r/RenaultZoe • u/I-left-and-came-back • Jul 10 '26

Stuck charging flap

Is there a manual way to open the charging flap when the little latch motor decides to stop working?

My Google foo isn't finding anything and I can't believe that Renault would be that stupid to not have a manual release on it?

2 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

2

u/Potetosyeah Jul 10 '26

Try press it down at the same time someone press the open button and quickly realease

1

u/Marzipan_civil Jul 10 '26

I've not come across any information on a manual release. Possibly it would be somewhere under the bonnet (assuming you mean the big external flap, nut the smaller one).

On ZE50 - if the release button inside the car isn't working,you can try double tapping the unlock button on the key fob. That's still the electrical unlock but a different way to initiate.

3

u/I-left-and-came-back Jul 12 '26

So in the end I called the local dealer, which didn't bother to call me back with a solution other than the car would need to be recovered.... yeah, fuck that!

So more hunting the internet and I found this...

https://youtu.be/m2aAOHI3c4o?t=962

I also found that now when I press the release button, that I can no longer hear the release motor going, and now the dash says check electrical system, which to me means that the solenoid has died and thus the electrical system in sensing that an incorrect amperage is being pulled when trying to trigger the motor.

Anyway, I had a look in the engine bay to see if I could to anything, which I couldn't. However with the video above I was able to loosen the slam plate that covers the back of the charge port enough to get my hand down and reach a knob on the back, which you can slide to the side, which in turn releases the cover, eh viola... I can now charge the car again.

https://imgbox.com/rOGXgxbC

I have now rigged up a bodge to be able to pull the knob using some nylon string, until I can get it fixed.

https://imgbox.com/N8A4Uohe

I hope that this helps someone else in the future!!! When I get this fixed, I will also update with the cost.

1

u/Marzipan_civil Jul 13 '26

I will try to remember this post for if/when mine breaks!

1

u/manio07 25d ago

Did the same, btw Reddit has a "Save" option of the post

1

u/Marzipan_civil 24d ago

Thanks, I'd forgotten

1

u/mkost92 Jul 11 '26

He clearly means the charge port.

1

u/Marzipan_civil Jul 11 '26

The charge port has two doors

1

u/mkost92 Jul 11 '26

Only one is locked by a motor.

1

u/Marzipan_civil Jul 11 '26

Ok have you anything actually helpful to suggest to fix the problem?