I've given up with all my theories, it's either fine for a couple of weeks (thought was related to 12v battery SoC), pings once at startup and remains off all journey, or is pinging constantly as it engages and almost immediately disengages (thought related to phone signal).
Calling the dealer tomorrow for a no doubt extended faff about while they a.) try to confirm it (where it will no doubt go into two weeks perfect behaviour) and then b.) fix it.
As per most others with the same a
problem, a new steering wheel is required. However, they’re on back order, probably due to the volume required so who knows when it’ll be available.
In other news, after parking the car in torrential rain the other night, when I drove off the following morning there was a louder ping than normal as I drove away as the rear pads released from being stuck to the (corroding) discs and a subsequent knocking noise when the rear near side brake engaged at
lower speeds.
The Dealer Tech (in the vehicle health video they send you) noticed the rusty discs and recommended, to prevent the discs corroding, to knock the gearbox into neutral and then braking to engage the rear brakes fully as the car won’t regenerate in neutral.
The good news is a new rear pad is available (with different pad material) to presumably prevent the pads sticking to the disc, which will be fitted under warranty when the replacement steering wheel arrives.
