Hello. Some help please.

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BenGF
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Dec 09, 2017 2:24 pm
MGF Register Region: Devon & Cornwall

Hello. Some help please.

Post by BenGF » Sat Dec 09, 2017 2:50 pm

Hi all. My first post on the forum. Recently bought a 98 VVC MGF.

Was fun at first but......

1st the clutch pedal went. Replaced slave and master cylinder to get it working again. Car was unstarted or driven for 2-3 weeks though.

Now I'm having over heating issues. Steam coming out the back etc. Me and a mate put new thermostat in (boy that was fun lol) but was leaking (something we think we can fix, just needs refitting i hope and maybe sealing etc.).

Biggest problem was when i cleaning out the expansion tank in the kitchen sink. I found a large ball bearing (maybe 1/4 inch.) I'm thinking this might be some sort of jiggle valve???? Not sure though. Anyone know what it could be?

Other issues include low rear suspension (i intend to pump up at some point, scraping over speed bumps ain't fun) and power steering pulling to the left. Both of which i will try to address if i can get the cooling system sorted.

Can't help feeling i was sold a lemon :oops:

Any tips advice would be greatly appreciated.

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ArntyR
Posts: 323
Joined: Fri Feb 06, 2015 8:37 am
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: 2010 TF135 Style
Location: West Sussex

Re: Hello. Some help please.

Post by ArntyR » Sat Dec 09, 2017 5:07 pm

Hi BenGF. I think the jiggle valve (upper left on pic?) has a ball beating in it. See pic of my black plastic inlet manifold.

My '05 116 TF was overheating and I found the inlet manifold gasket was broken in 3 places. Also some twit must've put cooling system sealant in cos the jiggle valve was all gummed up with coppery gunge. I needed to clean my exp tank, too, of coppery brown leak sealer deposits...and multiple-flush the rest of the cooling system AND put a new rad in...

It's my personal thought that HGF might often be misdiagnosed and the img is actually the overheating/leaking culprit...

Stick with it. You've done hard stuff with the clutch. See if it's leaking below the inlet manifold first, but I'd feel inclined to check the jiggle valve (and img) anyway. Pumping up is easy. Imo steering is easy if you can do the clutch...

(They're our pets, aren't they?)
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Last edited by ArntyR on Tue Dec 12, 2017 9:12 am, edited 2 times in total.

Fraser
Posts: 165
Joined: Thu Mar 20, 2014 6:34 pm
MGF Register Region: North West

Re: Hello. Some help please.

Post by Fraser » Sun Dec 10, 2017 11:25 am

No doubt you know about the alarmng propensity of these engines to blow their head gaskets. However, ArntyR has pointed out the other weakness, namely the inlet manifold gasket. Many years ago my wife's Rover 25 Auto, that had the same 1.8 litre engine blew its head gasket and this was repaired but we still had a small leak of coolant. I traced this back to the inlet manifild joint, so it went back to the garage for this to be fitted. All was well after that. These gaskets can leak externally, or internally, so the leak lets coolant into the inlet passages. This could be your steaming problem. Lets hope you haven't been sold a lemon !

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talkingcars
Posts: 5766
Joined: Tue Mar 09, 2010 10:44 pm
MGF Register Region: South East
Model of Car: mk1 VVC
Location: West Sussex
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Re: Hello. Some help please.

Post by talkingcars » Sun Dec 10, 2017 10:36 pm

Hi and welcome to the forum

There are lots of how to guides here

James
Home to black Alfa 159 3.2 V6 Q4, blue MGZR160, green MGF VVC and grey MGF 1.8i, and red MG Maestro T16.

MGF chatting on the Register and at http://www.the-t-bar.com

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