Have an important appointment in a few hours, but you realize your Tesla won’t charge properly? It can surely be a headache when you look down and see the “Charge cable not fully secured. Please adjust the connect to improve charging.” warning on your Tesla’s screen.
Let me provide you with a detailed walkthrough on how you can deal with a weakly secured charging cable. Follow my lead and I promise that you’ll be done in no time.
Note: Are you dealing with no power to your Tesla charger? Take a look at “Tesla charging error, no power” to get a better insight into what you can do.
Why Is My Tesla Charging Cable Not Working?
There are quite a lot of reasons as to why your Tesla might be giving a warning saying “Charge cable not fully secured. Please adjust the connect to improve charging”.
What Are The Signs Indicating A Charging Cable Issue?
There are a few signs that can indicate a charging cable issue even before your car puts forward a warning sign. These issues include:
- Noticeable fluctuations in charging time.
- Frequent stopping and starting the charging process suddenly.
- Audible click sound when inserting the charging cable.
- Physical resistance while inserting the cable into the charging port.
Note: Is the Tesla wall charger not working? Take a look at our guide “Tesla wall charger not working”.
Tesla Charging Cable Not Fully Secured – Troubleshooting
Here are a few steps you can follow to get rid of any charging issue with your Tesla. Follow along:
1. Plug The Charging Cable Correctly
First and foremost is the proper connection of a charger in the charging port. This is the most commonly faced issue in case of a weak charging issue. Here’s how you can fix it:
- Unplug your Tesla’s charging port’s cable plug.
- Place it back inside the charging port and properly adjust the position of the adapter onto the plug.
- Keep on pressing until you hear a click-like shake. This indicates that your cable is fully secured in its spot.
2. Update Tesla Software
If you don’t regularly update your Tesla, it may cause problems with charging.
Update the software by going to Controls > Software and then selecting the Update option in case a newer update is available.
3. Clean The Charging Port And Connector
Dirt can enter inside the wall connectors and get stuck on the insulator pin. This can lead to a stuck or improperly attached charging cable. Here’s how you can clean the charging unit:
- Unplug the wall-connected charging connector.
- Thoroughly inspect the charging connector for any dust or dirt.
- Use a pipe cleaning brush, and twist it around inside to clean the insulator pins.
- Remove the Tesla charging port cover and take a look inside to ensure yourself of any damage.
- Use the same pipe-cleaning brush to clean all the holes inside the charging port.
4. Reset The Charging Cable
This solution works especially when your Tesla’s wall connector’s internal system has a problem. You can always work out this issue with a simple reset. Just follow the steps below to get done:
- Disconnect the cable from both the charging port and the power source.
- Remove the wall connector’s outer shell.
- Locate the red reset button located on the left side of the wall connector.
- Press the button for two to three seconds till the light turns green.
- Reattach the wall connector’s shell and the cable to the charging port and power source.
5. Perform A Hard Reset
If a simple charging cable reset doesn’t work out, you can always try a hard reset for your Tesla. You can do this by:
- Turn off your Tesla using the touchscreen. Go to Controls > Safety > Power Off.
- Now, raise the front hood of your car and remove the top panel storage.
- Disconnect the negative terminal wire from the battery and also remove the high voltage loop plug.
- Leave it for about 5 minutes.
- Connect the wire and loop the plug back to its place.
- Reattach the top panel storage and close the hood.
- Restart your car and check if the charging works properly.
How Do You Secure A Charging Cable?
Are you unsure of how to make sure the charging cable is secured in its position? Just keep in mind these simple points and you’ll hopefully never face this kind of problem again.
- Check the charging port, cable, and connector.
- Properly align the cable and port.
- Make sure that the cable is inserted securely.
- Check the connection with the help of a charging indicator.
- Test the lock mechanism by gently pulling on the cable.
Note: Take a look at the video below to get a better idea of how you can secure a charging cable for your Tesla.
How Do I Unlock My Tesla Charger?
Done with the charging and want to disconnect the charger. Here are some methods to do it:
- Press and hold the button on the connector’s handle to release the latch.
- You can also use your Tesla’s touchscreen or your Tesla app to release the latch.
- Lightly pull the connector from the charging port.
Note: Some people are in a pickle if a supercharger is bad for a Tesla. Want to know more? Take a look at our guide.
Conclusion
A properly working charging system is essential for any electric car and the same goes for a Tesla. Fortunately, the solution for such issues is relatively basic. With this guide, you can get back on the road safe and sound.
