charge pin not retracting

[g4qber]

when car is unlocked or after DC Fast charge
eg. Bunbury RAC Electric Highway

Other i3 owners have had this, now it is my turn.

i3 going in 21 Dec for a diagnosis.
Auto Classic cannot order parts until diagnosis is complete.

[ev.2549]

I also had this, after granny charging overnight, and it was very cold. I pulled the blue cord in desperation. Big mistake. It should only be pulled 20mm - mine was much further. Locking solenoid apparently buggered, according to BMW Canberra. Only $938 later, it's all back.
DON'T PULL THE CORD - lock, unlock, relock, etc. shake and wriggle. it WILL eventually come out!

[ev.2549]

I just had it stick, again. This time in warm sunny conditions, at home, where my DREMEL was. five minutes later, the plug had a hole in it, and a screwdriver successfully levered the caught hook, up, with a sickening crunch/bang. I was worried that I might have buggered the new $938 solenoid thingy that holds the hook lever down, but it still charges fine, regardless. We'll see how it goes next time I connect up to L3 DCRC in Canberra...

[coulomb]

... and a screwdriver successfully levered the caught hook, up, with a sickening crunch/bang.

Was that a mechanical bang, or an electrical one?

[ev.2549]

well, maybe a bit of both - more mechanical. Charging it does not seem to have been affected, and I can now get into the mechanical latch in the granny charger plug, if needs be, with a blade screwdriver. It looks like the little, inbuilt mechanical latch (driven by the $300 solenoid?) that comes down to hold the plug (in place), has broken. Maybe Ian (the i3) thinks it is working, and charges regardless. Although I always depower it, the plug can be pulled out while it is charging, which indicates something not "as it always was". I'll report back if a deeper problem becomes evident!

[ev.2549]

Incidentally, the Japanese i3 s, that have CHAdeMO in the normal rear side port, have a J1772 in the frunk. It doesn't have the little mechanical/solenoid plug holder - the spot at the top of the socket is just blank. I will ask the kiwis whether the plug is locked in, or can be removed like mine now can be...