Based on comparing the 2024 manual to the 2023 manual, the ability to change the behavior of the function has been deleted. It locks to the charger cable when the car is locked, and releases the cable lock when the car is unlocked. It is no longer possible to lock the car while leaving the cable unlocked.

 

Wow, that is unfortunate. I wonder why this change was made.

 

So with a 2024, if you are using a public charge cable, your locked car finishes charging, the next person waiting to charge their own car cannot remove the cable to use until you return and unlock your car? Not very neighborly unless you do not lock your car. Perhaps Toyota will correct this with a software upgrade.

 

So with a 2024, if you are using a public charge cable, your locked car finishes charging, the next person waiting to charge their own car cannot remove the cable to use until you return and unlock your car? Not very neighborly unless you do not lock your car.

I've parked my car in a public garage and charged using an adapter that does not lock to the cable and had people remove the cable long before charging was completed. I can understand why Toyota has this lock feature.

 

So with a 2024, if you are using a public charge cable, your locked car finishes charging, the next person waiting to charge their own car cannot remove the cable to use until you return and unlock your car?

That's my conclusion based on how the manual was changed.

Not very neighborly unless you do not lock your car. Perhaps Toyota will correct this with a software upgrade.

Maybe, but it would require even more complaints than the ones that drove them to make this change in the first place.

Wow, that is unfortunate. I wonder why this change was made.

Let's look at the difference between 2023 and 2024.

2023:
The user could select among 3 modes regarding the locking of the charger cable.
1) “Auto Lock” (Default setting)
The charging connector is automatically locked when the charging connector is connected.

2) “Auto Lock & Unlock”
The charging connector is automatically locked when the charging connector is connected and automatically unlocked when charging is completed.

3) “OFF”
Not using the charging connector locking system. [The charging connector is never locked]

2024:
If the doors are locked with the charging connector inserted into the AC charging inlet, charging connector is locked. When the doors are unlocked, the charging connector is unlocked.

The 2024 mode is different than any of the 2023 modes. In 2023, I suspect default mode 1) caused user frustration. As soon as you plug in the cable, it locks, whether the car is locked or not. The only way to release the cable is to unlock the car. If the car was already unlocked, then you have to lock and then unlock the doors to unlock the charging connector. I've seen posts about this.

The same issue applies to mode 2) if the battery has not completed charging. Only once it's charged does the cable lock release automatically.

The 2024 mode is certainly easier to understand and control, albeit at the loss of flexibility for releasing the cable once charging is complete. That would be a nice feature to add to the phone app. Make it so the phone notifies you when charging is complete, and ask if the cable should be unlocked. Or just let the user remotely unlock the cable whether charging is complete or not.

 

That's my conclusion based on how the manual was changed.

Maybe, but it would require even more complaints than the ones that drove them to make this change in the first place.

Let's look at the difference between 2023 and 2024.

2023:
The user could select among 3 modes regarding the locking of the charger cable.
1) “Auto Lock” (Default setting)
The charging connector is automatically locked when the charging connector is connected.

2) “Auto Lock & Unlock”
The charging connector is automatically locked when the charging connector is connected and automatically unlocked when charging is completed.

3) “OFF”
Not using the charging connector locking system. [The charging connector is never locked]

2024:
If the doors are locked with the charging connector inserted into the AC charging inlet, charging connector is locked. When the doors are unlocked, the charging connector is unlocked.

The 2024 mode is different than any of the 2023 modes. In 2023, I suspect default mode 1) caused user frustration. As soon as you plug in the cable, it locks, whether the car is locked or not. The only way to release the cable is to unlock the car. If the car was already unlocked, then you have to lock and then unlock the doors to unlock the charging connector. I've seen posts about this.

The same issue applies to mode 2) if the battery has not completed charging. Only once it's charged does the cable lock release automatically.

The 2024 mode is certainly easier to understand and control, albeit at the loss of flexibility for releasing the cable once charging is complete. That would be a nice feature to add to the phone app. Make it so the phone notifies you when charging is complete, and ask if the cable should be unlocked. Or just let the user remotely unlock the cable whether charging is complete or not.

Also, my 2022 charging connector unlocks when you unlock the doors. Then about 30 seconds later it relocks. This is somewhat of an annoyance because if you have stuff to put in the car, by the time you put it down, the connector is locked. Then you have to open a front door and hit the unlock button. The 2024 looks like this annoyance has been eliminated.

 

The setting only shows up when the car is not charging. When it is charging, the option for auto unlock is hidden. This unlocks the connector when the battery is fully charged.

 

This is how my 23 is, yet is it this way for the 24?

 

Yes, I don’t see the option in the 2024 Prime. I would like Toyota to reconsider and include the option to disable auto lock.

 

I just checked my 2024 R4P owners manual (page 604), connector lock is no longer an option. Too bad, it literally would have been less work for the developers to just leave that option there.

 

Has anyone looked for a way around this? Unplug the actuator? Remove the pin? Relocate the actuator?

 

Hi All,

I just took delivery of my 2024 XSE yesterday. I do not like the idea of the charge connector being locked. I mostly charge at a public charging spot, and if someone wants to remove the charger from the car - I don't want them to encounter resistance that may potentially result in damage to my car. (Either by someone forcefully trying to remove the charger, (or, inflicting damage on the vehicle because of frustration that the charger is locked). I'd rather that they get what they want, which is the charger.

And, as it turns out, for some odd reason, the 2024 does not allow one to select how the connector is locked. It appears that in all instances, it is locked if the doors are locked.

As a first trial, I have opened the panel where the emergency release for the connector lock is and disconnected the wiring plug. This seems to work. The result is that when my doors are locked, neither the charge port door nor the connector lock are activated. Perhaps this is more than some may want, because they may want to have the port door locked, but not the connector. I guess one needs to take the bad with the good.

I've turned the car off and on a few times, and no signs that it even knows that I've done this. The notice that the port door is open does appear to work - so that's a good thing.

I'll report back if any errors or problems appear to pop up.