[moose721]

Hello all,
I'm currently experiencing an intermittent failure with my 2012 EVSE L1 charger that came with the car. 10 days ago, I noticed in the morning that the lights were off on the L1 EVSE. I was not alarmed at first, as the EVSE usually trips the GFCI outlet in our garage fairly often (about once a week). However, I got back from work and noticed the GFCI was in fact not tripped, and the outlet was working. After placing calls to Chevrolet customer service, I went upstairs and plugged it in (it had been plugged in during the day, but was unplugged for about half an hour while I was on the phone) and the unit lit up and charged like normal. Fast forward a week to yesterday (I was on a camping trip and unable to charge) and I plug the car in. Again, i notice in the morning the car charged fully, and this time the lights on the EVSE were on. After running some errands this afternoon, I return and plug the car in. However, after about 1 hour I hear the "charge interrupted" triple honk alarm and the EVSE again appears to be "dead." Has anyone else experienced this issue, and if so, what conditions were found to be the root cause of the issue? I talked to Chevy service on the phone, and they said it was covered under the warranty, but I guarantee that the issue will not manifest itself at the dealer. I'm seriously considering cannibalizing the J1772 cord for an open EVSE dual L1-l2 build! Any advice from anyone who's had this issue in the past would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks everyone!


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[hellsop]

Hello all,
I'm currently experiencing an intermittent failure with my 2012 EVSE L1 charger that came with the car. 10 days ago, I noticed in the morning that the lights were off on the L1 EVSE. I was not alarmed at first, as the EVSE usually trips the GFCI outlet in our garage fairly often (about once a week). However, I got back from work and noticed the GFCI was in fact not tripped, and the outlet was working. After placing calls to Chevrolet customer service, I went upstairs and plugged it in (it had been plugged in during the day, but was unplugged for about half an hour while I was on the phone) and the unit lit up and charged like normal. Fast forward a week to yesterday (I was on a camping trip and unable to charge) and I plug the car in. Again, i notice in the morning the car charged fully, and this time the lights on the EVSE were on. After running some errands this afternoon, I return and plug the car in. However, after about 1 hour I hear the "charge interrupted" triple honk alarm and the EVSE again appears to be "dead." Has anyone else experienced this issue, and if so, what conditions were found to be the root cause of the issue? I talked to Chevy service on the phone, and they said it was covered under the warranty, but I guarantee that the issue will not manifest itself at the dealer. I'm seriously considering cannibalizing the J1772 cord for an open EVSE dual L1-l2 build! Any advice from anyone who's had this issue in the past would be greatly appreciated!

Same outlet? What else is on that circuit?

 

[llninja]

Same outlet? What else is on that circuit?

As hellsop suggests, check your electrical source first. If you and unplug ofthen, outlets can get worn out if you do this daily. Replace with a more expensive high quality heavy duty medical grade outlet.

 

[moose721]

Different outlets!!!! They occurred in separate garages. Nothing else is on either circuit. I've tried all sorts of different outlets around the house and the 2 times it's stopped working only an extended amount of time gets it working again.

 

[Mister Dave]

It could be a poor connection on the pilot circuit, or even a flaky microswitch in the handle. I'd start with some dielectric grease on the pins in the handle and charge port and see if that helps. The stuff is pretty inexpensive at your auto parts store.

 

[TSquare]

Could be an internal over heating problem in the EVSE. I think I remember someone on this forum had a similar problem and found that running a small fan blowing over it solved the problem. But, they still got it replaced.

 

[moose721]

It could be a poor connection on the pilot circuit, or even a flaky microswitch in the handle. I'd start with some dielectric grease on the pins in the handle and charge port and see if that helps. The stuff is pretty inexpensive at your auto parts store.

Thanks for the advice!!


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[moose721]

Could be an internal over heating problem in the EVSE. I think I remember someone on this forum had a similar problem and found that running a small fan blowing over it solved the problem. But, they still got it replaced.

GM already said it was covered under the Voltec warranty.... hoping I get upgraded to the 2016/2017 charger that's dual voltage! About time for an upgrade to L2 haha


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[llninja]

It could be a poor connection on the pilot circuit, or even a flaky microswitch in the handle. I'd start with some dielectric grease on the pins in the handle and charge port and see if that helps. The stuff is pretty inexpensive at your auto parts store.

Also check that you didn't get a kamikaze bug who splattered its guts in the J1772 plug or outlet. That happened to me, and I had to scrape dead bug parts out with a screwdriver before the car would charge. When it's dark, bugs love to go towards the light in the gen1 EVSE handle.

 

[moose721]

Also check that you didn't get a kamikaze bug who splattered its guts in the J1772 plug or outlet. That happened to me, and I had to scrape dead bug parts out with a screwdriver before the car would charge. When it's dark, bugs love to go towards the light in the gen1 EVSE handle.

I'm well aware of this issue! I read that somewhere on here when I was researching the reason for the charge light randomly going to orange during changing and go right back to green. I was in the car a few times this happened and it kept chiming and saying "charge cord connected" (probably due to moisture in the charge port due to cracking, I'll have them look at it when I go tomorrow to get an EVSE replacement). Thanks for the advice!!!


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[TheBlueFlash]

The OEM EVSE is covered under the 8yr/100k Voltec warranty, so if you cannot pinpoint the problem, take the cord AND the car to the dealer. They will replace.

 

[moose721]

The OEM EVSE is covered under the 8yr/100k Voltec warranty, so if you cannot pinpoint the problem, take the cord AND the car to the dealer. They will replace.

Has anyone who's gotten a Gen 1 volt EVSE replacement know if they replace them with the dual voltage Gen 2 EVSE?

 

[bentbiker]

Has anyone who's gotten a Gen 1 volt EVSE replacement know if they replace them with the dual voltage Gen 2 EVSE?

Nobody has Ever reported having been so lucky. However, there is nothing to prevent you from asking if it can be done. You might even offer to pay if there's an additional cost for the Gen2 model. You might want to rehearse your answer as to why you want the Gen2 model; last thing you want is to initiate a discussion on the safety of using the L1 model as an L2 EVSE and/or whether this might void any warranty.

Worst case, you can buy the one you want in the classifieds here, and sell the replacement on eBay.

 

[Mister Dave]

Also check that you didn't get a kamikaze bug who splattered its guts in the J1772 plug or outlet. That happened to me, and I had to scrape dead bug parts out with a screwdriver before the car would charge. When it's dark, bugs love to go towards the light in the gen1 EVSE handle.

I might expect that Moose has at least had a look at the pins to see if there's a problem - bugs/detritus, loose or bent - that sort of thing.

 

[moose721]

Just got back from the dealer!! I usually dread going to this dealer as they have a "stealership" reputation but they didn't ask any questions about it or even test the EVSE. The service advisor just picked up the phone and asked if the guy on the other could order a part and he read him the number. I hate when this car breaks, but the VOLTEC warranty has saved me about $750 in the past 3 weeks! (Had the dreaded SHVCS message a little while ago)


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[moose721]

I might expect that Moose has at least had a look at the pins to see if there's a problem - bugs/detritus, loose or bent - that sort of thing.

It's definitely not the pins..... the lights on the EVSE don't illuminate when plugged into a known good outlet


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[Mister Dave]

It's definitely not the pins..... the lights on the EVSE don't illuminate when plugged into a known good outlet


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LOL - moot point, you're getting a new unit! Probably wishing you'd just gone to the dealer sooner eh? I know that feeling.

 

[moose721]

LOL - moot point, you're getting a new unit! Probably wishing you'd just gone to the dealer sooner eh? I know that feeling.

Hopefully a Gen 2 charger!! Went out and made the pigtail cord for 220 already.... I cannot WAIT for home 240v charging


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[moose721]

Update: the dealership AND Chevy both refused to cover it under warranty (even though it's so obviously a VOLTEC component) so I said I would just pay for the charger outright. Then I looked at it and it was the same type charger that came with the car and I said if i was paying for it outright I would like the 2016/2017 charger that's listed on the Chevrolet accessory webpage. After I refused to pay a 35% "restocking fee" to send the old one back they charged me $660 for the 2016 EVSE!! Absolutely ridiculous I'm never going back to that stealership.....


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[llninja]

Update: the dealership AND Chevy both refused to cover it under warranty (even though it's so obviously a VOLTEC component) so I said I would just pay for the charger outright. Then I looked at it and it was the same type charger that came with the car and I said if i was paying for it outright I would like the 2016/2017 charger that's listed on the Chevrolet accessory webpage. After I refused to pay a 35% "restocking fee" to send the old one back they charged me $660 for the 2016 EVSE!! Absolutely ridiculous I'm never going back to that stealership.....


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Waiting for Amber from GM Customer Service to chime in here. Other's on this forum have received their EVSE replacements under the Voltec warranty. Please help moose721!!!

Moose721, you should have gotten a 3rd party Clipper Creek for far less. Heck you could have gotten an L2 plus installation for about $660.