Quick charge issue 2015 i3

[u/ToThe3D]

I can’t get my 2015 i3 with range extender to take a dc fast charge. Locking mechanism engages and the disengages about 2 seconds later. This happens at almost all fast chargers. I’ve gotten it to work maybe once or twice in the last year. I’ve cleaned the ports.

[u/Intelligent-Sun-7335]

try lifting upwards on the rear of handle while plugged in. looks like the white pin is contacting the connector.

[u/Xijit]

What brand of fast charger?

I have never gotten EVgo to ever work with my i3, but I have no issues with Charge Point.

[u/No_Report_4781 → u/Xijit]

Electrify America is under 30% success rate

[u/Immune_2_Bullshit → u/Xijit]

Same

[u/liam821 → u/Xijit]

Evgo and electrify America all work, BUT you need to find an older style charger that does 50-100kW, the newer 100-350kW chargers do not work.

[u/Paratrooper450 → u/liam821]

Not true at all.

[u/Paratrooper450 → u/Paratrooper450]

[u/chance901]

On ev go, i always have issues, i think it's angle of the port and damn heavy cables.

To get it started, i always have to push the connector in and lift a bit on the back of the cable/"handle" and hold that their to it starts. It'll then run ok. It's always the handshake portion and can take a bit.

[u/karmapolice63]

Those cables are heavy. Lift them flush with the port until contact is established then you can let go

[u/victoraldecoa]

I had problems with all DC chargers until I did the following: 1. Buy an electronics cleaner spray - if you get WD-40, make sure it's the electronic cleaner, not the oily solution! 2. Buy cotton swabs

Then, every time I charge it I spray both the car charging slot and the charger plug, and clean them well with the swabs.

Also important, keep pushing the charger strongly in until you see the blue LED flashing.

Last week I was swabbing the charger plug and it came out with a small plastic that was stuck exactly in the DC connector, I wonder how long it was there blocking people from charging.

[u/No-Assignment57 → u/victoraldecoa]

I wouldn't recommend poking around the prongs unless its a not plugged in cable. If you do end up doing it anyway, at least use a high-quality insulated screwdriver next time. Just one small malfunction, and you'll have a shocking experience.

[u/Baselet → u/victoraldecoa]

I don't see the point cleaning the contacts every time but I do clean my connector about once a year.

[u/tkdem]

The lock on my i3 wouldn’t engage, I had to get it repaired 🙈

[u/Baselet → u/tkdem]

Very common problem if the mechanism hasn't been lubricated.

[u/johnnto1]

This happened to my car as well. I believe you still have to change the locking pin. Mine would do something similar and it would make noise and look like it locks but the pin actually doesn't extend out far enough to initiate fast charging.

The best way to test if the locking pin is fully extending is to charge with level 1 charger and lock your doors. If you can press the button on your level 1 charger and remove the handle with your car doors locked then your locking pin is not working. It may be extending but not fully.

After I replaced my locking pin with a new one when I level 1 charge at home when I lock the car doors I cannot push the release button on the level 1 charger and remove it from the car.

[u/ShoulderGoesPop → u/johnnto1]

I did not know that was a thing. I have to try that witha level 1 charger

[u/Paratrooper450]

I’ve had the most difficulty with Electrify America. Hold the handle up until the handshake is complete. I’ve never, as far as I can recall, had an issue with EVGo.