Not how I thought today was going to pan out...

[Lovemyev]

I am assuming that the HV battery has already been disconnected for safety reasons of course ?.
Also given the long time this problem has been dragging on, it is fairly likely that the HV pack is totally discharged by now anyway.
Therefore posing little risk of fire, but could become a difficult situation to recover from.
If the pack is massively discharged, then it poses less of a risk, than any other of the EV cars parked outside surely ?.
We know that water ingress and battery packs are not really great bed partners of course and can become unstable and in turn, flammable.
They maybe looking at this lame excuse to want the car moving.
Once you move the car, you will be a harder struggle to fight your corner.
Expect their next move, will be to start billing you for storage charges !.

 

[macd2401]

If they'd even acknowledge the issues the car currently has because they let it sit for all that time, and agree on a way forward for that, I'd almost be agreeable to them taking the battery apart again (almost, except for them wanting another £1500 for the privilege). But they're not even accepting the car has issues, never mind their actions have caused potentially thousands of pounds worth of damage that they'll be exceptionally happy to bill for to put right.

If memory serves, the battery was at around 35-40% when it broke down. I'd expect it to be lower now.

 

[Lovemyev]

I really do sympathise with the situation you find yourself in TBH.
The dealer was concerned over the likely hood of fire, but joking apart, it could have been a blessing in disguise as it's worked out !.

 

[Ferretusmaximus]

I could well be out of date here, but my chemistry lessons included the alkali metals group of the periodic table (which includes lithium). The alkali metals react with water to produce hydrogen gas, heat and metal hydroxide. The reaction can also release oxygen causing a run away fire as the reaction supplies itself with oxygen. I expect a qualified chemist will correct me. The point is, if the garage you are using services electric cars then it must have adequate fire precautions and safeguards in place to protect its workforce (duty of care). Which indicates that they trying to apply pressure on you into taking some form of action (presumably they want you to take the car away so that they can then refuse to take it back). Best to sit tight and continue with your various legal approaches - it also increases the period the car will have been at the service centre adding weight to your NFFP arguments. Best of luck mate.

 

[Gadget Geek]

I could well be out of date here, but my chemistry lessons included the alkali metals group of the periodic table (which includes lithium). The alkali metals react with water to produce hydrogen gas, heat and metal hydroxide. The reaction can also release oxygen causing a run away fire as the reaction supplies itself with oxygen. I expect a qualified chemist will correct me. The point is, if the garage you are using services electric cars then it must have adequate fire precautions and safeguards in place to protect its workplace (duty of care). Which indicates that they trying to apply pressure on you into taking some form of action (presumably they want you to take the car away so that they can then refuse to take it back). Best to sit tight and continue with your various legal approaches - it also increases the period the car have been at the service centre adding weight to your NFFP arguments. Best of luck mate.

You might find this paper interesting:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352152X24008739

 

[fred12345]

I think they are using the "fire risk" to get you to take the car away so they can wash their hands of it all although there might be a potential fire risk. You haven't heard from MG customer services? You need to email them and say you haven't heard from them in reply.

You also need to be clear as to what you want from them and that is - fix my car under warranty now or I will have to take you to court. Cut out any extra and just concentrate on what you want them to do and keep chasing for replies.

 

[Gadget Geek]

I would also start thinking about telling your story to the media as bad publicity will hit them where it hurts.

Make it positive for the car but bad for MG customer services and refusing warranty repairs. Drop a hint about court procedings and bad publicity and see how they react.

 

[OriginalBigAl]

Does your house and/or car insurance have legal cover . They should at least give you some time with a solicitor to discuss your legal options and maybe even a independent specialist report.

 

[fred12345]

Cut out any extra and just concentrate on what you want them to do and keep chasing for replies.

Forgot to mention, say that if necessary, you will have the car fully inspected by a third party and get their expert report for court unless they fix the battery under warranty

 

[macd2401]

Another update, such as it is...

Matter has been forwarded to the Ombudsman for consideration.

That's almost exactly a year since it chucked it.

 

[OriginalBigAl]

There is a video on YT of the same battery as yours being stripped down. The top cover when removed revealed that the sealant to waterproof it was in the form of a large "O " ring which had failed and was letting water past into one section of the battery which then failed its insulation test and shut down the car. Once cleaned and dried and each module checked it was fine.
Are you satisfied that the water ingress was through the badly positioned "vents" and not through the above , as the technician said , " badly designed cover arrangement " . The broken plastic cover around the vent area could just be a badly timed coincidence which leads everyone to a pre determined conclusion.

 

[macd2401]

There is a video on YT of the same battery as yours being stripped down. The top cover when removed revealed that the sealant to waterproof it was in the form of a large "O " ring which had failed and was letting water past into one section of the battery which then failed its insulation test and shut down the car. Once cleaned and dried and each module checked it was fine.
Are you satisfied that the water ingress was through the badly positioned "vents" and not through the above , as the technician said , " badly designed cover arrangement " . The broken plastic cover around the vent area could just be a badly timed coincidence which leads everyone to a pre determined conclusion.

I have said to them several times that I don't believe that the water ingress was what caused the original breakdown, and that the valves should not allow water ingress if they were working properly. As usual, they ignored all questions and carried on with the "must pay us ever more money".

 

[macd2401]

The Ombudsman refused to take up my case because it turns out Arnold Clark have only some individual branches covered by their scheme... sneaky barstewards.

Back to the CA, and with a request being sent into the trade associations.

 

[securespark]

Wow.