MGF Archaeology !

[itsourchris]

Since I got the car in October, it's been running rough - and taking advice from this forum I decided to change plugs, leads, distributor cap and rotor arm. Its a 1995 car.

Got to work today and changed the lot - checking the date stamps on the leads, cap and arm, it appears they were made in October 1995, and have been on the car since it was built....

No wonder it runs much better now !

[Charless]

If those items are all original I would strongly advise checking any record/replacing anyway the cam belt and it's tensioner. The K series is an interference engine! The cambelt has a designed life of 5 years, not 25!

[itsourchris]

You are absolutely right!! Its booked in for exactly that next week after I've done the oil and filter..... Just changed the fuel and air filters - convinced they came with the car as well !!

[Mykel]

If those items are all original I would strongly advise checking any record/replacing anyway the cam belt and it's tensioner. The K series is an interference engine! The cambelt has a designed life of 5 years, not 25!

Wasn’t that 4 years and 11 months, as proven by your experience, Charles?

[Charless]

Sensible move Chris!
Hello Michael! Sadly yes, but it is all back together now and going very well with a mid life bodywork tart up and respray due later this month. 231k miles....

[itsourchris]

I've had a good look through the service history - and it appears it was last done in 2002 at the same time as the head gasket went pop.... I say appears as there is no mention on the invoice of belt, tensioner or pump being done !!!! so I assume they were when the head came off !

[Rob Bell]

OMG! Well, best find that out now That's got to be one of the oldest cam belts in existence?

BTW Have you checked the seat belt escutcheons? It seems quite likely that an early car that appears never to have been serviced may not have had all the recall work done either:



Original MGF recall actions:
http://mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/common ... s/recalls/

[itsourchris]

That's been done, so some care was taken once...... The garage is only a mile or so from the house but I'm paranoid about driving it.... Can't believe I drove it from Torquay to Cardiff when I picked it up.

[Rob Bell]

Chances are that it has been done - just not recorded. But the sensible thing is to get the belt changed as you won't know its history