Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

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Dozers Dad
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Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by Dozers Dad » Tue Mar 31, 2015 6:48 pm

Hi Folks,

I'm off to collect our 1st MGF in approx 15 mins.

I'm going to be full of questions over the next few days. So I thought it was only right to introduce myself first.
The last MG I had was a 1983 MG Metro in approx 1987. I was a fairly young lad & thought it was the bees knees. In reality it was a bit pants. Not to a spotty youth though, I was chuffed to bits that I owned an "MG" ;)

I've heard all the horror stories about the MGF. So I'm hoping you folk can reasure me that they aren't that bad? :?
It's a 1999 with a genuine 47,000 miles from new & a huge sheaf of receipts for remedial work carried out inc the demon headgasket 15,000 miles ago. So fingers crossed it's not a lemon!?!

I'll catch you all in a bit once I've got it home.

Kind regards Jez

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malcolm64
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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by malcolm64 » Tue Mar 31, 2015 6:53 pm

Sounds like a kid with a new toy :-) Jez enjoy the car believe me you will have a smile like a Cheshire cat. Pics please when you get the chance and welcome to the forum

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talkingcars
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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by talkingcars » Tue Mar 31, 2015 6:54 pm

Hi and welcome to the forum and back to MGs.

My first MG was a metro, great little car for what it was, we've since had many of the so called triple-M saloons and Zeds as well as our F, currently got 4 different ones.

Ask away with the questions.

James
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nigelandjo
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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by nigelandjo » Tue Mar 31, 2015 9:21 pm

Hello and welcome. Nothing wrong with MG Metro's ~ we have a low mileage 1986 one sat on the drive.
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garytipping
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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by garytipping » Tue Mar 31, 2015 10:41 pm

Hi,

Welcome to the forum, hope the car collection went well. Please keep an eye here, I'll keep posting any events in the area. Please let me know what sort of events you would be interested in attending. Keep in touch.

Regards

Gary

Dozers Dad
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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by Dozers Dad » Tue Mar 31, 2015 10:45 pm

Cheers for the warm welcome lads!

The car is now finaly in our garage after a bit of rearrangement!
The drive home went well. The car was a bit spluttery to begin with as it's not moved for nearly two months. However it started to clear fairly quickly so should continue to get better with use?

No other issues apart from the handbrake light flickering on & off when the handbrake is off. It apears that the switch on the lever needs adjusting? I've removed the tray beneath the arm rest & had a fish around but couldn't feel anything obvious. I'll have another fumble around in the dark in the daylight :roll:

With a bit of luck it will be dry enough tomorrow to give it a wash & polish? :thumbsu:

I'm still working on my list of questions. So stand by your beds! :D

As a starter....

1) Is it ok to use normal car shampoo & warm water to clean the cloth top?
2) How do I get at the handbrake switch without dismantling the interior
3) I can't find a Haynes manual for the MGF? Do they not do one?
4) The gear selection was quite stiff. I guess that's due to lack of use. If it doesn't loosen up how do I lube it?
Last edited by Dozers Dad on Tue Mar 31, 2015 10:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

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talkingcars
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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by talkingcars » Tue Mar 31, 2015 10:53 pm

The flickering handbrake light is normally a sticking arm on a rear caliper.
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Dozers Dad
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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by Dozers Dad » Tue Mar 31, 2015 11:02 pm

talkingcars wrote:The flickering handbrake light is normally a sticking arm on a rear caliper.
Cheers mate,

I hope it's more simple than that as if I rest my hand on the lever it drops down approx 5mm & the light stays off. It's as though it is being slighty held up? I'm 99.9% sure the brake is off though.

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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by Dozers Dad » Tue Mar 31, 2015 11:10 pm

garytipping wrote:Hi,

Welcome to the forum, hope the car collection went well. Please keep an eye here, I'll keep posting any events in the area. Please let me know what sort of events you would be interested in attending. Keep in touch.

Regards

Gary
Cheers Gary,

I live in N'pton so most of the events I've looked at are all within easy reach. I'll keep an eye on the what's on list & try to pop along to a few.

Regards Jez

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talkingcars
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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by talkingcars » Wed Apr 01, 2015 6:18 am

Dozers Dad wrote:
talkingcars wrote:The flickering handbrake light is normally a sticking arm on a rear caliper.
Cheers mate,

I hope it's more simple than that as if I rest my hand on the lever it drops down approx 5mm & the light stays off. It's as though it is being slighty held up? I'm 99.9% sure the brake is off though.
No, mine is the same, it is because the cable doesn't get pulled back properly.
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beefio
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Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by beefio » Wed Apr 01, 2015 8:14 am

Hi Jez

I had the exact same problem which was driving me mad, then I read up on it and just tightened the handbrake cable which fixed it. Remove the tray in the cubby hole, you will see the adjustment bracket where the cables join up, there is a nut attached to the rear cable, I was able to turn this by hand, it's spring loaded, just turn it one notch at a time until the slack is removed from the handbrake, it worked for me...

You could use car shampoo but I brought the Autoglym kit which is much better as it also includes a protector/proofer so water just beads off...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B005WIF ... 1427871578

There is no Haynes manual, if you give me your email address I can send you the MGF workshop manual which is quite useful, but there are more detailed 'how to's' for pretty much everything if you just do a Google search for what you want to do...

You could try replacing the gearbox oil, it's meant to be quite easy, you'd need to buy 3litres of MTF-94 oil which I pick up for £25...although I'm letting a mechanic do mine as they said they'd do it free as part of a full service.

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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by Dozers Dad » Wed Apr 01, 2015 7:55 pm

Cheers Gents,

The annoying handbrake light is now off when it should be. It was a combination of what both of you said.

I now have another hopefuly minor issue that I hope you can help me resolve?

I tried to lower the roof today & it will only go down approx halfway? I didn't want to force it before asking you guys. The owners book says that once the front catches are released it should just flop back?

The roof looks to be in great nick (car has been garaged it's entire life) So I'm guessing it's something else that's stiff due to lack of use? I didn't check before purchase as the car was outside & it was pi$$ing down with rain!

On a different note.... Whilst looking around the car today. I noticed a date stamp on the rear silencer on 07/1999. So I assume it's the original 15.5yr old item? There's a bit of surface rust but no rot. I guess that can only be attributed to it being garaged and only having covered 47,000 miles? I was still very impressed though to say the least!

Also as the weather was bad. I wasn't able to wash it. So I spent a bit of time going through the electrical system. Amazingly everything works as it should with the exception on the light under the front storage compartment. Maybe Ishouldn't be surprised? It's just that the car is no spring chicken any more.

I'm going to give it a full service asap. Not that it needs it according to the mileage covered since the last service. I just like the idea of knowing the oil etc is fresh. Is a 10w/40 semi ok in a VVC?
Last edited by Dozers Dad on Wed Apr 01, 2015 10:23 pm, edited 1 time in total.

beefio
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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by beefio » Wed Apr 01, 2015 8:53 pm

Haha you're having the same issues I had when I got my F!

You should be able to fix the roof with these straps...

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.vi ... 1826942235

Also be very careful with the plastic rear screen, I cracked mine by not ensuring it was folded correctly, it must be nice and straight with no kinks, or just undo the zip to be on the safe side!

As for the light, maybe just check the fuse and bulb...

As for semi or full synthetic, it seems to depend who you ask, maybe do some reading and make your own mind up...

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nigelandjo
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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by nigelandjo » Wed Apr 01, 2015 9:42 pm

Until you get the extra elastic for the roof, lift up the 2nd bar and the roof will then close down fully.

Haynes don't do a manual, but you can buy the full workshop manual from the F Register shop here: http://www.mgfregister.org/shop/books-c ... anual.html
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Dozers Dad
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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by Dozers Dad » Wed Apr 01, 2015 9:51 pm

Cheers beefio but it doesn't need straps as it already has them fitted. I thought they were a realy well fitted bodge as they look like seatbelts? :lol:

I have a local MG Rover specialist just up the road. So whilst asking them for a price on a service. I'll ask them about the roof. As there are no obvious issues with the bars or fabric I wanted to ask you guys before making myself look a prize numpty at the garage! :shutup:

Edit...... Cancel that mate. I've just looked at the picture again (properly this time) The seatbelts I was on about are standard & the straps in the advert are what you meant! "DOH!" ;) I've found some more on Fleabay & made the seller an offer.
Last edited by Dozers Dad on Wed Apr 01, 2015 10:52 pm, edited 4 times in total.

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nigelandjo
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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by nigelandjo » Wed Apr 01, 2015 9:56 pm

This is an additional elastic strap to stop the roof jamming see: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MGF-MG-TF-Eas ... 51c0aa058b
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Dozers Dad
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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by Dozers Dad » Wed Apr 01, 2015 10:12 pm

nigelandjo wrote:Until you get the extra elastic for the roof, lift up the 2nd bar and the roof will then close down fully.

Haynes don't do a manual, but you can buy the full workshop manual from the F Register shop here: http://www.mgfregister.org/shop/books-c ... anual.html
You Sir are a "Superstar!!!" :thumbsu:

Having a convertible that doesn't "convert" would have been a bit of a stumbling block! :o Especialy as her-in-doors wanted a Mazda MX-5 & got an MGF on my say so (& the fact I was paying & I'm a patriot). She was getting far tooooo much mileage out of the fact the roof appeared to be stuck? :shutup:

Thanks again mate ..... The roof went straight down! :thumbsu:

Regards Jez

PS.... She still had the last word though (as they do) She's just reminded me that I said the internet would never catch on & it would only ever be used by a handfull of nerds in the bedroom of their parents cos they'd still be living at home with no mates & no hope of ever getting a woman.
Maybe my vision of internet nerds all those years ago had the right idea? ;)

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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by Neil Rushton » Thu Apr 02, 2015 12:00 am

Its also a good idea to oil the joints in the roof mechanism hold a cloth under each one & drip some 3 in 1 oil onto them its helps a lot.
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Dozers Dad
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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by Dozers Dad » Thu Apr 02, 2015 8:32 pm

Neil Rushton wrote:Its also a good idea to oil the joints in the roof mechanism hold a cloth under each one & drip some 3 in 1 oil onto them its helps a lot.
Cheers for the tip Neil.

I gave the car a top to bottom clean today & treated the paintwork to some Diamond Brite paint sealer. I went a bit ott & applied it in places that will never see the light of day i.e. inside the boot/bonnet lids & door jams etc etc. It took hours but it has come up sparkling!! :thumbsu:
If any of you guys are interested in some Diamond Brite just let me know as I have a friend who can get it realy cheap. It's the stuff that main dealers encourage you to have at £300-£400 a pop! Of course they do apply it for that price. However I was quite happy to apply it myself & save a packet. My mate did me a kit for £30 inc the fabric /carpet protector aswell. He has retired from being a valeter so he's selling off his stock cheap. Let me know if you'd be interested? It's brillant stuff but not sure it's worth £300-£400!! :o

Right.... On to todays question.

I plan to do an oil & filter change tomorrow. Time will be limited as I have other stuff to do. So is there any reason why I can't refill the engine via the easy to get at oil top up point in the back? I would like to do the change tomorrow but won't have time to remove all the gubbins to get at the filler in the rocker cover.

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Re: Newbie off to collect a MGF VVC this eve.

Post by talkingcars » Thu Apr 02, 2015 10:28 pm

Dozers Dad wrote:Right.... On to todays question.

I plan to do an oil & filter change tomorrow. Time will be limited as I have other stuff to do. So is there any reason why I can't refill the engine via the easy to get at oil top up point in the back? I would like to do the change tomorrow but won't have time to remove all the gubbins to get at the filler in the rocker cover.
One simple reason, it is quicker to remove the engine cover and fill through the main filler than wait for the oil to dribble through the top up tube as it only has a very small outlet at the bottom into the sump.
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