Problems connecting to Rapid Chargers - and I'm not a Newbie!

[greeiig]

Hi all. It's been a while since I last did a long trip. Last week I did a longish road trip through France so had to use rapid chargers quite a lot
I've previously done this without any issues - apart from the usual hassle of using apps vs charge cards etc. My favourite one to use in France has been Ionity - I could usually connect and charge with no problems..
But on this trip I had loads of problems stemming from the charger not seeming to be able to connect with the car. I'd go to the charger, do the usual initiation, be told to connect the charger to the car. Then wait, and wait, then get told the session had stopped, or just not started as there was an error.
Most times I would try again, and it might then work, or not. Then I'd move to another charger in the row, it might then work, or not. I don't think I ever was completely unable to charge, but I had to make multiple attempts. This happened particularly with Ionity and TotalEnergies.
One time I initiated the charger, then plugged in when it told me to, but it errorred. I then tried again but this time put the cable in first, and it worked.
Other times, the same trick didn't work, but moving to a different charger did.
This never happened to me on previous trip. My MG5 is a December 2021 model, starting to get on a bit, but only 3.5 years old.
I thought I'd gotten over the whole "charging is a hassle" phase so this was so annoying...

Any ideas what might be causing this? I had a full service just in January, so should have had a software update. I'm worried that it's to do with the physical connection between the car plug and the charging cable, in which case perhaps it's just going to get worse. Perhaps I should ask MG for a software update, or perhaps a new socket!

Any suggestion from you wise sages?

 

[rjb1970]

I find this occasionally, and a fail safe I've found is to lock the car once the plug is in the socket. Sometimes it doesn't quite catch for whatever reason, but locking the car also locks the charge port so helps it stay put.

 

[Pebblefeline]

How’s your 12V battery? Is it the original?

If the 12V starts to fail then charging can become a bit iffy.

 

[Coulomb]

I'm worried that it's to do with the physical connection between the car plug and the charging cable, in which case perhaps it's just going to get worse.

It could be the charging socket. There was a post recently about someone getting their CCS port replaced as the two DC pins were corroded. That fixed their rapid charging problems.

Sadly, I can't find that post now, with the forum software or with Google. Perhaps take a good look at the big pins in the charging port. [ Edit: or the comms pins. ] If there is visible corrosion, then the dealer should be able to fix it.

Edit: here is that post:

Post in thread 'Anyone else getting dcdc charge fault & more errors leading to MG5 breakdown?'

Apr 12, 2025

Cheers dude, I’m getting the same with my MG5 right now! I’m going to buy a new 12v battery this morning, fit it the try to clear the faults. I’m thinking the initial fault was the CCU as the car won’t charge and now I’ve tampered with the 12v battery it’s throwing up every fault on the dash!!!

Those errors will clear after a few miles of driving.
The only thing in my car's history (as stated earlier) that is similar was a failure to charge on DC for a few days/attempts followed by hv battery fault that would not clear. Weeks in the garage eventually turned up corrosion on the...

• 5teep

• 

 

[Gomev]

...
One time I initiated the charger, then plugged in when it told me to, but it errorred. I then tried again but this time put the cable in first, and it worked.
...

Any suggestion from you wise sages?

I always found that time to initiate communication seemed important, and so I always plug in first regardless of the instructions on the charger and have never had a problem with regard to this action. - Exception would be where the charger won't release the cable until you initiate, and obviously there have been a few fails over the years but not due to order of events.
In my experience the charger couldn't really care less where the connector is sitting before you initiate the process, be it sitting in the chargers holster, laying on the floor or shoved in the 'hole' in the car where you charge it. After all it isn't doing anything until you tell it to do so. If it is already in the 'hole' then as soon as you give it the go on charger then it can start communicating immediately.
Has worked for me for nearly 5 years but others may have different opinions.

 

[greeiig]

Thanks for the responses - very helpful.

a fail safe I've found is to lock the car once the plug is in the socket.

I always plug in first regardless of the instructions on the charger and have never had a problem with regard to this action.

I will try plugging in and locking first and see if that makes a difference. Main issue is that I rarely need to do en-route rapid charging so it will probably be another 6 months before I have to try it.

If the 12V starts to fail then charging can become a bit iffy.

I have my original battery but the voltage appears fine and I've had no issues with it, so I don't think that's the problem

It could be the charging socket. There was a post recently about someone getting their CCS port replaced as the two DC pins were corroded. That fixed their rapid charging problems.

I will also look into the charging socket corrosion point next time I get the car serviced. the DC pins (the two at the bottom) are generally sealed off 99% of the time but I guess it's possible.

I'd really like to get back to being relaxed about charging. I get so annoyed about the EV haters going on about it and I'd never go back, but we really need to sort it out so starting a charge is quicker

 

[5teep]

It could be the charging socket. There was a post recently about someone getting their CCS port replaced as the two DC pins were corroded. That fixed their rapid charging problems.

Sadly, I can't find that post now, with the forum software or with Google. Perhaps take a good look at the big pins in the charging port. If there is visible corrosion, then the dealer should be able to fix it.

That was me and yes it could be an issue, the charge port is supposed to be protected by rubber caps but it's not water proof and connectors themselves can be wet which can lead to corrosion. Even if light, it might still affect communications between the car and charger.

I'm finding with my 'newer' car that if I leave it off even for a couple of minutes before I try to start a charge it will fail as the car seems to go into a hibernate syle mode and doesn't respond to the charger.

 

[5teep]

Thanks for the responses - very helpful.


I will try plugging in and locking first and see if that makes a difference. Main issue is that I rarely need to do en-route rapid charging so it will probably be another 6 months before I have to try it.


I have my original battery but the voltage appears fine and I've had no issues with it, so I don't think that's the problem



I will also look into the charging socket corrosion point next time I get the car serviced. the DC pins (the two at the bottom) are generally sealed off 99% of the time but I guess it's possible.

I'd really like to get back to being relaxed about charging. I get so annoyed about the EV haters going on about it and I'd never go back, but we really need to sort it out so starting a charge is quicker

It's more likely to be the smaller communicating pins at the top.

 

[xblackwolf90]

Locking the car first seems to be quite an important step for me.

If it's not locked, charging can be hit and miss starting. Once there's a failed charge, it's a nightmare to get going! It then needs powering off and leaving for a few mins before trying again.

 

[greeiig]

It's more likely to be the smaller communicating pins at the top.

OH right. I haven't had any issues with AC Charging so I presumed it was the two big DC pins that were the issue.

 

[greeiig]

Locking the car first seems to be quite an important step for me.

If it's not locked, charging can be hit and miss starting. Once there's a failed charge, it's a nightmare to get going! It then needs powering off and leaving for a few mins before trying again.

Thanks - that's interesting and agrees with many of the previous comments. Because the kids were in the car I didn't generally lock it first, Next time I will definitely try the following:
1. Connect the charging cable to the car socket
2. Lock the car so the charge port locks
... then do the business with the charger.

Thanks all..

 

[kevin ellard]

OH right. I haven't had any issues with AC Charging so presumed it was the two big DC pins that were the issue.

I think that the extra weight of the DC cables makes it harder for the plug to stay properly in the socket and I guess that is why locking the car can often help.

 

[Rookery]

I think that the extra weight of the DC cables makes it harder for the plug to stay properly in the socket and I guess that is why locking the car can often help.

Yes I agree with that, occasionally I have had to hold the connector in until initiation has completed.

 

[greeiig]

I tested it last weekend with a Gridserve DC Charger. First time it didn't connect. I then got the kids out of the car, locked it, then tried again. It connected fine.. good to know it helps but I still think it shouldn't be necessary..

 

[xblackwolf90]

I tested it last weekend with a Gridserve DC Charger. First time it didn't connect. I then got the kids out of the car, locked it, then tried again. It connected fine.. good to know it helps but I still think it shouldn't be necessary..

On facelift models, you can tap the 'Lock' button on the central display instead of locking the entire car. Seems to work just just fine and is an easier option if you intend to remain in the car during charging.

Pre-facelift...unfortunately it seems a full lock is the only option.

 

[maskull]

On facelift models, you can tap the 'Lock' button on the central display instead of locking the entire car. Seems to work just just fine and is an easier option if you intend to remain in the car during charging.

Pre-facelift...unfortunately it seems a full lock is the only option.

I found it the best option on my PFL 5 but unlock once the charge had started. The charge just carries on

 

[greeiig]

I found it the best option on my PFL 5 but unlock once the charge had started. The charge just carries on

Yes - the issue seems to be just that initial communication to start the charge - once started it seems to remain stable

 

[Gomev]

Although I inevitably did lock the car when rapid charging, this was always after the charge started. (start charge, check it's working, missus gets out, lock car, go for coffee/sausage roll/stretch legs).
So is this a recent update problem as I never had to lock the car to initiate a charge on my PFL ?
NB there was an early problem with the MG5 re this but was cured by an update. See this thread - posts 1-4

F

Thread 'Charging while unlocked'

Mar 14, 2021

Hi. I'm sure I read on here somewhere that you can can charge while unlocked.

However the manual says that you can only charge while the car is locked?

My car is arriving next week ??

• Fireman frog
• charging mg5
• Replies: 16
• Forum: MG5 EV Forum

 

[greeiig]

Although I inevitably did lock the car when rapid charging, this was always after the charge started. (start charge, check it's working, missus gets out, lock car, go for coffee/sausage roll/stretch legs).
So is this a recent update problem as I never had to lock the car to initiate a charge on my PFL ?
NB there was an early problem with the MG5 re this but was cured by an update. See this thread - posts 1-4

F

Thread 'Charging while unlocked'

Mar 14, 2021

Hi. I'm sure I read on here somewhere that you can can charge while unlocked.

However the manual says that you can only charge while the car is locked?

My car is arriving next week ??

• Fireman frog
• charging mg5
• Replies: 16
• Forum: MG5 EV Forum

I just don't know. I certainly didn't experience any issues starting a charge on rapids on previous trips. My MG5 Trophy is a late 2021 model.
I'm unsure as to whether it is a hardware (pins getting rusty, not connecting well enough) or software issue.
Certainly, locking the car to get the charging point to lock in seems to help with getting a charging session to initiate. I just wish it wasn't necessary as it complicates things and - at the moment - makes any rapid charging session just a bit more stressful than it really should be.
This is exacerbated a bit for me as I rarely need to charge on a rapid charger - which is probably quite common actually - so every experience feels "new" for me

 

[Gomev]

I just don't know. I certainly didn't experience any issues starting a charge on rapids on previous trips. My MG5 Trophy is a late 2021 model.
I'm unsure as to whether it is a hardware (pins getting rusty, not connecting well enough) or software issue.
Certainly, locking the car to get the charging point to lock in seems to help with getting a charging session to initiate. I just wish it wasn't necessary as it complicates things and - at the moment - makes any rapid charging session just a bit more stressful than it really should be.
This is exacerbated a bit for me as I rarely need to charge on a rapid charger - which is probably quite common actually - so every experience feels "new" for me

I totally understand. Based on my experience as I never sat in the car waiting when rapid charging it wouldn't make too much difference, just have to get the missus out of the car first. So maybe think of it that way and it won't irritate as much. I always like to plan a stop as a break rather than a chore to charge the car and try and plan a stop somewhere nice(ish) where I can pass the time comfortably.