Stupid, stupid, stupid

[teejayuu]

The title refers to me?. I left the lights on overnight and now can't get in.

1. Which battery have I flattened? The one under the bonnet or the big one
2. How do I get the little cover that cover the lock off? I just seem to chip the paintwork.

 

[siteguru]

1. 12V battery - HV battery is fine
2. See this video - should start at the right point.

 

[teejayuu]

Thanks for the quick response. I'll check it out when I get back home?

 

[Anon70]

Have to say, because the auto light function is so poor I have left the lights on in supermarket car parks a couple of times after engaging manual override. Considering all the other warnings MG have missed a trick with not having a lights on chime when you get out of the car.

 

[Diggsy]

Have to say, because the auto light function is so poor I have left the lights on in supermarket car parks a couple of times after engaging manual override. Considering all the other warnings MG have missed a trick with not having a lights on chime when you get out of the car.

Think the reason it isn’t on a chime is the car doesn’t switch off the way an ICE car would. When you step out, unless you’ve powered down via the infotainment screen, then the car is effectively still running, so there’d really not be an easy way to do that alert…unless it was linked to a seat sensor or something and that would likely cause of host of unintended issues.

 

[Anon70]

But that's is more than enough logic to code, if drivers door sensor = open, seat switch = off (you got out) and lights = manual mode, make an annoying chime.

 

[Kithmo]

Have to say, because the auto light function is so poor I have left the lights on in supermarket car parks a couple of times after engaging manual override. Considering all the other warnings MG have missed a trick with not having a lights on chime when you get out of the car.

It does bong if you get out and leave the lights on manual, the problem is that the bong occurs as you're shutting the door or after you've shut the door if you get out quickly and you don't always hear it.

 

[FiferMG4]

It does bong if you get out and leave the lights on manual, the problem is that the bong occurs as you're shutting the door or after you've shut the door if you get out quickly and you don't always hear it.

Yeah, I’ve been caught out a few times like this, especially during Winter days and have gotten into the habit of checking the lights before walking off.

 

[Diggsy]

Something that would be handy for the app to have as an alert. Walk away, lock the car and the app could notify you of lights being left on. Mind you, there are several issues with the app that have still to be sorted so I don’t see that being added anytime soon

 

[Silver estate]

Reading this and the other thread about flat 12 V batteries has made me buy a mini jump pack for my MG5 , just got to sort a 10mm spanner out

 

[MartinSEsr]

Yeah, I’ve been caught out a few times like this, especially during Winter days and have gotten into the habit of checking the lights before walking off.

I find the lights don't come on in fog or rain, so I turn them on manually. Every other car I've owned turnes everything off when switched off (ie locked in our case) but the MG4 doesn't.

HERE IS MY SOLUTION

I usually put the car (and house) key into the small net under the arm rest as I drive. As soon as I manually override the lights to on, I grab the keys and put them in the glove box.

When i park I look for the keys, remember they're in the glovebox, and also why, and turn the lights off.

So maybe putting the keys in a different place when you turn the lights on would work, eg the glove box, centre console arm rest box etc. However I know where @Rolfe keeps her key, and I'm not sure of the solution for her!

 

[Ian Key]

I've got into the habit of glancing back at the car as I walk away to check the door mirrors have folded in so I know the cars locked and as a double check that the lights are off.

Unfortunately it doesn't matter what habit you get into, putting keys in the glovebox, double checking the mirrors etc., if something distracts you at the wrong moment you forget.

I'm not sure that leaving the lights on will flatten the 12V battery unless there is a problem with the 12V charging software or the terminals are loose. I haven't been near my car for 18 hours and I've just checked the battery voltage on the app and it's showing 14.7V so obviously charging from the traction battery.

 

[teejayuu]

In the end, I called the AA. As he pulled the cover off the battery connections the cable came off. Loose connections to both terminals!

 

[Ian Key]

In the end, I called the AA. As he pulled the cover off the battery connections the cable came off. Loose connections to both terminals!

At least it was an easy fix.

I don't know how long you've had the car but there was a spate of this happening with the early ones because they used to disconnect the battery for shipping and the dealers weren't checking them during the PDI.

 

[Kithmo]

Yeah, I’ve been caught out a few times like this, especially during Winter days and have gotten into the habit of checking the lights before walking off.

Lucky I've not been caught out as I happen to walk towards the front of the car to my house door so I can actually see the DRLs are on as I do.

Every other car I've owned turnes everything off when switched off (ie locked in our case) but the MG4 doesn't.

I've never had a car that turns everything off when you turn the car off and I been driving 50 years.
When you put the lights on manually on any car the headlights go off with the ignition but the side lights (or parking lights) always stay on, the MG4 is exactly the same.
Pre circa 1975 cars the headlights would stay on as well.

 

[MartinSEsr]

I've never had a car that turns everything off when you turn the car off and I been driving 50 years.
When you put the lights on manually on any car the headlights go off with the ignition but the side lights (or parking lights) always stay on, the MG4 is exactly the same.
Pre circa 1975 cars the headlights would stay on as well.

I had a lot of Huyundai / VW / Audi cars, certainly on them if the light switch was set to headlights, then when the ignition was turned off, all the lights went off. If the switch was set to sidelights, then the sidelights would stay on when the ignition was turned off.

 

[NLMGSAN]

I've got into the habit of glancing back at the car as I walk away to check the door mirrors have folded in so I know the cars locked and as a double check that the lights are off.

Unfortunately it doesn't matter what habit you get into, putting keys in the glovebox, double checking the mirrors etc., if something distracts you at the wrong moment you forget.

I'm not sure that leaving the lights on will flatten the 12V battery unless there is a problem with the 12V charging software or the terminals are loose. I haven't been near my car for 18 hours and I've just checked the battery voltage on the app and it's showing 14.7V so obviously charging from the traction battery.

View attachment 30081

How often did you refresh? Voltage drops to something between 12.3 and 12.5 V after a while.

 

[Ian Key]

I hadn't looked at the app since I locked the car 18 hours previously and when I looked at the app before refreshing it was showing 12.3 V. After refreshing it was showing 14.7 V

 

[siteguru]

Mine has never shown as high as 14.7V. ?‍ Typically 13.9V or 14V. But at least this indicates that your car is topping up the 12V battery.

 

[Coulomb]

Mine has never shown as high as 14.7V. ?‍ Typically 13.9V or 14V. But at least this indicates that your car is topping up the 12V battery.

If that 14.7 V is accurate, it's way above the gassing voltage at 25°C (usually given as 14.4 V). I think it would have to be very cold indeed for 14.7 V to be safe.