The MGF Register Forums

Just got back from a weekend away in Devon, and yesterday whilst drivng near the Hoe in Plymouth, the car suddenly started making a very load rattling noise behind my head. As soon as I could, I pulled over and checked it out form outside the car and it was very loud so I turned it off. The noise was coming from the cam belt side, and I checked coolant and it had gone down loads, but oil was still nice and clean. Anyway, Definitely not good, so got the AA to come and get the car and take it home for me. Now gonna try and find out what's happened, my suspissions are water pump/cam belt.....

Gutted for you mate , hope it's nothing too serious, I think you did well hearing a rattle above the sound of a TT Extreme exhaust though...

not good mate - hope it's not too serious and sorted soon!

Hope it's not too bad and you caught it in time!!

Nicktg wrote: I think you did well hearing a rattle above the sound of a TT Extreme exhaust though...

God, that DROOOOOOOOOOONEEEEEEEEEE!!! It is lush when it goes through a tunnel though eh Stewart

It's pretty quiet through tunnels at the moment... AA trucks aren't that loud!

I dunno, petrol may be expensive these days, but this 'fuel saving' idea is incredibly green. I hope the truck was running on bio-diesel.

Rich.

P.S. Scoob, you know I'm just trying to put a smigde of cheer in your otherwise depressing life at the moment. We all wany 'Shaggy' back on the road asap.

You're absolutely right about the noise from my exhaust system! That's why I had to pull over and step outside to see if it really was a loud noise I could hear over the exhaust!!!

Well, not much news on the car at the moment, it's still sitting in the drive way at my mothers house, and so I shall go over this weekend to have an initial look at it to see if I can work out what has gone wrong. I'm also just waiting to hear from a guy that works at BMW Mini, who used to work on these engines when it was the rover factory, as he has done some private jobs for a few people, so I'm hoping he's happy to take my one on which will save me a lot of grief and money.....

Keep up the banter tho, as it's keeps making me smile about the whole thing!!!

Awww, Stewart - I'm glad the 'banter' makes you smile...Do you smile like you did when you went through those tunnels????? They were soooo funny!

Nah, nothing beats the smile I get in a tunnel!!!!

ScubaStewart wrote:Nah, nothing beats the smile I get in a tunnel!!!!

It's more of a...Urm, how can I explain it, urmm humph - A cheesy grin!?!! lol

So, tomorrow I shall begin investigating what has happened....

But the AA are getting to know me very well, as I had to call them out again tonight as when I got back to my LR after work it wouldn't start! Was a flat battery, but as I'd been at work late there wasn't anyone around for me to get a jump start from! So, car started and stopped in at halfrauds to pick up a new battery which I was shocked at having to pay almost £95 for, but I didn't have much choice as the old one was knackered...

So, i'm certainly making up for years of AA membership by calling them out 3 times in the last 3 months!!!

Looks like you're needing a little bit of luck to start coming your way eh! They do say it come's in 3's afterall.

My F wouldn't start about a year ago, I went out to morrisions, I didn't take my phone, no money left and the phone box wasn't in use. Soooooo I walked into town and reversed the charges home (I've not done that for years!!). I managed to get hold of my dad to bring my mobile down to me so I could call the AA, and yup it was a flat battery. Oh well, all sorted now thanks to BOSCH

Happened to me in my old MG Maestro 2.0i and the worst bit was that it had just stalled at a junction! I was driving happily coming up to a T-junction in Milton Keynes when then car suddenly juddered and stopped. I went to restart it, with cars hooting behind me, but it was totally dead. It only just managed to flash the hazards. I was able to push it back onto the verge with help from one of the guys behind me and walked back to a car spares shop where I bought a new battery. I walked back, fitted the battery, and never had any trouble again. Wierd how they can just die like that...

Rich.

Stewart,
Really sorry to hear your bad news - hope you get it sorted and doesn't cost too much.

Not ideal weather for working or a car in Oxford (or anywhere!) at the moment eh?

Chris

cheers chris! You're absolutely right about the weather. The car is not under cover, so didn't spend long on it, just wanted to see if i could work out what has happened whilst i wait to hear from this guy at bmw.

What i found is that the cambelt looks ok, but the tensioner had come loose and so was rattling round. I've no idea yet what damage this has caused, but my coolant is empty, so i have to assume that it's not good.

ScubaStewart wrote:cheers chris! You're absolutely right about the weather. The car is not under cover, so didn't spend long on it, just wanted to see if i could work out what has happened whilst i wait to hear from this guy at bmw.

What i found is that the cambelt looks ok, but the tensioner had come loose and so was rattling round. I've no idea yet what damage this has caused, but my coolant is empty, so i have to assume that it's not good.

ooops!

guess it's all part of the "Use em, enjoy em, break em, fix um, use em, enjoy em....." cycle!

just that the break em bit is never as good as the use em and enjoy em bit!

Good luck Stu!

Sorry to hear about this Stu! My coolant was empty a few weeks back and it was the water pump. Put some in and see if leeks just in font of the rear wheel on the driver's side. Apparently they only leak when cold!

Keep us informed buddy.

Cheers

Dave

Ok, things are not good. Engine is completely knackered....

So, I'm now in the market for a new one!

oooops!

Gutted for you Mate

Are you OK for transport? Is the LR on the road?

Cheers

Dave