Zoe broken down
Discussion
Well, after 400 happy miles in our Zoe, it failed to start yesterday, throwing up all sorts of worrying messages suggesting a serious electrical failure. Car wouldn't start and demanded to be put in park. The car is at the dealer so we shall see what's what next week I expect. Now battling to get a courtesy car, which to be honest is pissing me off more than the breakdown itself. I thought I'd landed myself a faultless Zoe (I know many have been troublesome) but clearly I was wrong.
It kinda takes a second to "boot up" after you press start.
If you press start then wack it into drive immediately then it can get confused.
This is where Renault can properly shoot themselves in the foot. The car breaks, you're in warranty, you've paid them to be able to drive around and what not. They expect you to walk, or get the bus. Their default position should be to bend over backwards to get you into a suitable car, unfortunately it doesn't seem to be that way.
If you press start then wack it into drive immediately then it can get confused.
This is where Renault can properly shoot themselves in the foot. The car breaks, you're in warranty, you've paid them to be able to drive around and what not. They expect you to walk, or get the bus. Their default position should be to bend over backwards to get you into a suitable car, unfortunately it doesn't seem to be that way.
DSLiverpool said:
Into gear too quick throws up worrying messages making you think of electrical failure etc it goes nuts if not allowed to boot up - easily reset.
Funnily enough I just mentioned this to the wife but she had previously read on the web always to wait for the car to boot up before taking it out of park, so unlikely to be this, Out of interest though, how is it easily reset? Dealer job only I assume? Heathwood said:
Funnily enough I just mentioned this to the wife but she had previously read on the web always to wait for the car to boot up before taking it out of park, so unlikely to be this, Out of interest though, how is it easily reset? Dealer job only I assume?
Turn off, open door leave to lock itself which may take a few minutes - worked for me the first and last time I did it So, the car was dropped off to Renault late Friday afternoon. I thought I'd just leave them to it and expected to hear from them yesterday or perhaps today.
Nope, haven't heard a squeak from them. Don't get me wrong, I'm quite capable of chasing them but was interested to see whether they contacted me to let me know what was going on, or even just to confirm they hadn't diagnosed the problem yet. Am I expecting too much? They're currently paying for a hire car for me so I'm half tempted to see how long it takes for them to make contact.
Perhaps I'm being unreasonable, I'm not sure.
Nope, haven't heard a squeak from them. Don't get me wrong, I'm quite capable of chasing them but was interested to see whether they contacted me to let me know what was going on, or even just to confirm they hadn't diagnosed the problem yet. Am I expecting too much? They're currently paying for a hire car for me so I'm half tempted to see how long it takes for them to make contact.
Perhaps I'm being unreasonable, I'm not sure.
So, quick update...
Renault sourced a Zoe demo car for me to run around in whilst mine is off the road. Picked it up last Wednesday.
I was promised that I'd receive a call last Friday with an update on my car. I wasn't altogether surprised when that call didn't come and, out of curiosity, I thought I'd see how long it is before I get a call. Well, it's now been another week and I still haven't heard a thing. The cars been with them for 2 weeks and I can only assume they still haven't a clue what's wrong with it. I'm almost tempted not to chase them up at all just to see how long it takes for them to contact me. Utter crap!
Renault sourced a Zoe demo car for me to run around in whilst mine is off the road. Picked it up last Wednesday.
I was promised that I'd receive a call last Friday with an update on my car. I wasn't altogether surprised when that call didn't come and, out of curiosity, I thought I'd see how long it is before I get a call. Well, it's now been another week and I still haven't heard a thing. The cars been with them for 2 weeks and I can only assume they still haven't a clue what's wrong with it. I'm almost tempted not to chase them up at all just to see how long it takes for them to contact me. Utter crap!
pboyall said:
On the basis that you have your demo Zoe so the effect to you is zero, but you aren't putting miles on "your" car, I think you're onto a bit of a winner.
Well, until the demo Zoe also fails of course :-P
Yeah, I agree that there's little actual affect on me, just amazed at the lack of info from renault. Or is it assumed that anyone buying an EV will understand that it'll breakdown and nobody will know how to fix it? Well, until the demo Zoe also fails of course :-P
Put it this way, if I'd bought, say, a clio and it failed to start so was recovered to the dealer (essentially the same as happened with my zoe), would you expect them to have the car for 2 weeks, with no info forthcoming about what was wrong or how long it would take to get fixed?
Heathwood said:
Put it this way, if I'd bought, say, a clio and it failed to start so was recovered to the dealer (essentially the same as happened with my zoe), would you expect them to have the car for 2 weeks, with no info forthcoming about what was wrong or how long it would take to get fixed?
Now, if you'd said, say, a Yaris then I would have said no of course not the dealer should be in touch all the time.But since the Clio is also part of the Renault brand ... I dunno ...
So, I've had an update from Renault.
A new part was needed which has now arrived and is being fitted. I enquired what part this was and it turns out to be the traction battery. Err, ok, that's quite a large / expensive 'part' then!
So, hopefully I'll have my car back in a day or two, fingers crossed.
A new part was needed which has now arrived and is being fitted. I enquired what part this was and it turns out to be the traction battery. Err, ok, that's quite a large / expensive 'part' then!
So, hopefully I'll have my car back in a day or two, fingers crossed.
Further update....
I heard bugger all for a week after being told the traction battery was to be replaced that day, and the car would be returned to me within a couple of days. I was eventually informed a week later that they also needed a cable to connect the new battery pack to the motor, which would be in the next day but they needed a master tech to fit it who was on holiday until tues 7th April.
Chased yesterday and, after much ignoring of my phone calls, managed to speak with someone on the service desk. Apparently the battery pack was never replaced and they deny ever telling me otherwise. They need to fit a new motor together with the connection cable. The parts are now with them but they haven't actually done anything with my car since they've had it - since f
king February!! Apparently it will be fixed next week. Sorry renault, I've lost all faith now. Ridiculous!
I heard bugger all for a week after being told the traction battery was to be replaced that day, and the car would be returned to me within a couple of days. I was eventually informed a week later that they also needed a cable to connect the new battery pack to the motor, which would be in the next day but they needed a master tech to fit it who was on holiday until tues 7th April.
Chased yesterday and, after much ignoring of my phone calls, managed to speak with someone on the service desk. Apparently the battery pack was never replaced and they deny ever telling me otherwise. They need to fit a new motor together with the connection cable. The parts are now with them but they haven't actually done anything with my car since they've had it - since f
king February!! Apparently it will be fixed next week. Sorry renault, I've lost all faith now. Ridiculous!DSLiverpool said:
Change dealer - that is purely a dealer shambles not the maker / car unless the dealer is a Renault owned one ? It would be interesting to call Renault and demand it goes to another dealer.
Dealer is renault owned. I was allocated a case manager at renault UK a month or so ago who claimed they would look after everything but to be honest they're worse than the dealer. Gassing Station | EV and Alternative Fuels | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff