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Lock Charge Port Lid while driving? Car wash opens charge lid!

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VTXS

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
My Toyota dealer owns a really great car wash right next door and gives great discounts for it. My cars have always come out perfect with no swirls or damage to the paint (I have no fear of car washes that touch the car). The issue with the Rav4 Prime is that the charge door is unlocked when the car is on. I've been through the car wash twice with the Rav4. The first time the charge port lid was just in the clicked out position. Today it was fully open wide when I exited. No damage, but it's so easy to flick open that eventually it could get bent or torn off.

Is there any way to lock the charge port lid when the car is on? I can only get it to lock when the car is off.

I did a ugly hack today and added some industrial strength velcro inside, but you can't see it from outside. It requires more force to open the door. I'm thinking to maybe try and do a magnetic closure.

Anyone else have this issue?

Thanks!
 
#4 ·
TomKatt said:
Sounds like Alderman's in Rutland ;-)

The magnets sound like a good idea.
Click to expand...
magnets can interfere with the hybrid system and cause the charging system to stop working.

I had placed a removable subwoofer too close to the charging port area in the hatch and cause hybrid failure. Found in the owners manual a specific warning to keep magnets away from hybrid charging system.
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
covrc said:
magnets can interfere with the hybrid system and cause the charging system to stop working.

I had placed a removable subwoofer too close to the charging port area in the hatch and cause hybrid failure. Found in the owners manual a specific warning to keep magnets away from hybrid charging system.
Click to expand...
Thanks for letting me know this! I may just attach some sort of sort / bungee on the inside that I can stretch and release by hand or even just put a piece of tape on the back of the door that I apply and remove before and after the car wash.
 
#7 ·
VTXS said:
Thanks for letting me know this! I may just attach some sort of sort / bungee on the inside that I can stretch and release by hand or even just put a piece of tape on the back of the door that I apply and remove before and after the car wash.
Click to expand...
Dealer charged me $600 for diagnostics and contacted Toyota USA for guidance. I finally found the Magnetic Field warning in the owners manual and alerted them about the subwoofer.
 
#12 ·
Tesla doors come with a small magnet, so likely not an issue as long as low power. Another option is to ask someone with OBD2 for RAV4 Prime to check how to modify option for door lock while driving. Might be a selectable feature with OBD2.
 
#13 ·
VTXS said:
Doesn't work with the car turned on...charge port lid stays unlocked.
Click to expand...
How about turning the car off and keeping the parking brake off is that possible?

Have you tried Touchless? After reading about the potential for harsh acidic chemicals in those systems I contacted the local company that does Touchless where we live which are surprisingly effective and they said they have their own proprietary chemical blend which are intentionally designed to be non-harmful to finishes, using neutral pH detergents and they are the same as used in their DIY bays. I think overall touchless is going to be less harmful than whacking paint w/ the brushes on the non-touchless systems. And in our case the charging port lid stayed shut the 3x I've used this system.
 
#14 ·
VTXS said:
Doesn't work with the car turned on...charge port lid stays unlocked.
Click to expand...
That is odd. The owners manual (pages 107-108) indicates that the charge lid lock state follows the door lock state, with no mention (that I found) of the car being on/off altering that behavior. However, it does only specify using the 'Smart Key System' feature or the wireless remote, it does not specifically mention the interior door lock/unlock buttons. Curious, are you using those to lock the doors? Seems like a long shot, but perhaps the FOB needs to be used?

It would be pretty ridiculous if that was the case, but then again it's seems pretty ridiculous that the charge lid doesn't always just follow the state of the doors.
 
#15 ·
VTXS said:
My Toyota dealer owns a really great car wash right next door and gives great discounts for it. My cars have always come out perfect with no swirls or damage to the paint (I have no fear of car washes that touch the car). The issue with the Rav4 Prime is that the charge door is unlocked when the car is on. I've been through the car wash twice with the Rav4. The first time the charge port lid was just in the clicked out position. Today it was fully open wide when I exited. No damage, but it's so easy to flick open that eventually it could get bent or torn off.

Is there any way to lock the charge port lid when the car is on? I can only get it to lock when the car is off.

I did a ugly hack today and added some industrial strength velcro inside, but you can't see it from outside. It requires more force to open the door. I'm thinking to maybe try and do a magnetic closure.

Anyone else have this issue?

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I haven’t and never will have that issue because I never use automated car washes. That said, I know the correct way of keeping it closed. You simply need to get a couple of items. A good spray bottle, a few microfiber towels and some easy lift masking tape. Many car wash and detail shops use this method of keeping the fuel door closed while being power washed or going through the automated car washes. I am disabled and mid sixties and still take the time and effort to hand wash our cars. I realize that not everyone can or should do so, but after working as a body shop production manager for a few years I had the unfortunate experience of seeing the damages that a car wash can cause.
 
#16 ·
When I drive through a car wash, they always put tape on my rear windshield wiper. Just ask them to put the same kind of tape on the charge port door to prevent it from swinging completely open.
 
Discussion starter · #18 ·
PDXMOJO said:
I haven’t and never will have that issue because I never use automated car washes. That said, I know the correct way of keeping it closed. You simply need to get a couple of items. A good spray bottle, a few microfiber towels and some easy lift masking tape. Many car wash and detail shops use this method of keeping the fuel door closed while being power washed or going through the automated car washes. I am disabled and mid sixties and still take the time and effort to hand wash our cars. I realize that not everyone can or should do so, but after working as a body shop production manager for a few years I had the unfortunate experience of seeing the damages that a car wash can cause.
Click to expand...
I wish we could do that here in the Northeast, but washing the car yourself is almost impossible when it's 0 degrees outside. Went through a different automated wash yesterday after traveling for the holiday and while it didn't open the charge door, it didn't clean the car as well. The one that opens the door, the car comes out perfect without any scratches or other problems.

jlawr1 said:
When I drive through a car wash, they always put tape on my rear windshield wiper. Just ask them to put the same kind of tape on the charge port door to prevent it from swinging completely open.
Click to expand...
That's a good idea! I can keep some strips of painters tape in the car! Thanks!
 
#20 ·
Greetings to all! As a fresh RAV owner, I must confess that owning a Toyota was never in my plans, yet here I am, absolutely enamored with my new ride.
I've discovered a clever workaround for the charger door dilemma, especially handy for those moments when you're heading into a car wash and need to ensure the charge door stays locked. Allow me to share the steps:
  1. Unlock your car.
  2. Enter the vehicle and close all the doors behind you.
  3. Use the remote to lock the car before Starting.
  4. To start the car, press the start button while holding the remote close to it.
  5. Make your way to the car wash without opening any doors afterward.
I plan to reach out to Toyota regarding this issue. It seems like it could be resolved with a straightforward software update, or else, they might find themselves fixing a lot of charge doors.
Appreciate your time, Mike
 
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