Charger and Type 2 cable repair

Type 2 cable — the most common in Europe

Type 2 (also called the Mennekes connector) is the standard connector for AC charging of electric vehicles in Europe. You have it both in your car (built-in plug) and as a loose cable at home (mode 3 cable between wallbox and car) or as a mobile charger (mode 2 cable that plugs into schuko/CEE socket). Both variants can fail over time — the connectors have 7 metal pins that over time can oxidize, burn or wear mechanically after thousands of plug cycles.

Common faults and symptoms

No charging: the car shows "no charging communication" or "check cable". Can be due to burnt contact, broken CP/PP conductor (communication pins), faulty electronics in the cable's charge controller or the same on the car's side.

Intermittent charging: the car charges OK sometimes, not others. Often caused by loose or oxidized contact, poor seal that lets in moisture, or defective spring in the locking mechanism so that the plug doesn't "click" properly.

Plug overheating: if the plug gets hot during charging, or you notice a burnt smell, you must stop charging immediately. This is almost always a poor contact — in the car's built-in plug, the cable's connector or the wallbox's outlet. This is a serious fault that can start a fire if ignored.

Fault code on charger/wallbox: modern wallboxes (Easee, Zaptec, Schneider, Wallbox Pulsar etc.) provide their own fault codes via app or LED pattern. We have experience with the most common brands and can interpret codes for ground fault, overcurrent, communication fault and current management fault.

Our troubleshooting — car, cable or charger?

The first and most important step is to determine where the fault lies. We use a combination of:

• Test charging station — we test your cable against a known working station
• Test cable — we test your wallbox with a known working cable
• Multimeter on pins — we measure continuity, insulation and resistance on all 7 pins at both ends
• Thermal camera — we run a short charging cycle and check whether any pins become unusually warm (sign of poor contact)
• Car diagnostics — we connect to the OBD port and read fault codes from the charging system (OBC = on-board charger)

Repair — what is actually possible

A Type 2 cable can be repaired if the fault is in the connector — pins can be cleaned, contact assemblies can be replaced, and the casing can be opened for inspection. If the cable itself is burnt or has damage in the cable jacket (over half the length), we recommend replacement because the repair cost is often close to the price of a new cable (NOK 1,800–3,800 for a standard Type 2 mode-3 cable).

For a wallbox, brand and model matters — Easee and Zaptec have their own service procedures and replace modules, while other brands (especially cheap generic solutions) are often cheaper to replace than to repair. We give you a price estimate before we start so you can make an informed decision.

Time estimate and price

Diagnosis takes 30 minutes and typically costs NOK 600–900. Repair of connector (cable side) takes 1–2 hours and costs NOK 800–1,800 including parts. Replacement of connector on the car (built-in charge plug) is more comprehensive — 3–5 hours and NOK 3,000–8,000 depending on model. For wallbox faults we are happy to come to your home for diagnosis if that's most practical — price by arrangement.

Book a charger/cable diagnosis online or call us on 41 17 32 24.