Difficulty removing charging cable from plug in van

Kiwikamper · Jan 9, 2023

Does anyone else struggle to remove the charging cable plug from the van socket when charging is complete? I depress the small lever beside the plug which presumably releases a catch to allow the plug to be freely removed. However the lever isn’t being effective and it’s only after much jiggling that I’m able to extract the plug.

chockswahay · Jan 9, 2023

Nope, that’s not normal.

CaliBaba · Jan 9, 2023

Normal for my T6.

Jabberwocky · Jan 9, 2023

I solved that problem on my 2017 T6 by rubbing some candle wax on the pins of the plug as there was some light corrosion present. I now have a 2019 T6 and did the same to this Cali. No problems since. A little tip. Push the plug fully home, then press the little lever before and while pulling the plug out of the socket.

dspuk · Jan 9, 2023

As far as I can see there are two points of contact. The first is the clip that just stops it being pulled out. Then the plug itself is a firm press fit. Has to be for decent contact. It does need a fair pull to then remove. Less a problem and more a design decision I’d say. Any play at all in the plug would lead to shorting.

thomasamoht · Jan 10, 2023

Baldrick · Jan 11, 2023

Same here. Every time I have to give it a hefty pull or push I wonder about the pros and cons of using WD40 / GT85 / similar on both surfaces

kurienp · Jan 11, 2023

Baldrick said:
Same here. Every time I have to give it a hefty pull or push I wonder about the pros and cons of using WD40 / GT85 / similar on both surfaces

You can use wax or a little bit of silicone grease/spray on the plastic mating surfaces. Very little so that it does not spread too much. Just rub a wax candle. That will be the best.

rpevans99 · Jan 11, 2023

I cured this problem recently by rubbing a bit of Vaseline on the plastic shroud and the pins.

Philfox3 · Jan 11, 2023

I did. I’d ordered a right angle plug for the van end of the cable, thinking the wire would be less of a trip hazard dropping straight to the floor and it was but I was distorting the body panel getting the plug out. I then tried the plug that came with the vehicle and it came out easily so I ended up changing the right angle plug that came with the 25m cable for the one that came with the van. In my case I think it was simply down to the construction tolerances of the plugs. Phil