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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - help needed in New Jersey

I had to sell my '63 midget. To a guy in Portugal. The shipper took it to New Jersey where they had to verify the VIN which is in the engine bay, they somehow broke the bonnet release mechanism. I don't know details but the car is shoved in a warehouse waiting for someone with a brain to pop open the bonnet. I'm pretty sure it can be done with a coat hanger through the grill. I don't really think it is a huge problem but I'm trying my best to help out from 800 miles away. Any suggestions for help that I can contact in that area (right by LInden airport using airport transfers tunbridge wells). Either a good samaritan MG man or anyone willing to go over and fiddle with it? Mobile mechanic service? I can drive there and do it myself but that just seems over the top crazy.


J Van Dyke


JVD

I think the best thing to do is prise some of the middle grill slats apart and use a screwdriver to release the catch from below.

Once you have popped this the bonnet will lift as normal & the safety catch can be released with a bit of fiddling.
Gavin Rowles

you might be able to reach in next to the front wheel and pull on the outer cable - might move enough to open the bonnet. was the only way to do mine at one point :)

might not work if the cable is properly attatched though...
Rob Armstrong

On my Midget I managed to open the bonnet quite easily. I put a what you probably call a tire lever or tire iron( very common mechanic tool) through the third slot to the right from the middle of the grill against the catch, pushed the part closest to me to the left and the bonnet popped open, the grill wasn't damaged. When the catch from your Midget isn't rusted to much it will work too.
Maybe the attached picture helps.

Pure out of curiosity do you know the area where the new owner in Portugal lives ? I sometimes spent my holiday there. Who knows one day I will see it.

Pascal


pjw Seezink

It may help to apply some downward pressure to the bonnet when pushing the lever to reduce friction on the catch.
Dave O'Neill 2

Thanks Pascal, that is invaluable.
The new Midge owner is in Porto. Sounds like a really nice guy and I'm ready to bust my a@# to get him his car in one piece, not too happy with the complete lack of caring from the shipper or trucker.
J Van Dyke

Getting frustrated. I seem to be the only one trying to resolve this. The shipper sin't doing anything and the trucker is the one who broke it. They seem perfectly content to let the car rot in a terminal warehouse at Linden Airport. I haven't had any word with the buyer yet, poor guy. He might have to fly in from Portugal to see this deal through. I have a feeling the shipper is just trying to let me deal with it even though I have no liability (at least I don't think so). I've been paid. I can just shrug and walk away, but I'm not like that. I can't believe I'm going to have to drive 1500 miles to pop a hood open.
J Van Dyke

JVD -
Suggest you post this on the rest of the boards, looking for somebody closer, but:
My daughter's Mazda is dead in Mass at school, and I am in W Pa. My plan is to leave here next Tues evening, drive some or all of the way 500 miles to Springfield MA, then fix her car Wed. in the parking lot. That means I sleep in the car at some point, it could just as well be in Linden, though I hate to detour into "the mess". But it is not really many more miles out of the way, and there is always the strong point of NJ diners! If you can wait til Wed, and get me precise no screw-up directions, times for access etc, I'll do it.

FRM
FR Millmore

Thanks FRM
I've posted it everywhere I can think of, I've got a guy in a club in Jersey seeing if he can work it out to help.
I'll keep it in mind for Wednesday. I know the address the name and number of the contact at the terminal warehouse and it should really be a 5 minute deal. It is essentially right at Linden Airport, 1500 Lower Rd.
Linden NJ, 07036

Contact: Olga at the warehouse 908-523-0266

shoot me an email jvandyke-at-mac.com and I'll keep you in mine, I hope to settle it sooner than that but we'll see.
J Van Dyke

FR,
You da man!
Besides diners, Linden is famous for sunsets over the reineries. I swear Key West has nothing on Linden.
If you go, wave at my mom and dad. They're in the cemetary just south of Linden on US 1
Phil Burke

Glad you're sorted JVD. I thought this was a thread about knitting!
B Whiteley

I still hope to get it done before next Wednesday. I'm trying to call a shop and have them go do it, if they will and it doesn't cost me more than I can afford (to spend on someone else's car and someone else's mistake) I haven't had any communication from the shipper or the buyer since yesterday morning and that bothers me too. FR, stand by, you may yet be my saviour (and I will pay you).
J Van Dyke

JVD, I can't believe there is not an MG or British Car club in that area with members willing to help. If you were down this way, there's at least 15 people that would go out of their way to help and a couple of them even know what the heck they're doing!! If you are a member of NAMGBR, they put out a mutual aid directory that lists all members by location (worth the price of admission itself). I tried to look it up online but either they don't put that resource on their website, or I couldn't find it. I won't be home until late tonight, but if you want, I will look when I get home and see if anyone is listed in, or near, Linden. Jack
Jack Orkin

How about posting on the MGB & MGC boards too?
Dave O'Neill 2

I can try other boards. So far I have a maybe on Saturday, a maybe for Monday and a maybe for Wednesday. The sooner the better as I've heard threats of impoundment and haul away, forced storage.....mercy.
If anyone else gets a response somewhere, let me know, email is jvandyke--at--mac.com (replace --at-- with @ of course). I'm posting on 3 boards and email lists and am going nuts.
J Van Dyke

Rob Armstrong, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom is right
when I worked for BMC / BL I would always pull the cable from the fenderwell much easier then reaching in the car.

Bob
Bob Fisher

That won't work if the cable is broken/detached at the latch end.

FRM
FR Millmore

I opted for help from a Fiat brother who was near (relatively). He got at the car this morning and found the cable had failed at the latch. He managed to open it with a coat hanger and removed the catch so it could be reopened without too much trouble. Hopefully it is secure enough for transport and will make it to it's new owner without further incident.
Many thanks to all for offers of help and suggested release methods. All is well that ends well, let's hope it ends well.
J Van Dyke

Great !!!! I hope the rest of the trip will indeed be without any incidents.

pascal
pjw Seezink

This thread was discussed between 17/11/2010 and 23/11/2010

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