Out of battery range to get to service center

[Mfenn45]

Hi all
Forgive if this question has been posed already. I pretty much leaped before I looked and purchased 2012 I miev from Carmax Saturday. Closest certified Imeiv service is out of battery range (75 miles one way ). That being said most maintenance looks standard apart from checking battery capacity. Ok to be that far or should I return? Carmax has 5 day return policy. I know it would be pricey to have to tow for service and mine is not equipped for rapid charge .

 

[mdbuilder]

Have you checked plugshare for an L2 charger somewhere along the way? You should be able to do 75 miles driving carefully with a 1 hour L2 stop somewhere along the way.

My dealer is right about that distance, 72 actually. I've got a highway rest stop with an L2 halfway there, the one time I needed to go back I stopped for an hour to charge just to be sure. I probably could have squeaked in without the charge but it gave peace of mind. Driving carefully is basically not exceeding 45 mph unless you really have to.

 

[Mfenn45]

I will check that for sure. Is it imperative to get battery checked ? All other maintenance looks like it can be done anywhere.

 

[mdbuilder]

No, there should be an orange insert in your maintenance manual that says "never mind, don't bother!" Once a year (2? I forget) they want you to run it down to 2 bars or less then fully recharge as a substitute.

 

[Mfenn45]

Thanks for the input. Really like it but got a bit worried when I saw there were no service centers close...

 

[mdbuilder]

Where are you located?

The orange sheet eliminates the battery check and advises the charge below 2 bars once in the first year and once every 24 after that to maintain the accuracy of the state of charge meter.

 

[Mfenn45]

Im in Grovetown GA

 

[mdbuilder]

There seem to be a decent number of charges over towards Agusta, some north and more east if that is the direction of the service center...

 

[Mfenn45]

Augusta is only 7 miles so still would be difficult not to need a charge in between as closest i Miev dealer is in Cayce SC . Trip is on Interstate so max of 45 mph might be tricky as well. Might could stop over in Aiken SC but if I really do not need the dealer to check the car on a routine basis I guess it wont be an issue hopefully.

 

[mdbuilder]

Aiken looks like the best bet for that trip.

Baring a motor or motor control unit failure, the only thing I see as needing dealer attention is the a/c. I had to do that on mine, the brackets securing the compressor wore out, they are rubber mounts. Anyone can do the fill I suppose but the actual compressor runs on full pack voltage, specialized.

Not much else to service, brakes last a long time, tires, gearbox fluid, all standard stuff.

 

[Mfenn45]

great! Thanks for all the input! Feel better about the decision now

 

[Don]

Other than safety recalls, you may not need to go to a dealership very often, if at all. I would check your car to see that all current recalls have been done - You can do that on the Mitsu website

We have two of the cars and since our local dealer closed up shop, it's now a 95 or 100 mile one way trip to the nearest dealer who works on EV's. It's certainly an inconvenience, but it wouldn't stop me from owning the car. We've had one since May of 2012 and my wife would never give hers up

Don

 

[Mfenn45]

Thanks Don. Very reassuring. Now to work on getting a faster charge here at home.