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Cont: Electric Vehicles II

Yesterday marked six years since I picked up my TM3 and Tesla invited me to take part in a quite lengthy survey about my experiences.

The summary: the car itself has been fantastic. Comfortable, reliable, efficient, high performance. On the other hand, Tesla France has the worst customer service in recorded history. Shamefully bad. And no, I won't be buying a new one or recommending the brand to other people while Musk is associated with it.
 
MG customer service can certainly give Tesla France a run for its money in that department.
 
Odd thing this evening. I went to plug in my car as usual on a Friday night and the car threw a fit. The cable wouldn't go into the socket properly and the indicator lights flashed orange and white, which was new to me.

Couldn't see anything wrong with the car connectors so I had a good look at the cable. It looked like some insect - probably a bee or a wasp - had started nesting or egg-laying or something actually inside one of the CCS connectors as there was a waxy deposit and what I assume was pollen everywhere. Anyway, four cotton buds and some isopropyl alcohol later the car is charging at its usual speed.
 
malbui said:
Odd thing this evening. I went to plug in my car as usual on a Friday night and the car threw a fit. The cable wouldn't go into the socket properly and the indicator lights flashed orange and white, which was new to me.

Couldn't see anything wrong with the car connectors so I had a good look at the cable. It looked like some insect - probably a bee or a wasp - had started nesting or egg-laying or something actually inside one of the CCS connectors as there was a waxy deposit and what I assume was pollen everywhere. Anyway, four cotton buds and some isopropyl alcohol later the car is charging at its usual speed.
Click to expand...

Aha!

I had often wondered why mine had a close-fitting cover over the socket, as well as the close-fitting hatch over the bay that contains that socket.

Now I know.

:)
 
malbui said:
Odd thing this evening. I went to plug in my car as usual on a Friday night and the car threw a fit. The cable wouldn't go into the socket properly and the indicator lights flashed orange and white, which was new to me.

Couldn't see anything wrong with the car connectors so I had a good look at the cable. It looked like some insect - probably a bee or a wasp - had started nesting or egg-laying or something actually inside one of the CCS connectors as there was a waxy deposit and what I assume was pollen everywhere. Anyway, four cotton buds and some isopropyl alcohol later the car is charging at its usual speed.
Click to expand...
There are some solitary bees and wasps that just love to lay their eggs in small holes. Electrical sockets are a favorite, because the holes are just the right size. Some mud wasps also just go crazy for the slightly fruity aroma of acetylene, a constant battle for torch users. If you have something critical like an electric car plug, you'd do well to find a cover for it, even just a sandwich bag and a rubber band.
 
Not really that relevant to EVs, except it was an EV it happened to. Two goes at the Wrynose/Hardknott pass in the Lake District. First time I had a puncture half way, just before the start of the Hardknott pass. No mobile signal. Managed to get through to the RAC on a farmer's phone but they cancelled the call-out because I didn't reply to texts I wasn't getting. Spent 12 hours in a layby. Eventually extracted by a heroic taxi driver at 3 am and delivered to a hotel at 4 am. Given a courtesy car to go home in the next day and my own car followed on a transporter the following week. Ludicrous palaver for a puncture.

Part 2. New tyre, and I had a score to settle with that road. Went back 12 days later on a beautiful day, crossed without incident, went as far as Ravenglass (which was closed on Wednesdays). Decided to go back the same way rather than wimping out the long way round. Weather fantastic, late afternoon light behind me. Lovely. This time I got two punctures on the Hardknott pass, including a triangular tear in the wall of the brand new tyre. This time I had a mobile signal at least and the RAC operator was a bit more clued up. He sent a mobile tyre fitter out (who insisted on giving me two new tyres even though I had actually brought one spare tyre with me this time) and he got me going after about two hours.

I am now a nervous wreck, and does anyone want six summer tyres for an MG4 which is being run on all-seasons?

Picture just to show how nice it was before it all went south.

1743810533545.webp
 
I presume the above saga involves the non-issuance of an original spare, as is so common these days. The only time I've had a flat on my spareless, jackless Hyundai I ran over pair of scissors that put a huge hole in the sidewall, a day away from home, spent most of a day getting towed, finding a replacement tire, getting it put on, etc. etc. I have a jack and a spare now.

I can see how deleting the spare might make a bit of economy difference in a little thing like my Hyundai gasser, which is made out of tinfoil and probably weighs about as much as a cat carrier and was also, when it came out, one of the cheapest new cars available in the US, but I would not have thought it would make much difference in an electric, which is likely pretty heavy already, and not likely so very cheap.
 
bruto said:
I can see how deleting the spare might make a bit of economy difference in a little thing like my Hyundai gasser, which is made out of tinfoil and probably weighs about as much as a cat carrier and was also, when it came out, one of the cheapest new cars available in the US, but I would not have thought it would make much difference in an electric, which is likely pretty heavy already, and not likely so very cheap.
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I have to admit I don't get it on new electric cars either. I have a 2003 Corvette (I can't really afford). It has no spare because of interior space issues, but came with runflats. The first time I bought the runflats, $2400 US for a full set. Switched to regular, properly rated tires for $1200 for my second set, plus AAA. I'm thinking about an electric scooter for the hatch as backup, but I'm not a kid anymore.

ETA: It's also not really a long range vehicle for me now.
 
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bruto said:
There are some solitary bees and wasps that just love to lay their eggs in small holes. Electrical sockets are a favorite, because the holes are just the right size. Some mud wasps also just go crazy for the slightly fruity aroma of acetylene, a constant battle for torch users. If you have something critical like an electric car plug, you'd do well to find a cover for it, even just a sandwich bag and a rubber band.
Click to expand...
Yeah, it’s the time of year when insects are laying eggs in every tiny niche they can find around here. In the six years I’ve had a car cable outside this is the first time I’ve found them doing the deed there and the lesson has been learned.

Overall I’m glad it was just that. My initial fear was that there was a problem with the charging port on the car, which might have been expensive.
 
It's not just EVs that don't have a spare wheel these days. Similar thing happened to my friend in her Nissan Juke.

There's also the issue that a lone female driver may not be able to change the wheel without help.
 
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My car didn't come with a spare; it does have a space to put one in the boot, though that's filled in with shaped foam and plastic, converting it to more general storage, for things like the granny charger. Some owners have taken the padding out, and installed a full-sized or spacesaver spare (though the full-sized one is a bit of a tight fit), but I haven't got around to doing that.
 
Rolfe said:
There's also the issue that a lone female driver may not be able to change the wheel without help.
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I am not one of those things and I have to admit that I don't have a clue how to change a wheel. I'd be googling for youtube videos faster than you can say "AA coverage provided by the bank."
 
novaphile said:
Aha!

I had often wondered why mine had a close-fitting cover over the socket, as well as the close-fitting hatch over the bay that contains that socket.

Now I know.

:)
Click to expand...
Most home chargers here in Australia have the charger plug is plugged into a blank 'socket' when not in use that keeps it looking neat and keeps the muddies out of them at the same time...
eg
1743854663589.png1743854701873.png
 
Pixel42 said:
I wouldn't even try.
Click to expand...

The first time I had a bad flat, somewhere in France with my mother in the car, I was all set to impress her by changing the wheel when an English man happened along (I was at an unmanned petrol station) and changed it for me. I was slightly deflated (like the tyre) but accepted graciously. The second time I happened to be outside a pub in a London suburb and got so far when I realised I simply didn't have the strength to undo the wheel nuts. I went into the pub and asked the general atmosphere if anyone might be able to loosen a wheel nut for me. Of course several men stood up, and I didn't have to do a thing thereafter.

Third time I called the RAC. Fourth time, once again a kind man changed the wheel for me.

I have come to the conclusion that even if one is carrying a spare wheel, some assistance is required.
 
I think it's generally a good idea for anyone to know how to change a tire even if it's appropriate to ask for help. Sometimes you just can't find it, and knowing what is needed, and where the jack and wrench life, etc. is a good plan. Wheels are heavy and not fun to change, but it can be done. If you jack the car up just as much as required, you do not have to lift the wheel much, and in the leisure of your own back yard is a good place to learn how. One thing I do always recommend is that you check the wheel lugs for tightness any time someone other than yourself has mounted wheels. The actual torque required is not huge, but some garages and the like will tighten them far too much. That's something best found out before an emergency.

If wheel tightness is an issue, it's not a bad idea to pack a better lug wrench than the default one. A cross-style wrench is not that expensive, and you can put your entire weight on it. When a cross wrench is used, the end opposite the one used can sometimes be supported on the jack, and then you can literally jump on it.

Of course these days tires rarely go flat, and this is likely a bit extreme in normal circumstances, but if you expect to be out in the boonies, or drive in the dead of night, etc., I'd practice a little, and carry a couple of extra pounds of weight.

That said, though, of course if someone is willing to help, then you'll probably make them feel good for having performed the good deed, so go ahead and ask.
 
I wasn't completely sure I knew how to change a wheel until I emerged from a meeting in Lewisham to find a screwdriver sticking out of the side wall of one of my tyres. It turns out that if you're in a dodgy part of town, you can change a wheel and get going even in quite serious darkness.
 
For wheel changing I find an extending spanner (wrench) invaluable. If the last people to work on that wheel were a garage there's every chance thay used a pneumatic spanner to tighten the nuts and they can be buggers to loosen.
 
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