Charge port door nearly unresponsive to UMC button

[jgs]

Our Model 3’s charge port door is very nearly unresponsive to the button on the UMC. At first I thought it was 100% nonfunctional, but subsequently figured out that it occasionally opens. After a little more experimentation, it appears it opens if I hold the handle quite close (inches) to the charge door when I press the button.

The same UMC (a Gen 1 that came with my S) opens the charge port on my Model S just fine at the reasonable range of several feet. I’ve also tried with the UMC that was delivered with the Model 3 and the behavior is the same. We’ve done one road trip with the Model 3 and — although I wasn’t watching carefully for it — I believe the charge port responded fine to Supercharger handles.

Of course I can also open the charge port by pressing it, but it galls me to not have the UMC button work as it should. Is this a known thing? (I’ve tried a few searches and come up blank, so maybe not?)

 

[Petrlol]

Is the car asleep when you try to use the button? Mine is super sporadic if it's already locked or if it's fully charged to the set limit and it's in deep sleep.

 

[jgs]

Is the car asleep when you try to use the button? Mine is super sporadic if it's already locked or if it's fully charged to the set limit and it's in deep sleep.

No, I pull up, jump out, grab the handle, hit the button.

 

[GPinzone]

Our Model 3’s charge port door is very nearly unresponsive to the button on the UMC. At first I thought it was 100% nonfunctional, but subsequently figured out that it occasionally opens. After a little more experimentation, it appears it opens if I hold the handle quite close (inches) to the charge door when I press the button.

Same here.

 

[fcharland]

Same here also. Used to have an s before.

 

[MikeBur]

Similar with a few gen 2 HWPC and gen 1 um . Found most reliable area is left-most corner of charge port door. Hold charger cable handle about an inch from that point and works a lot better for us.

 

[jgs]

Hold charger cable handle about an inch from that point and works a lot better for us.

Seriously, at that point why have remote door release at all? If I’m an inch from the door, I can just push it with my finger. :-( The way it works with the S, it’s actually useful, since the sequence of motions to plug in goes like,

- pick up handle
- while lifting it, press button
- charge port opens as I’m in the process of moving the handle to the car, and is fully open before I get there
- plug in

 

[MikeBur]

Seriously, at that point why have remote door release at all? If I’m an inch from the door, I can just push it with my finger. :-( The way it works with the S, it’s actually useful, since the sequence of motions to plug in goes like,

- pick up handle
- while lifting it, press button
- charge port opens as I’m in the process of moving the handle to the car, and is fully open before I get there
- plug in

Hey, I’m not Judging, just responding with what works for us. We get a lot more rain and associated dirt here. So, maybe “keeping your hands cleaner”? ;-)

 

[Need]

I press the button only when the handle is a few inches from the charge door for both our X and 3. I didn't even realize there is a difference in range between the X and 3 on the charge door opening.

 

[Az_Rael]

My 3 is doing this, but I assumed my charge port door was going bad. I can push the button on the wall charger and our S in the next garage spot over will happily open its port, but my 3 that is a foot from it won’t without some coaxing.

 

[eprosenx]

Our Model 3’s charge port door is very nearly unresponsive to the button on the UMC. At first I thought it was 100% nonfunctional, but subsequently figured out that it occasionally opens. After a little more experimentation, it appears it opens if I hold the handle quite close (inches) to the charge door when I press the button.

The same UMC (a Gen 1 that came with my S) opens the charge port on my Model S just fine at the reasonable range of several feet. I’ve also tried with the UMC that was delivered with the Model 3 and the behavior is the same. We’ve done one road trip with the Model 3 and — although I wasn’t watching carefully for it — I believe the charge port responded fine to Supercharger handles.

Of course I can also open the charge port by pressing it, but it galls me to not have the UMC button work as it should. Is this a known thing? (I’ve tried a few searches and come up blank, so maybe not?)

I wonder if there could be RF interference?

Or something is wrong with the antenna/receiver in the Model 3 (is the UMC is proven good on a different car).

Anyone looked up what frequency they are using?

 

[jgs]

I wonder if there could be RF interference?

No, same UMC works as expected with my Model S in the same location.

Or something is wrong with the antenna/receiver in the Model 3 (is the UMC is proven good on a different car).

Yes, it’s proven good, see above.

Anyone looked up what frequency they are using?

I haven’t. It’s obvs the same as they use with the S and the X, though. Considering others have built their own transmitters, it must be a known frequency.

 

[MikeBur]

Hey @COrocket, care to elaborate what you’re disagreeing about?

 

[BBB4000]

I just got a new UMC (gen 2) and the button won’t open the charge port on my MS. Port opens from the app and touch screen and with my old charger. Any ideas?

 

[eprosenx]

I just got a new UMC (gen 2) and the button won’t open the charge port on my MS. Port opens from the app and touch screen and with my old charger. Any ideas?

Will it open the charge port door on any other Tesla? (trying to figure out if it is defective)

How close are you holding it to the door?

 

[BBB4000]

Will it open the charge port door on any other Tesla? (trying to figure out if it is defective)

How close are you holding it to the door?

No idea I don’t have another Tesla to try it on. I’m holding it one inch away.

 

[eprosenx]

No idea I don’t have another Tesla to try it on. I’m holding it one inch away.

Is it plugged into a known good electrical outlet while trying this?

It won’t work without power.

Otherwise it sounds like you have a defective unit.

 

[BBB4000]

Is it plugged into a known good electrical outlet while trying this?

It won’t work without power.

Otherwise it sounds like you have a defective unit.

It is. My old charger still works. Same outlet.

 

[Elmexiken]

Wait, I'm late to the game here, just having taken delivery a few weeks ago. The UMC, if plugged in to power at that end, opens the charge door automagically!!!!???? Simply by pressing the button on it???? You mean I don't have to be a pleb and hit the button on the touchscreen or my phone????!!!!

I read the manual, most of it anyway. Can't believe I missed that, if that is the case =/

 

[jjrandorin]

Wait, I'm late to the game here, just having taken delivery a few weeks ago. The UMC, if plugged in to power at that end, opens the charge door automagically!!!!???? Simply by pressing the button on it???? You mean I don't have to be a pleb and hit the button on the touchscreen or my phone????!!!!

I read the manual, most of it anyway. Can't believe I missed that, if that is the case =/

I have a wall connector and have not used the UMC delivered with the car, but I believe it has the same button on it as the wall connector. If so, you can push the button on the connector to open the charge door but as is said in this thread, in Model 3s it has to be pretty close.

In my case, it needs to be within about 3 inches or so to open the port door.