaroldCal]

Does the amber ring happen at the same time each plug in? We had an issue on our Mach E where after 3 minutes exactly it shut off every time. Unplugging and re-plugging engaged it again and it would charge just fine. We changed the output of our L2 charger to a lower amount and now the issue is seemingly gone, however it charges slightly slower. We didn’t have any issues at the higher rate with the Lightning. When we asked the dealership they said something about the charge port needing to be replaced and they ordered the part on warranty. Waiting on that to arrive, bud meanwhile it’s charging fine using lower amps on the L2 charger. No amber ring.

I tried stepping all the way down to 12a, and same result. The Orange ring is consistent each time, after just a few seconds. It wouldn't actually start charging at all.

 

[FordTough98198]

I tried stepping all the way down to 12a, and same result. The Orange ring is consistent each time, after just a few seconds. It wouldn't actually start charging at all.

Might be worth a check with the dealer. I forgot to mention the Mach E had no issue with DC Fast Charging either. Either way, good luck to you for a quick resolution.

 

[Heliian]

There have been some similar problems posted here.

First, clear all the saved charging points and try again. If that doesn't work then the dealer will have to diagnose the problem. Probably a bad charger.

 

[hturnerfamily]

yes, that pesky tiny 12v 'starter' battery can always contribute to 'strange' issues that arise.

what's the difference between DC fast charging and Level 2 charging? An inverter/converter.
when you DC fast charge, the truck is getting DIRECT charge thru the CCS DC pins. the J1772 part of the CCS handle is simply for 'communications'.
when you home charge/Level 2 charge, you are asking the truck to use it's own internal components, i.e. converter/inverter, etc. to manage and handle that 240v to DC power input and conversion.

If your 12v battery is not able to 'activate' the converter/inverter, then that very well may be your issue.

 

[Bill Mead]

I had the same problem with my 2023 F-150 Platinum that was three weeks old with less than 600 miles. Would not charge at home (red ring) but would at DC fast charger. Ford dealer said it was a bad inverter/charger located under the fronk. It took five days to get new charger and three weeks to schedule a fix. Looking back I should have kept it and fast charged until they could schedule it in. Instead it sat outside for a month before it was repaired.

 

[Zprime29]

Seen a handful of other folk describe exactly what you are describing here, and what @Bill Mead just mentioned. My suspicion is a bad inverter and I'd take it in for service. Most have at least a level 2 on site that they can confirm with.

Sponsored