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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - engine running faster and lumpy

got the car back yesterday after a 6000 mile service car started fine picking it up but noticed engine running faster. Just been out for a run in it starting the car was worst ive ever known it to be engine running faster again and lumpy. also in 3rd struggling at 30mph where as previously it would be on the limit of changing from 3rd to 4th. garage says spark plugs was ok points ok didnt do anything to the timing but balenced the carbs up. they said they dont know what it could be and they didnt notice the problem just wondering if anyone has had same problem or any ideas on what could be causing this or if its normal and we have just had the engine running at a moggie minor pace not a midget or sprite.
D Sartain

Bring it back let them fix it

You payed for a proper service you should get it.
No point in fixing it yourself that would just give the garage who buggered up the first time a free ride.
Onno Könemann

I agree with Onno, If you have let a garage service it and it comes back running worse than when you left it the garage needs to take responsibility.
M Adams

it all sounds very wrong but something a half decent garage should be able to vastly improve on

IF you think the garage is a good one then take it back there

but if you now think they might not be then cut your loss take it eslewhere for a diagnostic chech up

the 6,000 service should have it running a lot better but it is the 6 month service as opposed to the 12,000-mile/12 month service

30 mph would be at the low revs end of the change from 3rd to 4th but no problem unless you're going up a hill

Nigel At

I got to go with nigal on this one..... If they cant fix, then they cant fix it..... Write them off and get what ever refund you can

If this is a modern day shop... Id avoid them, they will probably screw it up even worse....Remember There isnt a computer port to plug into

Id take it to a classic brit shop where su carb repair/maintance is the daily norm, and not the once every 5 year oddity

My guess they adjusted the carbs with the linkage connected and not independant of each other....common mistake for amatures playing with the SU carb for the 1st time

Good luck ... Keep us posted

Prop
Prop

Well the guy that actually serviced it did used to race midgets so you would exspect to have someone whos knowing what they are doing. Unless using weber carbs. but thanks to nigel for the comment about 30mph good to know that it was right. The place does deal with classic cars and dont want to put them to shame just abnit of dissapointment the next chance we have to get it back to them is the 13th so hopfully will be sorted by then. I could just see a modern guy with one of those plug in things looking puzzled and not knowing what to do in a modern garage.
D Sartain

No need to shame every one can make a fault.
It all depends on how they fix it
Onno Könemann

Have I mis-read your first message? - It sounds as if you have already been back to them and they are denying that there is anything wrong. But you know your car better than anyone and if you think it is worse than it was, then it is!

I would normally agree with Onno - give them a chance to correct their own mistakes. But if they are trying to weasel out of it then they are not a trustworthy business, whatever his previous experience of racing midgets!
Guy

no not as of yet took it back a phone call today asking about it and i wasnt the one on the phone. its not the first time we have had problems with the srpite at a garage not same place and complaint was about a paint job they did. took it to them its a nice little car its just that needs work. then we complain the car was in a bad state and its alot better now and it was a cheap job. how does that line work they gave us the quote if they cant do a good job for that qoute dont quote it. just hoping not to have another problem with another garage. curse of the sprite mabye.
D Sartain

curse of any car - no way - bad workers equal bad results

anyone can make a mistake but if they are decent they will put it right - however a bad garage will have every excuse under the sun

I can tell you from bitter personal experience that a bad garage is best written off regardless of whether you get your money back or further work done

I know guys that used to work in garage and even hearing their stories would give me sleepless nights let alone actually doing as they have done

I know a chap that is very (add as many very as you want now) experienced in dealing with classic cars when new and during the 80s boom and the "tricks" they used to get up to with humble and expensive classics you'd have to be in the trade to really believe

I've experienced very bad marque and model "experts" even with my present Midget and I can tell you it's cheaper, more cost effective and a lot less stress to forget your loss and go elsewhere

give the garage one chance and one chance only, that's all a good garage needs, if they don't come thorough write off your loss to experience as it will be a lot cheaper in the medium and long run

BTW - some, NOT ALL, racers are only interested in getting as much money as possible as quickly and easily as possible to follow their obsession - think addict

It more often than not works out less expensive to go to somewhere ‘more expensive’ to get things done properly in the first place

There’s no name and shame on the web forums which is understandable but it does mean often the guilty get away untarnished

Put where you’re based and no doubt you can get reasonable recommendations of where to take your car
Nigel At

Check the simple things like jets are stuck down after using choke - maybe someone from the BBS is local and can run through the obvious with you?

A
Anthony Cutler

Turns out the only thing they can see is that the distributor cap is rattling which means parts inside it are loose and also the distributor its self is wrong aparently so at the minute its £12 for a new cap or £80 plus labour to fit a new distributor. would the wrong cap and distributor make a difference. sorry really need to learn about more. worst comes to worst get a new one and then i get the old one to learn from.
D Sartain

Dan, yes the wrong distributor would be a problem.

"the distributor cap is rattling which means parts inside it are loose". Not sure exactly what you mean by this.

You mean parts are rattling around inside the distributor I suspect. And if the cap is lose, then yes that's a problem too.

Exactly which distributor do you have fitted?

Can you post a pic or two showing the problem?

Before spending 80 quid plus labour, if you can get a 2nd hand distributor, or indeed fix your own, it will save you a lot of money.

Fitting a distributor is very easy.

You can do this yourself, save money, and learn a lot in the process.



Lawrence Slater

the car is a 1098cc mark 3 sprite so according to moss can have either a 25 and 45 type distributor it has a 45 type distributor with a screw in cap but it is held in place by clips apparently its ok though as it does hold it tight but the central carbon brush in the distributor cap which is spring loaded and should go up and down has worn its mount and is loose so its moving around abit.
D Sartain

Originally you would have had a 25d4, so if someone has swapped it for a 45, then unless it has the correct spec internals, you will have problems with timing.

As for the cap, if the spring is long enough to push the carbon rod firmly onto the rotor arm, then it should be ok. However, if the carbon rod is so worn that it is floating around with sideways play in the cap, then you either need a new carbon, or a cap, or both.

I didn't follow this thread that closely, but looking back you were having problems with a garage.

Is this the same garage?

If so, how is it they didn't tell you about the distributor when you first paid them to tune it?

From what you said earlier, the car went for a 6000 mile service and came back with these problems. So if it was working before hand, then it can't have much wrong with it now, that a decent mechanic couldn't put right very easily.

In the past I have personally caught out mechanics in garages, deliberately causing problems, that have to be fixed. You wouldn't be the first victim. It's very common. Of course I have no idea how honest or otherwise your garage is, but if honest, then they are not very good, and I would advise a different garage.

Lawrence Slater

it is a 45 and its apparently something similar to what you would find in a montegro so someone has done something and does work fine it was just the cap that needed replacing. it would appear that the car has been tuned before and from what i could tell he found it ok. also adjusted I assume the amount of petrol going into the carbs on idle and at 1500rpm i think. It was the same garage and has done the trick this time if it was a mistake either diliberate or by accident I will give them the benift of the doubt as we have had work from then before least not having to buy new dizzy. Is running as she should and hopfully a while of happy motoring.
D Sartain

This thread was discussed between 02/09/2011 and 13/09/2011

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