Taxi fare increase December 2024.

[silverbullet]

Anyone know if either the ATA S01 or RS01 is the Primus mirror meter. No reply from Noel Byrne as yet?

Yeah, the ATA agents have been very quiet.

ATA has been approved since 22 Nov (allegedly) --> https://www.nsai.ie/about/news/taximeter-program-update-from-the-national-transport-authority/

Also, a week ago, booked my taxi (suspension bushes?) into Oscars Garage (off Tolka Valley Rd) for tomorrow and he said he'd update my ATA mirror meter at the same time.  No mention of cost.  Probably best to leave the bill until the last moment 

He's the Polish guy?

[watty]

Yeah, Christopher.  They did a great job on my mirror meter when I got it a few years back.

He has certs on his wall now that he does EV servicing but I don't know how much he can do.  So no more going back to Linders now (hopefully)   

[silverbullet]

Yeah, Christopher.  They did a great job on my mirror meter when I got it a few years back.

He has certs on his wall now that he does EV servicing but I don't know how much he can do.  So no more going back to Linders now (hopefully)   

I dropped him to the port once. Sound guy, even gave me a business card.

[watty]

It's a handy little spot.  There's a tyre place beside him who does puncture repairs on a Sunday as well.  Though you have to pull up at the gate and ring down to get let in.

[Shallow Hal]

Yeah, Christopher.  They did a great job on my mirror meter when I got it a few years back.

He has certs on his wall now that he does EV servicing but I don't know how much he can do.  So no more going back to Linders now (hopefully)   

Let's know watty if ye find out about his EV maintenance experience,I'd love to move away from MSL....I rang yesterday to book my 80k service(in January)...and she said "oh,that's a big service,I'll give you a price...€535"..or something ridiculous like that...and that doesn't include if it requires brake pads.

[mercenary for hire]

Hal let me know what's included in that service.

[watty]

Let's know watty if ye find out about his EV maintenance experience,I'd love to move away from MSL....I rang yesterday to book my 80k service(in January)...and she said "oh,that's a big service,I'll give you a price...€535"..or something ridiculous like that...and that doesn't include if it requires brake pads.

I had something similar with Linders with the ~€500 quote.  They change the coolant (or brake fluid) or something. 

I'll probably still use Linders for an annual service to get an official battery SOH cert but for other stuff like suspension, brake pads etc, I'll go independent like Oscars.  Having said that, Oscars have their own MG5 that they rent out as a taxi.  So maybe they have the MG software and could issue me an official battery SOH cert as well?  The main thing is choice - keeps them honest 

Let's know watty if ye find out about his EV maintenance experience,I'd love to move away from MSL

I'm not sure how chatty he'll be this morning with all the meter updates etc going on.  We'll see.

[mercenary for hire]

Hal a few months ago I sent you the workshop manual for the BYD and I only really had a look at it now.

From what I've read there's nothing EV specific to any of the fluid changes.The method used in the factory manual is the same for all vehicles.

The coolant,brake fluid and gear oil l can be changed like a regular vehicle.The radiator coolant needs a small section of the subframe under the bumper unhlbolted but it's not impossible for a bloke with your experience.I'd say you'd probably get in there without taking the car apart.

Any mechanic that's worked on a few cars would have no problem doing the work if you didn't want to touch it yourself.The 40000km interval on the brake fluid seems excessive but I'm not an engineer.

[watty]

In the past 3-ish years, Linders have only made ~€500 off me so it's maybe no surprise they add 'a bit' on here and there to make a profit?   

With my 15 yr old Skoda, I was nearly paying that every quarter to my Indie mechanic    In facta, he told me one time that I paid the university fees for one of his children...*




(* He didn't!  just kidding  )

[mercenary for hire]

It's still cheap considering how much time we spend in the cars.I like to look after me own when it suits me.This messing about leaving the car in for a whole day for two hours work drives me nuts.Back when I was a courier and a younger taxi driver I just made sure I could do most things so I wasnt depending on a mechanic with a busy calendar.If you broke down on the motorbike you could be walking it home.Having a basic understanding of the vehicle always pays off.

I'm getting lazier but sometimes I'd rather do the work myself and take a few days off with the money I saved.Some of the garages are charging well over €100 an hour labour when you calculate how long they're actually working on the vehicle.With some of the prices they're charging you'd think it was a Rolls Royce.

[mercenary for hire]

Watty
"ll probably still use Linders for an annual service to get an official battery SOH cert but for other stuff like suspension, brake pads etc, I'll go independent like Oscars.  Having said that, Oscars have their own MG5 that they rent out as a taxi.  So maybe they have the MG software and could issue me an official battery SOH cert as well?  The main thing is choice - keeps them honest  "

The battery health is only really important if you're selling it or if you're making a warranty claim.After it's been a taxi the last battery state of charge report si all you will need.Most buyers will have their own mechanic who will test it before they buy it anyway.All battery health reports do is tell you if it's good or no good.They can't repair any degradation.

I don't think MG have any proprietary software.Any OBD reader should be able to tell you how your battery is doing.

[watty]

If I was buying, say, a 5 yr old EV, I'd rather see 5 annual certs going 100-98-96-94-92% rather than 1 cert that said 92% after 5 years.  With the 5 certs, you'd be more inclined to think the owner looked after it and didn't flog the life out of it?

[mercenary for hire]

Not necessarily Watty.Seeing the battery go from 98 to 96 to 94 to 92 to 90% is the same as just testing it in year 5 and getting 90%.

All the SOH test is telling you is it's usable capacity.Nobody would know if it's been rallied around everyday.Use the money towards your next vehicle.As soon as a buyer sees ex taxi they'll know you got the grant and start offering you well below market value.

I know the Teslas keep records of how many fast charges the car has recieved vs slow charges.I dunno if other vehicles can do this.Just drive it into the ground and consider a few fluid changes along the way.

[Rat Catcher]

Hal a few months ago I sent you the workshop manual for the BYD and I only really had a look at it now.

From what I've read there's nothing EV specific to any of the fluid changes.The method used in the factory manual is the same for all vehicles.

The coolant,brake fluid and gear oil l can be changed like a regular vehicle.The radiator coolant needs a small section of the subframe under the bumper unhlbolted but it's not impossible for a bloke with your experience.I'd say you'd probably get in there without taking the car apart.

Any mechanic that's worked on a few cars would have no problem doing the work if you didn't want to touch it yourself.The 40000km interval on the brake fluid seems excessive but I'm not an engineer.

It'd be interesting to see the ID4 Service Manual - without the bullshit certain dealers add.

Brake fluid on normal VAGs is after 3 years and then every 2 years with no kilometreage limits.
Coolant on normal VAGs is never - although there may be an exception for Alaska - can't remember for certain and can't be arsed opening the manual now. In any event it is possible to test coolant strength before / rather than replacing it.
Gearbox oil on normal VAGs is never. In fact if you drain through the drain plug alone you're only draining c.52% of the oil anyway.

I think Toyota impose kilometreage limits on everything, even brake fluid which degrades over time not usage so the EV manufacturers are probably copying that approach... I guess they're struggling to find stuff to charge ewes for in any event!

[Taxi driver42]

I know a driver with a 9 month old id4

On his third battery
Warranty coverd it but 3 batteries?6 months then 2 months then third one