mgf died
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Because advice is honestly and freely given in this technical section, much of it will be amateur experienced based, so any information is given in good faith and is not guaranteed as correct.
Not many rules really, this board being aimed at technical issues, it shouldn't fall foul (hopefully) of some of the more personal issues that can affect forums.
Rule 1 - Is that you need to think very carefully before posting anything technical or asking anything technical relating to the security system of the car - See 'Security Issues' sticky for more info.
Rule 2 - We (MGF Register) do not support copyright infringement and therefore references to CD ROM, PDF versions or paper copies of the workshop manual (for instance) should not be posted on the forum. We don't want to get into trouble and we'd rather sell you a genuine hard copy through our Regalia shop anyway!
Because advice is honestly and freely given in this technical section, much of it will be amateur experienced based, so any information is given in good faith and is not guaranteed as correct.
mgf died
Hello,
I have a 51 plate MGF 1.8, (not VVC), that suddenly died while I was driving. The dash lights all come on, the radio, hazard lights don't work, but the electric windows, horn and indicators seem OK. (Although the indicators stop if the hazard light button is pressed). The remote key fob does not set the alarm and the red alarm light does not come on at all, I had to lock it manually.
My first thought was cam belt, (or ECU?). The car will not start or even turn over and I couldn't bump start it either. I had a quick look for any damage, bits of belt etc. and found none. The fan belt seems OK. I have acquired a DVM and will start to test battery and fuses, but I was wondering if anyone has any idea or things, other than the above that I might check for, (or had experience of similar?), before I have to resort to getting it to a garage.
Thanks in advance.
I have a 51 plate MGF 1.8, (not VVC), that suddenly died while I was driving. The dash lights all come on, the radio, hazard lights don't work, but the electric windows, horn and indicators seem OK. (Although the indicators stop if the hazard light button is pressed). The remote key fob does not set the alarm and the red alarm light does not come on at all, I had to lock it manually.
My first thought was cam belt, (or ECU?). The car will not start or even turn over and I couldn't bump start it either. I had a quick look for any damage, bits of belt etc. and found none. The fan belt seems OK. I have acquired a DVM and will start to test battery and fuses, but I was wondering if anyone has any idea or things, other than the above that I might check for, (or had experience of similar?), before I have to resort to getting it to a garage.
Thanks in advance.
-
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Re: mgf died
I would suggest an earth point.
Grab the negative lead on the battery and pull gently, see if it is loose.
I would say... the lead that connects to the gearbox has snapped (did this on my MG ZS a while back with similar symptoms)... Worth a check and easy cheap fix if it is!
Grab the negative lead on the battery and pull gently, see if it is loose.
I would say... the lead that connects to the gearbox has snapped (did this on my MG ZS a while back with similar symptoms)... Worth a check and easy cheap fix if it is!
Re: mgf died
Ok, will try this.
Thanks.
Thanks.
- cath's mg
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Re: mgf died
A friend had almost the same symptoms yesterday in their TF, turned out to be the battery.
I am probably asking the obvious but have you tried jump (not bump) starting it?
Gary
I am probably asking the obvious but have you tried jump (not bump) starting it?
Gary
Cath's car but Gary's plaything
- talkingcars
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Re: mgf died
I had similar on my ZS a while ago, the bolt holding the earth to the gearbox (and the clutch slave bracket) was loose, problems were worse when hot.ZSx wrote:I would say... the lead that connects to the gearbox has snapped (did this on my MG ZS a while back with similar symptoms)... Worth a check and easy cheap fix if it is!
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Re: mgf died
Quick update....I found a blown 60A fuse (battery) in bonnet compartment and have ordered a couple from Amazon £1.99
each. I'm hoping it may be a fuse just failing rather than a wiring/component I will see when I fit the new one in a few days. It explains the failure of some of the electrics as the positive terminal connects only to parts of the circuits via this fuse.
(I didn't want to jump start the car, Gary, in case it was the cam belt and I did more damage, but thanks for suggestion).
I hope this may help anyone who has or had a similar fault.
each. I'm hoping it may be a fuse just failing rather than a wiring/component I will see when I fit the new one in a few days. It explains the failure of some of the electrics as the positive terminal connects only to parts of the circuits via this fuse.
(I didn't want to jump start the car, Gary, in case it was the cam belt and I did more damage, but thanks for suggestion).
I hope this may help anyone who has or had a similar fault.
- talkingcars
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Re: mgf died
You would know about it if the cambelt went while driving, there would be a lot of noise..........Lambypie wrote:(I didn't want to jump start the car, Gary, in case it was the cam belt and I did more damage, but thanks for suggestion).
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- RobboMC
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Re: mgf died
Big fuses don't normally blow without reason.
If it starts and runs I would drive it home without touching anything, no blinkers, headlights, windows, nothing.
Then once safely home activate each item one at a time and work out which electrical circuit melts the fuse.
I'm guessing it's the hazard/blinker circuit since blinkers shouldn't stop when hazard switch is on.
If it starts and runs I would drive it home without touching anything, no blinkers, headlights, windows, nothing.
Then once safely home activate each item one at a time and work out which electrical circuit melts the fuse.
I'm guessing it's the hazard/blinker circuit since blinkers shouldn't stop when hazard switch is on.
Re: mgf died
No, you wouldn't. I've had a cambelt go and there was no perceptible noise.talkingcars wrote:You would know about it if the cambelt went while driving, there would be a lot of noise..........Lambypie wrote:(I didn't want to jump start the car, Gary, in case it was the cam belt and I did more damage, but thanks for suggestion).
Mark
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Re: mgf died
I'd guess it's the alternator which caused the battery to go flat. Don't change the battery without checking the alternator output first.
- talkingcars
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Re: mgf died
On a K series?mowog73 wrote:No, you wouldn't. I've had a cambelt go and there was no perceptible noise.talkingcars wrote:You would know about it if the cambelt went while driving, there would be a lot of noise..........Lambypie wrote:(I didn't want to jump start the car, Gary, in case it was the cam belt and I did more damage, but thanks for suggestion).
The K series is an interference engine and will make noise (as it damages its internals).
I had the belt go three times on my first Maestro, powered by a 1.6 S series, no noise, no damage.
The third time it went I changed the water pump as well, and all in under a couple of hours.
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Re: mgf died
Yes, on a K-series. It happened on my MGF and there was no noise. When I took the head off I found 8 bent valves. Talking with Roger Parker at the time, he commented that normally you don't hear any noise from the engine when the valves hit the pistons.talkingcars wrote:
On a K series?
The K series is an interference engine and will make noise (as it damages its internals).
I had the belt go three times on my first Maestro, powered by a 1.6 S series, no noise, no damage.
The third time it went I changed the water pump as well, and all in under a couple of hours.
Mark
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Re: mgf died
My only experience of valves and pistons kissing (and resulting in bent valves) was defiantly audible but I was next to the engine
(not my fault, someone else screwed up a belt change.
(not my fault, someone else screwed up a belt change.
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- RobboMC
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Re: mgf died
Care to explain, do you know what went wrong?talkingcars wrote:My only experience of valves and pistons kissing (and resulting in bent valves) was defiantly audible but I was next to the engine
(not my fault, someone else screwed up a belt change.
So the rest of us don'y repeat the mistake.
Did they try and do it without the proper locking tool ?
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Re: mgf died
There definitely is a noise when the kiss of death happens. I was unlucky enough to have the belt go just short of its due(and already booked) replacement service a couple of years back. Otherwise I would have a completely original engine with well over 200000 miles on it which burns no oil - instead it is 'mostly' original with a guest head!
The noise at low speed is like a dull momentry tuning fork followed by ominous silence from the engine because you push the clutch. I intend getting it back on eventually and will fit all new valves, guides etc Only two got bent due to the very low speed at the time.
The noise at low speed is like a dull momentry tuning fork followed by ominous silence from the engine because you push the clutch. I intend getting it back on eventually and will fit all new valves, guides etc Only two got bent due to the very low speed at the time.
- talkingcars
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Re: mgf died
Yes, they did use the correct tool, all I will say is it does a good job of stopping the engine turning......RobboMC wrote:Care to explain, do you know what went wrong?talkingcars wrote:My only experience of valves and pistons kissing (and resulting in bent valves) was defiantly audible but I was next to the engine
(not my fault, someone else screwed up a belt change).
So the rest of us don'y repeat the mistake.
Did they try and do it without the proper locking tool ?
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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