Well, I am able to charge again. Vancouver sent over a photo as a guide late this afternoon... of how to press a lever in the trunk to disengage the pin lock of the charge port. Oddly, I didn't have to move the pin much at all, just a little nudge and it opened up on its own. With the pin lock out of the way, I could charge fine. I tried removing the cable and reinserting it several times... but each time required me to nudge the lever. I charged up a bit, and headed to a family event.
Prior to getting me the picture, Vancouver also rescheduled the ranger who was in Edmonton, so he would head home Saturday instead of Friday. A part (presumably replacement charge port) was overnighted here, and the ranger should be installing it tomorrow. It is great that after the initial conversation, they decided to make allowances to assist me, it is just too bad they didn't address the initial call in a way that suggested this might be an option... being told I would be the cause of the ranger missing his flight to help me is only making me feel worse about the situation (and as a customer, perhaps I don't care what he misses as he does his job to assist customers...). If only they could have gotten me instructions on this lever ahead of time (and it is a bit odd that Tesla Service 1800# wouldn't have known to suggest this last night when I called). I had even asked Vancouver to explain it over the phone, but he insisted it would be best handled with photos (sent 5+ hours later). With the workaround, I would have been fine waiting a bit for the part to be replaced.
And of course when I got home just now, the charge port just worked, no touching the lever needed, and thus, the ranger visit is even less needed. I likely do have a failing charge port, so getting it replaced is may still be prudent.
So last weekend my family heard all about the fun of 'range anxiety'. This weekend they hear about me having to miss (actually just be late since I ultimately was able to charge) family events since my car broke and won't charge. Not much chance of me getting a referral out of family any time soon lol.
This is the lever that moves the lock pin of the charger. This piece is accessible through the trunk. In my car, there was a little carpet piece that quite obviously is removable (velcro). The opening is a touch smaller than the part in the picture... you see the orange plastic easily enough, but the lever is ever so slightly 'out of sight', but still quite easy to get to with your fingers.
