Car Lost Power While Driving

[Scott90]

Hi All,

Looking for some advice - have seen similar problems posted but nothing exact. I have a 21 plate ZS EV.

My wife was driving home from work last night when HV Battery warning came on. The car had plenty of range at the time. 10 mins later, while she was on a motorway slip road, the car stopped completely.

I managed to get down and saw the HV Battery warning. The car would not start however all other lights, display etc were working. I called for an RAC pick up and, while waiting, I’m guessing the 12V battery died completely as soon nothing would work.

We got the car home and I had a neighbour attempt a jump start tonight. The car briefly powered up (albeit I still couldn’t get it into ‘Ready’ mode), and a bunch of warnings appeared, however the lights and displays started to flicker and dim and then eventually went out again. We sat connected to the jump for a good 20 mins but were unable to start the car again. Now, the only display showing is the ‘Alarm Triggered’ warning.

Before I call out to get the car towed to a MG garage, is there anything else I can try? Do you think getting a mobile mechanic to fit a new 12V battery would sort this? Am I better trying to get it towed to a garage for a proper look?

Any advice greatly appreciated.

 

[fred12345]

Hi All,

Looking for some advice - have seen similar problems posted but nothing exact. I have a 21 plate ZS EV.

My wife was driving home from work last night when HV Battery warning came on. The car had plenty of range at the time. 10 mins later, while she was on a motorway slip road, the car stopped completely.

I managed to get down and saw the HV Battery warning. The car would not start however all other lights, display etc were working. I called for an RAC pick up and, while waiting, I’m guessing the 12v died completely as soon nothing would work.

We got the car home and I had a neighbour attempt a jump start tonight. The car briefly powered up (albeit I still couldn’t get it into ‘Ready’ mode), and a bunch of warnings appeared, however the lights and displays started to flicker and dim and then eventually went out again. We sat connected to the jump for a good 20 mins but were unable to start the car again. Now, the only display showing is the ‘Alarm Triggered’ warning.

Before I call out to get the car towed to a MG garage, is there anything else I can try? Do you think getting a mobile mechanic to fit a new 12v battery would sort this? Am I better trying to get it towed to a garage for a proper look?

Any advice greatly appreciated

I would get it to MG. Likely that it now needs new 12V battery but that may not be the end of the story so best to get them to sort it out...

Don't you have free AA cover when you service your car with MG?

 

[Coulomb]

Don't you have free AA cover when you service your car with MG?

I think it's only free for one tow per year, but that might be country specific.

I would try a new 12V battery first. I'd fit it myself, but it's not everyone's idea of an easy job. I'd also charge it myself before fitting, as batteries often lose a lot of charge sitting on the shelf.

Nearly four years old, plus however long stuck in a parking lot during Covid, presumably winter now, it's probably done well. My own 2021 model must be due for a new 12V battery soon. It has started to show signs of failing.

 

[Gadget Geek]

Hi Scott90 and welcome to the forum.
If your car has been serviced at an MG dealership, you should have AA cover which renews each year.
Call 0800 072 3338 and ask MG Assistance if the dealership renewed your cover. Then I would get the car taken to the dealership to have it checked over as there may be error codes in the various modules which need clearing.

Good luck and report back.

 

[Scott90]

Hi all, thanks for the responses! I contacted my nearest MG dealer and, unfortunately, they can't take the car until 13th March! She also said that was likely to be the earliest appointment in any MG centres local to me (I'm in Glasgow)

I'm thinking my option is to get the RAC out and have them fit a new battery to see if that fixes it. If not, guess I will need to wait til March. Unfortunately, I don't have the Arnold Clark cover.

 

[Scott90]

Hi guys. Looking to see if there is anything else I can do here.

Just had the RAC out to fit a new 12v. Car has now powered on but will not drive. I’ve got a couple of warning lights on (attached)



My Start/Stop button is now not going anything - it won’t power down the car or start the engine. Car just seems stuck in the current mode.

Is there anything I can do, if not to get moving, to power down to avoid the battery running flat again?

 

[OriginalBigAl]

For now I'd take out the 12v battery and keep it trickle charged. Are there any independent EV mechanics around who could give/sell you some advice? Would MG be willing to give you some verbal advice other than "book it in " ( unlikely, but worth an ask ) Search YT for similar problems , doesn't have to be MG to try and get some relevant information. Good luck.

 

[Everest]

Over 4 weeks until a dealer can even look at a car is not good. Is that normal with MG?

 

[Eclectic]

Over 4 weeks until a dealer can even look at a car is not good. Is that normal with MG?

It was when my ZS wouldn't start, with the HV shutoff warning. It was off the road for 3 months while they were trying to get a level 4 tech to look at it. Eventually they got an MG UK tech to come down, and it got repaired in 2 weeks including waiting for the parts (HV battery control modules)

 

[Scott90]

For now I'd take out the 12v battery and keep it trickle charged. Are there any independent EV mechanics around who could give/sell you some advice? Would MG be willing to give you some verbal advice other than "book it in " ( unlikely, but worth an ask ) Search YT for similar problems , doesn't have to be MG to try and get some relevant information. Good luck.

Thanks mate, I've disconnected the battery now. Have spent hours on YT (and this forum) and while its been useful for info, all signs point towards it needing to go to an MG specialist.

Car is 4 years old and we've had it 14 months. Its done 30k miles, so I think our chances of any warranty covered repairs are nil. We are left without a car and relying on family members loaning theirs to get the kids where they need to be etc. A massive pain, but it is what it is. Hopefully it's not too much of a saga when it eventually goes to MG.

 

[Everest]

I think our chances of any warranty covered repairs are nil

Has it not been serviced then? I thought the warranty was for 7 years?

 

[hmadsen]

Best bet is to get someone "independent" that has a scanner that can read MG codes to give it a go, if warning lamps are on, codes will be stored.

This would maybe give you an indication on what it is, the car thinks, is wrong, would be annoying to be without the car for weeks, if the code came up as "No comms with module X" and it turned out to be a defective fuse for that module.

Probably not something as simple as that, but nevertheless faultcodes is a good starting point to try and figure out what's wrong.

 

[OriginalBigAl]

Over 4 weeks until a dealer can even look at a car is not good. Is that normal with MG?

If the dealership model is the same as France , then the dealer is a dealer who rents space in another manufacturers or independent dealership and shares the workshop mechanics whose main priority is to their employer. They will have enough training to carry out servicing and minor warranty work but anything specialized will have to carried out at a dedicated MG Electric centre which could be miles away. Before that , there will be a long drawn out debate ( mainly about money and responsibility and trying all the updates ( cheapest option ) and then getting hold of a MG specialist to come and travel and verify what was probably know from day one ,to make a decision as to how to proceed .
The dealer will want to be involved as little as possible , unless you feign interest in buying a new one, you will be directed back to the workshop manager who as I said is not a MG employee.
The "dealership " I got mine shares with Nissan as part of an independent business, whose main concern is selling quality secondhand vehicles all of which are prepared and serviced by one workshop manager , two mechanics , one apprentice, and one dogsbody. Having them stand around idle waiting for work to come in is not economic , hence the long waits. I was advised that to have a late August service appointment I should book it in , in early June at the latest .