What on Earth is the matter?

[Reckless Rat]

I just don't get it.

Yesterday I went down to the garage, unlocked my 16yrs old MGF Mk1 using the remote fob, and the doors opened. I opened the boot, checked the oil & water and then got in, switched on the ignition (waiting for the B&G alarm to do its self-check) and bugger me it started first time.

I drove it out of the garage, and had a run out with the Mem'Sahib, doing a round trip of around 75 miles. The engine never missed a beat. I never saw any warning lamps or steam coming from the boot vents. The temperature gauge never budged from its normal position and the oil temperature remained at a steady 90°C. When we got home I worked out the fuel consumption and it was between 35 + 40mpg.

What on Earth is the matter with it?

[Mike H]

Had a very similar experience last weekend!

My very similar comments here

[Foxy]

You don't know how lucky you are right now compared to my recent short trips followed by flumes of steam/smoke. And now my car will not be on the road for the foreseeable future.

[S67SOK]

Must say that after my HGF scare mine has been wonderful, a treat and a joy to drive.

[mgfneal]

iv had the same problem with my 1996 mk1 cant understand it. From what i read befor i got my mint mk1 it should break down every 2 weeks and blow up every 4 but its let me down big time it just starts everyday and runs sweet as a nut just to mock me lol

[Charless]

I just don't get it

What on Earth is the matter with it?

I am familiar with the problem - looked after Mk1 Fs - they almost all do that sir.

[Turbostream]

I have the same problem with my TF.

I was led to believe that the "project drive" cars were cheaply made? Now I have the uprated head gasket all I have to do is fill the thing with petrol and drive, most irritating to say the least!

Hehe

[Reckless Rat]

OMG! TFs as well? It must be a virus. Don't panic!

[cath's mg]

OMG i thought Cathy was the only unlucky one with her 96 MGF. I checked the oil & water yesterday, had not been done for 3 weeks (covered about 200 miles) and it took a table spoon full of water to top it up
I really have had enough of MG's, thinking of buying a green 1994 skoda, someone told me they are very reliable
Gary & Cath

[mgfneal]

on a serious note my f seems to have a problem i put £20 of petrol in it last week and now its gone and the little gauge seems to go down ? Also when you drive it for 20 mins the temp gauge goes up? also when you press the accelerator it makes a loud noise out the back and it moves forward! !? what do you thinks wrong with it

[cath's mg]

on a serious note my f seems to have a problem i put £20 of petrol in it last week and now its gone and the little gauge seems to go down ? Also when you drive it for 20 mins the temp gauge goes up? also when you press the accelerator it makes a loud noise out the back and it moves forward! !? what do you thinks wrong with it

Ye gods man, you really shouldnt drive a car in that condition get it to a specialist MG dealer ASAP, or sooner

[mgfsoldier]

You lot obviously service your cars and check your levels correctly. Shame on you all letting all those abused MGFs look bad.

[Mykel]

What on Earth is the matter with it?

Quite simple, Bruce,
obviously far too much care, like checking oil and water before a longer trip, let alone the B&G low level alarm. Another reason for the fearful state your car's in may be that you don't just leave her alone hibernating for months. I'm afraid that in the end you'll even admit to have some affection for the old girl (the one with 4 wheels).

By the way, I can't get mine to behave differently, they just don't know how an English car is supposed to do these days.

Mykel

[talkingcars]

They are very strange - I've just driven mine for the first time since July (apart from moving it around parking spaces) to take it to an MG specialist to sort the suspension (gone down on one side in 9 months) and the emisions for the MOT (new parts fitted 18 months ago) and apart from a noisy wiper motor that I knew about she was a joy to drive.

[Foxy]

I hate you all.....

I want to play this game in the near future!

[Helsbyman]

Hi all, From reading the other posts on here I thought I was the only one who had an MG that didn't brakedown. didn't even get HGF as I had 4 life in the cooling system and it changed colour before anything went, warning me to get the head gasket done.

[Rich in Vancouver]

Mine has the same strange starting and running reliably problem.
Fortunately mine has the feature that causes the cockpit to fill up with rainwater or I would find it hard to believe it's really an MG.

[Ian007]

Yep - me too

Took mine out for a -2 top down spin in the freezing winter sunshine (first since mid december) and I had exactly the same problems - absolutely none, plus i had to have all that horrible fun you can have in an F.

Still back to driving the brick tomorrow - can't wait (Passat estate).

cheers

Ian

[Stan_B]

When we got back from over 2 weeks away over the holidays the Fiat threw a hissy fit and I had to use the TF. I put the TF on the battery conditioner for 2 hours, turned the key and it started, the cheerful sound of the Toyosport was a bonus.
More fun to drive fun than the Fiat.
I did get the Fiat going though, I dont like leaving the TF in crowded car parks.

[Vinyljunkie]

What really annoys me, is even though I've had to put right a few niggly faults in the last couple of weeks because of abuse by the previous owner, I still haven't had to call out Green Flag. It feels like I'm not really getting my money's worth from roadside assistance when despite faults that would've stranded most cars, ted just keeps getting me home! What's the deal with that??