Our MGF - possibly the most unreliable car in the world!

[ant509]

As much as I love the Mg we can't help but feel that there may be something wrong with it. As you may know the pressure cap went before so it went in for repairs, but the garage put a used pressure cap on so two weeks down the line it went again (so we put a brand new one on ourselves) . Now after a couple of days it is again overheating - although before the temperature was staying low suggesting that it was not the head gasket. Yesterday the temperature was fluctuating going hot then cold and steam was coming out of the pressure cap. Any suggestions what is up? We are phoning the garage up and suggesting that if it is not running properly after this repair they should be prepared to give us a refund. Its getting a bit silly now. Thanks guys.

[Geoff.F]

I do believe that the reliability of the MGF is due to 'Who does the Servicing' and 'How often is he used'.
I put my car in for the Annual Service with an additional Job to look the car over and advise of anything that may need attention. I have probably avoided a wheel bearing failure in the Alps this summer and adverse tyre wear by having the rear suspension attended to.
I would suggest that you buy an hour labour from Techspeed.
Geoff F.

[Kasper]

To me this sounds like air in the coolant system. If so this means the problem si not releated to the car but related to the craftsman.

Using a second hand cap on the water reservoir?

[Andrew Regens]

After the HG was repaired five years ago and 85000km,( now showing 158000km ) the only major repairs have been a clutch replacement at 120000km. They car has been serviced every 10000km and an anual pre season race check the fluids replaced every 2 years with special atention to the bleeding of the coolant. I had a major expence when the suspension turets collapsed but I had just put stiffer shocks, poly bushes and lowering knuckles. I have used three sets of front rotors one rear five sets of front pads (pads are race type ) one set of rear. Tyres, front still on second set, rears third for road use and for the past two years I have also used a track day tyre which the first set I bought second hand and replaced the rears in January this year. The clutch master cylinder went at one race meet and a little while later the slave which was overhauled at the same time went a few meets later and was replaced and has been fine since. Considering the use and abuse my F has recieved it has been some of my cheapest and most reliable motoring I have enjoyed. So find someone good and have the car serviced on a regular basis and don't by second-hand wear and tear items.

[adrianclifford]

I concur with Geoff here, the car itself is not unreliable, for the fact of the mileage that I do both here and in Europe, hot temperatures, fast sustained speeds no, I'm sorry I must say they can be very reliable given the attention that any car deserves. I consider my car to be a tribute to the attention it gets and the good servicing from my trusted garage.

As Kasper says, it sounds like there is air in the system.

Don't lose heart, get the garage to sort it out or go elsewhere.

[ant509]

Thanks for letting me know, I didn't realise as annoying as the garage using a second hand part was that it may have caused the problem.

[willyphixitt]

Hi,
From what's been posted you seem to be very unlucky with your garage's expertise.
A couple of things I can suggest:-
Firstly, is the coolant level at the seam level of the header tank. You will see a small stud jutting out as the level indicator. I have seen people overfill so it's worth checking as you are unfamiliar with the car.
Secondly, remove the pressure cap (when it's cold - we don't want you to be scalded) and run the engine at idle. Let it fully warm up but keep a close eye on the temperature gauge at all times. Run it like this for 5 to 10 minutes. Although it's not a recognised way, removing the pressure in the system does work and it can clear an airlock in the system without your having to get at the three airbleed points. Give the car a test run to see if you have been successful. If not, give it another session, but this time put the car on a slope facing downhill.
If that fails then you will have to resort to the recognised method of purging the cooling system of air.
Good luck.
Hope this helps.
willyphixitt

[ant509]

Thanks a lot, you have all been a big help we will suggest all of this as the car is going in for repair on saturday - hopefully the problem will be sorted so we can get down to the MGfest 08 (its the first show at the heritage motor centre that I will have visited as public instead of working it XD

[Kasper]

Bleeding of the cooling system:
1. black plastic cap at the radiator, Be wise use a new one to replace the old unit: it's costs only 1,5 - 2 pounds
2. Heater switch in the interior open (hot) Bleeding nipple at the heater element under the centre of the front screen in the front area.
3. After having run the engine warm, open up the motor area (under the soft top) take position at the passenger side (For you UK's) and follow the 4 spark plug cables from the cover down along the side of the engine, remove the bold that secures the bracket holding all 4 lines. This bold also is the third bleeding screw.

HTH

[johnny kingdom]

"Our MGF - possibly the most unreliable car in the world!"

No that'll be mine.... See viewtopic.php?f=8&t=1837



Mike

[ant509]

I was reading your story and I really feel sorry for you mate. Good look with your repairs. We get ours back tomorrow (just to rub salt in the wound)

[Mark L]

"Our MGF - possibly the most unreliable car in the world!"

I doubt it!....

Take my Wifes last car (someone did thankfully)

Not that old when bought, low-ish miles, dealer history, yet in six months it had.....

Dodgy window regulator
Dodgy door lock solenoid
Noisy diff
Dodgy CD changer
Loud rattles from windows
Loud top end rattle on cold start up
Coolant bottle 'exploded'
Rad hose 'blew off'
Radiator leaked
Rocker gasket leaked
Oil filter housing leaked
and the final straw was the sump gasket started to leak meaning expensive repair needed due to access - so I cut my losses and sold the thing at a BIG Loss...

This was the 2nd car we'd had from this manufacturer and the first was not much better - sadly I/we never learnt our lesson....... one things for sure though, I will never own a BMW again!.

Quality Bavarian engineering?.......

[ant509]

God I thought our car was bad.You sound like you've had all the bad luck

[Mr Teddy Bear]

I have to say that not so much as a soon to be MGF Owner, but more as a Merc' Owner I found the last comment very very funeeeeey!!

[Tim.]

If bleeding the system properly and a new cap doesn't fix it, I'm very much afraid that it might be the more unusual flavour of HGF with combustion gasses getting into the coolant system causing over pressurisation. A sniff test on the coolant and a pressure test will confirm.