Car Won't Charge - Any Help?

[forboat]

We plugged in our car this evening and received an error notification.
The car won't charge and the notification reads:
Scheduled charge did not begin - external fault.
When we plug the car in it seems to start and then stops. Anyone have this experience? Any suggestions?

 

[dmen]

Probably an issue with your charger or its circuit. Are you using a level 2 or the trickle?

I received that message a few times when I was using the trickle and it tripped my breaker... led me to realize some genius wired my garage outlet on the same circuit that covers half my kitchen. And once or twice my level 2 has tripped its internal breaker and the car gave me the same message; cleared by unplugging and replugging the car. It seemed to have to do with charging cold batteries- both times were subzero nights.
If it keeps happening and your circuit breaker isn't tripped, I'm thinking the EVSE is broken.

 

[forboat]

We have a level 2 charger. The GE Wattstation. I hate to be such a novice, but what is the EVSE?
The trickle charge that came with the car does work. The error message is showing up in MyFordMobile online. The car itself starts to charge and then turns off. The Wattstation turns on but does not stay on once connected. It seems to short out.
Checked the circuit breaker and it is not tripped. Any thoughts?

 

[Gigi]

what is the EVSE?

Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment - your level 2 charging station.

If you are getting a charge fault and the GE Wattstation will not charge the car, it seems there are three possibilities:

1) the EVSE is defective,
2) the EVSE is installed incorrectly, or
3) for some reason the car will not communicate with or accept current from a perfectly good EVSE.

You might try charging from a friend's or from a public Level 2 charging station. If that works, your Wattstation is likely defective or installed incorrectly. If it doesn't work, the problem is with the charger in your car and you need to have it checked out at the dealer.

Since you seem to be having success with the portable unit, my bet is that your GE Wattstation is either defective or installed incorrectly.

 

[jmueller065]

There is another post around here where they had a broken GE Wattstation. Heed Gigi's advice and try charging at another Level 2 station (either public, the dealer, or somewhere else).

 

[unplugged]

We plugged in our car this evening and received an error notification.
The car won't charge and the notification reads:
Scheduled charge did not begin - external fault.
When we plug the car in it seems to start and then stops. Anyone have this experience? Any suggestions?

Your first step should always be to unplug your charging station (or pull the breaker if a hard-wired install). This allows the charging station to reset. In the case of the GE, you can switch it off first, and then pull the plug.

Next, to identify the culprit, plug you car into a 120V circuit using your house wiring. Or try charging at a local EVSE.

You should be able to determine whether it is the GE unit or your car from this.