2. Cold Starting

From cold the car sometimes gives problems starting like today, the engine turns over continuously (starter motor working) but does not fire, as its been raining I've not been able to check to see if I can find the problem.

I assume the obvious things to check are the plugs and leads, distributer cap and rotor arm.

I assume to get at the plugs and leads you need to remove the inspection cover below the hood.

I really don't want to return the car to the garage again as I've just got it back from them and as it only happens occasionally it may not happen when they have the car.

http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/common_problems/wet_starting.htm

 

Hi all,

1. Noisy Wipers

The wiper motor or linkage seems very noisy, it kinda whines.

[.

The wiper mechanism is notoriously rubbish and if its noisy it could drop to bits! MS does an upgrade mechanism for around £30, I have one ready to fit in to the car but I yet pluck up courage!

 

The wiper mechanism is notoriously rubbish and if its noisy it could drop to bits!.....

thats a very realistic reply Chris, Bill will be pleased....oh wait, no mention of HGF in this thread so he won't be reading it

 

Have MGf/TF's actually got a distributer and rotor arm? Because Im yet to find one on a K-series infact my old maestro ( Don't take the Pee Please I had enough when I owned it lol ) had an A+ series engin with no dizzie, Electronic ignition, and on the K-Series though it was controlled by the ECU.
Am I thinking right?

 

Have MGf/TF's actually got a distributer and rotor arm? Because Im yet to find one on a K-series infact my old maestro ( Don't take the Pee Please I had enough when I owned it lol ) had an A+ series engin with no dizzie, Electronic ignition, and on the K-Series though it was controlled by the ECU.
Am I thinking right?

On the K-series they seem to come and go depending on the year! I think all F’s had dizzies up to the year 2000 (?) and then they moved to wasted spark.

 

oh right now I get you, Nice one chris

 

oh right now I get you, Nice one chris

Check the link to Robs site above!!....... shows you the difference between MPI and VVC

 

Have MGf/TF's actually got a distributer and rotor arm?

Erm....... No idea I was just assuming they have.

http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/common_problems/wet_starting.htm

Thanks thats really usefull, will try what it suggests and hope it sorts out the problems.

The wiper mechanism is notoriously rubbish and if its noisy it could drop to bits! MS does an upgrade mechanism for around £30, I have one ready to fit in to the car but I yet pluck up courage!

I think I might have to invest in one in the near future as my ipers were a lot quieter until the other day. If I have to fit it soon I will get a few pics and let you know how it goes.

 

I had the noisy wipers problem about a year ago. I replaced the linkage/mechanism with the improved MS version. That stopped one annoying noise. A week or so later driving during a violent thunder storm my wiper motor decided to pack in too, nice. Anyway more time off work but replaced that as well myself. I took a butchers at the motor and lo and behold it was full of rust & water. This probably has something to do with position of the motor and especially the angle of it so water just seeps in. You might say a typical well thought out MG Rover part:_

Thing is, despite loads of really annoying problems and really crappy design faults I love my F

 

Thing is, despite loads of really annoying problems and really crappy design faults I love my F

LOL I only have a few problems with mine and know of a lot of the design faults but I love my F anyway.

I'll have a look at the motor before I order a new wiper linkage.

Cheers.

 

LOL I only have a few problems with mine and know of a lot of the design faults but I love my F anyway.

I'll have a look at the motor before I order a new wiper linkage.

Cheers.

As for other problems I've had, which you might be looking forward to

How about the coolant pipes underneath the car (another real crap design which are so close to the chasis they are begging to rust (which is probably the idea: Replaced with MS alloy.

Erm Soon after the pipes.. how about a nice new radiator needed, oooh loved fitting that with uprated MS rad. Coolant pipes and rad only 3 years old, is that the norm?

Hmmm what else, oh yes, the central locking mechanism in the drivers-side no-longer works but makes a strange sound, which is nearly as good I guess considering the fact you need to be 10cm away before the blipper works anyway LOL (still need to fix that one).

The dreaded HGF, came close one time because of a coolant leak, luckily a nice lady flashed me and warned me of the huge plume of smoke coming from my engine bay Another time I wasn't quite so lucky and came to a grinding halt. Noway was I gonna try this one, huge expense but all part of the fun.

Erm...the zip on my rear screen not only came apart but broke the fastener too. So I thought *******s to the plastic ****, I'll replace the whole lot with a BAS burgundy glass screen jobby. Cost £600 but fitted it myself. Looks way
cool

I'm pretty sure there's more but getting late...

Oh what fun, you having fun reading this?

 

As for other problems I've had, which you might be looking forward to

How about the coolant pipes underneath the car (another real crap design which are so close to the chasis they are begging to rust (which is probably the idea: Replaced with MS alloy.

Erm Soon after the pipes.. how about a nice new radiator needed, oooh loved fitting that with uprated MS rad. Coolant pipes and rad only 3 years old, is that the norm?

Hmmm what else, oh yes, the central locking mechanism in the drivers-side no-longer works but makes a strange sound, which is nearly as good I guess considering the fact you need to be 10cm away before the blipper works anyway LOL (still need to fix that one).

The dreaded HGF, came close one time because of a coolant leak, luckily a nice lady flashed me and warned me of the huge plume of smoke coming from my engine bay Another time I wasn't quite so lucky and came to a grinding halt. Noway was I gonna try this one, huge expense but all part of the fun.

Erm...the zip on my rear screen not only came apart but broke the fastener too. So I thought *******s to the plastic ****, I'll replace the whole lot with a BAS burgundy glass screen jobby. Cost £600 but fitted it myself. Looks way
cool

I'm pretty sure there's more but getting late...

Oh what fun, you having fun reading this?

It sounds like the F is going to beore expensive then I though. Oh well.

 

On the topic of smoking it felt like I was driving a steam engine to work today. it was all from the exhaust pipe though and was (hopefuly) just condensation in the cold weather. Gave me a bit of a fright at first though. Coolant and all is at the right level so I'm hoping it's just a bit of winter nippyness.

 

It will be just condensation!

 

I've noticed it for a few days. It scared me at first.


Just changing the subject quickly, what spark plugs would you recomend for the VVC with Magnecor 8mm High Performance Leads.

Ive bought the leads from Brown & Gammons as recomended on Rob's site.

 

As for other problems I've had, which you might be looking forward to

How about the coolant pipes underneath the car (another real crap design which are so close to the chasis they are begging to rust (which is probably the idea: Replaced with MS alloy.

Erm Soon after the pipes.. how about a nice new radiator needed, oooh loved fitting that with uprated MS rad. Coolant pipes and rad only 3 years old, is that the norm?

Hmmm what else, oh yes, the central locking mechanism in the drivers-side no-longer works but makes a strange sound, which is nearly as good I guess considering the fact you need to be 10cm away before the blipper works anyway LOL (still need to fix that one).

The dreaded HGF, came close one time because of a coolant leak, luckily a nice lady flashed me and warned me of the huge plume of smoke coming from my engine bay Another time I wasn't quite so lucky and came to a grinding halt. Noway was I gonna try this one, huge expense but all part of the fun.

Erm...the zip on my rear screen not only came apart but broke the fastener too. So I thought *******s to the plastic ****, I'll replace the whole lot with a BAS burgundy glass screen jobby. Cost £600 but fitted it myself. Looks way
cool

I'm pretty sure there's more but getting late...

Oh what fun, you having fun reading this?

:lol: Two and a bit years of `F` ownership.............

New inlet manifold and gasket.
New TB
NewO/S window regulator
New N/S door lock Solanoid
New Heater resister pack
New Radiator
New Roof clamps
New Dics/Pads all round
New Shockers X4
New exhaust
New starter motor
New Battery
New door/window seals
Suspender re-gas.....

A couple of yearly services, with an extra oil/filter a 6K intervals

Also add about £3k worth of `Mods`..... new wheels/tyres/FULL interior/spoilers/sound system/shiny bits/shiny bits/shiny bits, and oh!, did I mention some new shiny bits!!..

Other than the above though its not cost me a penny!!!.......

 

Hmmm..... Its lucky I love my F or I would be thinking about selling it about now.

 

The wiper mechanism is notoriously rubbish and if its noisy it could drop to bits! MS does an upgrade mechanism for around £30, I have one ready to fit in to the car but I yet pluck up courage!

Not sure if my how to site is good enough to help you Chris

http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~sur188/MGF/wipers/

Tells you what NOT to do as well as what to do

 

Not sure if my how to site is good enough to help you Chris

http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~sur188/MGF/wipers/

Tells you what NOT to do as well as what to do

Thanks Broon I actualy have your site bookmarked and I keep looking at it but I still haven’t plucked up courage!

 

Just make sure you have a full day, just in case (although it should only take a few hours)

 

Thanks Broon I actualy have your site bookmarked and I keep looking at it but I still haven’t plucked up courage!

I don't blame you, after seeing whats involved I'm thinking of getting it done under waranty (without the car for a couple of days as the garage are REALLY slow) rather then going for the better quality parts.

 

I am seriously considering getting hold of a mechanism/motor from a scrap yard and using that to build a new unit with the MS mechanism so I don’t have problem if it goes ****-up.

 

:lol: Two and a bit years of `F` ownership.............

New inlet manifold and gasket.
New TB
NewO/S window regulator
New N/S door lock Solanoid
New Heater resister pack
New Radiator
New Roof clamps
New Dics/Pads all round
New Shockers X4
New exhaust
New starter motor
New Battery
New door/window seals
Suspender re-gas.....

A couple of yearly services, with an extra oil/filter a 6K intervals

Also add about £3k worth of `Mods`..... new wheels/tyres/FULL interior/spoilers/sound system/shiny bits/shiny bits/shiny bits, and oh!, did I mention some new shiny bits!!..

Other than the above though its not cost me a penny!!!.......

Yup replaced a few other things also, I forgot about the battery.
I also have one leaky window seal (passanger-side) but cba to fix it lol.
I also forgot to mention a wheel bearing and a clutch sleeve:/

However, I replaced the brake pads / TB / Exhaust etc etc before they decided to give me grief, besides some were part of the modding procedure
Out of interest I've just added up my mods over the last four years (I've kept all the receipts) and sofar it's around 5k and I haven't even got new wheels yet sigh

 

I took my car to my local garage (the only one I trust) to have them check it over and found one of my rear tyres have 2 cuts in the inner side wall about 1-2 inches long, both tyres are new.

So I bought the car 1 month ago (of which I've had it 2 1/2 weeks due to a return to the garage) and haven't even made my first repayment and have already started paying for things.

HT Leads £56
Spark Plugs £???? getting them tomorrow
Dizzy Cap & Rotor Arm £??? getting them tomorrow
1x Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 £97
Check Over by Garage £20

X-Power Roll Hoops £185

 

I took my car to my local garage (the only one I trust) to have them check it over and found one of my rear tyres have 2 cuts in the inner side wall about 1-2 inches long, both tyres are new.

So I bought the car 1 month ago (of which I've had it 2 1/2 weeks due to a return to the garage) and haven't even made my first repayment and have already started paying for things.

HT Leads £56
Spark Plugs £???? getting them tomorrow
Dizzy Cap & Rotor Arm £??? getting them tomorrow
1x Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 £97
Check Over by Garage £20

X-Power Roll Hoops £185

Despite all the costs involved with these cars, there is something addictive about spending copious ammounts of your hard-earned on them. I hope you're ready for more muahaha