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Did a stupid thing !

I used a timer on my granny charger for 6 years to control my charging on my Mitsubishi PHEV never had a problem never got hot
 
Well boys and girls I have news.

Apparently the garage has started repairs. During the repair of certain lightweight cables the person did something, which affected the circuits relating the the windscreen based camera and ACC.

So now the car - which has never done this in the past - is throwing the brakes on as and when it fancies and the garage can't re-calibrate the system. They have called for a "factory engineer" to come to the garage to sort it out. When will that happen you might ask ? THEY DON'T KNOW ...

The local bar did quite well out of me yesterday; I had to take lots of medication...
 
Last weds evening I prepared the car for charging after midnight but didn't plug into the car as I was going to do it later, so I just left the car end of the granny cable resting on top of the opened charge port.

The following morning I went out to the car, put the dog in, turned on and noticed no charge ??

Didn't think too much about it as I had enough juice so started to reverse out of the courtyard when I heard a big BANG!!

It turns out I'd left the cable draped over the charge lid and I'd ripped off the front grill and it's now in many pieces. A small cable was wrenched from it's plug behind the grill and it would no longer accept a charge.

Sent it down to MG Limoges on a breakdown truck and now awaiting news.

As this was our only car it has been a nightmare practically as well as emotionally. Tried to do any food shopping on my bike with a haversack ain't easy.

I am posting this to try and help others avoid this stupid mistake I made.

Do you think that someone can fashion up a red flag mechanism similar to what was was previously used in a taxi meter?

The red flag will poke its head above the bonnet line so that it is a reminder that the charge port is open.

When the charger flap is opened, the red flag pops up owing to a spring mechanism and a catch that is released by pushing the flap to open it.

Then when you need to close the charge flap, you place the red flag down in to a special catch so that like a jack in the box, it is ready to pop up again the next time the charge port is open.

I don't have a ZS EV so don't know if there is enough space for such a mechanism but if there isn't maybe just buying a small red flag and finding a hole to poke it through will have the same effect.
 

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Or falling that. just get a large printed sign with the words "Flap open" and place it under a windscreen wiper so that the text is displayed on the inside of the car.
Or a sign which says "Don't be an incompetent git again - check the flap !!!"

Do you think that someone can fashion up a red flag mechanism similar to what was was previously used in a taxi meter?

The red flag will poke its head above the bonnet line so that it is a reminder that the charge port is open.

When the charger flap is opened, the red flag pops up owing to a spring mechanism and a catch that is released by pushing the flap to open it.

Then when you need to close the charge flap, you place the red flag down in to a special catch so that like a jack in the box, it is ready to pop up again the next time the charge port is open.

I don't have a ZS EV so don't know if there is enough space for such a mechanism but if there isn't maybe just buying a small red flag and finding a hole to poke it through will have the same effect.
Thank you very much for posting the pics of the charging flap assembly. On the second pic - front of charging flap - there is a component with what looks like "Radar" markings on it. On the 3rd pic you actually see the small black plug that on my car had it's lightweight cables pulled out. With you permission I would like to use these pics in my communications with idiot garage ?

I suspect this is what is at the heart of the problems with my car. If the component shown in pic 2 is a radar and if the garage have not found/identified these pulled wires and an empty plug, then they will never be able to fix my car.
 
Thank you very much for posting the pics of the charging flap assembly. On the 3rd pic you actually see the small black plug that on my car had its lightweight cables pulled out. With you permission I would like to use these pics in my communications with idiot garage ?
You would think that the light weight cables on the back of that flap, are just to provide power and signal to the LED lights that are contained inside the large MG badge.
The LED’s used in order to display the charging status etc ??.
 
@Thebiglad I would be very surprised if that cable is the problem more likely they damaged something around the radar when removing and refitting the bumper?
 
Thank you very much for posting the pics of the charging flap assembly. On the second pic - front of charging flap - there is a component with what looks like "Radar" markings on it. On the 3rd pic you actually see the small black plug that on my car had it's lightweight cables pulled out. With you permission I would like to use these pics in my communications with idiot garage ?

I suspect this is what is at the heart of the problems with my car. If the component shown in pic 2 is a radar and if the garage have not found/identified these pulled wires and an empty plug, then they will never be able to fix my car.
The pictures are from an eBay listing so please feel free to use them.

BTW, the radar module is the little black rectangle under the number plate. This needs to be recalibrated if the bumper is removed.
 

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OK boys and Girls, it's update time.

Yesterday I went down to MG Limoges, on the basis of taking possession of a courtoisie car. This gave me the opportunity to talk face to face with the garage foreman and technician responsible for my car., as well as testing it myself.

It was nice to see that they have already replaced the broken grill and a new granny charger is in the boot.

Whatever the cause, the car is now totally undrivable due to an almost total lack of brakes !!! They told me they are awaiting a reply from the 'expert technician' in MG Paris HQ. They chase (via their computer system, the agreed method of communication) every day but get no reply. I suggested perhaps they try alternative comms, like perhaps the telephone - "BUT HE DOESN'T HAVE A TELEPHONE !!!!!." Yeah sure, course he doesn't.

At this I totally through all me toys out the pram ! No swearing but lots of loud voice in the main showroom - all of a sudden the foreman looks terrified and everything stops.

We walk out without courtoisie car, get into wifey's car ready for trip home. Foreman comes out says he has spoken to my insurance people the the car is insured so please could we take it because it was got ready specifically for us (with only a half a tank of juice).

We take their car without any date or indication of when mine might be available. I decided to do this to avoid any future bull crap about "well we offered you a car but you refused." Plus I've now got their car and at some stage they will want it back.

In terms of solving problems on behalf of their customers, they are just crap. If it had been me I would made enquiries at a higher level rather than waiting for their 'expert tech'.

And so it goes on ...
 
So, 15th May 2023 - Today I received a phone call the MG garage is currently 'resting'. I thought "hurray, they fixed my car' Oh no...

A notification was left on my phone that I had missed this call whilst out riding, so I called them back.

I was lambasted by the after-sales manager for approximately 10 mins for having the temerity to post fact-based comments on various social media outlets and ordered to return the courtoisie car forthwith. It may sound a bit soft of me but I was quite shaken by the level of aggression.

16th May 2023 - Not wanting to tolerate this any further, this morning I did the 200 kms round trip to return their little poubelle on wheels. The same bloke as on the phone wanted to speak to me again when I arrived at the garage and gave me the same barrage of verbal - slightly toned down face to face - saying that my social media posts would achieve nothing. I told him that was inaccurate as I had now received one phone call reply and one face to face discussion - more from them than in the whole 3 months of waiting. Plus I was also told - for the first time - that parts have been ordered for my car (progress indeed !!!) and they await their delivery. In the wave of garbage I was also told that another MG ZS EV customer of theirs has been waiting over 12 months for parts - I said to him "do you think that this makes me feel any better, knowing I might be without my car for another 9 months or more ???" IDIOT.
 
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So, 15th May 2023 - Today I received a phone call the MG garage is currently 'resting'. I thought "hurray, they fixed my car' Oh no...

A notification was left on my phone that I had missed this call whilst out riding, so I called them back.

I was lambasted by the after-sales manager for approximately 10 mins for having the temerity to post fact-based comments on various social media outlets and ordered to return the courtoisie car forthwith. It may sound a bit soft of me but I was quite shaken by the level of aggression.

16th May 2023 - Not wanting to tolerate this any further, this morning I did the 200 kms round trip to return their little poubelle on wheels. The same bloke as on the phone wanted to speak to me again when I arrived at the garage and gave me the same barrage of verbal - slightly toned down face to face - saying that my social media posts would achieve nothing. I told him that was inaccurate as I had now received one phone call reply and one face to face discussion - more from them than in the whole 3 months of waiting. Plus I was also told - for the first time - that parts have been ordered for my car (progress indeed !!!) and they await their delivery. In the wave of garbage I was also told that another MG ZS EV customer of theirs has been waiting over 12 months for parts - I said to him "do you think that this makes me feel any better, knowing I might be without my car for another 9 months or more ???" IDIOT.
I am sorry, but if he had spoken to me in that tone, I would have told him to wind his neck back in or it would have been a “Fist to Face” experience !.
If the facts are correct, then you are within your rights to voice your options and speak your mind.
He has access to a company car 365 days of the year, so he feels no pain !.
I just wonder if he would be as tolerant as you, if his much less expensive TV had broken down and he was told the parts to fix it would take 12 months to arrive.
I guess that’s will be a NO then !.
They totally deserve all the bad publicity THEY have created for themselves.
Had they had kept you informed in a better manner or ideally rectified your car then you would found no need to comment in the way you have ?.
It’s marvellous how quickly they are wiling to accept any positive feedback, but are intolerant towards any negative feedback of course !.
Unfortunately good customer service is a rare beast these days.
Social media is very powerful medium and hits extremely hard.
My guess would be that MG mothership have contacted the dealer and requested an update !.
If so, then well done MG mothership !.
 
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Hi Boys & Girls, prepare yourselves for a shock !!

On thurs I received a voicemail message at mid-day saying that my car was - wait for it - ready for collection !!!!!

A pal drove me down and I found my ZS EV washed, updated, door mirrors working perfectly, sunroof no longer clicking and fully charged .

On the way back - about 100 kms of mountain and forest roads - she performed beautifully and if anything more economical that before ??????

Tonight with be the first time in nearly 5 months since I charged her at home, so looking forward to seeing how that goes.

Thanks to you all for your support, it's been a pretty sh1tty time but now I'm hoping I can renew my love affaire with my EV.

Cheers

Dave
 
I intended to drive to Gueret , not far from Limoges in my TROPHY CONNECT LR. However , rear spring is still on back order and may not be available until Aug. Can’t take hire car so back to good ‘ol’ reliable Passat.
How much is it costing MG for these parts “back orders”?
 
Well to answer your question I'm not sure, principally because there seems to be a battle going on between the garage and the Insurance 'Expert'. I've been led to believe that the ins. guy is saying that the principal damage - front grill and new granny charger is probably 500-ish euros; but I was asked to leave a 'cheque de caution' of 2960€.

The ins guy, I think, is saying why did you have to change all this electronic stuff ?

So it ain't fully done yet ???????????????????
 
Hi Boys & Girls, prepare yourselves for a shock !!

On thurs I received a voicemail message at mid-day saying that my car was - wait for it - ready for collection !!!!!

A pal drove me down and I found my ZS EV washed, updated, door mirrors working perfectly, sunroof no longer clicking and fully charged .

On the way back - about 100 kms of mountain and forest roads - she performed beautifully and if anything more economical that before ??????

Tonight with be the first time in nearly 5 months since I charged her at home, so looking forward to seeing how that goes.

Thanks to you all for your support, it's been a pretty sh*tty time but now I'm hoping I can renew my love affaire with my EV.

Cheers

Dave
Just picked up this thread, and glad you are driving again.
I live in France, and have used a timer on my dedicated 16amp garage socket to get the off-peak benefit, for more than 2 years now. It works well with the granny fed under the garage door and hung outside ready for use.
Btw my two year lease has run out, and I am still waiting for the paperwork to confirm the 1 year extension that I am paying an increased monthly amount. Don't know what would happen if I got stopped - repeated delays between garage and leasing company
 
I'm using my granny charger into an external 16 amp socket, so other than putting a timer into that socket, no I can't.

I'm running a 2021 gen 1 ZS EV.
I am sure you can just engage a breaker inside the house or get a timed breaker. Sorry I know this doesn't help you now, there are also some breakers that are wifi controlled
 
It is better to tap into the CP lead and terminate that. Cutting the mains supply to the car suddenly can cause voltage spikes which could damage the charge controller.
 
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