Blocked drain in charging port

[EvTek23]

My car was on charge last night and it was raining. I haven't seen this before, but when I came to remove the type 2 plug I noticed that there was standing water in the bottom of the charging port. While it can't become dangerously high, or get into the DC charging contacts if the car is on a level surface, there may be an issue if the car is parked across a slope where the charging port side of the car is higher than the opposite side.
I have had this before on my previous car which was diesel, where any spillage of fuel would run down the tube and onto the ground beneath the car. Eventually the oily fuel in conjunction with road dirt created a sealing cap on the end of the tube beneath the vehicle.
I cleared this on that occasion by running a length of flexible insulated copper wire from the top end down the tube until it emerged under the car, and removing the formed diesel and dirt cap in the process.
I wouldn't have expected the drain to block on an EV but nevertheless it had. There is a less intrusive method I also use which is to use your thumb, and in a pumping action at the top of the drain to create pressure in the tube. Eventually the collected water should drain and flush the tube at the same time. If this hadn't been successful I would have resorted to the wire method above.
You can always test or flush the drain tube by pouring water into the top end making sure it doesn't collect. I guess the same would be true after washing to make sure there was no standing water.
I must admit I keep the charging port clean and dry anyway, wiping it dry if there is any water present, so it was easy to spot the water this morning.
As winter approaches it ever more important to keep this area dry to prevent freezing occurring stopping access to the charging port.

 

[Martinonline]

I sought to avoid this issue by using a magnetic charge port cover when charging. I used to use cling film but that flies away if it is windy.

 

[MG Clive]

Where the drain hole is, you'd think they would make the bottom panel level, or sloping outwards instead of inwards, so that any water would just run out instead of building up towards the contacts if the hole was blocked.

 

[gary333]

Cleaning this hole was one of the service items on my last Ioniq. Do MG not list this out as a service item?

 

[EvTek23]

@gary333 Wow, that's a pretty comprehensive service by Hyundai if it includes that item, I can't see it specifically listed on the MG Maintenance check sheet, the closest it goes is checking the charging system is working.

 

[gary333]

@gary333 Wow, that's a pretty comprehensive service by Hyundai if it includes that item, I can't see it specifically listed on the MG Maintenance check sheet, the closest it goes is checking the charging system is working.

Well they hardly have their work cut out. They do next to nothing at all on a service. As this part is a risk if blocked it’s totally sensible to have it as a service item. All the do is give it a blow with compressed air, two second job.

 

[Lovemyev]

I had the front grill charge port drain tube block on our previous VW Golf PHEV.
It’s at the lowest point for obvious reason’s, but it tends to collect dirt for example when the car is being washed and it builds up.
A quick blast with a can of compressed air with the extension tube fitted did the job !.