ECM, PEU, TCM Update

[mickel]

I had the PD052 update, in the UK, nearly two weeks ago and it definitely hasn't resolved my over-revving issue.
It seems that the update has worked for some on this forum but not for others.
Perhaps, it's possible my dealer hasn't installed it properly (as Mickel suggests) but is that likely? - surely they would easily identify failed software?
I really enjoy the car and have driven 3500 miles, averaging 55 mpg and rising. 99% of the time it's a comfortable, smooth, ride but even in the last week -
1. Several times it has inexplicably started revving around 3500+ on minor inclines. It holds the excessive revs until I decelerate.
2. On the M54, on an incline, I started overtaking a van at approx 68 mph. As I drew level the revs went over 4000+ and I had to decelerate which wasn't great given I had several cars behind me also looking to overtake the van.
The dealer says they cannot recreate the over-revving, so the onus is on me to prove it by video evidence. I've tried but it's virtually impossible as some days there is no over-revving. Plus my wife isn't too happy leaning over, trying to video on her mobile, every time we hit an incline.

Just show them the ‘Webby on Cars’ YouTube review …. his review has a very clear example of the car producing high revs under not exactly demanding requirements. (11min 20 secs onwards)

 

[Nico]

I managed to create a video of what I consider over-revving on a steady incline at low speed.
I recognise that some may say the battery is being replenished but this continues for another 3+minutes (also on video).

I couldn't attach the video so I created a YouTube account and put the video there. Hope it works.

Is this continuous revving experienced regularly by others on the forum?

Do you think my dealer may now accept that the PD052 update on my car has not resolved the over-revving issue?

 

[Noel]

Hi Nico, well done for using YouTube to allow us to see the problem. I feel sure your dealership will have to accept that something is wrong
It’s strange that some people report there is a problem, and others that there isn’t a problem, I appear to be one of those. If I try to accelerate a number if times on an incline, I can get the engine to rev, but most of the time the car just behaves.
Mine is due in to replace the light strip in the N/S mirror, it has water in it. The dealership are going to check for any updates at the same time, I’m just hoping that they don’t install anything which has a negative effect.

 

[Nico]

Thanks Noel.
I'm glad the YouTube video worked as I can now upload the other video and send them to the dealer.
What the video doesn't show is what happens when I try to accelerate over 30mph and the revs go over 4000.
Hope you get your mirror fixed and any further updates are successful for you.

 

[diwat123]

Thanks Noel.
I'm glad the YouTube video worked as I can now upload the other video and send them to the dealer.
What the video doesn't show is what happens when I try to accelerate over 30mph and the revs go over 4000.
Hope you get your mirror fixed and any further updates are successful for you.

Gentlemen, I’m sorry, but I don’t understand—what problem do you see here that has led to this discussion and excitement? I don’t quite get what all the fuss is about. To me, the video shows perfectly normal car behavior. At the beginning, the car is running solely in electric mode, and in the background, I can see some hills, so I assume the car is going uphill. The engine revs up—but not to any extreme level, just in the range of 2500-3000 RPM. Under such conditions, even when driving a regular gasoline engine with a manual transmission, I suspect you would have to downshift and reach the same or even higher RPMs.

Moreover, I believe that at these RPM levels, even with the radio playing softly, the sound would be barely noticeable to the driver. I’ve been driving this car for about a month, also in areas with slight elevation changes—about 100-150 meters of height difference over a few hundred meters. I’ve driven 800 km, and I don’t see anything concerning in this behavior. The car is incredibly pleasant to drive, dynamic, and fuel-efficient. Yes, the engine/powertrain behavior is different from that of a conventional gasoline car, but it doesn’t cause any issues whatsoever.

You simply need to get used to the fact that hybrids operate a bit differently, and the current engine RPMs are not a direct 1:1 match with those of a conventional internal combustion engine in a similar situation. In fact, RPMs in hybrid engines shouldn’t even be displayed—because instead of enjoying the drive, people end up trying to prove there’s a problem when there isn’t one.

Could you provide the location where this video was taken to check how big the incline is?

 

[AlexB1988]

Well done on getting the video, but it doesn't really show the problem. Since the ECM, PEU, TCM update, my car has been largely like that on regular roads, which isn't too bad, found the fuel economy to be roughly the same, but still get the odd rev surge to 4k plus. On motorways however, the efficiency has got a lot worse, and there is definitely poor use of the battery. I now and again do a 60 mile each way trip between Wakefield and Scunthorpe, and the ones since this update I've averaged 38mpg. The dealership recommended I contact the finance company to do an independent review. Unfortunately my wife has been in hospital the past few weeks and I have a young daughter so I haven't had an appropriate time to arrange it. I think I've probably left it too long now and just have to hope for further updates

 

[Nico]

Do you work for MG Diwat23?

I can assure you that when this happens the engine is excessively loud and there is also excessive vibration.

When it occurs I cannot accelerate above 30mph without the engine roaring and revs over 4000+, with no acceleration and I have to reduce speed immediately. The speed limit on the road is 60 and I'm struggling along at 20-30mph.

Yet on other days the car will fly up the same road with low revs (1.6- 2.0).

The high revs continued for 3+ minutes.

As stated previously, it has happened when overtaking on a motorway, with cars behind me, which caused the car to decelerate dangerously.

I have a few friends with other manufacturer's hybrids who assure me they do not experience the same issues
I'm having and one uses the same roads as me.
I don't appreciate you telling me to just get used to it or that I'm trying to prove a problem when there isn't one. It is not normal hybrid behaviour and sounds awful, must be damaging the engine and on occasion is dangerous. It is an issue recognised in many countries and in the release by MG of the PD052 update which has worked for some but not all.
Notwithstanding the revving issue the car is fantastic.

 

[Nico]

Hi AlexB1998
Thanks for your comments.
I'm regularly in EV mode and achieving around 60mpg+ each journey now - motorways and otherwise.
I'm surprised you feel 3000 revs at 30mph is normal. In the video the revs only dropped as I generally lift my foot off the pedal when it hits 3000. This went on for 3 minutes.
I'm going to try to video again but keep my foot down and try and drive normally. The upslope isn't that great and when the car works fine 50 mph plus is easy.
I know that going over 30mph when the car is playing up is going to produce 4000 -5000+ revs. Normally I'd lift off the pedal but I'll keep it depressed and see what happens. Hope it doesn't blow the engine.

 

[diwat123]

Do you work for MG Diwat23?

I can assure you that when this happens the engine is excessively loud and there is also excessive vibration.

When it occurs I cannot accelerate above 30mph without the engine roaring and revs over 4000+, with no acceleration and I have to reduce speed immediately. The speed limit on the road is 60 and I'm struggling along at 20-30mph.

Yet on other days the car will fly up the same road with low revs (1.6- 2.0).

The high revs continued for 3+ minutes.

As stated previously, it has happened when overtaking on a motorway, with cars behind me, which caused the car to decelerate dangerously.

I have a few friends with other manufacturer's hybrids who assure me they do not experience the same issues
I'm having and one uses the same roads as me.
I don't appreciate you telling me to just get used to it or that I'm trying to prove a problem when there isn't one. It is not normal hybrid behaviour and sounds awful, must be damaging the engine and on occasion is dangerous. It is an issue recognised in many countries and in the release by MG of the PD052 update which has worked for some but not all.
Notwithstanding the revving issue the car is fantastic

No, I don’t work for MG. Just because someone disagrees with you doesn’t mean they’re your enemy. But the video you shared doesn’t prove anything or demonstrate any issue. I’m not saying you don’t have a problem, but you haven’t shown it in the video. You’re presenting it as evidence of abnormal car behavior, but there’s nothing concerning in it.

I asked you to provide the location of the route shown in the video to understand the incline you were driving on, but you didn’t share it. Without that information, it’s hard to take this seriously and actually help you. If you plan to take this video to MG, you won’t get very far because the car’s behavior looks completely normal and doesn’t support what you’re claiming.

It’s even harder to believe there’s an issue when you also mention achieving fuel consumption of 60+ mpg. If the engine were constantly running at high RPMs, you wouldn’t even reach 45 mpg. If you want to get anywhere with MG, I suggest getting a better recording—showing the RPMs exceeding 4000, when they appear, under what circumstances, on what incline (with a specific location), and with what battery level. Without such details, it will be difficult for anyone to help you, and MG won’t do anything.

 

[Nico]

Diwat123

I acknowledge your opinion that the video doesn't show any issues with the car. I disagree.
I don't wish to get into any argument but I do find some of your comments a little offensive.
In your last post you are virtually calling me a liar as regards my statement to Alex on overall mpg and you invent a claim that my car is constantly running at high RPMs. I have never stated that.
Quite simply my car runs superbly 95% of the time. Thus 60+ mpg average.
The over-revving is intermittent (4 or 5 times a week), usually on upslopes, but never guaranteed so it is difficult to video. I have no dash cam so have to rely on my wife and her mobile phone skills.
As stated to Alex I will try and get another video and attempt to accelerate beyond 30mph when over-revving occurs. I did not do it in the video knowing that the revs would go through the roof. From yours and Alex's comments it clear I should have done this to garner the evidence required.
I consider it a bit unnecessary to provide to you the actual name of the road where the latest issue occurred, it could be one of several upslopes and occasionally on flat roads, but as you feel it is important I have attached a link. Please let me know if you want to see exactly where else it has occurred (including M54) if you deem it necessary.
Thank you for your input.

https://maps.app.******/PcYhDy58tp7bR2rx8

 

[Holk]

Hi AlexB1998
Thanks for your comments.
I'm regularly in EV mode and achieving around 60mpg+ each journey now - motorways and otherwise.
I'm surprised you feel 3000 revs at 30mph is normal. In the video the revs only dropped as I generally lift my foot off the pedal when it hits 3000. This went on for 3 minutes.
I'm going to try to video again but keep my foot down and try and drive normally. The upslope isn't that great and when the car works fine 50 mph plus is easy.
I know that going over 30mph when the car is playing up is going to produce 4000 -5000+ revs. Normally I'd lift off the pedal but I'll keep it depressed and see what happens. Hope it doesn't blow the engine.

I ve collected my ZS last Friday... (in Germany... where everybody says we haven't those problems).... well, what can I say... in the first 200kilometers i had many situations like you @Nico.

I was driving on a road with very slight inclines and declines at about 30 km/h (20 mph) and my engine revs went from 3000 to 5300 and stayed there.... I thought my engine was going to explode.

Unfortunately I couldn't make a video here...
A day later I was travelling constant at 37mph and my engine speed was constant at 4000 rpm. When I lifted my foot very slightly off the accelerator and back on, the revs immediately dropped and were then at a normal 2000

this cannot be ´´normal behaviour´´

 

[DMeine]

I've noticed the first little things with mine, which is why it has to go back to the workshop to see what comes out of it, probably not much.

• ACC distance setting has no function
• Front windscreen camera fogs up
• GpS lost message can neither be turned down nor deactivated
• Sporadic radar error when reversing
• Automatic switching from Dab to FM and back does not work
• No sound setting available in the radio

I am annoyed

 

[Nico]

Hi DMeine,
Fortunately I have not had many of the problems you list. Hope you get them sorted.
Other issues I have in addition to the over-revving are

• Brakes squealing when starting off. Even now after 3500+ miles. My dealer is liaising with MG to get permission to fix this.
• No graphic equaliser still.
• When I start off I set my dashboard screen to the one showing mpg from start. For some unknown reason the screen changes later randomly to that showing no data just the car image. Not particularly important but a bit annoying.

 

[Holk]

@DMeine
I ve got Same issues like u.

I had my car for the first day and when I was selecting the R-gear my Camera-Screen was empty.

@Nico this „behaviour“ with the changing screen its the same in my car.

I thought this is normal ?
But when I am thinking about.. you are right… Sometimes its the whole time on the „fuel consumption screen“ and sometimes it changes everytime.

 

[DMeine]

The automatic view change is totally annoying but normal. It usually happens when you drive close to another vehicle, when ACC is switched on, when changing lanes and when it recognises other vehicles. Sometimes for no recognisable reason.

 

[Holk]

Today i had something completely new...

I drove a ´´longer distance´´ maybe 8km downhill... and then suddenly a warning came up in the screen ´´no more regenerative braking´´... which wasnt really a problem because the battery seemed to be full and could not get more energy.
Before this warning i was in electric-mode and after the combustionengine ~1100rpm

I was still driving down the hill.
But then...the engine suddenly revs up to 3500rpm and hold it for 15sek....then down back to 1100rpm... then again up to 3500rpm for 15-20sek ....again down... and a third time up to 3500 --> 1100rpm.

I might still have some understanding for revving up the engine speed when driving uphill to support the battery.

But.

When driving downhill - with a completely full battery - it's a disaster...

 

[Stephen L]

@Holk Im no car engine expert but in your situation, is it possible that when the electric motor can’t provide any regen braking, the petrol engine activates to give some braking by engaging a low gear and hence the increase in revs?
Maybe someone more knowledgeable can advise.

 

[DMeine]

@Holk
That is quite normal. It is best to switch on the downhill driving aid. When the battery is full, this message always appears and then the combustion engine is used as the engine brake.

 

[Holk]

@Holk
That is quite normal. It is best to switch on the downhill driving aid. When the battery is full, this message always appears and then the combustion engine is used as the engine brake.

where can i switch into this mode?

 

[DMeine]

@Holk
Swipe from top to bottom on the main display and press the symbol for the downhill driving aid. However, if you activate the ACC, it is deactivated again