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MG MGF Technical - leaks, noises, and smells!!!!

I bought my MGF 2 months ago. It has already been back to the garage 3 times and is about to go back again!!! It is a 1999 T Reg 1.8 i (nightfire red).
I love this car and would never get rid of it, however I am wondering if it is just me that has been sold a duff car or do any other owners have similar problems!!.
The wing mirrors leak!!!! water comes underneath the wing mirrors and soaks the inside of the door, when in reverse and the clutch is lifted there is an awful metal scraping sound!!! (it is in gear).
There is now a strong smell of petrol coming from the car!!!!.
Help is it just me?
Rachel

Rachel

The mirror leak and fuel smell are both well known problems with the *F* and EVERY dealer knows about them and how to fix them - so dont let them 'bull-sh*t' you, they are straight forward jobs, I assume it is an MG dealer that you are going to.

The Reverse gear noise is new to me, yes I know people have a problem getting into reverse but you say this noise is when you are actually reversing!

Ted
Ted Newman

I will try not to let them B***s*** me!!!
but yes, the noise is coming when I am actually reversing!!! it sounds awful, people half way down the street turn rougnd to see what's making the noise!!
Rachel

Hi Rachel, welcome to the BBS. Firstly, the wing mirrors are known to leak, its easily fixable, someone around here should have a link to a website with some info on it. Secondly the petrol smell is also a known "issue", mine has a faint smell from time to time, but its nothing serious IMO. There is a item in the MGF FAQ about it though, here's the URL : http://www.mgcars.org.uk/MGF/mgfaq2.htm#smell

And here's the URL for the entire FAQ.

http://www.mgcars.org.uk/MGF/mgfindex.htm

As for the scraping when going into reverse, its normal for it to cruch briefly as you put the gear lever into the reverse position, but not the scraping noise you describe, which sounds very worrying.

Hope you get it all fixed, let us know what the garage says....

Regards


Steve.
Steve Childs

Hi Rachel,

I can only help with the petrol smell. When I bought mine (2 1/2 yrs old) last summer there was a strong petrol smell all the time - mostly as it was kept (under-used) in a garage. It went after a couple of weeks of driving around (with a big smile on my face). There will always be a very slight smell as you're virtually sitting inside the engine bay but it shouldn't be strong. The problem can be the breather pipe which connects to the fuel tank. It sometimes gets kinked or splits (I'm sure other more techie people can be more specific). This can be replaced, but the smell sometimes can only be fixed by replacing the fuel tank itself. This would be something to take up with the dealer as you've had it for such a short time. Make sure the dealer doesn't fob you off with "well, all of them smell like that" - the smell should only just be noticeable (if there at all), and not make your eyes water!!

But keep on in there - despite what some people might whine about, it's a fantastic car and great fun to own. I'm one of the happy MGF'ers - and there are loads more of us around!!!

Andrew.
Andrew Duguid

Just to add I have a very early MGF which I bought as new in November 1995 and it was delivered Feb 1996 at no time have I had petrol smell problems with the car and mine also lives in a garage and gets insufficient usage.

However I know a lot of people have had the problem and as Andrew says it can be the breather or even a faulty tank, the problem is that the tanks are plastic and sometimes the lining becomes porous so allowing fumes to escape.

AGAIN any MG dealer worth his/her salt will know how to fix these problems.

The reverse gear nois however is more worrying, it does not sound at all healthy and that I would get (if required) an independant opinion on.

Ted
Ted Newman

About the fuel tank... you must be able to hear a sound of sucking
Erik

* About the fuel tank... you must be able to hear a sound of sucking air when you open the fuelcap.
* About getting in reverse.... sounds strange. Our F has a problem when putting in reverse and releasing the clutch. Putting it back in reverse with a tronger pull is noticable with a "loud" cloink-sound.

ciao,
Erik
Erik

The fuel smell might also be that the outlet pipe from the fuel pump has not been tightened - that's what I had on my car.

Ralph
Ralph

Welcome to the joys of MGF weirdness - really great car but built on Fridays.

Firstly - leaks. I've had my car in no less than 5 times for this but now seems to be cured. It's all to do with the fitting of the door seal and the fitting of the window cassette (this is adjustable to ensure a tight seal - my windows were incorrectly adjusted) plus the wind cheaters (the black triangle things that the wing mirrors attach to) may need replacing. It's NOT acceptable and insist that it's put right.

Petrol - never had a problem with smells so I'm not so sure that this is a normal problem - certainly not with a MKII like mine - the Mk1 may be a bit different but it needs a fix.

Reverse gear - drives me nuts. The reverse gear selection can be very hit an miss due to the design of gear box and you need to allow a few seconds sometimes to let it snick in. But scraping noises when you're on the move sound very odd.

Best of luck and don't get fobbed off!! Keep us posted on how you get on.

James

Silent engagement of reverse is easy if you just snick it into 2nd gear momentarily first. (this is an old trick to anyone who's had an early midget or B, neither of which had any syncro on 1st or reverse...)
David

Thanks for all your comments. I am speaking to the garage at the moment however they are still trying to fobb me off!!!.
The petrol smell is coming and going now, got in the car trhis morning and the inside of the passenger door was soaking!!!!!! oh well I still love the car.
I'll let you know how I get on!
Rachel

Rachel

Why dont you print out this thread and give it to your garage!

James

You refer to a window cassette - please can you explain what this is? No need to explain the door layout as I have had mine to pieces on a number of occassions and have made the various adjustments myself and replaced the 'broken' window stops a couple of times over the past 5.5 years.

Ted
Ted Newman

Rachel,

As you're in Slough...

Which garage are you dealing with? SMC are, I gather, quite bad news, however Douglas Grahams in Old Windsor sorted out my seal leaking (which to be honest was minor) and petrol tank quite successfully.

Patience is the key to reverse! Start engine, count to 5 THEN engage reverse does it for me (usually). Some people recommend putting it in 4th, then reverse but I've not noticed that this helps particularly. However, if you mean that it sounds like its not engaging reverse properly when it should be, then that could well be a cable adjustment needed...

Neil.
Neil

Hi Neil, Yes i'm afraid I am dealing with SMC in slough. The sales guy is brilliant unfortunately the service dept leaves alot to be disired!!!
Ted, I will print this thread out, good idea.
rachel

If its still in warranty (which it could be as a 1999er) then you could always take it to DG instead - they were quite successful in getting Rover to pay up for mine!

Tell em you're coming to them because SMC couldn't fix it!

Neil.
Neil

Just to add to Neil's suggestion you could also take a look in the MG Dealer Guide for other alternative/better MG dealers in or near you area...

http://www.dotcomoff.demon.co.uk

Home of the F'ers Gallery, MG Dealer Guide and new MGF FAQ. :)
Paul Lathwell

Ted,

I've not taken the door apart personally but my dealer explained that the window glass is adjustable i.e. the angle at which it sits from the vertical. This is to allow for variations in seals etc. Unless he was just making it up!

Rachel

If you getting no joy with SMC just go elsewhere - there's no point in giving them the business, warranty or otherwise. Alternatively take it up with the salesmen - after all if he's that good he'll get it sorted for you.
James

James,

RE: window adjustment. I think that's right, the windows are adjustable in every direction and if fiddled with can be a bu**er to get right. I think there is a Rubik cube type solution for it!!

ER
Ewan Ramage

How do you go about adjusting the windows? Neither of mine fit! They fitted fine with the hardtop, but now the weather is better the hardtop is packed away. The passenger side kind of seals but the drivers side has a gap you could stick your finger through. I took it to SMG in Bristol and they wanted to charge me 350 quid. I told them where to go! Any ideas?
Stuart Donadel

This thread was discussed between 15/05/2001 and 24/05/2001

MG MGF Technical index

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