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MG MGF Technical - how many mgf owners does it take to change a lightbulb
| ok, there isnt a joke here - but i have noticed that the lightbulb behind the oil temp gauge has gone out, all the others are ok - can i change it myself..easily ? any instructions would be gratefully appreciated |
| steve brown |
| Steve, I don't have the answer but another question could be : How do you remove the panel to access the clock and the temperature gauge ? Lately, I had some mist (what's the English word for "buée" ?) inside the oil temp gauge because the car slept outside (it is not used of it) and it was very cold. After few minutes driving and heating, it disappeared but I'd like to know if it's possible to access "behind the dashboard" sorry for my poor technical English :-) (I have sometimes the same problems than Dieter ;-) Jérôme (now in the Paul F'ers Gallery) 121 CCK 92 |
| Jérôme |
| Q: How many MGF owners does it take to change a lightbulb? A: Three. One to change the lightbulb, one to complain on the BBS, and one to demand that MGF covers the lightbulb under the warranty. |
| Cynic |
| Q: How many MGF owners does it take to change a lightbulb? A: FIVE. (One to change the lightbulb, one to complain on the BBS, and one to demand that MGF covers the lightbulb under the warranty). Two additional owners to debate the relative cost/ benefit & merit of using the Rover standard light bulb as opposed to replacing it with a bulb which would make the F go faster whilst only costing 8 times the price but potentially invalidating said warranty. |
| Hugo |
| I read somewhere that it takes more time to change a lightbulb on a MGF than on a MX5. |
| Jérôme |
| OK, I gonna be serious ..... * Start with removing the radio * Push down on the base of the "bag" around the "gearstick", this gives you access to the underside of the panel. * Now you can pull on a clip at the underside of the panel, closest to the cigar lighter. * Further pulling will release the whole panel (same thing for me: sorry for my poor technical English) and now .... I've got allready 153 entries in my database of OTGLBF (Oil Temperature Gauge LightBulb Failings). It's unbelievable why Rover isn't doing anything about it. |
| Erik |
| If you take off the footwell panel(s) depending on which side/dial you need access to, you can get to the back of the dials from under there. I seem to remember that the bulbs are easy enough to plug in, so presumably the reverse is easy too. Twist and slot out I think. Don't be tempted to take out the whole thing as I think I remember struggle to put mine in resulting in bleeding fingers and cramp in the back! (from being upside down!). think the clock was easier, but I'd still leave be. Julian PS: you forgot the 2 guys to detail the work on a website somewhere (incl. picutres) and start an online survey of all F bulbs. |
| Julian |
| Just thinking about the following: Where is the oil temperature gauge placed in a RHD car? In our LHD cars, it is placed at the left side, when the analog clock is at the right. It's different in a RHD Elise. IMO it's more normal to have the gauge at the side of the driver and the clock at the side of the passenger. cheers |
| Erik |
| Hi, The oil temperature gauge is on the left hand side on RHD cars, the same as on LHD's. I don't know about anyone else but my hand and the steering wheel hides the clock, so the oil gauge is in the right place. OK, so there's plenty of parallax error, but you just have to lean over onto your passenger's lap. Getting back to bulbs (almost) I was disappointed that the oil and clock gauges have white faces, but show up dark with illuminated figures when the lights are on, the opposite of the main gauges. Something to do with the way they are illuminated I guess, but I haven't probed too deeply. Regards, Kes. |
| Kes |
| >>I don't know about anyone else but my hand and the steering wheel hides the clock, so the oil gauge is in the right place<< I fully agree with you, Kes. But in my case (LHD), that's the clock that is in the right place. |
| Fabrice |
| >>>but you just have to lean over onto your passenger's lap. aahh, more evidence - if any were needed - that the F is a proper MG, designed in a long tradition to be 'friendly' for the occupants..... |
| David Smith |
| Kes- I swapped the oil temp and clock around- as I found I could get an easier view of the oil temperature that way. A personal preference thing clearly! The bulbs are very easily removed from the back of the clocks- interference fit only. Instructions for fitment are as Erik mentioned. There are four clips: one in front of the gear stick- this is the first to release, then there are two either side of the radio apperature, and then there is another above the hazard warning switch. Essentially, when the radio and gearknob are removed you can pull the whole consol up and out. Just be a little careful about the wires. Refitting is a simple process of reversal of the above. Jérôme, my guage has been getting that same mist as well (condensation). The FAQ has the cure- drill a hole in the dial's base to allow the the excess water out. Rob Q: How many MGF owners does it take to change a lightbulb? A: EIGHT. One to change the lightbulb. One to complain on the BBS. One to demand that MGF covers the lightbulb under the warranty. Two to debate the relative cost/ benefit & merit of using the Rover standard light bulb as opposed to replacing it with a bulb which would make the F go faster whilst only costing 8 times the price but potentially invalidating said warranty. Two to compile the information onto a web site, and one other who will try and reject his car for a new one. |
| Rob Bell |
| Great thread, the half office ROFL'd about it today. But you are all wrong: Q: How many MGF owners does it take to change a lightbulb? A: NONE. ride at daylight only and any broken bulb doesn't matter. :) dk PS someone may blow the true solution FAO Greg if it works ... |
| Dieter |
| I think you should expect a better bulb from Mazda, though. |
| Tony Smith |
| I think the dial position were designed on a LHD car, if I want to see the time I just look at my watch in front of me. And if I feel an HGF coming on it is comforting to have the oil temp gauge in full view. >Refitting is a simple process of reversal of the above. Rob, have you been doing work for Haynes by any chance? Well two Rover dealer couldn't put one of the clips back properly in the last two years. So how many Rover dealers does it take.... Who was that masked cynic? :-) |
| Tony Smith |
| It takes one MGF owner to do anything, do what Rob does, take it round to Andy :-) |
| Tony Smith |
| And a last one to translate "lightbulb" in German ;-) |
| (OO) |
| Quick way to change the dash bulbs , about 3 mins, flick out the centre vent reach in and change bulb/s, replace airvent, job done, (don't tell everyone garages charge an hours labour for this!) Mike,N500MG |
| MikeSatur |
| > And a last one to translate "lightbulb" in German ;-) No, that would not work because that should be at minimum three: One who translates it as 'Gluhbirne' One who translates it as 'Gluhlampe' and a third who selects the 'right' translation as referee. ------------------------- >flick out the centre vent Ehmm, how to ... please :) dk |
| Dieter |
| >>flick out the centre vent > Ehmm, how to ... please :) I already tried to pull out the centre air vent but I felt like all the dashboard would come with it ! I decided to give out before breaking anything ! I presume I was too gentle ? Jérôme |
| Jérôme |
| Tony- I hate the newer Haynes manuals; they don't cover the removal fitment of trim panels...Grrr! One tip when re-installing the dash- make sure the rear locating pin in the stereo mates up with the rubber docking point behind the dash board. Failure to do this results in the consol being pushed out by the radio and everything looking untidy. Mike- how do you remove those air vents without damaging the trim? I know they are held in with spring clips... so what is the hot tip? >>It takes one MGF owner to do anything, do what Rob does, take it round to Andy :-) << ;o) Captain Scarlet to the rescue: nice big open private drive, lots of gadgets for removing widgets, the MG/Rover technical manual and endless cups of tea! Instant recipe for a technical jam sessions that usually results in two MGFs lying around in pieces!!! Actually mine tends to be in more pieces, and Andy's car usually gets put back together with something not working for no apparent reason... Scarlet's law I think it's called... Rob |
| Rob Bell |
| Trade secret revealed, I use a broad flat bladed trim spatula, insert under the lower edge of the air vent , taking care not to put pressure on the dash surface (ie mark it) push upwards and the bottom of the vent will come out ,insert at top edge and repeat same action, only towards you, this will release the vent, to refit put in square and firmly push home with palm of hand. All given in good faith! Mike N500MG |
| Mike Satur |
| Its just a thought (this is probably teaching you lot to suck eggs) but when the centre console comes out (mine has been out too many times) the blue clips tend to come away with the console. You get a much better fit back of the console if you pull off the blue clips, push them back into the dash at the appropriate points, then push the console back into the dash....rather than trying to push the console back in with the blue clips still attached. If that sounds confusing...if you ever take the console out you will see what i mean! The centre console on my car was badly fitted when i got the car, a dealer had fitted a security accessory for the previous owner and had tried to put the console back in with the blue clips still fitted....hence poor fit. Fits flush now. |
| Paul |
| None - Not if you fit LED's instead, real low maintenance ;-) Yep, I'm back on board (or should that be BBS) after slowly clearing the backlog of work since my holiday (which now seems years ago!) Cheers Richard |
| Richard Eaton |
| Oh, you forgot the extra two, to start a flame war about it :-). |
| Tony Smith |
| Remove the radio remove the radio cage reach inside removethe bulb re fit the new bulb refit the cage refit the radio test , bandage cut hand wipe off excess blood from leather trim bang good hand on top of dash in frustration watch carefully fitted bulb go out. Hand is now bleeding profusely from call taxi to go to causlty wait 8 hours to have affore mentioned limb looked at wait for x ray results have hand stiched wait for alift home phone work arrange for aweek off work to recover , so the question was how many the answer SEVERAL |
| MARK THE TECH |
This thread was discussed between 08/02/2000 and 13/02/2000
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