New owner 2016 few issues.

[dustmaker]

Hi all, new owner of new 2016 with a few issues maybe some of you can help me with or let me know if any could be a problem.
I love driving the car but the steering seams stiff and a little loos at the same time, maybe it is just so much different than my other vehicles but seams to hunt for a straight track like a vehicle with not enough toe in or a little play on center. maybe the stiffness will loosen up but i do not remember this in either of the other I-miev I have driven.

I purchased this car from a dealer 300 miles away but assume the local dealer will be fine handling warrantee issues.

Another issue is the remote has a slight hum or buzz to it when turned on not loud but always there, do not know if that is normal or will drain its battery to fast.

A charging issue, when I plug it in after only down 2 to 4 bars and shows fully charged usually plugged in for about 8 hours, I get more range at the top bar maybe 15 miles before it drops the second bar, this seams about normal to me and what I am used to so far. If however I charge after running down to 5 or six bars, letting sit overnight it still shows full charge in morning even after only 9 or 10 hours or so, charging has stopped, bars show full but I get way less range before loosing first bar. This morning I did this and only went a half mile before dropping first bar. So far only charge on 8 amp setting. Why would it randomly stop charging before completely full? I expected that it would not be done yet being that low and only that amount of time on the 8 amp setting.

On a normal day so far RR shows about 90 to 92 miles so really happy with that.

Reference lines on back up camera, seams to be no rime or reason to them coming on or not. 90% of the time they never come on and then all of a sudden pop up. Anyone else have this problem?

Thanks for any advice I can get.
Paul

 

[JoeS]

Hi Paul, welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new purchase! Yes, your local Mitsu dealer should be able to take care of you - hopefully he has someone who is i-MiEV qualified, but your issues should be handled regardless. Whereabouts are you located?

1. Tracking. Your diagnosis is correct as the car IIRC has very little or zero toe-in in order to minimize rolling resistance. This results in a little wandering, especially at highway speeds on longitudonally-grooved pavement. You'll get used to it, but if you go in to the dealer for something else, you might mention this and they can check the alignment to make sure its in spec.

2. Tight steering. Yes, she's responsive and it might be that the electric power steering merely feels a little 'different'.

3. Humming Remote. Weird - I have three silent Remotes nor have I ever heard of this one. It only makes a sound when there's an error. Make sure it works properly as this is a very expensive item and good to have it taken care of right away under warranty if needbe.

4. Charging and bars dropping. What are your ambient temperatures, as the battery management system might be kicking in to prevent the battery from fully charging? (I'm speculating on that one, as I personally rarely fully fully charge the battery and then only just before taking off on a longer trip). Remember, the worst thing you can do to your battery is to fully charge it and then leave it sitting there fully charged in a high-temperature environment.

5. Excellent RR of 90-92! You are driving nice and conservatively as the RR is based on how you drove the preceding 15 miles.

6. Backup camera. Mine has a few-second time-delay before the reference lines kick in, but they always do. I'd add this to your list for the dealer to take care of.

Other than these few niggling things, hope you're enjoying your new acquisition!

 

[phb10186]

I have a remote and do get a bit if a remote humm. I think this is actually the luminescent back light, and though it appears a bit odd, I ve not been too concerned.

 

[wmcbrine]

When you take the battery down to two bars before recharging, the car does a recalibration of the display (per my reading here). Perhaps you're not seeing a real difference in the state of charge, just in the display?

Canion might help to clarify this, if you want to try it.

 

[mdbuilder]

If you are down to 5 or 6 bars, that is below half. When you say the charge has stopped, did the light go out on the brick? Or is it just that all the bars are now lit?

Full charge time on 120 + stock charger is 22 hours @ appr. +4 miles per hour. If you start below 1/2 charge then 9 or 10 hours is an hour or two short of a tippity top full charge.

 

[Don]

Your local dealer can work on your car only if they got 'qualified' to do EV's - Not all Mitsu dealerships are. After my local dealer where I bought the car closed, the next closest dealership to me is in Mobile Alabama but they can't do anything with EV's and have no plans to ever get 'qualified' - There are very few iMiEV's in this neck of the woods. My cars have to go to Pensacola (110 miles away) and both of them need to make a trip there to get recalls dealt with at some point

I would definitely have the dealer check your alignment - What you are describing sounds like a little bit of toe-out, which is not a good thing. With zero toe, it should track satisfactorily and not wander

Don

 

[mdbuilder]

Yes, on the toe in I would say on a smooth road with not excessive crown, you should feel you need to pay attention but not be constantly correcting wandering. You also don't want to look away and reach for something either <g>. There is no self correcting, but neither should it be unstable.

 

[dustmaker]

Thanks for the responses everyone.
The brick shows that it has stopped charging and has full bars. I was thinking it was short on charge time and the fast loss of first bar would show that too. I have not taken the charge below 5 bars yet maybe I should take below 2 do a full charge and see. My usual commute is only 25 miles round trip so probably will only need to charge every couple of days and still have enough reserve for an extra trip to town if I need it.
I would say the steering is just how you describe so maybe as it should be, will ask them to check the first time I have it in though, probably take some getting used to.
Paul

 

[wmcbrine]

I have not taken the charge below 5 bars yet

Ah, I misread what you were saying, then. Still, not a bad idea to let it recalibrate every so often.

 

[FrostyCanada]

Hello dustmaker, congratulations on the purchase of your new iMiev.

We have a 2016 model year car.

Backup camera: the backup works instantaneously, but it takes about 30 seconds from a cold start for the guideline to appear (normal).

Remote: our remote makes buzzing noise too (normal I guess, but it works perfectly).

Tracking / steering: I'm not a mechanic, but the car does wander slightly, especially on crowned road, at high speeds, and windy days makes it worse (normal behaviour for the iMiev).

I wouldn't worry too much, you will eventually get use to all the little quirks.

Enjoy your new car,
Brian