Vehicle control system fault take it to your MG dealership.

[RedandboX]

Yesterday I got the dreaded “Vehicle control system fault take it to your MG dealership” and my car will no longer charge, I contacted MG Leicester and was told by the assistant service manager that the earliest they could get me booked in was May!!!, It’s January for God sake, he then said it was because they were so busy with faulty MG’s and I should try elsewhere, I have 40 miles left so not an option, I then tried the 10mm trick but no joy and phoned AA assistance, they were brilliant and sent someone over in 45 mins but unfortunately he couldn’t clear the fault, his kit wouldn’t even talk to with the on board diagnostic port, he said he will escorted me to the dealership tomorrow where I should give them my keys and say good luck. He has arranged a courtesy car but only for 4 days and said I should tell the dealership that they will have to pick up the bill after that. No wonder the MG4 is being classed as the worst reliable car and why the service department is so busy. It’s the last time I shall be buying one, and hope that you never get the dreaded “Vehicle control system fault take it to your MG dealership” warning.
Maybe China is controlling our cars after all?
MG4 Xpower 2 year old and 20k miles, I’ve also informed the PCP finance company.

 

[Bam Bam]

Yesterday I got the dreaded “Vehicle control system fault take it to your MG dealership” and my car will no longer charge,

Oh no, what a nightmare.

I contacted MG Leicester and was told by the assistant service manager that the earliest they could get me booked in was May!!!, It’s January for God sake, he then said it was because they were so busy with faulty MG’s and I should try elsewhere, I have 40 miles left so not an option,

Trying to fob people off is not good.

Though I do wonder if there is just a massive shortage of EV technicians in the country as a lot of dealerships seem to be the same.

Nevertheless, you would think they could at least provide an initial investigation and then liaise with MG about the next steps.

If they cannot provide an adequate service locally then MG need to support them.

I then tried the 10mm trick but no joy and phoned AA assistance, they were brilliant and sent someone over in 45 mins but unfortunately he couldn’t clear the fault, his kit wouldn’t even talk to with the on board diagnostic port, he said he will escorted me to the dealership tomorrow where I should give them my keys and say good luck. He has arranged a courtesy car but only for 4 days and said I should tell the dealership that they will have to pick up the bill after that.

The car is under warranty and not working.

MG should arrange an investigation ASAP to determine whether this is something covered under warranty (as would be expected).

I can understand why the local dealership feels that this is not something they have capacity to deal with when they are already fully booked in advance but that is something they need to take up with MG.

 

[tsedge]

The technician shortage is a crisis.

We try to send everyone to university whether or not it suits them, saddle them with debt and tell them that they are too good for a trade. Then when they graduate either there's no job or Starbucks.

It is high time we promoted the trades as what they are now:

• Virtually guaranteed work as much as you want.
• Pays far better than many professional jobs.
• No current threat of AI.
• Can be much more independent of a "boss" if you want to be (self-employed options).
• No need to go into debt.

It is about time we valued plumbers, electricians, car technicians as much as doctors, dentists and lawyers IMHO.

 

[Bam Bam]

The technician shortage is a crisis.

Agreed.

I wonder if the problem is more likely to be that firms want trained staff but don't want to train them themselves (if the staff member will just get poached or set up on their own).

We try to send everyone to university whether or not it suits them, saddle them with debt and tell them that they are too good for a trade. Then when they graduate either there's no job or Starbucks.

Only 50% of people go to University.

I think it is good for people to go to University but bad if they then go on to think they are 'too good' for anything.

Jobs are jobs and the important thing is to be useful. The market is an indication of how useful you are being, however imperfect.

There seems to be shortages in lots of industries as people retire. Truck drivers became a well-known one at one point. Now it is driving test examiners. This is only going to get worse as the population ages, unless we allow lots of immigration which does not seem popular.

Perhaps governments in the past should have planned ahead more to ensure that there will be skilled workers in key fields but instead they thought it best to leave it to the market.

That means that people themselves have to make judgments about what jobs will be in high demand in 20 years time. Not always an easy call to make when you are 17 or whatever and don't know much about the world.

 

[tsedge]

Governments didn't leave it to the market. It used to be that 5% of people went to university. Then there was a deliberate policy of huge higher education expansion with the idea that it was such a great thing that everyone should go - a decision made almost exclusively by people with degrees who never learned a trade.

The more vocationally focused polytechnics became much more academic universities (for the prestige and due to government encouragement). Meantime, technical colleges were largely left to fend for themselves.

At 50%, we are way past the optimal level.

 

[RedandboX]

A quick update on this, the fantastic guy from the AA arranged to escort me to MG Leicester and arranged a courtesy car (so far for 4 days, but Thrifty have said MG UK should extend this)
Thrifty arrived today with a brand new Polstar 4 with 120 miles on the clock excellent service.
MG Leicester were initially reluctant to accept my car but I gave them no option as it had only 18 miles left in the cells, if this (hopefully) works in my favour I will have a £60k car for 3 months
MG UK and the PCP company have accepted receipt of my complaint and I must say the AA and Thrifty restored my faith that at least 2/3rds of the problem has been resolved. Cheers P

 

[tsedge]

A quick update on this, the fantastic guy from the AA arranged to escort me to MG Leicester and arranged a courtesy car (so far for 4 days, but Thrifty have said MG UK should extend this)
Thrifty arrived today with a brand new Polstar 4 with 120 miles on the clock excellent service.

Glad you got this sorted. I wouldn't depend on MG extending the hire though - my understanding from others is you typically only get a few days. At the very least, I'd have a Plan B.

MG Leicester were initially reluctant to accept my car but I gave them no option as it had only 18 miles left in the cells, if this (hopefully) works in my favour I will have a £60k car for 3 months

That's the right thing to do, makes it more likely they will prioritise work on it to get it fixed.

MG UK and the PCP company have accepted receipt of my complaint and I must say the AA and Thrifty restored my faith that at least 2/3rds of the problem has been resolved. Cheers P

Again, this is all good, but I'd be surprised if you get a free hire car for months. That's not typically how it works.